CSM - Certified ScrumMaster The Scrum Team Roles Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who is primarily responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team?
- The Scrum Master
- The Developers
- The Product Owner (Correct answer)
- The key stakeholders
Correct answer: The Product Owner
According to the Scrum Guide, the Product Owner is the single person accountable for maximizing the value of the product. This is achieved through effective management of the Product Backlog, which includes developing the Product Goal and ordering Product Backlog items.
Question 2: A Scrum Team is experiencing a conflict between two Developers regarding the best technical approach for a Product Backlog item. As the conflict is disrupting the Daily Scrum, who is responsible for helping the team resolve this internal conflict and improve their practices?
- The Product Owner, by making the final decision on the technical approach.
- The Developers involved, as they are a self-managing team and must resolve their own conflicts.
- The Scrum Master, by coaching the team on conflict resolution and facilitating a discussion. (Correct answer)
- The functional manager, who should intervene to mediate the dispute.
Correct answer: The Scrum Master, by coaching the team on conflict resolution and facilitating a discussion.
The Scrum Master is a servant-leader for the Scrum Team and is responsible for the team's effectiveness. This includes coaching the team in self-management and facilitating events as needed. While the Developers are self-managing, the Scrum Master steps in to help them improve their collaboration and resolve impediments like disruptive conflict.
Question 3: Which of the following is an accountability of the Developers?
- Managing and ordering the Product Backlog.
- Facilitating stakeholder collaboration as requested or needed.
- Creating a plan for the Sprint, the Sprint Backlog. (Correct answer)
- Maximizing the value of the product.
Correct answer: Creating a plan for the Sprint, the Sprint Backlog.
The Scrum Guide explicitly states that the Developers are always accountable for creating a plan for the Sprint, which is the Sprint Backlog. The other options are accountabilities of the Product Owner (managing the backlog, maximizing value) and the Scrum Master (facilitating collaboration).
Question 4: During Sprint Planning, the Product Owner explains the Sprint Goal and the most important Product Backlog items. Who then decides how much work can be taken on in the Sprint and how to turn the selected items into a valuable Increment?
- The Product Owner
- The Scrum Master
- The entire Scrum Team through a majority vote
- The Developers (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The Developers
The Developers are the ones doing the work, and as a self-managing team, they have the sole discretion to determine how much work they can forecast for a Sprint and how they will perform that work. No one else tells them how to turn Product Backlog items into Increments of value.
Question 5: What is the recommended size for a Scrum Team?
- Exactly 7 members, plus or minus 2.
- Typically 10 or fewer people. (Correct answer)
- Between 3 and 9 Developers, plus the Product Owner and Scrum Master.
- As many people as needed to complete the work.
Correct answer: Typically 10 or fewer people.
The 2020 Scrum Guide states that the Scrum Team is typically 10 or fewer people. This size is small enough to remain nimble and large enough to complete significant work within a Sprint. If teams become too large, they should consider reorganizing.
Question 6: A Product Owner is consistently unavailable to answer questions from the Developers during the Sprint. What is the MOST appropriate action for the Scrum Master to take?
- Tell the Developers to make their best guess and proceed.
- Cancel the Sprint since the Product Owner is an impediment.
- Coach the Product Owner on the importance of their availability to the team. (Correct answer)
- Assign a proxy Product Owner from the group of Developers.
Correct answer: Coach the Product Owner on the importance of their availability to the team.
The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner by helping them find effective techniques and understand their role. A key part of the Scrum Master's role is to address impediments and improve the team's effectiveness. Coaching the Product Owner on their responsibilities and the impact their unavailability has on the team is the most constructive and appropriate first step.
CSM - Certified ScrumMaster The Scrum Team Roles Questions and Answers
Who is primarily responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team?