PSM I Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Who is ultimately accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team?

The Scrum Master
The Developers
The entire Scrum Team
The Product Owner (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Product Owner

The Scrum Guide explicitly states, 'The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team.' While the entire team contributes to creating value, the Product Owner has the specific accountability for value maximization through managing the Product Backlog.

Question 2: Which Scrum artifact represents the sum of all work completed and previous Increments?

The Product Goal
The Increment (Correct answer)
The Product Backlog
The Sprint Backlog

Correct answer: The Increment

An Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal and is additive to all prior Increments.

Question 3: Which characteristic best describes a healthy Product Backlog?

It is fixed at the start of the project
It is maintained exclusively by the Scrum Master
It is an emergent, ordered, and dynamic list (Correct answer)
It contains only items for the current Sprint

Correct answer: It is an emergent, ordered, and dynamic list

The Product Backlog is a living artifact that evolves as the product and environment change.

Question 4: Treating teammates as capable, independent people reflects which value?

Focus
Commitment
Courage
Respect (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Respect

Respect means valuing each other as capable, independent people.

Question 5: Complex adaptive problems are best addressed in Scrum through what?

A single final release
Outsourcing
Iterative and incremental delivery (Correct answer)
Detailed upfront specifications

Correct answer: Iterative and incremental delivery

Scrum addresses complex problems via iterative, incremental work that optimizes predictability and risk.

Question 6: The Product Backlog has a single, long-term commitment associated with it that provides context and a target for the Scrum Team to plan against. What is this commitment called?

The Product Goal (Correct answer)
The Sprint Goal
The Release Plan
The Definition of Done

Correct answer: The Product Goal

The Product Goal is the commitment for the Product Backlog. It describes a future state of the product, serving as a long-term objective for the Scrum Team. The rest of the Product Backlog emerges to define what will fulfill the Product Goal.

Question 7: If the Product Owner and Developers disagree on what 'done' means, the Scrum Master should:

Decide the definition unilaterally
Escalate to remove the Product Owner
Facilitate alignment on a shared Definition of Done (Correct answer)
Let each side use its own definition

Correct answer: Facilitate alignment on a shared Definition of Done

A shared Definition of Done creates transparency, and the Scrum Master facilitates the team's alignment on it.

Question 8: Scrum is best described as what kind of framework?

A lightweight framework intentionally incomplete (Correct answer)
A complete methodology with all processes defined
A project management certification
A rigid set of techniques

Correct answer: A lightweight framework intentionally incomplete

Scrum is purposefully incomplete, defining only the parts required to implement Scrum theory.

Question 9: What is the Product Owner's primary contribution to the Sprint Planning event?

Assigning tasks from the Sprint Backlog to individual Developers.
Proposing how the product could increase its value and utility in the current Sprint. (Correct answer)
Facilitating the meeting and ensuring it stays within the timebox.
Determining the technical implementation details for each Product Backlog item.

Correct answer: Proposing how the product could increase its value and utility in the current Sprint.

In Sprint Planning, the Product Owner's key role is to address the topic, 'Why is this Sprint valuable?' They do this by proposing how the product could be improved in the upcoming Sprint, which helps the entire Scrum Team collaborate on crafting the Sprint Goal. The Developers decide what can be done and how, while the Scrum Master facilitates as needed.

Question 10: What is the Scrum Master's responsibility regarding organizational adoption of Scrum?

Only the team's process matters, not the organization
Lead and coach the organization in its Scrum adoption (Correct answer)
Force every department to use Scrum immediately
Delegate adoption entirely to HR

Correct answer: Lead and coach the organization in its Scrum adoption

The Scrum Master serves the organization by leading and coaching it in adopting Scrum.

Question 11: Various processes and techniques can be employed within the Scrum framework primarily to do what?

Avoid inspection
Replace empiricism
Make the team's effectiveness visible and improvable (Correct answer)
Remove the Scrum Master

Correct answer: Make the team's effectiveness visible and improvable

Scrum wraps around techniques so the relative efficacy of practices becomes visible and can be improved.

