Scrum PSM-I Professional Scrum Master I Exam Practice Test

The best answer is C. The function or purpose of management in Scrum is to present the Scrum Teams with insights and resources that help them improve. According to the article What is the Function or Purpose of Management in Scrum?, management is still critical to providing vision, securing resources, hiring talent, training teams, removing roadblocks, and continuously improving. Management also encourages collaboration and establishes Scrum Team autonomy, which are essential for Scrum’s values and principles.

A, B and D are not good answers because they imply a command-and-control approach that contradicts Scrum’s values of respect, openness, and self-organization. Management in Scrum is not supposed to micromanage, judge, or interfere with the work of the Developers, but rather support them and enable them to deliver value.

According to the Scrum Guide1, each event in Scrum is a formal opportunity to inspect and adapt something. These events are specifically designed to enable critical transparency and inspection. Failure to include any of these events results in reduced transparency and is a lost opportunity to inspect and adapt. All events are time-boxed events, such that every event has a maximum duration. Once a Sprint begins, its duration is fixed and cannot be shortened or lengthened. The remaining events may end whenever the purpose of the event is achieved, ensuring an appropriate amount of time is spent without allowing waste in the process. The time-boxed events in Scrum are:

Sprint Planning (eight hours or less for a one-month Sprint)

Daily Scrum (15 minutes or less for a one-month Sprint)

Sprint Review (four hours or less for a one-month Sprint)

Sprint Retrospective (three hours or less for a one-month Sprint)

The other options are not time-boxed events in Scrum.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide1, the Developers are self-organizing and decide how to turn Product Backlog items into an Increment of value. No one tells them how to do their work. The Developers are accountable for creating a plan for the Sprint, the Sprint Backlog. The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization. Therefore, when the Scrum Team gets caught in an internal disagreement about which development techniques to apply, two techniques that the Scrum Master could use are:

Involve the complete Development Team, as they are responsible for managing and refining their own work.

Use coaching techniques, such as open questions and active listening, to help the Development Team resolve their conflict and reach a consensus.

The other options are not appropriate, as they may undermine the self-organization and empowerment of the Developers.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide, a Sprint concludes when the Sprint Retrospective is complete. This is the last event of the Sprint cycle, where the Scrum Team inspects itself and creates a plan for improvements. The other options are not valid indicators of the conclusion of a Sprint, as they are either irrelevant (such as the Product Owner deciding enough has been delivered) or incomplete (such as all tasks or Product Backlog items being done).

Several Sprints into a project, a key stakeholder begins using the product and finds the quality lacking. The Product Owner (PO) agrees and shares this concern with the Scrum Master (SM). The Scrum Master needs to determine the best way to respond.

Scrum emphasizes empiricism, which is based on transparency, inspection, and adaptation​. This means that if quality concerns arise, the Scrum Team must inspect the issue, adapt accordingly, and ensure quality is built into the product incrementally.

✅ A. Encourage the Product Owner to include quality specifications in the Product Backlog and to communicate the stakeholders' concerns to the Developers.

???? Reference from the Scrum Guide:

"The Product Backlog is an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product. It is the single source of work undertaken by the Scrum Team."​

"The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team."​

???? Why is this Correct?

Since the Product Owner represents the stakeholders, they should translate the stakeholder’s concerns into actionable Product Backlog Items (PBIs) that reflect quality improvements.

Developers can refine and plan these PBIs in upcoming Sprints to ensure quality is systematically addressed.

The Product Backlog is the single source of work, meaning all quality requirements should be made explicit there.

This approach aligns with Scrum’s empirical process of making work transparent so that the team can inspect and adapt.

✅ C. Work with the Product Owner to understand their desired resolution and help formulate an approach for raising the concern with the Developers.

???? Reference from the Scrum Guide:

"The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner in several ways, including: Helping find techniques for effective Product Goal definition and Product Backlog management."​

"The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team in several ways, including: Helping the Scrum Team focus on creating high-value Increments that meet the Definition of Done."​

???? Why is this Correct?

The Scrum Master is a servant leader, responsible for facilitating collaboration between the Product Owner and Developers so that the concern is effectively addressed.

Instead of dictating a solution, the Scrum Master guides discussions and enables the team to decide how best to improve quality.

The Definition of Done (DoD) should be reviewed to ensure it is clear, measurable, and includes quality standards​.

This approach ensures that all stakeholders—Developers, Product Owner, and Scrum Master—collaborate in a self-managing way to improve quality.

Incorrect Answers with Explanations

❌ B. Bring the concern to the testers to improve how the Product is verified.

???? Reference from the Scrum Guide:

"Developers are always accountable for: Instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done."​

???? Why is this Incorrect?

Scrum does not have a separate testing team; instead, the Developers are responsible for all aspects of quality (coding, testing, integration, etc.).

Quality should not be "verified" by an external group; rather, it must be built into the Increment from the start.

Instead of passing the issue to testers, the Scrum Team should improve their Definition of Done to ensure the product meets the necessary quality standards.

