CAE Sprint Planning & Estimation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During sprint planning, the team realizes the top-priority backlog item is too large to complete in one sprint. What is the BEST course of action?
- Skip the item and move to the next priority
- Break the item into smaller stories that fit within the sprint (Correct answer)
- Extend the sprint length to accommodate the item
- Assign the item to the most senior developer only
Correct answer: Break the item into smaller stories that fit within the sprint
Large user stories should be split into smaller, sprint-sized pieces that can be completed within the timebox.
Question 2: What does 'relative estimation' mean in the context of agile story pointing?
- Estimating stories based on calendar days relative to the deadline
- Sizing stories by comparing their complexity to each other rather than to absolute time (Correct answer)
- Estimating based on the relative skill level of each team member
- Assigning points relative to the project budget
Correct answer: Sizing stories by comparing their complexity to each other rather than to absolute time
Relative estimation compares the size and complexity of stories against one another rather than converting directly to hours or days.
Question 3: A Scrum team's velocity has varied between 30 and 50 points over the last six sprints. How should the team use this data for sprint planning?
- Always plan for 50 points to maximize throughput
- Use 30 points as the maximum since it is the worst case
- Use the average velocity as a forecasting guideline (Correct answer)
- Discard velocity data and estimate from scratch each sprint
Correct answer: Use the average velocity as a forecasting guideline
Average historical velocity provides a reliable baseline for forecasting how much work the team can realistically complete.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of the sprint goal established during sprint planning?
- To list every task the team will complete during the sprint
- To provide a single coherent objective that gives the sprint focus and meaning (Correct answer)
- To document the team's daily schedule for the sprint
- To replace the need for a product backlog
Correct answer: To provide a single coherent objective that gives the sprint focus and meaning
The sprint goal is a short, focused objective that aligns the team's work and allows flexibility in how it is achieved.
Question 5: Which technique involves assigning story points using a sequence like 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 to reflect increasing uncertainty at larger sizes?
- T-shirt sizing
- Planning Poker
- Fibonacci sequence estimation (Correct answer)
- Dot voting
Correct answer: Fibonacci sequence estimation
Fibonacci-based estimation captures the inherent uncertainty in larger items by widening gaps between higher values.
Question 6: When should the development team decompose selected backlog items into tasks during sprint planning?
- Before the sprint planning meeting starts
- Only after the sprint review
- During the second part of sprint planning, after the sprint goal is set (Correct answer)
- Tasks are never used in Scrum
Correct answer: During the second part of sprint planning, after the sprint goal is set
In the second part of sprint planning the team breaks down selected stories into actionable tasks to create their sprint plan.
Question 7: A new team member joins mid-project and the team's velocity drops for two sprints. How should the Scrum Master handle sprint planning capacity?
- Keep using the old velocity and expect the team to catch up
- Temporarily adjust planned capacity downward to account for onboarding overhead (Correct answer)
- Remove the new member from velocity calculations entirely
- Cancel sprint planning until velocity stabilizes
Correct answer: Temporarily adjust planned capacity downward to account for onboarding overhead
Acknowledging onboarding overhead by reducing planned capacity prevents overcommitment during the ramp-up period.
CAE Sprint Planning & Estimation 2
During sprint planning, the team realizes the top-priority backlog item is too large to complete in one sprint.
What is the BEST course of action?