Scrum PSM-I Professional Scrum Master I Exam Practice Test

According to the Scrum Guide, the Sprint Backlog may include any items that are a decomposition of the selected Product Backlog items, such as user stories, tasks, use cases, tests, or others. The Sprint Backlog is the Developers’ plan for the Sprint, and it contains all the work that they forecast they can do to achieve the Sprint Goal and create a “Done” Increment. The other options are not valid, as they are either too specific (such as user stories or tasks) or too vague (such as tests).

The correct answer is A, because the best way the Scrum Master can ensure that the Development Team communicates effectively with the Product Owner is to monitor communications between them and facilitate direct collaboration. The Scrum Guide states that “the Scrum Master serves the Product Owner in several ways, including … facilitating Scrum events as requested or needed.” Therefore, the Scrum Master should help the Development Team and the Product Owner interact regularly and productively during the Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective events.

According to the Scrum Guide1, the purpose of the Sprint Retrospective is to plan ways to increase quality and effectiveness. The Scrum Team inspects how the last Sprint went with regards to individuals, interactions, processes, tools, and their Definition of Done. Inspected elements often vary with domain, practices, and people involved. The Scrum Team identifies the most helpful changes to improve its effectiveness. The most impactful improvements are addressed as soon as possible. They may even be added to the Sprint Backlog for the next Sprint. 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 Scrum Master is part of the Scrum Team and should participate as a Scrum team member and facilitate as requested or needed.

References: Scrum Guide

The Development Team must do as much work as it has told the Product Owner will be done for every Product Backlog item it selects in conformance with the definition of “Done”, as stated in the Scrum Guide1: “The Development Team works to forecast the functionality that will be developed during the Sprint. The Product Owner discusses the objective that the Sprint should achieve and the Product Backlog items that, if completed in the Sprint, would achieve the Sprint Goal. The entire Scrum Team collaborates on understanding the work of the Sprint.”

According to the Scrum Guide, Scrum is a framework to generate value through adaptive solutions for complex problems. It is based on empiricism, self-organization, and collaboration. The other options are not accurate descriptions of Scrum, as they are either too rigid (such as a defined and predictive process or a complete methodology), too vague (such as a cookbook), or irrelevant (such as scientific management).

The correct answer is D, because one of the services that a Scrum Master can provide in regard to the Daily Scrum is to teach the Development Team to keep the Daily Scrum within the 15 minute time-box. The Scrum Guide states that “the Scrum Master ensures that the Development Team has the meeting, but the Development Team is responsible for conducting the Daily Scrum. The Scrum Master teaches the Development Team to keep the Daily Scrum within the 15-minute time-box.”

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-box for the Sprint Review is four hours for a one-month Sprint.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide, the Product Owner must participate in the Daily Scrum when he or she is actively working on items on the Sprint Backlog; however, they participate as a Developer, not as an authority figure. This means that the Product Owner can share progress, plans, and impediments with the other Developers and collaborate with them on delivering value. The other options are not valid reasons for the Product Owner to participate in the Daily Scrum, as they are either irrelevant (such as representing stakeholders or discussing impediments) or inappropriate (such as being asked by the Scrum Master).

According to the Scrum Guide, the Scrum Master is responsible for coaching the Scrum Team to improve its skills, tools and environment over time and adjust the Definition of Done accordingly1. The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product1. The Definition of Done should be possible to achieve given current circumstances2. Therefore, option B and E are appropriate for a Scrum Master to do, if the Scrum Team does not have the tools and environment to completely finish each selected Product Backlog item.

Option A is not appropriate because declaring the Scrum Team not ready for Scrum implies that there is a fixed set of prerequisites for using Scrum, which is not true. Scrum is a framework that can be applied to any complex product development effort1.

Option C is not appropriate because encouraging the Product Owner to accept partially done Increments until the situation improves violates the principle of transparency. Transparency requires that the Increment is a usable product that meets the current Definition of Done1. Accepting partially done Increments also increases technical debt and reduces value delivery3.

Option D is not appropriate because refocusing the current Sprint on establishing the Scrum Team’s environment instead of delivering an Increment goes against the purpose of a Sprint. A Sprint is a time-boxed event that serves as a container for the other Scrum events and activities. The goal of each Sprint is to deliver a potentially releasable Increment that adheres to the current Definition of Done1.

References: 1: The Scrum Guide 2: Suggested Reading for Professional Scrum Master™ I 3: Mastering Professional Scrum

The next Sprint begins immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint, as stated in the Scrum Guide: “Sprints have consistent durations throughout a development effort. A new Sprint starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint.”

There are no activities that a Product Owner would typically undertake in the phase between the end of the current Sprint and the start of the next Sprint, because there is no such phase. The next Sprint starts immediately after the current Sprint, without any gaps or breaks. The other options are either activities that occur during a Sprint (such as refining the Product Backlog) or activities that are not consistent with Scrum (such as working with Quality Assurance departments or updating project plans).