❌ D. Tell the Product Owner they have noted the concern and will raise this issue at the Sprint Retrospective.

???? Reference from the Scrum Guide:

"The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint."​

???? Why is this Incorrect?

While the Sprint Retrospective is useful for discussing improvements, waiting until the Retrospective delays the resolution of a critical issue.

The Scrum Team should act immediately by addressing quality issues in the Product Backlog and adapting their work in upcoming Sprints.

Transparency and fast feedback are key principles in Scrum—delaying discussions goes against empiricism.

❌ E. Explain to the Product Owner that it is up to the Developers to decide on acceptable quality standards.

???? Reference from the Scrum Guide:

"The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product."​

"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."​

???? Why is this Incorrect?

While the Developers are responsible for meeting the Definition of Done, quality is a shared responsibility across the Scrum Team.

The Product Owner must ensure that the product delivers value to stakeholders, which includes meeting their quality expectations.

Ignoring the Product Owner’s concerns contradicts Scrum’s emphasis on collaboration and transparency.

Detailed Explanation & References from Scrum

???? Scrum Guide Reference:

"The Sprint Backlog is composed of the Sprint Goal (why), the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint (what), as well as an actionable plan for delivering the Increment (how)."​

"The Sprint Backlog is a plan by and for the Developers. It is a highly visible, real-time picture of the work that the Developers plan to accomplish during the Sprint in order to achieve the Sprint Goal."​

???? Why is "C. The Developers" Correct?

The Sprint Backlog is owned and managed by the Developers because they are the ones responsible for planning and executing the work.

The Developers update and modify the Sprint Backlog as needed during the Sprint.

The Scrum Team collaborates during Sprint Planning to define the Sprint Backlog, but the ongoing responsibility for managing it lies only with the Developers.

This allows the team to self-manage and adapt as work progresses.

❌ Incorrect Answers with Explanations

❌ A. The Scrum Team

???? Why is this Incorrect?

While the Scrum Team (Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Developers) collaborates during Sprint Planning, only the Developers are responsible for the Sprint Backlog.

The Scrum Master does not manage the Sprint Backlog, and the Product Owner does not modify it once the Sprint starts.

❌ B. The Scrum Master

???? Why is this Incorrect?

The Scrum Master facilitates the process but does not own or manage the Sprint Backlog.

The Scrum Master helps the team understand Scrum practices and remove impediments, but they do not decide or change the Sprint Backlog​.

❌ D. The Product Owner

???? Why is this Incorrect?

The Product Owner is responsible for the Product Backlog, NOT the Sprint Backlog.

Once a Sprint starts, the Product Owner cannot modify the Sprint Backlog—only the Developers can update it as they learn more.

he correct answer is A, because doing all work needed to meet the definition of “Done” enhances the transparency of an increment. The Scrum Guide states that “when a Product Backlog item or an Increment is described as ‘Done’, everyone must understand what ‘Done’ means.” Therefore, by meeting the definition of “Done”, an increment becomes transparent to all stakeholders and ready for release.

According to the Scrum Guide1, the Daily Scrum is an event for the Developers of the Scrum Team. The purpose of the Daily Scrum is to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as necessary, adjusting the upcoming planned work. The Scrum Master and Product Owner may attend as observers, but only if it is useful for the Developers.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide, the timebox for a Sprint Planning event is 8 hours for a one-month Sprint, proportionally shorter for shorter Sprints. The other options are not valid, as they are either too long (such as monthly), too vague (such as whenever it’s done), or too short (such as 4 hours for a one-month Sprint).

The correct answers are B and C, because these are the two primary ways a Scrum Master keeps a Development Team working at its highest level of productivity. The Scrum Guide states that “the Scrum Master serves the Development Team in several ways, including … removing impediments to the Development Team’s progress; facilitating Scrum events as requested or needed; and coaching the Development Team in self-organization and cross-functionality.” Therefore, by removing impediments and facilitating decisions, the Scrum Master helps the Development Team focus on their work and deliver value.

The correct answer is E, because all of these topics can be discussed during a Sprint Retrospective. The Scrum Guide states that “the purpose of the Sprint Retrospective is to plan ways to increase quality and effectiveness. … During each Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum Team plans ways to improve product quality by adapting the definition of ‘Done’ as appropriate.” Therefore, the Scrum Team can discuss any aspect of their process, communication, skills, or definition of ‘Done’ that may help them improve.

According to the Scrum Guide1, each Sprint is a project with no more than a one-month horizon. The Sprint Goal gives guidance to why the Scrum Team is building an Increment. The Development Team consists of professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable Increment of “Done” product at the end of each Sprint. Therefore, in the first Sprint, as in any other Sprint, the Development Team should develop at least one piece of functionality and create an increment of potentially releasable software. The other options are not consistent with Scrum values and principles.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide1, the Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. The Sprint Retrospective occurs after the Sprint Review and prior to the next Sprint Planning. The purpose of the Sprint Retrospective is to plan ways to increase quality and effectiveness. The Product Owner is part of the Scrum Team and should participate as a Scrum Team member in the Sprint Retrospective.

