SCRUM Team Accountabilities 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Developer wants to change a Sprint Backlog item's approach mid-Sprint. Who decides?
- The Product Owner must approve
- The Scrum Master decides
- The Developers self-manage this decision (Correct answer)
- Stakeholders vote
Correct answer: The Developers self-manage this decision
Developers are self-managing and decide how to turn Product Backlog items into Increments.
Question 2: Which accountability is responsible for ensuring all Scrum events take place and are productive?
- Product Owner
- Scrum Master (Correct answer)
- Developers
- Team lead
Correct answer: Scrum Master
The Scrum Master ensures that all Scrum events take place and are positive, productive, and kept within the timebox.
Question 3: Can the Product Owner role be shared across a committee?
- Yes, a committee is preferred
- No, the Product Owner is one person (Correct answer)
- Yes, if approved by stakeholders
- Only when scaling
Correct answer: No, the Product Owner is one person
The Product Owner is one person, not a committee, though they may represent the needs of many stakeholders.
Question 4: Who is accountable for instilling self-management and cross-functionality in the team?
- Product Owner
- Scrum Master (Correct answer)
- Developers
- HR
Correct answer: Scrum Master
The Scrum Master coaches the team in self-management and cross-functionality.
Question 5: If a stakeholder bypasses the Product Owner to add backlog items directly, what should happen?
- Developers add the items
- The change is routed through the Product Owner (Correct answer)
- The Scrum Master adds them
- Items are added without review
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 6: What characteristic must the Developers collectively possess to build the Increment?
- Identical skills
- Cross-functional skills (Correct answer)
- Management authority
- Separate specialties working in silos
Correct answer: Cross-functional skills
Developers are cross-functional, having all the skills needed to create value each Sprint.
Question 7: Who is ultimately accountable for the quality of the Increment via the Definition of Done?
- The Product Owner alone
- The Developers (Correct answer)
- The Scrum Master
- Quality assurance department
Correct answer: The Developers
The Developers are accountable for adhering to the Definition of Done and the resulting Increment quality.
SCRUM Team Accountabilities 3
A Developer wants to change a Sprint Backlog item's approach mid-Sprint.
Who decides?