Question 12: When should a new Sprint start?

At the start of each calendar month
Immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint (Correct answer)
Only after all bugs are fixed
After a gap of one week

Correct answer: Immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint

A new Sprint starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint.

Question 13: Can stakeholders actively participate in the Sprint Retrospective?

Yes, all stakeholders are required
No, it is for the Scrum Team only (Correct answer)
Only customers may attend
Only the most senior stakeholder may attend

Correct answer: No, it is for the Scrum Team only

The Sprint Retrospective is an internal event for the Scrum Team to improve its own process.

Question 14: Scrum is founded on which theory?

Adaptive Process Control
Predictive Process Control
Empirical Process Control (Correct answer)
Defined Process Control

Correct answer: Empirical Process Control

Scrum is based on empirical process control theory, or empiricism. Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is observed. The three pillars of empiricism are transparency, inspection, and adaptation.

Question 15: During the Daily Scrum, what is the team primarily inspecting?

The annual roadmap
Progress toward the Sprint Goal (Correct answer)
Stakeholder satisfaction
The Definition of Done

Correct answer: Progress toward the Sprint Goal

The Daily Scrum focuses on inspecting progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapting the plan.

Question 16: A Product Owner is frustrated because the Developers are hesitant to provide honest feedback on the feasibility of the Product Backlog items. During the Sprint Review, stakeholders are surprised by the lack of progress. Which Scrum Value is most likely lacking in this Scrum Team?

Commitment
Focus
Openness (Correct answer)
Respect

Correct answer: Openness

The team is lacking Openness. The Scrum Guide highlights that the Scrum Team and its stakeholders are open about the work and the challenges. The Developers' hesitation to be candid about feasibility and the subsequent surprise from stakeholders point to a breakdown in transparent communication.

Question 17: A Developer believes a backlog item is technically infeasible. What should they do?

Wait until the Sprint Review to mention it
Silently skip the item
Complete a different item without telling anyone
Raise it transparently with the Product Owner to refine or remove it (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Raise it transparently with the Product Owner to refine or remove it

Transparency and collaboration require raising concerns with the Product Owner during refinement.

Question 18: During a Daily Scrum, a Developer explains they have completed their planned task and have no other work assigned from the Sprint Backlog. What is the most appropriate next action for this Developer?

Wait for the Scrum Master to assign them a new task.
Ask the Product Owner for a new Product Backlog Item to work on.
Collaborate with other Developers to see how they can best contribute to achieving the Sprint Goal. (Correct answer)
Start working on items from the next Sprint to get ahead.

Correct answer: Collaborate with other Developers to see how they can best contribute to achieving the Sprint Goal.

The Developers are a self-managing team focused on a collective Sprint Goal. The appropriate action is for the Developer to proactively collaborate with the rest of the team to help with ongoing work, remove impediments, or do whatever is needed to help the team achieve the Sprint Goal together.

Question 19: Who decides when to release an Increment to customers?

The Scrum Master
The Product Owner, based on value and product strategy (Correct answer)
The stakeholders by vote
The Developers alone

Correct answer: The Product Owner, based on value and product strategy

Release timing is a value decision owned by the Product Owner.

Question 20: How does the Product Goal relate to individual Product Backlog items?

Each item replaces the Product Goal
Backlog items are unrelated to the Product Goal
Backlog items elaborate what fulfills the Product Goal (Correct answer)
The Product Goal lists every backlog item verbatim

Correct answer: Backlog items elaborate what fulfills the Product Goal

The Product Backlog defines the work needed to progress toward the Product Goal.

Question 21: How should a Product Owner handle conflicting priorities from two important stakeholders?

Make a single ordering decision based on overall product value (Correct answer)
Build both items in parallel regardless of capacity
Escalate to the Scrum Master to decide
Let the Developers pick which to do first

Correct answer: Make a single ordering decision based on overall product value

The Product Owner is the single decision-maker who orders the backlog by value.

