Professional Scrum Master The Scrum Team Roles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum recommended size of a Scrum Team according to the Scrum Guide?
- 7 people including all roles
- 10 people including the Scrum Master and Product Owner (Correct answer)
- 15 Developers plus the Scrum Master and Product Owner
- There is no defined maximum
Correct answer: 10 people including the Scrum Master and Product Owner
The Scrum Guide recommends a Scrum Team of 10 or fewer people total, including the Scrum Master and Product Owner.
Question 2: Can one person serve as both Scrum Master and Product Owner on the same Scrum Team?
- Yes, this is common on small teams
- No, combining these roles creates a conflict of accountability (Correct answer)
- Yes, as long as the team agrees to it
- Only if the Scrum Master is also the technical lead
Correct answer: No, combining these roles creates a conflict of accountability
The Scrum Guide discourages combining the Scrum Master and Product Owner roles because it creates conflicting accountabilities and undermines team dynamics.
Question 3: The Scrum Master notices the team frequently skips the Sprint Retrospective to meet delivery pressure. What should the Scrum Master do?
- Allow it since delivery is the top priority
- Remind the team that retrospectives are optional when under pressure
- Help the team understand the value of continuous improvement and protect the Retrospective (Correct answer)
- Schedule the retrospective after the next Sprint Planning instead
Correct answer: Help the team understand the value of continuous improvement and protect the Retrospective
The Scrum Master is accountable for ensuring Scrum events occur as prescribed and helps the team understand their importance for long-term effectiveness.
Question 4: A Developer informs the Scrum Master that the Sprint Goal is no longer achievable. What is the correct course of action?
- The Scrum Master cancels the Sprint immediately
- The Product Owner cancels the Sprint if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete (Correct answer)
- The Developers vote to extend the Sprint to meet the Sprint Goal
- The Scrum Master negotiates scope with stakeholders
Correct answer: The Product Owner cancels the Sprint if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete
Only the Product Owner has the authority to cancel a Sprint, and only when the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete.
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT an accountability of the Product Owner?
- Ordering the Product Backlog
- Ensuring Product Backlog items are transparent and understood
- Managing the Developers' daily work (Correct answer)
- Maximizing the value of the product
Correct answer: Managing the Developers' daily work
Managing Developers' daily work is not a Product Owner accountability; Developers are self-managing and organize their own work.
Question 6: A new Scrum Team is formed and the members ask who should lead them. What is the Scrum perspective on team leadership?
- The Scrum Master is the team lead and makes final decisions
- The Product Owner leads the team toward the product vision
- The Scrum Team is self-managing with no single leader directing the work (Correct answer)
- The most senior Developer takes the leadership role
Correct answer: The Scrum Team is self-managing with no single leader directing the work
Scrum Teams are self-managing, meaning they collectively decide how to do their work without a single designated leader directing them.
Question 7: An organization wants the Scrum Master to write status reports for senior management. Is this consistent with the Scrum Master role?
- Yes, reporting to management is a core Scrum Master responsibility
- Yes, but only monthly reports are appropriate
- It depends — the Scrum Master may help improve transparency but is not a status reporter (Correct answer)
- No, the Product Owner is responsible for all management reporting
Correct answer: It depends — the Scrum Master may help improve transparency but is not a status reporter
The Scrum Master serves the organization by improving transparency but is not primarily a status reporter; this activity should be evaluated for whether it truly serves Scrum adoption.
Professional Scrum Master The Scrum Team Roles 3
What is the maximum recommended size of a Scrum Team according to the Scrum Guide?