Scrum PSK-I Professional Scrum with Kanban (PSK 1) Exam Exam Practice Test

When Developers limit Work in Progress (WIP) within a Sprint:

1.Developers Stop Beginning Work and Start Finishing Work (Option A):

Limiting WIP encourages the team to focus on completing work that has already been started rather than starting new tasks. This "stop starting, start finishing" approach helps to reduce multitasking and ensures that tasks are completed more efficiently(

2.Self-management Strengthened Due to Increased Transparency (Option C):

Limiting WIP increases transparency by clearly showing what work is in progress and what remains to be done. This heightened visibility encourages the Developers to self-manage more effectively, as they can see what needs attention and make collective decisions about the next steps(

3.Increased Collaboration/Swarming Between Developers (Option D):

With a limited amount of work in progress, Developers are more likely to collaborate or "swarm" on the tasks that are currently active. This can lead to faster completion of tasks, shared knowledge among team members, and a stronger sense of teamwork(

Option B (The amount of work done by the end of the Sprint would be reduced) is not necessarily correct. Limiting WIP does not inherently reduce the amount of work completed; instead, it aims to improve focus, reduce waste, and ensure more consistent delivery.

Reducing batch size does not always guarantee an increase in overall efficiency. While smaller batch sizes can lead to faster feedback, more frequent deliveries, and reduced risk, there can be situations where reducing the batch size too much results in inefficiencies, such as increased overhead costs or excessive context switching. Thus, the relationship between batch size and efficiency depends on the context, system constraints, and the nature of the work

Work Item Age is the amount of time a work item has been in progress. It acts as a leading indicator for the length of the Scrum Team's feedback loop for that item. If a work item stays in progress for too long, it indicates that feedback is delayed, potentially impacting the team's ability to adapt and respond effectively. Tracking Work Item Age helps the team monitor flow and take timely actions to ensure that feedback loops remain short and effective

Little's Law is a formula used to understand the relationship between system throughput, work-in-progress (WIP), and lead time. While it can be used to analyze and optimize the flow of work, it is not specifically designed for forecasting a Scrum Team's output.

Scrum Teams typically use techniques like story point estimation and historical velocity to forecast their output.

The primary effect of limiting Work in Progress (WIP) is to create a pull system. A pull system ensures that new work is only started when there is capacity, meaning that work is "pulled" into the system when the team has the availability to do so. This approach prevents overloading the team and helps maintain a steady and predictable flow of work, aligning with the Kanban practices within the Scrum framework

1.WIP Limits provide a boundary/container in which the Scrum Team self-manages (Option B):

WIP Limits establish clear boundaries within which the Scrum Team can make decisions about how much work they take on. This framework allows the team to self-manage their workflow more effectively, as they must decide collectively how to stay within these limits while delivering value.

2.As part of self-managing, Scrum Teams figure out their own WIP Limits (Option D):

A fundamental principle of Scrum is self-management. The team collectively decides its WIP limits, adjusting them based on empirical evidence and ongoing learning about their capacity, flow, and delivery capabilities. This decision-making process is a key aspect of the team's autonomy and self-management(

Options A and C are incorrect because WIP limits do not inhibit self-management (A); instead, they enable it. Additionally, a Scrum Master does not define WIP limits (C); the Scrum Team decides them.

The four key flow metrics in Scrum with Kanban are:

•Work in Progress (WIP): The number of items that are currently being worked on.

•Work Item Age: The time that has elapsed since an item started, which helps identify aging work that may need attention.

•Throughput: The number of items completed over a specific period, helping to measure productivity.

•Cycle Time: The total time from when an item starts until it is finished, used to assess how quickly items are moving through the process.

These metrics are essential for understanding and optimizing the flow of work in a Scrum team using Kanban practices

Little's Law states:

•Average Cycle Time = Average Work in Progress (WIP) / Average Throughput.

Little's Law is used to understand and forecast the performance of a workflow system. It implies that if you know two of these three variables (Cycle Time, WIP, Throughput), you can calculate the third. The correct formula is Option A(

Options B, C, and D do not correctly state Little's Law.

