Professional Scrum Master Scrum Artifacts and Commitments Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Each Scrum Artifact contains a commitment to ensure it provides information that enhances transparency and focus. Which of the following correctly pairs an artifact with its commitment?
- Product Backlog - Definition of Ready
- Increment - Sprint Goal
- Sprint Backlog - Product Goal
- Product Backlog - Product Goal (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Product Backlog - Product Goal
According to the Scrum Guide, each of the three official Scrum artifacts has a corresponding commitment. The Product Backlog's commitment is the Product Goal, the Sprint Backlog's commitment is the Sprint Goal, and the Increment's commitment is the Definition of Done. This ensures that each artifact provides transparent information and a clear focus.
Question 2: A Scrum Team is two days into a Sprint. The Product Owner realizes that a newly identified market opportunity significantly impacts the long-term objective for the product. What is the most appropriate action regarding the Product Goal?
- Immediately cancel the Sprint to create a new Product Goal.
- Wait until the next Sprint Retrospective to discuss abandoning or adapting the Product Goal.
- The Product Owner should unilaterally change the Product Goal and inform the team.
- The Scrum Team must fulfill or abandon the current Product Goal before taking on the next one. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The Scrum Team must fulfill or abandon the current Product Goal before taking on the next one.
The Product Goal is the long-term objective for the Scrum Team. The Scrum Guide states that the team must fulfill (or abandon) one objective before taking on the next. While a new market opportunity is important, the decision to abandon the current goal should be a conscious one made by the team, likely prompted by the Product Owner, rather than an immediate, reactive change. It provides stability and focus.
Question 3: Which statement best describes the relationship between an Increment and the Definition of Done?
- The Definition of Done is a list of all the work required to complete the Increment.
- An Increment is created the moment a Product Backlog item meets the Definition of Done. (Correct answer)
- The Definition of Done is only inspected during the Sprint Retrospective.
- Multiple Increments can be created, but only one can meet the Definition of Done per Sprint.
Correct answer: An Increment is created the moment a Product Backlog item meets the Definition of Done.
The Scrum Guide is explicit that an Increment is born the moment a Product Backlog Item meets the Definition of Done. The Definition of Done is the formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product, creating a shared understanding of what 'Done' means.
Question 4: The Developers are in Sprint Planning and have selected several Product Backlog Items. They are now discussing how they will accomplish the work. Which artifact are they creating, and what is its primary commitment?
- The Product Backlog; its commitment is the Product Goal.
- The Increment; its commitment is the Definition of Done.
- The Sprint Backlog; its commitment is the Sprint Goal. (Correct answer)
- A release plan; its commitment is the release date.
Correct answer: The Sprint Backlog; its commitment is the Sprint Goal.
The Sprint Backlog is composed of the Sprint Goal (the 'why'), the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint (the 'what'), and an actionable plan for delivering the Increment (the 'how'). It is a plan by and for the Developers. The Sprint Goal is the single objective for the Sprint and is the commitment for the Sprint Backlog.
Question 5: If the Definition of Done for an Increment is part of the standards of the organization, what is the Scrum Team's responsibility towards it?
- The team can choose to ignore the organizational standard if they create their own.
- All Scrum Teams must follow the organizational standard as a minimum and can add to it. (Correct answer)
- Only the Scrum Master is responsible for enforcing the organizational standard.
- The organizational standard is a suggestion, but the Product Owner has the final say.
Correct answer: All Scrum Teams must follow the organizational standard as a minimum and can add to it.
The Scrum Guide states that if an organization has a standard Definition of Done, all Scrum Teams must follow it as a minimum. The team can then add any further criteria appropriate for their specific product to make it more stringent, but they cannot lessen the organizational standard.
Question 6: During the Daily Scrum, the Developers realize that their plan to meet the Sprint Goal is no longer viable due to an unexpected technical issue. What is the primary purpose of the Sprint Goal in this situation?
- To provide the flexibility to negotiate the scope of the Sprint Backlog with the Product Owner without changing the objective. (Correct answer)
- To prove that the Developers failed in their commitment and must work overtime.
- To force the team to continue with the original plan regardless of the new information.
- To be immediately abandoned so a new, easier goal can be created.
Correct answer: To provide the flexibility to negotiate the scope of the Sprint Backlog with the Product Owner without changing the objective.
The Sprint Goal is a commitment, but it also provides flexibility. It is the single objective for the Sprint. When the work turns out to be different than expected, the Developers collaborate with the Product Owner to negotiate the scope of the Sprint Backlog *without* affecting the Sprint Goal. This allows them to adapt their plan (the 'how') while keeping the objective (the 'why') intact.
Professional Scrum Master Scrum Artifacts and Commitments Questions and Answers
Each Scrum Artifact contains a commitment to ensure it provides information that enhances transparency and focus.
Which of the following correctly pairs an artifact with its commitment?