References: Scrum Guide

If the Development Team cannot complete its work by the end of the Sprint, then the Sprint length holds and the Development Team continuously learns what is actually possible to do within a Sprint of this length, as stated in [7]: “If a Development Team determines it has overcommitted itself for a Sprint, one option is to collaborate with the Product Owner to negotiate removing or reducing scope. Another option is to simply work hard and do its best, without cutting quality or pressuring individuals. In either case, the Development Team learns from its experience and uses this learning when planning future Sprints.”

The correct answer is B, because a product Increment does not have to be released to production at the end of each Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “at the end of a Sprint, the new Increment must be ‘Done,’ which means it must be in useable condition and meet the Scrum Team’s definition of ‘Done’. An increment is a body of inspectable, done work that supports empiricism at the end of the Sprint. The increment is a step toward a vision or goal.” Therefore, a product Increment must be potentially releasable, but the decision to release it is up to the Product Owner.

The correct answer is A, because the Product Owner does not determine how many Product Backlog items the Development Team selects for a Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “the number of items selected from the Product Backlog for the Sprint is solely up to the Development Team. Only the Development Team can assess what it can accomplish over the upcoming Sprint.” Therefore, the Development Team is responsible for choosing the scope of work for a Sprint.

According to the Scrum Guide, a Scrum Team must release each Increment when it makes sense to do so, based on the value and feedback obtained from stakeholders. The decision to release an Increment is made by the Product Owner, who is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Development Team. The other options are not valid, as they imply that releasing an Increment is either mandatory (such as after every Sprint), conditional (such as when the product is free of defects), or irrelevant (such as when the Scrum Team finishes their work).

According to the Scrum Guide1, during each Daily Scrum, each Developer answers three questions:

What did I do yesterday that helped meet our Sprint Goal?

What will I do today to help meet our Sprint Goal?

Do I see any impediment that prevents me or our Development Team from meeting our Sprint Goal?

The Developers can select whatever structure and techniques they want, as long as their Daily Scrum focuses on progress toward achieving their Sprint Goal and producing a usable Increment. The other options are not relevant or appropriate for the Daily Scrum.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide, the Developers are accountable for tracking the remaining work toward the Sprint Goal, as they are responsible for creating a valuable Increment that meets the Definition of Done and the Sprint Goal. The other options are not valid, as they imply that someone else outside the Development Team (such as the Scrum Master, the Product Owner, or the Project Manager) is accountable for tracking the remaining work, which is not consistent with Scrum values and principles.

The best answer is C. When multiple Scrum Teams are working together on a product, they must mutually define and comply with the same Definition of Done. This is because the Definition of Done creates transparency and ensures that the product Increment meets the quality standards required for the product1. If each Scrum Team has its own Definition of Done, it may lead to inconsistencies, conflicts, and technical debt in the product. Therefore, the Scrum Teams should collaborate and agree on a common Definition of Done that applies to all Product Backlog Items and Increments. This way, the Scrum Teams can deliver a potentially releasable product Increment at the end of every Sprint2.

The correct answers are D and E, because these are two activities that a Product Owner can engage in during a Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “the Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from work of the Development Team.” Therefore, the Product Owner can answer questions from the Development Team about items in the current Sprint, and work with the stakeholders to understand their needs and expectations.

According to the Scrum Guide, the Product Owner can cancel a Sprint, as he or she is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Development Team. The other roles do not have this authority, although they may provide input and suggestions to the Product Owner.

The best answer is C. Ensure every Increment meets them. Non-functional requirements (NFRs) are system qualities that guide the design of the solution and often serve as constraints across the relevant backlogs1. NFRs are persistent qualities and constraints typically revisited as part of the definition of done (DoD) for each Iteration, PI, or release1. The Scrum Team should ensure that every Increment meets the NFRs, as they are part of the product requirements and affect the value delivery and customer satisfaction.

The best answer is B. The need for the team to learn based on doing work and measuring results.

The Sprint length should be chosen based on the complexity and volatility of the product and the environment, as well as the team’s capability and Definition of Done. The Sprint length should enable the team to deliver a usable Increment of value that meets the feedback needs of the stakeholders and the business. The Sprint length should also allow the team to inspect and adapt their work processes and practices based on the outcomes of the Sprint.

The other options are not valid reasons for choosing the Sprint length. The organization’s mandate, team formation, and release schedule should not dictate the Sprint length, but rather be aligned with it. The Scrum Team should have the autonomy to choose the Sprint length that best suits their product and context.

You can learn more about how to choose the right Sprint length from these sources: How Long A Sprint Should Be?, How to Choose the Right Sprint Length in Scrum, What is a Sprint?, Determining the Sprint Length, and Sprint Length: What’s the Right Length?.

