The Scrum Master is exhibiting the characteristic of servant leadership by contacting the hardware manager to help resolve the issue of no hardware available for software testing.

Explanation

• A Scrum Master acts as a servant-leader , facilitating the team's progress by identifying and removing impediments or obstacles that block the team from achieving their goals. In this case, the hardware issue is an impediment, and the Scrum Master takes initiative to resolve it by collaborating with someone responsible for the hardware, demonstrating servant leadership.

• This characteristic involves coaching, facilitating, supporting the team, and promoting collaboration across teams, helping the team focus on their work rather than managerial or authoritative roles.

• Servant leadership is distinct from being a disciplinarian, project manager, or authoritarian, as it involves serving the team's needs and guiding them without direct control or command.

Thus, by reaching out proactively to solve a team impediment, the Scrum Master shows servant leadership.