CSM - Certified ScrumMaster Scrum Theory and Principles Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory. Which of the following are the three pillars of empiricism?
- Planning, Execution, and Measurement
- Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation (Correct answer)
- Commitment, Courage, and Focus
- Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment
Correct answer: Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation
Scrum is based on empiricism, which asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is known. The three pillars that uphold every implementation of empirical process control are Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation.
Question 2: A Scrum Team is in the middle of a Sprint and the Developers realize they have overestimated their capacity and will not be able to complete all the items in the Sprint Backlog. Which Scrum value BEST supports the team in handling this situation?
- Respect
- Focus
- Courage
- Openness (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Openness
The value of Openness is crucial here. The Scrum Team and its stakeholders must be open about the work and the challenges. By being open about the impediment (overestimation), the team can have a transparent conversation with the Product Owner to adapt the Sprint Backlog.
Question 3: Which of the following BEST describes the principle of 'Inspection' in Scrum?
- A formal review of individual team member performance by the Scrum Master.
- The process of the Product Owner accepting or rejecting work at the end of the Sprint.
- Frequent examination of Scrum artifacts and progress toward a Goal to detect undesirable variances. (Correct answer)
- Daily detailed status reporting to stakeholders to ensure alignment.
Correct answer: Frequent examination of Scrum artifacts and progress toward a Goal to detect undesirable variances.
Inspection in Scrum involves frequently and diligently checking the Scrum artifacts and progress toward the Product Goal and Sprint Goal to identify any potential problems or deviations. This is done at all Scrum events, not just at the end of the Sprint or through status reports.
Question 4: During a Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum Team identifies a significant process issue that is hindering their effectiveness. According to Scrum theory, what should the team do?
- Wait for management to provide a solution.
- Ask the Scrum Master to solve the problem for them.
- Assign the problem to the most senior developer to fix.
- Adapt their process by creating and adding at least one improvement item to the next Sprint Backlog. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Adapt their process by creating and adding at least one improvement item to the next Sprint Backlog.
The Sprint Retrospective is a formal opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. This is a direct application of the 'Adaptation' pillar of empiricism. The team is empowered to adapt its own process.
Question 5: For empiricism to be successful, transparency is essential. Which of the following is an example of a lack of transparency in Scrum?
- The Product Owner re-ordering the Product Backlog based on new market information.
- The Developers updating the Sprint Backlog throughout the Sprint as they learn more about the work.
- A stakeholder having a private list of requirements they expect to be completed, which is not visible in the Product Backlog. (Correct answer)
- The Scrum Team discussing impediments during the Daily Scrum.
Correct answer: A stakeholder having a private list of requirements they expect to be completed, which is not visible in the Product Backlog.
Transparency requires that significant aspects of the process and the work must be visible to everyone responsible for the outcome. A private list of requirements held by a stakeholder undermines the Product Backlog as the single source of work, reducing transparency and leading to decisions that diminish value and increase risk.
Question 6: Scrum is described as a lightweight framework that is simple to understand but difficult to master. This is primarily because it:
- Requires extensive, detailed upfront planning before the first Sprint can begin.
- Is a defined, prescriptive methodology with rigid rules for every situation.
- Relies on the intelligence of the Scrum Master to direct the team's work.
- Is based on empirical process control, which requires a fundamental shift in mindset and behavior towards continuous learning and adaptation. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Is based on empirical process control, which requires a fundamental shift in mindset and behavior towards continuous learning and adaptation.
Scrum's difficulty lies not in its rules, but in the mindset shift it requires. Moving from a defined, plan-driven approach to an empirical one, where decisions are based on observation and experimentation, is a significant cultural and behavioral change for many individuals and organizations.
CSM - Certified ScrumMaster Scrum Theory and Principles Questions and Answers
Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory.
Which of the following are the three pillars of empiricism?