The Definition of Workflow should include policies that dictate how work flows through the system, such as Visualization policies, Pull policies, WIP Limits, Service Level Expectations, Work Item types, and the Definition of Done. These elements help the Scrum Team maintain transparency and consistency in their process, enhancing predictability and facilitating continuous improvement. References: The Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams​​.

An SLE combines a timeframe (elapsed days) and a probability, representing the likelihood that a work item will be completed within that timeframe. This helps to set realistic expectations for stakeholders and guide the team in maintaining a predictable flow. References: The Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams​.

Limiting Work in Progress (WIP) has several potential benefits for a Scrum Team, including:

1.Shorter feedback cycles (Option A): By limiting the amount of work in progress, the team can focus on completing work faster, which leads to shorter feedback loops and quicker validation of hypotheses or deliverables.

2.More sustainable pace of work (Option B): Limiting WIP helps prevent overburdening the team, promoting a more balanced and sustainable work pace.

3.Faster realization of value (Option C): By completing items more quickly and reducing multitasking, the team delivers value faster to stakeholders.

4.Improved collaboration (Option D): When WIP is limited, team members are more likely to collaborate to finish tasks that are already in progress rather than starting new ones.

Work in Progress (WIP) and Work Item Aging are considered leading indicator metrics in Scrum with Kanban. Leading indicators are metrics that provide information that can help predict future outcomes or performance.

•Work in Progress (WIP): This metric indicates the number of work items currently being worked on and can provide early signals about potential bottlenecks or issues in the workflow. Managing WIP effectively can help teams optimize their flow and predict how work might proceed in the future.

•Work Item Aging: This metric shows how long work items have been in progress without being completed. It provides an early indication of delays and can help teams identify items that might need attention to maintain a steady flow

In the context of Professional Scrum with Kanban, the Sprint Retrospective is the most suitable time to inspect and adapt WIP Limits. This is because the Retrospective is a dedicated time-box for the Scrum Team to reflect on its performance and identify areas for improvement.

Here's why:

Continuous Improvement:The Retrospective is a key part of the Scrum framework, designed to foster continuous improvement. By reviewing WIP Limits during this time, the team can assess their effectiveness and make data-driven decisions.

Data-Driven Decisions:By tracking WIP Limits over time, the team can gather valuable insights into their workflow and identify bottlenecks. This data can inform decisions about adjusting WIP Limits to optimize flow and productivity.

Team Collaboration:The Retrospective provides an opportunity for the entire team to discuss and agree upon changes to WIP Limits. This collaborative approach ensures buy-in and commitment from all team members.

While it's true that Developers can monitor WIP Limits throughout the Sprint, the Retrospective is the designated time for a formal review and adjustment. This ensures that any changes are aligned with the team's overall goals and strategy.

By limiting WIP, Scrum Teams using Kanban create a more predictable flow, as it prevents the team from overcommitting and encourages them to finish work items before starting new ones. This aligns with Kanban’s principle of optimizing flow and Scrum’s iterative delivery approach. References: The Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams​​.

Little's Lawestablishes a relationship between three flow metrics:Work in Progress (WIP),Cycle Time, andThroughput. It provides insights into how changes in one metric affect the others in a stable system​​.

Little's Law is used to understand and manage flow within a system but isnot a forecasting tool for output or future performance. It assumes a stable and predictable system where the input and output rates are consistent.

Why Not True?

Forecasting requires variability, historical data, and often different statistical models. While Little's Law supports system predictability and capacity planning, it does not directly project future Scrum Team outputs or delivery dates​.

Thus, Little's Law helps teams analyze and optimize flow but is not used for forecasting.

An SLE indicates the expected time frame within which work items should be completed, expressed as a percentage probability over a specific range of days. This helps Scrum Teams using Kanban to establish realistic expectations about delivery timelines. References: The Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams​.

While WIP is a crucial metric for Kanban teams, it is not a flow metric. Flow metrics measure the movement of work through the system, while WIP measures the amount of work currently in progress.

Here's a breakdown of the other options:

Cycle Time:The time it takes to complete a piece of work from start to finish.

Throughput:The rate at which work is completed.

Work item age:The amount of time a work item has spent in the system.

All of these metrics provide insights into the flow of work and can be used to identify bottlenecks and optimize the workflow.