Question 22: What happens to a Scrum event if its purpose is achieved before the timebox ends?

The event is rescheduled
Time is added to the next event
The event can end early (Correct answer)
The team must wait until the timebox expires

Correct answer: The event can end early

Events can end as soon as their purpose is achieved; the timebox is a maximum, not a minimum.

Question 23: What is the recommended size of the Developers within a Scrum Team?

Typically 10 or fewer people (Correct answer)
There is no upper bound
At least 15 people
Exactly 7 people

Correct answer: Typically 10 or fewer people

Scrum Teams are typically 10 or fewer total people, small enough to remain nimble.

Question 24: Who is accountable for maximizing the value of the work the Scrum Team performs?

Developers
Product Owner (Correct answer)
Scrum Master
Stakeholders

Correct answer: Product Owner

The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the team's work.

Question 25: What happens when an artifact has low transparency?

It accelerates the Sprint
It can lead to decisions that diminish value and increase risk (Correct answer)
It improves team velocity
It strengthens the Definition of Done

Correct answer: It can lead to decisions that diminish value and increase risk

Incomplete transparency leads to decisions based on a false state, diminishing value and increasing risk.

Question 26: Scrum's process is described as 'self-managing.' What does this mean?

There are no goals
The Scrum Master controls the work
Managers assign all tasks
The team decides who does what, when, and how (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The team decides who does what, when, and how

A self-managing team internally decides who does what, when, and how.

Question 27: Which event is the container for all other Scrum events?

The Sprint (Correct answer)
Sprint Planning
The Sprint Review
The Daily Scrum

Correct answer: The Sprint

The Sprint is the container event within which all other events take place.

Question 28: If an organization already has a Definition of Done, what must a Scrum Team do with it?

Replace it entirely with a custom team version
Ignore it and create their own from scratch
Get Product Owner approval before any deviation
Use it as a minimum standard and may add stricter criteria (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Use it as a minimum standard and may add stricter criteria

Scrum Teams must comply with the organizational Definition of Done as a minimum and may extend it with additional, more rigorous criteria specific to their work.

Question 29: Why does Scrum favor an empirical approach over a predictive one?

It guarantees fixed timelines
It requires less planning
It eliminates the need for feedback
Complex work is unpredictable and benefits from experience-based decisions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Complex work is unpredictable and benefits from experience-based decisions

Empiricism suits complex work where outcomes are best understood through experimentation and feedback.

Question 30: A new Developer joins a Scrum Team and notices there are no specific titles like 'QA Engineer' or 'Business Analyst' within the group of Developers. What does this lack of specific titles signify about the Developers in Scrum?

That all Developers must be generalists with no specializations.
That accountability for creating a valuable Increment belongs to the Developers as a whole, regardless of individual specializations. (Correct answer)
That the organization has a flat hierarchy, which is unrelated to Scrum principles.
That the Scrum Master is responsible for assigning all testing and analysis tasks.

Correct answer: That accountability for creating a valuable Increment belongs to the Developers as a whole, regardless of individual specializations.

In Scrum, there are no sub-teams or hierarchies within the Developers. While individual Developers may have specialized skills, accountability for delivering a 'Done' Increment belongs to the entire group of Developers. This structure encourages a 'one-team mentality' and shared ownership of the work.

Question 31: Who may attend Sprint Planning besides the Scrum Team?

Only senior management
All stakeholders must attend
Other people invited by the Scrum Team to provide advice (Correct answer)
No one is ever allowed

Correct answer: Other people invited by the Scrum Team to provide advice

The Scrum Team may invite others to attend Sprint Planning to provide advice.

Question 32: Who is responsible for upholding the Scrum Values?

Only the Developers
All members of the Scrum Team (Correct answer)
Only the Product Owner
Only the Scrum Master

Correct answer: All members of the Scrum Team

All Scrum Team members are responsible for learning and living the Scrum Values.

Question 33: Who has the final say on the order of the Product Backlog?

