Professional Scrum Master Scrum Team Accountabilities Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who is accountable for the Scrum Team's effectiveness?
- The entire Scrum Team, as they are self-managing.
- The Scrum Master. (Correct answer)
- The Product Owner, by ensuring the team builds the right thing.
- The Developers, because they perform the work of creating the Increment.
Correct answer: The Scrum Master.
The Scrum Guide explicitly states, 'The Scrum Master is accountable for the Scrum Team's effectiveness. They do this by enabling the Scrum Team to improve its practices, within the Scrum framework.' While the entire team contributes to its effectiveness, the Scrum Master is the one with this specific accountability.
Question 2: A Product Owner is consistently overwhelmed with writing detailed Product Backlog Items (PBIs) and has asked the Developers to take over this task. Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding this situation?
- This is unacceptable, as only the Product Owner is allowed to create and communicate PBIs.
- The Developers should refuse, as their accountability is only to create the Increment.
- The Product Owner can delegate the responsibility for creating and communicating PBIs, but they remain accountable for effective Product Backlog management. (Correct answer)
- The Scrum Master should take over writing the PBIs to support the Product Owner.
Correct answer: The Product Owner can delegate the responsibility for creating and communicating PBIs, but they remain accountable for effective Product Backlog management.
The Scrum Guide states that the Product Owner is accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes creating and clearly communicating Product Backlog items. However, it also clarifies, 'The Product Owner may do the above work or may delegate the responsibility to others. Regardless, the Product Owner remains accountable.'
Question 3: During a Sprint, the Developers realize that a new technical task is necessary to achieve the Sprint Goal. Who is accountable for adding this work to the Sprint Backlog?
- The Product Owner, as they manage the backlog.
- The Scrum Master, as they must remove impediments.
- The Developers. (Correct answer)
- The entire Scrum Team must agree before any changes are made.
Correct answer: The Developers.
The Sprint Backlog is a plan by and for the Developers. They are accountable for managing their work within the Sprint. While they must keep the Sprint Goal in mind, the Developers have the authority and accountability to adapt the Sprint Backlog as they learn more throughout the Sprint.
Question 4: Which of the following is an explicit accountability of the Developers within a Scrum Team?
- Maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work.
- Coaching the team members in self-management and cross-functionality.
- Instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done. (Correct answer)
- Developing and explicitly communicating the Product Goal.
Correct answer: Instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done.
According to the Scrum Guide, the Developers are always accountable for: 'Instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done.' Maximizing value and communicating the Product Goal are accountabilities of the Product Owner, while coaching is an accountability of the Scrum Master.
Question 5: If an organization does not have a formal standard for a Definition of Done, who is accountable for creating one for the product?
- The Product Owner, because they are accountable for the product's value.
- The Developers, because they do the work to create the Increment.
- The Scrum Master, because they are accountable for establishing Scrum.
- The Scrum Team. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The Scrum Team.
The Scrum Guide states: 'If the Definition of Done for an increment is part of the standards of the organization, all Scrum Teams must follow it as a minimum. If it is not an organizational standard, the Scrum Team must create a Definition of Done appropriate for the product.' This is a collective accountability.
Question 6: The Product Owner is primarily accountable for which of the following?
- The Scrum Team's effectiveness and continuous improvement.
- Managing the Developers and ensuring they complete all forecasted work.
- Maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. (Correct answer)
- Facilitating all Scrum events and ensuring they are positive and productive.
Correct answer: Maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team.
The Scrum Guide clearly defines the Product Owner's primary accountability: 'The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team.' The other options describe accountabilities of the Scrum Master or outdated concepts of management.
Professional Scrum Master Scrum Team Accountabilities Questions and Answers
Who is accountable for the Scrum Team's effectiveness?