The correct answers are B and E, because these statements are true about the length of the Sprint. It is best to have Sprints of consistent length throughout a development effort, as this helps establish a reliable rhythm and cadence for the Scrum Team and the stakeholders. All Sprints must be one month or less, as this ensures that the Scrum Team can inspect and adapt frequently and deliver value incrementally.

The correct answer is A, because the Product Owner does not need to be present at the Daily Scrum. The Scrum Guide states that “the Daily Scrum is a 15-minute time-boxed event for the Development Team to synchronize activities and create a plan for the next 24 hours. … The structure of the meeting is set by the Development Team and can be conducted in different ways if it focuses on progress toward the Sprint Goal.” Therefore, the Daily Scrum is an internal event for the Development Team, and the Product Owner can attend only if invited by the Development Team.

During the Sprint, the Scrum Master’s role is to facilitate inspection and adaptation opportunities as requested or needed, and to coach the team members in self-management, as stated in 3: “The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization. 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.”

During the Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum Team may add items to the Sprint Backlog for the next Sprint, as stated in [5]: “The purpose of each Sprint Retrospective is to plan ways to increase quality and effectiveness. The Scrum Team plans ways to implement improvements identified during this meeting into its way of working. By doing this it reinforces empiricism throughout its work. Improvements may be implemented at any time during a Sprint or they may be planned for subsequent Sprints.”

According to the Scrum Guide, the Product Owner is accountable for clearly expressing Product Backlog items, as he or she is responsible for managing and prioritizing the Product Backlog. The other options are not valid, as they imply that the Product Owner can be replaced by a business analyst, or that the Scrum Master or the Developers can express the Product Backlog items.

The Developers determine how many Product Backlog items they select for a Sprint, as stated in the Scrum Guide: “The Developers select items from the Product Backlog to include in the current Sprint. The Scrum Team may refine these items during this process, which increases understanding and confidence.”

a burndown chart is a graphical representation of work left to do versus time. It is very useful for predicting when all of the work will be completed. It is often used in agile software development methodologies such as Scrum. However, burndown charts can be applied to any project containing measurable progress over time. A release burndown chart tracks progress across multiple Sprints towards a product release. It shows how much work remains in the Product Backlog at any given time during the release cycle. A trend line through a release burndown chart indicates when the work remaining will likely be completed if nothing changes on the Product Backlog or the Development Team.

The correct answers are B, C, and D, because moving away from component teams toward feature teams may involve some challenges and trade-offs. Productivity may suffer when making this kind of move, as teams need to learn new skills, coordinate with other teams, and deal with legacy code. Getting support from the business side first helps, as they can provide the vision, value, and feedback for the features. Feature teams have less communication overhead, as they can deliver end-to-end functionality without depending on other teams.

References: [Suggested Reading for Professional Scrum Master™ I]

Scrum is not a process, technique, or definitive method. Rather, it is a framework within which you can employ various processes and techniques. Scrum makes clear the relative efficacy of your product management and work techniques so that you can continuously improve the product, the team, and the working environment.

According to the Scrum Guide1, Product Backlog refinement is an ongoing activity in which Product Backlog items are reviewed and revised. The Developers who will be doing the work are responsible for sizing or estimating it. The Product Owner may influence them by helping them understand and select trade-offs.

The timebox for the Sprint Review is four hours for a one-month Sprint, as stated in [4]: “The Sprint Review is held at the end of the Sprint to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog if needed. During the event, the Scrum Team and stakeholders review what was accomplished in the Sprint and what has changed in their environment. Based on this information, attendees collaborate on what to do next. The Product Owner explains what Product Backlog items have been “Done” and what has not been “Done”; additionally, they discuss any changes to scope or budget or potential value. The entire group then collaborates on what to do next, so that the Sprint Review provides valuable input to subsequent Sprint Planning. The Sprint Review is a working session and attendees should inspect based on facts. A Sprint Review is held at the end of every Sprint for a maximum duration of four hours for a one-month Sprint.”

According to the Scrum Guide1, one aspect of Scrum Teams inspecting how they work toward their Product Goal is that they improve their definition of “Done” over time. The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. Therefore, it is most appropriate for a Development Team to change the definition of “Done” during the Sprint Retrospective.

References: Scrum Guide

The correct answer is D. 10 or fewer. According to the Scrum Guide 20201, “The Scrum Team is small enough to remain nimble and large enough to complete significant work within a Sprint, typically 10 or fewer people.” The other options are outdated or incorrect. Option A was based on the previous version of the Scrum Guide, which suggested a range of 3 to 9 developers2. Option B is too vague and does not account for the upper limit of team size. Option C is too specific and does not allow for flexibility.

The correct answer is B, because the Scrum Guide states that “at the end of a Sprint, the new Increment must be ‘Done,’ which means it must be in useable condition and meet the Scrum Team’s definition of ‘Done’. An increment is a body of inspectable, done work that supports empiricism at the end of the Sprint. The increment is a step toward a vision or goal.” Therefore, all the increments from different Scrum Teams working on the same product should be integrated every Sprint to enable inspection and adaptation by the Product Owner and stakeholders.