The Product Owner is responsible for engaging the stakeholders, as stated in the Scrum Guide1: “The Product Owner is one person, not a committee. The Product Owner may represent the desires of a committee in the Product Backlog, but those wanting to change a Product Backlog item’s priority must address the Product Owner.”

According to the Scrum Guide, a high-performance Scrum Team does not run a Release Sprint, as this is not a Scrum event. A Release Sprint is a term used to describe a Sprint that is dedicated to finalizing the product for release, such as fixing bugs, polishing features, or integrating components. This is contrary to the Scrum principle of delivering a potentially releasable Increment at the end of each Sprint, regardless of whether it is actually released or not. Therefore, the answer is false.

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.”

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 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?.

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

In the Scrum framework, there is no specific role or accountability for a Tester. Instead, the responsibility for quality lies with the entire Scrum Team, particularly the Developers. Scrum emphasizes cross-functional teams, where every team member contributes to all aspects of the development process, including testing. The Developers collectively ensure that the work meets the Definition of Done and maintains high-quality standards. This approach fosters collaboration, shared responsibility, and continuous improvement, aligning with the core principles of Scrum.

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 correct answer is B, because there is no role called “Project Manager” in Scrum. The Scrum Guide states that “Scrum recognizes no titles for Development Team members other than Developer, regardless of the work being performed by the person; there are no exceptions to this rule.” Therefore, Scrum has only three roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developer.

The correct answer is B, because the Product Owner does not make sure the team selects enough from the Product Backlog for a Sprint to satisfy the stakeholders. 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.

The Product Owner is responsible for ensuring that the most valuable functionality is produced first, at all times, by ordering and prioritizing the Product Backlog. The Product Owner also interacts with stakeholders to understand their needs and expectations, and to communicate the vision and progress of the product. The other options are not part of the Product Owner role according to Scrum, as they are either too prescriptive or too technical.

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.

According to the Scrum Guide, every Scrum Team should have the competencies and skills needed to deliver an Increment in a Sprint. This means that the Developers can work on any aspect of the product without depending on others outside the team. The other options are not valid descriptions of what every Scrum Team should have, as they either imply that the Developers work in silos or rely on external people (such as a lead developer or representatives from different departments).

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, a Sprint can be cancelled before the Sprint time-box is over. Only the Product Owner has the authority to cancel the Sprint, although he or she may do so under influence from the stakeholders, the Developers, or the Scrum Master. A Sprint would be cancelled if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete. This might occur if the company changes direction or if market or technology conditions change. In general, a Sprint should be cancelled if it no longer makes sense given the circumstances. But, due to the short duration of Sprints, cancellation rarely makes sense.

References: Scrum Guide

The correct answer is C, because when a Development Team is having trouble delivering a working Increment because they don’t understand a functional requirement, they should collaborate with the Product Owner to determine what is possible and acceptable. 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.” Therefore, the Product Owner should clarify the functional requirement and negotiate the scope of work with the Development Team.

A Developer becomes accountable for an item in the Sprint Backlog never as Developers on the Scrum Team share accountability for items in the Sprint Backlog, as stated in the Scrum Guide: “The Developers can select whatever items they want as long as they feel they can complete the work by the end of the Sprint. The Scrum Team is responsible for all estimates. The Product Owner may influence the Developers by helping them understand and select trade-offs, but the people who will perform the work make the final estimate.”

According to the Nexus Guide2, which is a framework for scaling Scrum, one way to form multiple Development Teams from a large group of people is to ask them to self-organize into teams based on dependencies, skills, domain knowledge, and personal preferences. This approach respects the autonomy and empowerment of the Developers and allows them to choose how they want to work together.

References: Nexus Guide

According to the Scrum Guide, the amount of work required of the Developers to complete a Product Backlog item selected during the Sprint Planning is as much as is required to meet the Scrum Team’s Definition of Done. This means that the Developers must ensure that every item they work on is in a usable condition and meets all quality standards agreed upon by the team. The other options are not valid descriptions of the amount of work required, as they are either too vague (such as all development work and some testing or a proportional amount of time) or incorrect (such as fitting as much as possible or deferring work to the next Sprint).

According to the Scrum Guide, the action that the Scrum Master should take when the Team decides that a Sprint Retrospective is unnecessary is to begin facilitating productive and useful Sprint Retrospectives. The Sprint Retrospective is an essential event for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. The Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring that this event takes place and that positive outcomes are achieved. The other options are not valid actions, as they either imply that the Scrum Master complies with or ignores the decision of the Team (such as complying with it, calling a meeting with senior management, or consulting with the Product Owner), which is not consistent with Scrum values and principles.

The correct answer is D, because the recommended size for a Development Team is 3 to 9 members. The Scrum Guide states that “fewer than three Development Team members decrease interaction and results in smaller productivity gains. Smaller Development Teams may encounter skill constraints during the Sprint, causing the Development Team to be unable to deliver a potentially releasable Increment. Having more than nine members requires too much coordination. Large Development Teams generate too much complexity for an empirical process to be useful.”

The correct answer is B, because the time-box for a Daily Scrum is 15 minutes. 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.”