The Developers, because they know the technical effort required.
The stakeholders, because they represent the needs of the market.
The Product Owner, because they are accountable for maximizing product value. (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master, because they are accountable for the Scrum process.

Correct answer: The Product Owner, because they are accountable for maximizing product value.

According to the Scrum Guide, the Product Owner is the sole person accountable for managing the Product Backlog, which includes ordering the items to best achieve goals and missions. While they take input from stakeholders and Developers, the final decision on ordering rests with the Product Owner.

Question 34: A team member trusts that colleagues are capable, independent professionals. Which value does this reflect?

Respect (Correct answer)
Commitment
Focus
Openness

Correct answer: Respect

Respect means team members value each other as capable, independent people.

Question 35: Which statement about the Definition of Done and the Increment is correct?

The Product Owner has authority to override the Definition of Done for urgent releases
Multiple Increments on the same product can have different Definitions of Done
The Definition of Done only applies at the end of a full release cycle
An Increment is only valid when it meets the Definition of Done (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An Increment is only valid when it meets the Definition of Done

An Increment is only a valid, releasable Increment when it satisfies the Definition of Done; without meeting it, the work is simply unfinished.

Question 36: Who is accountable for ensuring all Scrum events take place and stay within their timebox?

The Developers
The Scrum Master (Correct answer)
The Product Owner
The stakeholders

Correct answer: The Scrum Master

The Scrum Master ensures events occur, are positive and productive, and stay within the timebox.

Question 37: The Scrum Guide defines three distinct topics that Sprint Planning addresses to lay out the work to be performed. What are these three topics?

What is the Product Goal? Who are the stakeholders? What are the key risks?
How many story points will be completed? Which tasks are assigned to each Developer? What is the team's velocity?
Why is this Sprint valuable? What can be Done this Sprint? How will the chosen work get done? (Correct answer)
What is the release date? How will we report progress? What is the budget?

Correct answer: Why is this Sprint valuable? What can be Done this Sprint? How will the chosen work get done?

The 2020 Scrum Guide structures Sprint Planning around three core topics: Topic One: Why is this Sprint valuable? (leading to the Sprint Goal), Topic Two: What can be Done this Sprint? (the selection of Product Backlog Items), and Topic Three: How will the chosen work get done? (the Developers' plan for creating the Increment).

Question 38: If a Sprint Goal becomes obsolete mid-Sprint, who can cancel the Sprint?

The Scrum Master
Any stakeholder
The Developers by vote
The Product Owner (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Product Owner

Only the Product Owner has the authority to cancel a Sprint.

Question 39: During a Sprint Retrospective, a developer admits they are struggling with a new technology, which has put a crucial task behind schedule. The other team members thank the developer for their honesty and collaborate to create a plan to help them and get the task back on track. Which Scrum Value is MOST clearly demonstrated by the developer?

Commitment
Focus
Courage (Correct answer)
Respect

Correct answer: Courage

The developer demonstrated Courage by being vulnerable and admitting to a challenge that could impact the team's goals. The Scrum Guide states that Scrum Team members have the courage to do the right thing and work on tough problems. Admitting a weakness or a problem openly is a prime example of this value.

Question 40: A Product Owner notices the team consistently builds features no customers use. The best response is to:

Stop talking to stakeholders
Increase the number of features per Sprint
Blame the Developers for poor delivery
Use validated feedback and metrics to reprioritize toward real customer value (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Use validated feedback and metrics to reprioritize toward real customer value

Empirical feedback should drive reprioritization to maximize actual value.

Question 41: The Scrum Master serves the organization in which way?

By hiring developers
By approving budgets
By assigning tasks
By leading and coaching Scrum adoption (Correct answer)

Correct answer: By leading and coaching Scrum adoption

The Scrum Master serves the organization by leading, training, and coaching it in Scrum adoption.

Question 42: How should the Developers handle a dependency on an external team mid-Sprint?