According to the Scrum Guide, when many Scrum Teams are working on a single product, they must have a Definition of Done that makes their combined work potentially releasable. This ensures that there is a clear and consistent understanding of what “Done” means for the product and that there is no technical debt or unfinished work at the end of each Sprint. The other options are not valid descriptions of the Definition of Done for multiple Scrum Teams, as they either create inconsistency, confusion, or waste (such as having different definitions, discussing and reconciling differences during a hardening Sprint, or having the Scrum Masters define a common Definition of Done).

The best two answers are A and B. As a Scrum Team, prioritizing the list and working on them in order is a good technique to tackle the impediments. This way, the team can focus on the most urgent and important issues first and avoid being overwhelmed by the number of impediments. The Scrum Master discusses the impediments with the Scrum Team is also a helpful technique, as it allows the team to share their perspectives, identify the root causes, and come up with possible solutions. The Scrum Master can also coach the team on how to remove or prevent impediments in the future.

According to the Scrum Guide, a Developer becomes accountable for the value of a Product Backlog item selected for the Sprint at the Sprint Planning event. This is when the Developers select items from the Product Backlog that they can commit to complete within a Sprint. The Developers are then responsible for creating a valuable Increment that meets the Definition of Done and the Sprint Goal. The other options are not valid, as they either imply that Developers are not accountable for value (such as never or whenever), or that they become accountable at a different time (such as during the Daily Scrum).

The correct answers are A, B, and D, because these techniques would be most helpful in this situation. Consulting with the Development Team may help identify the root causes of the impediments and possible solutions. Prioritizing the list and working on them in order may help reduce the backlog and focus on the most important or urgent issues. Alerting management to the impediments and their impact may help escalate the problems and get support from the organization.

According to the Scrum Guide1, the heart of Scrum is a Sprint, a time-box of one month or less during which a “Done”, useable, and potentially releasable product Increment is created. Sprints have consistent durations throughout a development effort. A new Sprint starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint. The length of a Sprint should be short enough to keep the business risk acceptable to the Product Owner, short enough to be able to synchronize the development work with other business events, and no more than one calendar month.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide1, the Sprint Goal is an objective set for the Sprint that can be met through the implementation of Product Backlog. It provides guidance to the Developers on why it is building the Increment. It also provides a basis for inspecting and adapting during the Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective. The Sprint Goal is a result of Sprint Planning, as is the Sprint Backlog.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide, Developers do meet with stakeholders, especially during the Sprint Review and Sprint Planning events. The Product Owner is the primary person who interacts with stakeholders, but Developers also need to communicate with them to understand their needs, expectations, and feedback. The Product Owner may also invite stakeholders to provide clarifications or inputs during the Sprint.

The correct answers are A and D, because these ways of creating Development Teams are consistent with Scrum’s values. Allowing existing teams to propose how they would like to organize into the new structure respects their self-organization and empowerment. Bringing all the developers together and letting them self-organize into Development Teams also respects their autonomy and collaboration.

References: [Suggested Reading for Professional Scrum Master™ I]

The correct answer is B, because when multiple teams work together on the same product, they should not maintain separate Product Backlogs. The Scrum Guide states that “multiple Scrum Teams often work together on the same product. One product goal unites them. Therefore, they must mutually define and comply with a definition of ‘Done’ that applies to their combined work product. … Multiple Scrum Teams working on the same product use the same Product Backlog.”

According to the Scrum Guide1, during each Daily Scrum, each Developer answers three questions:

What did I do yesterday that helped meet our Sprint Goal?

What will I do today to help meet our Sprint Goal?

Do I see any impediment that prevents me or our Development Team from meeting our Sprint Goal?

The Developers can select whatever structure and techniques they want, as long as their Daily Scrum focuses on progress toward achieving their Sprint Goal and producing a usable Increment. The Developers can start with any one person and proceed in any order.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide1, collaboration between the Product Owner and Developers is essential for creating valuable products. The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing value resulting from work by Developers. Developers are accountable for creating a plan for the Sprint, which includes selecting items from Product Backlog that they can complete within a Sprint. The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization. Therefore, two valuable actions for a Scrum Master to take if the Product Owner is not collaborating with the Development Team during the Sprint are:

Bring up the problem in the Sprint Retrospective, where the Scrum Team can inspect how they worked together and create a plan for improvements.

Coach the Product Owner in the values of Scrum and incremental delivery, and help them understand their role and responsibilities in collaborating with Developers.

The other options are not valuable actions, as they may undermine trust, respect, and self-organization within the Scrum Team.

References: Scrum Guide

There is no such thing as Sprint 0 in Scrum, as stated in [7]: “Sprint 0 is a term used by some people who use Scrum to describe an initial period before starting Sprints where they do some upfront planning or analysis. However, this is not part of Scrum and contradicts its principles of empirical process control, iterative delivery, and responding to change.”

