Professional Scrum Master Scrum Theory and Empiricism Questions and Answers

Question 1

Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory. Which of the following best describes the core principle of empiricism in the context of Scrum?

Accepted Answer

Making decisions based on what is observed, experienced, and experimented with, rather than on speculation or theory alone.

Answer

Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is known and observed. Scrum uses an iterative and incremental approach to optimize predictability and control risk, which is the opposite of following a detailed, fixed, upfront plan.

Question 2

A Scrum Team is in the middle of a Sprint. The Developers realize they have significantly underestimated the effort for a Product Backlog Item. To maintain transparency, what is the most appropriate immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Make the issue visible immediately, for instance, by updating the Sprint Backlog and communicating within the Scrum Team during the Daily Scrum.

Answer

Transparency is a pillar of empiricism and is crucial for effective inspection and adaptation. Hiding the problem (low transparency) prevents the team and stakeholders from inspecting the true situation and adapting the plan. Making the problem visible as soon as it's discovered allows for timely inspection and adaptation, which are core to Scrum.

Question 3

Which Scrum event is the primary opportunity for stakeholders to inspect the Increment and for the Scrum Team to adapt the Product Backlog based on feedback?

Accepted Answer

The Sprint Review

Answer

The Sprint Review is a formal event designed for the Scrum Team and stakeholders to collaborate. During this event, the team presents the results of the Sprint, and progress toward the Product Goal is discussed. It is the key inspect-and-adapt event for the product itself, allowing for direct feedback which may lead to adaptations in the Product Backlog.

Question 4

If one of the three pillars of empiricism (Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation) is weak or missing, what is the likely outcome?

Accepted Answer

The value delivered will be diminished, and risk will increase.

Answer

The three pillars of empiricism are interdependent. Transparency enables true inspection. Inspection without transparency is misleading. Inspection without adaptation is pointless. If any pillar is weak, the empirical process breaks down, leading to poor decisions, increased risk, and a lower likelihood of delivering a valuable product.

Question 5

A Product Owner is being pressured by stakeholders to provide a fixed-scope, fixed-date release plan for the next six months. As a Scrum Master, how would you coach the Product Owner to respond in a way that aligns with Scrum and empiricism?

Accepted Answer

Work with the Product Owner to create a forecast based on the team's current velocity and the state of the Product Backlog, while clearly communicating that this is a projection, not a guarantee, and will be adapted based on what is learned each Sprint.

Answer

Scrum operates on empiricism, acknowledging that more is unknown than known at the start of a project. While fixed guarantees are not compatible with this approach, forecasting is. A Scrum Master should coach the Product Owner to use empirical data (like velocity) to create a forecast, while emphasizing that the plan is emergent and will be adapted as new knowledge is gained through inspection of the Increments.

Professional Scrum Master Practice Test

Professional Scrum Master Practice Test

Professional Scrum Master Scrum Theory and Empiricism Questions and Answers