Therefore, option B, "Work in Progress (WIP)," is the correct answer.

Kanban emphasizes explicit policies for better transparency and alignment, and elements such as the Definition of Done, Definition of Ready, and Product Backlog refinement can be utilized as explicit policies to clarify the Scrum Team’s working agreements. These policies help the team make consistent decisions and streamline their processes. References: The Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams and The Scrum Guide​​.

Supplementing Scrum with Kanban practices can bring several benefits to a Scrum Team:

•Greater Collaboration (A): By using Kanban practices like visualizing work and managing flow, team members have clearer visibility into each other's tasks, fostering better collaboration.

•Reduced Average Cycle Time (C): Kanban's focus on flow and limiting WIP helps decrease the time it takes for items to move from start to finish.

•Better Transparency (D): Kanban practices enhance visibility into the current state of work, making it easier to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.

•Discover Areas of Variability (E): The use of flow metrics such as cycle time and throughput in Kanban can help identify variability in processes, enabling the team to make adjustments for more predictable delivery

A Kanban board is primarily used for visualizing the Workflow and managing WIP Limits. This visualization helps Scrum Teams make the flow of work transparent, track progress, and manage bottlenecks effectively. Limiting WIP ensures a pull-based flow, where new tasks are only started when there is available capacity, preventing overburdening the team. References: The Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams​​.

Supplementing Scrum with Kanban practices encourages team collaboration and swarming. Kanban practices such as visualizing the workflow, limiting WIP, and focusing on flow metrics foster an environment where team members are more likely to collaborate closely to resolve bottlenecks and ensure a steady flow of work. This collaboration, often called "swarming," involves team members working together on fewer items to complete them faster, thereby enhancing team dynamics and efficiency

A Kanban board is primarily used for visualizing the Workflow and managing WIP Limits. This visualization helps Scrum Teams make the flow of work transparent, track progress, and manage bottlenecks effectively. Limiting WIP ensures a pull-based flow, where new tasks are only started when there is available capacity, preventing overburdening the team. References: The Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams​​.

If the Product Owner requests that an urgent, unplanned work item be added during the Sprint, and it aligns with the Sprint Goal but does not fit within the current WIP limits, the Developers should:

1.Add the urgent item to their Sprint Backlog but only start working on it when their WIP Limits allow it (Option A): This maintains the integrity of the WIP limits and ensures that the team doesn't overcommit or create too much work in progress, which could affect flow and focus.

2.Take on the urgent item as an exception to the WIP Limits and visualize that they are above their WIP Limit (Option C): By taking on the urgent item as an exception, the team can address the urgency while being transparent about the temporary breach of the WIP limits. This visualization helps the team and stakeholders understand the current state of work and its impact(

Options B (Adjust the WIP Limits) and D (Reject the urgent item) are less suitable because they either undermine the WIP control mechanism or fail to accommodate a potentially critical change that aligns with the Sprint Goal.

During a flow-based Daily Scrum, the team is likely to review metrics such as Work Item Age and Work in Progress (WIP):

•Work Item Age: Helps to identify items that have been in progress for a longer time than expected, signaling possible impediments or the need for swarming to complete those items.

•Work in Progress (WIP): Indicates the number of items currently being worked on, ensuring that the team is not exceeding the agreed WIP limits, which is crucial for maintaining a steady flow

Kanban emphasizes explicit policies for better transparency and alignment, and elements such as the Definition of Done, Definition of Ready, and Product Backlog refinement can be utilized as explicit policies to clarify the Scrum Team’s working agreements. These policies help the team make consistent decisions and streamline their processes. References: The Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams and The Scrum Guide​​.

1.The Kanban Board Provides Transparency (Option A):

A Kanban board visualizes the flow of work, making it easy for the Scrum Team to see the status of work items, identify bottlenecks, and inspect and adapt their processes. This visual transparency is a fundamental aspect of both Scrum and Kanban and supports the empirical process control central to Scrum(

2.Kanban Helps Achieve Faster, Healthier Flow (Option D):

By focusing on optimizing flow (e.g., reducing Cycle Time and managing Work in Progress), Kanban helps Scrum Teams achieve a faster, more predictable flow of work. This improvement in flow brings more rapid transparency, allowing for more effective inspection and adaptation during Scrum events such as the Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective(

Option B (Kanban metrics are used in the Sprint Review to allow the Product Owner to inspect Throughput and adapt the Scrum Team's Cycle Time) is not necessarily accurate, as the Sprint Review focuses on the product increment and stakeholder feedback, not directly on Kanban metrics.