According to the Scrum Guide1, there are three roles in a Scrum Team:

The Product Owner

The Developers

The Scrum Master

The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing value resulting from work by Developers. Developers are accountable for creating a plan for the Sprint, the Sprint Backlog. The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization. Every Scrum team must have a Product Owner and Scrum Master, as outcomes are affected by their participation and availability. The other options are false, as they imply that the Product Owner and Scrum Master roles are optional or interchangeable.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide, estimates are made by the people doing the work, which is the Development Team. The Development Team is responsible for all estimates in the Product Backlog and the Sprint Backlog. The other options are not valid guidelines for estimating work in Scrum, as they are either too prescriptive (such as requiring story points or relative units), incorrect (such as forbidding estimating or having the Product Owner make estimates), or unnecessary (such as checking estimates with the Development Team).

According to the Scrum Guide1, self-organization is one of the essential characteristics of Scrum Teams. Self-organizing teams choose how best to accomplish their work, rather than being directed by others outside the team. Self-organization enables teams to deliver faster and better results by harnessing their creativity and skills. Some benefits of self-organization are:

Increased creativity, as team members have more freedom and autonomy to explore new ideas and solutions.

Increased self-accountability, as team members take ownership and responsibility for their work and outcomes.

Increased commitment, as team members are more engaged and motivated by having a say in how they work.

The other options are not benefits of self-organization, as they may imply external control or pressure.

References: Scrum Guide

The Scrum Master should talk to the IT manager and explain that progress in Scrum comes from inspecting an Increment at the Sprint Review, as stated in [5]: “The Scrum Master should educate the IT manager about how Scrum works and how progress is measured. The Scrum Master should invite the IT manager to attend the Sprint Review where the Development Team demonstrates what was accomplished during the Sprint. The Scrum Master should also explain that status reports are not necessary in Scrum, as transparency is ensured by using artifacts such as Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment.”

According to the Scrum Guide, the Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. The topics that are appropriate for discussion are those that relate to how the team does its work, such as team relations, Definition of Done, and processes, tools, communication, collaboration, quality, etc. The other options are not appropriate topics for discussion in a Sprint Retrospective, as they belong to other Scrum events (such as arranging the Sprint Backlog for the next Sprint in the Sprint Planning or evaluating the value of work in the Product Backlog in the Sprint Review).

The best answer is B. A valuable, useful Increment that meets the Definition of Done.

According to the Scrum Guide1, “an Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal. Each Increment is additive to all prior Increments and thoroughly verified, ensuring that all Increments work together. In order to provide value, the Increment must be usable.” The Scrum Guide also states that “work cannot be considered part of an Increment unless it meets the Definition of Done. The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product.”

Therefore, a Scrum Team should deliver a valuable, useful Increment that meets the Definition of Done at the end of each Sprint. This ensures that the product is potentially releasable and that the stakeholders can inspect and provide feedback on it.

A, C, and D are not correct answers.

A. A single document, if that is what management asked for.

This answer does not reflect the Scrum values of commitment, focus, and respect1. A Scrum Team should not deliver a single document just because management asked for it, but rather deliver an Increment that provides value to the customers and users. A document may be part of an Increment, but it is not an Increment by itself.

C. Failing unit tests, to identify acceptance tests for the next Sprint.

This answer does not reflect the Scrum principle of empiricism1. A Scrum Team should not deliver failing unit tests, but rather deliver an Increment that is thoroughly verified and meets the quality standards. Failing unit tests indicate that the work is not done and that there are defects or errors in the product. A Scrum Team should use unit tests to ensure that the product works as expected and to identify and fix any issues before delivering the Increment.

D. An Increment of software with minor known bugs in it.

This answer does not reflect the Scrum value of openness1. A Scrum Team should not deliver an Increment of software with minor known bugs in it, but rather deliver an Increment that meets the Definition of Done and is free of any known defects or issues. Delivering an Increment with bugs in it can compromise the trust and satisfaction of the stakeholders and can lead to technical debt or rework in the future. A Scrum Team should strive to deliver high-quality products that meet or exceed the expectations of the customers and users.

The correct answer is B. To present the Scrum Teams with insights and resources that help them improve. According to the Scrum Guide1, “The role of management in Scrum is to support the Product Owner with insights and information into high-value product and system capabilities.” Management also helps the Scrum Team by providing an environment that fosters agility, learning, and collaboration2. Management does not directly control or monitor the work of the Developers, nor does it interfere with the self-organization and autonomy of the Scrum Team3. Management’s function in Scrum is to enable and empower the Scrum Team to deliver value and continuously improve.

According to the Scrum Guide1, each Increment is additive to all prior Increments and thoroughly verified, ensuring that all Increments work together. In order to provide value, the Increment must be usable. Multiple Increments may be created within a Sprint. The sum of the Increments is presented at the Sprint Review thus supporting empiricism. However, an Increment may be delivered to stakeholders prior to the end of the Sprint. The Sprint Review should never be considered a gate to releasing value. Therefore, a good way to continue is for the Development Team to make sure that all of the selected scope per Sprint is as “Done” as possible. The undone work is estimated and added to the Sprint Backlog of the next Sprint, so it doesn’t mess up the Product Backlog.