Self-manage to coordinate and reduce the impact on the Sprint Goal (Correct answer)
Cancel the Sprint
Stop all work until it resolves
Escalate exclusively to management and wait

Correct answer: Self-manage to coordinate and reduce the impact on the Sprint Goal

Self-managing Developers proactively coordinate to keep moving toward the Sprint Goal.

Question 43: If a stakeholder bypasses the Product Owner to add backlog items directly, what should happen?

Developers add the items
Items are added without review
The change is routed through the Product Owner (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master adds them

Correct answer: The change is routed through the Product Owner

All changes to the Product Backlog go through the Product Owner, who is the single source of ordering and value decisions.

Question 44: Who is ultimately accountable for the quality of the Increment via the Definition of Done?

The Scrum Master
The Product Owner alone
Quality assurance department
The Developers (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Developers

The Developers are accountable for adhering to the Definition of Done and the resulting Increment quality.

Question 45: The three pillars of empirical process control are:

Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation (Correct answer)
Commitment, Courage, and Focus
Planning, Execution, and Monitoring
Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment

Correct answer: Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation

Scrum theory is based on empiricism, which relies on transparency, inspection, and adaptation to control risk and optimize predictability and value. These three pillars are essential for the framework to function correctly.

Question 46: If the Sprint Goal is achieved but not all selected Product Backlog items are Done, what happens?

The Sprint is automatically a failure
The items are forced into the Increment
The Sprint is extended
The Sprint can still be successful; incomplete items return to the Product Backlog (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Sprint can still be successful; incomplete items return to the Product Backlog

Achieving the Sprint Goal can mean success even if some items are incomplete; unfinished items go back to the Product Backlog.

Question 47: The CEO contacts you, a significant stakeholder in your team's product. He is concerned that a crucial aspect of the product's intended characteristics will not be given the attention it deserves. This ambiguity is causing him a great deal of anxiety. What can you do to assist the CEO? <br> (Choose the two best responses)

Explain to the CEO that the Product Owner is the one in control of priorities and will do everything to make sure the product offers the maximum possible value to stakeholders and customers. He does not need to worry.
Take note of the features mentioned by the CEO and relay them to the Product Owner.
Take a short moment to give the CEO a high-level update about the result of the last Sprint Review.
Inform the Product Owner of the conversation you had. Advise him to invite the CEO to the Sprint Review. (Correct answer)
Advise the CEO to take this up with the Product Owner. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Inform the Product Owner of the conversation you had. Advise him to invite the CEO to the Sprint Review.

The Product Owner is solely responsible for managing the Product Backlog, maximizing the value of the product, and representing the needs of all stakeholders. As a Scrum Master, your role is to coach the organization on Scrum principles, which includes directing stakeholders like the CEO to the Product Owner for all product-related concerns. This reinforces the Product Owner's authority and accountability for the product's direction.

Question 48: What is the most important subject to discuss during the Daily Scrum?

Impediments to the team that need addressing.
What development team members work on and what they will be working on next.
Is the team moving toward the sprint goal and do they need to realign to reach it. (Correct answer)
Progress on doing the work forecast for this sprint.

Correct answer: Is the team moving toward the sprint goal and do they need to realign to reach it.

The primary purpose of the Daily Scrum is for the Development Team to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as necessary. The discussion should focus on whether the team is on track to achieve the Sprint Goal and what adjustments are needed. While discussing individual work and impediments is part of this, the overarching goal is to ensure collective movement towards the Sprint Goal.

Question 49: What is the maximum timebox for Sprint Planning for a one-month Sprint?

Four hours
Eight hours (Correct answer)
Twelve hours
Two hours

Correct answer: Eight hours

Sprint Planning is timeboxed to a maximum of eight hours for a one-month Sprint.

Question 50: A Developer on the Scrum Team personally pledges to complete their assigned tasks, assists other team members who are falling behind, and actively works with the entire team to ensure the Sprint Goal is met. This dedication exemplifies which Scrum Value?