Option C (Kanban helps Scrum Teams deal with simple and complicated work where empiricism is not necessary) is incorrect because both Kanban and Scrum rely on empiricism (transparency, inspection, and adaptation) to deal with work complexity

A Cycle Time scatterplot is the best chart to determine when a single item that has not been started will be finished. This chart shows the distribution of cycle times for completed work items. By analyzing the historical data, you can estimate the likely cycle time for a new item.

Here's how to use the Cycle Time scatterplot:

Identify the average cycle time:Calculate the average cycle time for similar types of work items.

Consider variability:Look at the range of cycle times to understand the variability in delivery times.

Estimate completion time:Based on the average cycle time and variability, estimate when the new item is likely to be completed.

While the other charts (CFD, Throughput run chart, and WIP Aging chart) provide valuable insights into the overall workflow, they are not as effective for predicting the completion time of a single item.

In the context of Professional Scrum with Kanban, the Sprint Retrospective is the most suitable time to inspect and adapt WIP Limits. This is because the Retrospective is a dedicated time-box for the Scrum Team to reflect on its performance and identify areas for improvement.

Here's why:

Continuous Improvement:The Retrospective is a key part of the Scrum framework, designed to foster continuous improvement. By reviewing WIP Limits during this time, the team can assess their effectiveness and make data-driven decisions.

Data-Driven Decisions:By tracking WIP Limits over time, the team can gather valuable insights into their workflow and identify bottlenecks. This data can inform decisions about adjusting WIP Limits to optimize flow and productivity.

Team Collaboration:The Retrospective provides an opportunity for the entire team to discuss and agree upon changes to WIP Limits. This collaborative approach ensures buy-in and commitment from all team members.

While it's true that Developers can monitor WIP Limits throughout the Sprint, the Retrospective is the designated time for a formal review and adjustment. This ensures that any changes are aligned with the team's overall goals and strategy.

Kanban for Scrum Teams maximizes value delivered by:

1.Enabling Tighter Empirical Feedback Loops via Faster Cycle Times (Option B):

Kanban practices help Scrum Teams reduce Cycle Times, which is the time it takes for a work item to move from "start" to "finish." Faster Cycle Times mean that feedback on work done is received more quickly, allowing the team to make necessary adjustments sooner. This rapid feedback loop enhances the empirical process control central to Scrum, thus ensuring that the team is always delivering value in line with the needs of stakeholders(

2.Optimizing the Flow of Value (Option C):

Kanban focuses on optimizing the flow of work through the team’s process. This is achieved by limiting Work in Progress (WIP) and actively managing flow metrics such as throughput and cycle time. By optimizing flow, teams can ensure that work items are completed efficiently and effectively, minimizing waste and maximizing the delivery of value to the customer(

The other options are less accurate:

•Option A: Minimizing time spent in meetings/events is not the primary goal of Kanban; rather, it is about optimizing flow and value delivery.

•Option D: Minimizing transaction costs is more related to Lean principles, but it does not directly address the value delivered as effectively as options B and C.

•Option E: Choosing higher-value items to deliver is part of prioritization, which is more related to Product Backlog management than to Kanban's specific practices

A Cycle Time Scatterplot is a visualization tool used to display the cycle times for individual work items over time. This scatterplot provides several types of qualitative information:

1.General Cycle Time Trends (Option A): The scatterplot can show general trends over time, such as whether the cycle times are decreasing, increasing, or staying stable. This helps teams understand the overall direction in which their workflow efficiency is moving.

2.Single Cycle Time Outliers (Option B): The scatterplot also helps identify individual outliers — work items that took significantly longer or shorter than usual to complete. These outliers can be further investigated to understand why they occurred and to prevent similar situations in the future.