References: Scrum Guide

The two intended outcomes of the Daily Scrum are A and D.

A. Identification of impediments that may prevent the Developers from achieving the Sprint Goal.

The Daily Scrum is an opportunity for the Developers to inspect their progress toward the Sprint Goal and to identify any impediments or challenges that may hinder them from completing the work in the Sprint Backlog1. The Scrum Master can help the Developers remove these impediments or find ways to overcome them2.

D. A shared understanding of the most important work to be undertaken next to achieve the best possible progress toward the Sprint Goal.

The Daily Scrum is also an opportunity for the Developers to adapt their plan for the next 24 hours based on their current situation and the Sprint Goal1. The Developers can select whatever structure and techniques they want, as long as their Daily Scrum focuses on progress toward the Sprint Goal and produces an actionable plan for the next day of work1. This creates focus and improves self-management.

B, C, and E are not intended outcomes of the Daily Scrum.

B. An update of completed tasks and of the remaining work so the Scrum Master can plan the next day.

The Daily Scrum is not a status meeting or a report for the Scrum Master or anyone else2. The Developers are responsible for conducting and facilitating the Daily Scrum, not the Scrum Master1. The Scrum Master’s role is to ensure that the event happens, that it is positive and productive, and that it stays within the 15-minute timebox2.

C. An updated Scrum board to make Sprint progress transparent for the stakeholders.

The Daily Scrum is an internal meeting for the Scrum Team, not for external stakeholders1. The Scrum board is a tool that can help the Developers visualize their work, but it is not an outcome of the Daily Scrum. The outcome of the Daily Scrum should be an updated Sprint Backlog and an updated Sprint plan to achieve the Sprint Goal3.

E. A status report for the upper management indicating what each individual has done, will be doing, and what is impeding him/her.

The Daily Scrum is not a status report for anyone, especially not for upper management2. The purpose of the Daily Scrum is to inspect and adapt the work of the Developers, not to report on individual activities or performance1. The focus of the Daily Scrum should be on the collective work and progress of the Developers as a self-organizing team2.

According to the Scrum Guide, two intended outcomes of the Daily Scrum are a shared understanding of the most important work to be undertaken next to achieve the best possible progress toward the Sprint goal, and new impediments for the Scrum Master to take care of. The other options are not intended outcomes of the Daily Scrum, as they are either irrelevant (such as updating a Scrum board) or inappropriate (such as providing an update or a status report).

According to the Scrum Guide1, the definition of “Done” is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product. The definition guides the Development Team in creating a “Done” Increment. The definition of “Done” is created by the development organization (or Development Team if none is available from the development organization). The definition of “Done” may vary significantly per Scrum Team, depending on the context. One aspect of Scrum Teams inspecting how they work toward their Product Goal is that they improve their definition of “Done” over time. Therefore, two things that are appropriate for a Scrum Master to do if the Development Team doesn’t have the engineering tools and infrastructure to completely finish each selected Product Backlog item are:

Coach the Development Team to improve its skills, tools, and infrastructure over time and adjust the Definition of “Done” accordingly.

Have the Development Team establish a Definition of “Done” that is actually possible to achieve given current circumstances.

The correct answers are A and B, because these are true about the Product Owner role. The Product Owner is one person, not a committee or a team, who is accountable for ordering the Product Backlog and maximizing the value of the product. The Scrum Guide states that “the Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from work of the Development Team. How this is done may vary widely across organizations, Scrum Teams, and individuals. … For the Product Owner to succeed, the entire organization must respect his or her decisions.”

According to the Scrum Guide, two activities that a Product Owner may engage in during a Sprint are updating management on what is being worked on and answering questions from the Development Team about items in the current Sprint. These activities are part of the Product Owner’s responsibilities to manage and prioritize the Product Backlog, communicate with stakeholders, and collaborate with the Development Team. The other options are not activities that a Product Owner should engage in during a Sprint, as they are either done by the Scrum Master (such as running the Daily Scrum) or by the Development Team (such as prioritizing their work on the Sprint Backlog).

According to the Scrum Guide1, the Daily Scrum is an event for the Developers of the Scrum Team. The purpose of the Daily Scrum is to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as necessary, adjusting the upcoming planned work. The Daily Scrum optimizes the probability that the Developers will meet the Sprint Goal. Every day, the Developers should understand how they intend to work together as a self-organizing team to accomplish the Sprint Goal and create the anticipated Increment by the end of the Sprint. Management external to the Scrum Team is not involved in the Daily Scrum, as they may interfere with the self-management and empowerment of the Developers.