Commitment (Correct answer)
Focus
Openness
Respect

Correct answer: Commitment

This behavior demonstrates Commitment. The Scrum Team commits to achieving its goals and to supporting each other. The developer is not just dedicated to their own work but is also committed to the team's collective success and the achievement of the Sprint Goal.

Question 51: What enables effective inspection in Scrum?

Detailed annual contracts
Hidden work to avoid blame
Frequent management approvals
High transparency of artifacts and progress (Correct answer)

Correct answer: High transparency of artifacts and progress

Inspection is only meaningful when artifacts and progress are transparent.

Question 52: During the Sprint Review, it became clear that some of the work isn't "Done" due to integration issues. The team cites a lack of integration tools as an example. What do you do as a Scrum Master? <br> (Choose the two best responses)

Note this down as something to address during the Sprint Retrospective. (Correct answer)
Suggest the Product Owner to make room in the upcoming Sprint for non-functional Backlog Items about integration tooling. (Correct answer)
Respectfully bring awareness to the team that they are responsible for delivering working software.
Plan a two hour recess in which the team can integrate their work.
Suggest the development team to look into integration tooling, for instance continuous integration.

Correct answer: Note this down as something to address during the Sprint Retrospective.

The Sprint Retrospective is the dedicated event for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements. Issues like integration problems and a lack of necessary tools are process or environmental impediments that are perfectly suited for discussion and resolution planning during this event. The Scrum Master facilitates this discussion to help the team enhance its Definition of Done and overall working practices.

Question 53: A Developer finishes their task early in the Sprint. What is the most Scrum-aligned action?

Help teammates progress toward the Sprint Goal (Correct answer)
Pull new work from the Product Backlog independently
Start a personal side project
Wait until the next Daily Scrum to do anything

Correct answer: Help teammates progress toward the Sprint Goal

Developers self-manage and collaborate to advance the whole team toward the Sprint Goal.

Question 54: A Product Owner keeps adding items to the current Sprint Backlog without team agreement. This violates which principle?

The Scrum Master sets the Sprint scope
Sprint length must increase
The Product Owner can change scope freely anytime
The Developers own the Sprint Backlog and forecast (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Developers own the Sprint Backlog and forecast

Only the Developers can change the Sprint Backlog; scope changes are negotiated, not imposed.

Question 55: Can the Product Backlog ever be considered complete?

No, it is dynamic and evolves as long as the product exists (Correct answer)
Yes, at the end of each Sprint
Yes, once all items are estimated
Yes, once the Product Goal is written

Correct answer: No, it is dynamic and evolves as long as the product exists

The Product Backlog is dynamic and constantly evolves to reflect what the product needs as long as it exists.

Question 56: What is the main focus of inspection during the Sprint Review?

Team morale
The Definition of Done wording
Individual performance
The Increment and Product Backlog adjustments (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Increment and Product Backlog adjustments

The Sprint Review inspects the Increment and adapts the Product Backlog as needed.

Question 57: If the team is too large to function well, what does Scrum suggest?

Remove the Scrum Master
Reorganize into multiple cohesive Scrum Teams (Correct answer)
Extend the Sprint length
Add a project manager

Correct answer: Reorganize into multiple cohesive Scrum Teams

If teams become too large, they should reorganize into multiple cohesive Scrum Teams focused on the same product.

Question 58: Which event is described as the container for all other Scrum events?

The Sprint Review
The Sprint (Correct answer)
The Daily Scrum
Sprint Planning

Correct answer: The Sprint

The Sprint is a container for all other events such as Planning, Daily Scrum, Review, and Retrospective.

Question 59: For a Product Owner to be successful, the Scrum Guide states that the entire organization must respect their what?

Project management certifications.
Seniority within the company.
Decisions. (Correct answer)
Technical expertise.

Correct answer: Decisions.

The Scrum Guide explicitly states, 'For Product Owners to succeed, the entire organization must respect their decisions.' These decisions are made visible in the content and ordering of the Product Backlog and the state of the Increment at the Sprint Review. This respect empowers the Product Owner to make choices that maximize product value.