3.Clusters of Cycle Time Outliers (Option C): In addition to single outliers, the scatterplot may reveal clusters of outliers. These clusters can indicate systemic issues, such as bottlenecks or recurring problems in a specific part of the process.

Since a Cycle Time Scatterplot provides all these types of information (general trends, single outliers, and clusters of outliers), the correct answer is D.

Little's Lawestablishes a relationship between three flow metrics:Work in Progress (WIP),Cycle Time, andThroughput. It provides insights into how changes in one metric affect the others in a stable system​​.

Little's Law is used to understand and manage flow within a system but isnot a forecasting tool for output or future performance. It assumes a stable and predictable system where the input and output rates are consistent.

Why Not True?

Forecasting requires variability, historical data, and often different statistical models. While Little's Law supports system predictability and capacity planning, it does not directly project future Scrum Team outputs or delivery dates​.

Thus, Little's Law helps teams analyze and optimize flow but is not used for forecasting.

An SLE combines a timeframe (elapsed days) and a probability, representing the likelihood that a work item will be completed within that timeframe. This helps to set realistic expectations for stakeholders and guide the team in maintaining a predictable flow. References: The Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams​.

The best answer is option A, which outlines the core Kanban practices for Scrum:

•Visualizing Flow: Helps the team see the state of work items at a glance.

•Limiting Work in Progress (WIP): Prevents overloading the team and promotes focus on completing work.

•Actively Managing the WIP: Ensures the team continuously monitors and manages the amount of work in progress.

•Inspecting and Adapting the Workflow: Regularly reviewing and adjusting the workflow to improve efficiency and effectiveness

Little's Law is a formula used to understand the relationship between system throughput, work-in-progress (WIP), and lead time. While it can be used to analyze and optimize the flow of work, it is not specifically designed for forecasting a Scrum Team's output.

Scrum Teams typically use techniques like story point estimation and historical velocity to forecast their output.

Reducing batch size does not always guarantee an increase in overall efficiency. While smaller batch sizes can lead to faster feedback, more frequent deliveries, and reduced risk, there can be situations where reducing the batch size too much results in inefficiencies, such as increased overhead costs or excessive context switching. Thus, the relationship between batch size and efficiency depends on the context, system constraints, and the nature of the work

The primary effect of limiting Work in Progress (WIP) is to create a pull system. A pull system ensures that new work is only started when there is capacity, meaning that work is "pulled" into the system when the team has the availability to do so. This approach prevents overloading the team and helps maintain a steady and predictable flow of work, aligning with the Kanban practices within the Scrum framework

Leading indicators are the most appropriate metrics for Daily Scrum because they provide information about the current state of the work and potential future issues. By tracking leading indicators, the team can identify potential problems early on and take proactive measures to address them.

Here are some examples of leading indicators that can be useful during Daily Scrum:

WIP Limits:Are the WIP limits being adhered to?

Blocked Tasks:Are there any tasks that are blocked or waiting for dependencies?

Task Progress:How much progress has been made on each task?

Team Mood:Is the team morale high or low?

By discussing these leading indicators during the Daily Scrum, the team can identify any impediments and take immediate action to keep the work flowing smoothly.

Lagging indicators, on the other hand, provide information about past performance and are not as useful for identifying and addressing current issues. Examples of lagging indicators include cycle time, lead time, and throughput. While these metrics are important for long-term analysis and improvement, they are not as actionable in the context of the Daily Scrum.

Work Item Aging is an essential metric that helps the Scrum Team monitor progress and detect potential delays early. It is especially useful in Daily Scrums to identify items that are taking longer than expected, allowing the team to take corrective actions and prevent delays. It also serves as a leading indicator of how long the feedback loop for a Work Item may take.

During the Sprint Retrospective, once a team decides to supplement their Scrum with Kanban, all the mentioned elements might be considered:

•Workflow: To ensure it aligns with Kanban practices.

•Current policies: To review and adapt any team policies that may need to change.

•WIP Limit: To set appropriate limits to enhance flow.

•Metrics and charts (e.g., Cumulative Flow Diagram, Cycle Time Scatterplot, Work Item Aging): To visualize flow, identify bottlenecks, and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.

Considering all these elements helps the Scrum Team integrate Kanban practices effectively into their existing Scrum framework