References: Scrum Guide

The answer is A. True. The Sprint Backlog is a result of Sprint Planning, and it includes the Sprint Goal. According to the Scrum Guide, the Sprint Backlog is composed of the Sprint Goal (why), the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint (what), as well as an actionable plan for delivering the Increment (how)1. The Sprint Goal is the single objective for the Sprint, and it provides coherence and focus for the Scrum Team2. The Sprint Backlog is a plan by and for the Developers, and it is updated throughout the Sprint as more is learned2.

According to the Scrum Guide1, the heart of Scrum is a Sprint, a time-box of one month or less during which a “Done”, useable, and potentially releasable product Increment is created. The Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal. Each Increment is additive to all prior Increments and thoroughly verified, ensuring that all Increments work together.

References: Scrum Guide

The correct answers are C, E, and F, because these phrases best describe the purpose of a definition of “Done”. It creates transparency over the work inspected at the Sprint Review, as it defines what it means for an Increment to be potentially releasable. It guides the Development Team in creating a forecast at the Sprint Planning, as it helps them estimate how much work they can accomplish in a Sprint. It defines what it takes for an Increment to be ready for release, as it ensures that the product meets the quality expectations of the stakeholders.

According to the Scrum Guide1, the definition of “Done” is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product. The definition guides the Development Team in creating a “Done” Increment. The definition of “Done” is created by the development organization (or Development Team if none is available from the development organization). The definition of “Done” may vary significantly per Scrum Team, depending on the context. One aspect of Scrum Teams inspecting how they work toward their Product Goal is that they improve their definition of “Done” over time.

References: Scrum Guide

 According to the Scrum Guide1, Scrum is not a process, technique, or definitive method. Rather, it is a framework within which you can employ various processes and techniques. Scrum makes clear the relative efficacy of your product management and work techniques so that you can continuously improve the product, the team, and the working environment.

A Sprint burndown chart shows an estimate of the total work remaining for the Sprint, as stated in 3: “A sprint burndown chart tracks work remaining in a sprint. It shows how much work remains at any given point during a sprint. It helps teams monitor whether they will finish all planned tasks by the end of a sprint.”

The best two answers are B and D. These two ways of dealing with regulatory compliance issues are consistent with Scrum’s values and principles, as they allow the Scrum Team to deliver valuable and potentially releasable increments of the product while meeting the necessary standards and regulations. They also enable the Scrum Team to inspect and adapt their compliance strategy based on feedback and changing requirements.

A is not a good answer because it creates a separate silo of responsibility for compliance issues, which can lead to delays, conflicts, and inefficiencies. It also violates the Scrum value of transparency, as the compliance team may not have full visibility into the product development process.

C is not a good answer because it implies a waterfall approach that assumes all the compliance requirements are known and fixed upfront, which is rarely the case. It also reduces the flexibility and responsiveness of the Scrum Team, as they may have to follow a rigid plan that does not reflect the current reality of the product or the market.

The correct answer is B, because when multiple Scrum Teams work from the same Product Backlog, they should pull in work in agreement with the Product Owner. The Scrum Guide states that “multiple Scrum Teams often work together on the same product. One product goal unites them. Therefore, they must mutually define and comply with a definition of ‘Done’ that applies to their combined work product.” Therefore, they should collaborate and coordinate with each other and with the Product Owner to select Product Backlog items that align with their shared product goal.

According to the Scrum Guide, the Product Owner has the final decision about the order of items in the Product Backlog, as he or she is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Development Team. The other roles do not have this authority, although they may provide input and suggestions to the Product Owner.

According to the Scrum Guide1, an Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal. Each Increment is additive to all prior Increments and thoroughly verified, ensuring that all Increments work together. In order to provide value, an Increment must be usable. Multiple Increments may be created within a Sprint. The sum of the Increments is presented at the Sprint Review thus supporting empiricism. However, an Increment may be delivered to stakeholders prior to the end of the Sprint. The Sprint Review should never be considered a gate to releasing value. Therefore, the best description of an increment of working software is additional features in a usable state that complement those delivered in previous iterations.

References: Scrum Guide

The correct answers are B and D, because these are the most appropriate responses for the Scrum Master. The Scrum Master should coach the team on why the Daily Scrum is important as an opportunity to update the plan, inspect the progress, and synchronize the activities of the Development Team. The Scrum Master should also learn why the Development Team wants this and work with them to improve the outcome of the Daily Scrum, rather than imposing a decision or accepting their request without question.

According to the Scrum Guide, the Scrum Team consists of three roles: the Scrum Master, who coaches and facilitates the team; the Product Owner, who manages and prioritizes the Product Backlog; and the Development Team, who delivers a potentially releasable Increment at the end of each Sprint. Users and customers are not roles on the Scrum Team, but they are stakeholders who may provide feedback and input to the product.

According to the Scrum Guide, the Scrum Team is responsible for removing a Developer from the Scrum Team if necessary, as they are self-managing and accountable for creating valuable Increments. The other options are not valid, as they imply that someone else outside the Scrum Team has the authority to remove a Developer (such as the Scrum Master, the Product Owner, or the hiring manager), which is not consistent with Scrum values and principles.