Question 60: Why does Scrum prescribe shorter Sprints over longer ones in volatile environments?

To avoid retrospectives
To reduce documentation
To limit risk to one shorter period and increase learning (Correct answer)
To lower team costs

Correct answer: To limit risk to one shorter period and increase learning

Shorter Sprints limit the risk of cost and effort to a smaller time frame and generate more feedback.

Question 61: A stakeholder demands a feature be built first, but the Product Owner disagrees. Who decides the ordering?

The Developers by majority vote
The stakeholder
The Product Owner (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master

Correct answer: The Product Owner

For the Product Owner to succeed, the whole organization must respect their decisions on backlog ordering.

Question 62: A Developer completes a Product Backlog Item on the third day of a two-week Sprint. The work meets all criteria in the Definition of Done. What is the state of this completed item?

Work-in-progress until it is approved at the Sprint Review
A feature that must be released to stakeholders immediately
A usable Increment (Correct answer)
A completed task that will become part of the Increment at the end of the Sprint

Correct answer: A usable Increment

The Scrum Guide states, "The moment a Product Backlog item meets the Definition of Done, an Increment is born." An Increment must be in a usable state, and multiple Increments can be created within a single Sprint. It does not need to wait until the end of the Sprint or the Sprint Review to be considered an Increment.

Question 63: How much of the Product Backlog should be detailed at any given time?

Only the very last item in the list
Higher-ordered items more detailed than lower-ordered ones (Correct answer)
Every item equally and fully detailed
None until the Sprint Planning meeting

Correct answer: Higher-ordered items more detailed than lower-ordered ones

Items at the top are clearer and more detailed because they are worked on sooner.

Question 64: Who is accountable for ensuring the Sprint Planning event takes place and is productive?

The Scrum Master (Correct answer)
The Product Owner
The stakeholders
The Developers

Correct answer: The Scrum Master

The Scrum Master ensures Scrum events happen, are positive, productive, and kept within the timebox.

Question 65: The Scrum framework is founded on the three pillars of empiricism. How does the Sprint Review event most directly support the pillar of 'Adaptation'?

By ensuring the Developers provide a detailed status update to stakeholders.
By enforcing a strict timebox, which forces the team to adapt its presentation to fit the schedule.
By providing a formal opportunity for the team to inspect and adapt its own internal processes.
By using feedback on the current Increment to make collaborative decisions about what to do next, which often results in adjustments to the Product Backlog. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: By using feedback on the current Increment to make collaborative decisions about what to do next, which often results in adjustments to the Product Backlog.

Adaptation involves adjusting based on what was learned during inspection. In the Sprint Review, the Scrum Team and stakeholders inspect the Increment and progress toward the Product Goal. This inspection leads to adaptation, primarily by adjusting the Product Backlog to reflect new insights, opportunities, and feedback.

Question 66: What is the recommended maximum length of the Sprint Review for a two-week Sprint?

2 hours (Correct answer)
6 hours
1 hour
4 hours

Correct answer: 2 hours

The four-hour maximum for a one-month Sprint scales down to about two hours for a two-week Sprint.

Question 67: If a Sprint is two weeks long, what is the maximum timebox for the Sprint Review?

Two hours (Correct answer)
One hour
Eight hours
Four hours

Correct answer: Two hours

The Sprint Review is timeboxed to a maximum of four hours for a one-month Sprint, so two hours is appropriate for a two-week Sprint.

Question 68: Who crafts the Sprint Goal?

The whole Scrum Team (Correct answer)
Management
The Product Owner alone
The Scrum Master

Correct answer: The whole Scrum Team

The whole Scrum Team collaborates to craft the Sprint Goal during Sprint Planning.

Question 69: What characteristic must the Developers collectively possess to build the Increment?

Identical skills
Cross-functional skills (Correct answer)
Separate specialties working in silos
Management authority

Correct answer: Cross-functional skills

Developers are cross-functional, having all the skills needed to create value each Sprint.

Question 70: The Product Goal changes significantly. What is the impact on the Sprint in progress?

All Increments are immediately deleted
The Sprint may continue, but a Sprint becomes obsolete only if its goal is no longer valid, allowing cancellation (Correct answer)
The Scrum Master takes over the backlog
The Definition of Done must be rewritten

Correct answer: The Sprint may continue, but a Sprint becomes obsolete only if its goal is no longer valid, allowing cancellation

A Sprint can be cancelled if its Sprint Goal becomes obsolete, a decision only the Product Owner can make.

Question 71: Does the Scrum Team contain sub-teams or hierarchies?

Yes, by function
Yes, by seniority
Only during scaling
No, it is one cohesive unit (Correct answer)

Correct answer: No, it is one cohesive unit

The Scrum Team is one cohesive unit of professionals with no sub-teams or hierarchies.

Question 72: Scrum's rules are designed to do what with relationships and interactions?

Guide them (Correct answer)
Eliminate them
Replace them with documentation
Standardize all of them rigidly

Correct answer: Guide them

Scrum's rules guide the relationships and interactions among roles, events, and artifacts.

Question 73: A Scrum Master is accountable for the Scrum Team's effectiveness. This means they:

Own the Product Backlog priorities
Manage the team members' careers
Help the team improve practices within the Scrum framework (Correct answer)
Personally deliver the increment each Sprint

Correct answer: Help the team improve practices within the Scrum framework

The Scrum Master is accountable for the team's effectiveness by enabling it to improve within Scrum.

Question 74: What is the focus of the Sprint Retrospective?

Demonstrating the Increment
Inspecting how the last Sprint went regarding people, interactions, processes, and tools (Correct answer)
Reviewing the Product Backlog order
Planning the next Sprint's scope

Correct answer: Inspecting how the last Sprint went regarding people, interactions, processes, and tools

The Sprint Retrospective inspects how the last Sprint went and plans improvements.

Question 75: During Sprint Planning, the Product Owner proposes a Sprint Goal. After discussion, the Developers believe they cannot complete all the selected Product Backlog Items to achieve the goal. According to the Scrum Guide, what is the primary accountability of the Developers in this situation?

To begin the Sprint with the current plan and inform the Product Owner daily that the goal is at risk.
To accept the Sprint Goal and work overtime to meet the Product Owner's expectations.
To negotiate with the Product Owner about the scope of the work for the Sprint, ensuring a realistic plan to achieve the Sprint Goal. (Correct answer)
To ask the Scrum Master to cancel the Sprint since the goal is unachievable.

Correct answer: To negotiate with the Product Owner about the scope of the work for the Sprint, ensuring a realistic plan to achieve the Sprint Goal.

The Developers are accountable for creating the plan for the Sprint (the Sprint Backlog). This includes selecting the amount of work they can realistically complete. If the proposed work seems too much to achieve the Sprint Goal, they must collaborate and negotiate with the Product Owner to adjust the scope, ensuring the plan is feasible.

Question 76: Two developers disagree on a design approach but listen to and value each other's perspective. Which value is at work?

Courage
Respect (Correct answer)
Focus
Commitment

Correct answer: Respect

Respect means valuing teammates' viewpoints even during disagreement.

Question 77: How frequently does the Daily Scrum occur?

Twice per week
Every working day of the Sprint (Correct answer)
Once per Sprint
Only when blockers exist

Correct answer: Every working day of the Sprint

The Daily Scrum is held every working day of the Sprint at the same time and place.

Question 78: Successfully living the Scrum values primarily results in what within the team?

Fewer team members
Higher velocity numbers
Longer Sprints
Trust (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Trust

When the values are embodied, the trust needed for empiricism and self-management grows.

PSM I Exam

The Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) certification from Scrum.org validates understanding of the Scrum framework, the Scrum Master accountabilities, and how to apply Scrum in real-world projects.

Questions

60 min

Time Limit

85%

To Pass

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