 According to the Scrum Guide, a Scrum Team is not only allowed to meet with stakeholders during Sprint Review, but also during Sprint Planning and throughout the Sprint as needed. The Sprint Review is an opportunity for the Scrum Team and the stakeholders to collaborate on what was done in the Sprint and what to do next. However, it is not the only time that stakeholder feedback is welcomed and valued.

According to the Scrum Guide1, one aspect of Scrum Teams inspecting how they work toward their Product Goal is that they create a Sprint Goal every Sprint. 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 created during the Sprint Planning event.

References: Scrum Guide

The correct answer is C, because the Scrum Guide states that “the Development Team usually starts by designing the system and the work needed to convert the Product Backlog into a working product Increment. Work planned for the first days of the Sprint by the Development Team is decomposed by the end of this meeting, often to units of one day or less. The Development Team self-organizes to undertake the work in the Sprint Backlog, both during Sprint Planning and as needed throughout the Sprint.” Therefore, enough work should be defined during the Sprint Planning event so that the Development Team can create its best forecast of what it can do, and to start the first several days of the 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).

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 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.

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 Scrum Guide also states that “when multiple Scrum Teams are working together on a product, they must mutually define and comply with the same Definition of Done. This ensures transparency and consistency among the teams and makes their combined work potentially releasable.”

A, B, and D are not correct answers.

A. Each Scrum Team uses its own, but must make their definition clear to all other teams so the differences are known.

This answer does not reflect the Scrum value of alignment2. Having different Definitions of Done for each Scrum Team can create confusion and inconsistency in the quality and completeness of the product. It can also make it difficult to integrate and deliver a coherent and valuable Increment at the end of each Sprint.

B. The Scrum Masters from each Scrum Team define a common Definition of Done.

This answer does not reflect the Scrum principle of self-organization3. The Definition of Done should be created by the Developers who are responsible for delivering the Increment, not by the Scrum Masters who are responsible for facilitating and coaching the Scrum Teams. The Scrum Masters can help the Developers understand and apply the Definition of Done, but they should not impose it on them.

D. Each Scrum Team defines and uses its own. The differences are discussed and reconciled during a hardening Sprint.

This answer does not reflect the Scrum value of focus2. Having different Definitions of Done for each Scrum Team can lead to technical debt or rework that requires a hardening Sprint to resolve. A hardening Sprint is an anti-pattern that violates the rule of delivering a potentially releasable Increment at the end of each Sprint4.

The correct answer is A, because in accordance with Scrum theory, a group of 100 people should be divided into multiple Development Teams by understanding the product, the product vision and the rules of the Scrum framework, and then dividing itself into teams. This approach respects the self-organization and empowerment of the people who will do the work, and allows them to form cross-functional and collaborative teams that can deliver value.

According to the Scrum Guide, the Developers do the work to make sure Product Backlog items conform to the Definition of Done, as they are responsible for creating a “Done” Increment that meets the Definition of Done. The other options are not valid, as they imply that the work is done by someone else outside the Development Team (such as Quality Assurance Team) or by another role on the Scrum Team (such as Product Owner or Scrum Master).

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-box for the Daily Scrum is 15 minutes or less for a one-month Sprint. Its location and time remain constant.

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 Guide, a Scrum Master fulfills a different role from a traditional project manager. A Scrum Master is a servant-leader and a coach for the Scrum Team and the organization, not a manager or a supervisor. A Scrum Master does not assign tasks, set deadlines, or monitor progress, but rather facilitates self-organization, collaboration, and empiricism within the Scrum Team and the organization.

Explanation of Correct Answer: According to the Scrum Guide1, the only required events in Scrum are Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. These events enable transparency, inspection, and adaptation. The other options are not mandatory in Scrum, although they may be useful in some contexts.

References: Scrum Guide

The correct answer is A, because a Sprint Retrospective should be held at the end of each Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “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 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.

When many Development Teams are working on a single product, the definition of “Done” must be shared by all Development Teams and make their combined work potentially releasable, as stated in [4]: “When multiple teams work together on one product they must mutually define and comply with the same Definition of Done. This makes sure all Increments adhere to a consistent quality level.”

The Definition of Done serves the following three purposes:

A. Create a shared understanding of when work is complete.

The Definition of Done is a commitment to the quality of the product increment that is part of Scrum. It is a formal description of the state of the product backlog item or the increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product. The Scrum team must have a shared understanding of what ‘done’ means and use it to assess when work is complete and transparent1.

C. Increase transparency.

The Definition of Done increases transparency by providing everyone a shared understanding of what work was completed and what standards were met as part of the increment. This ensures that the product increment is potentially releasable and that the stakeholders can inspect and provide feedback on it2.

D. Describe the work that must be mostly done before the Sprint is allowed to end.

The Definition of Done describes the work that must be done before the Sprint is allowed to end. Work cannot be considered part of an increment unless it meets the Definition of Done. The Definition of Done is used to guide the Developers in creating a "Done", usable, and potentially releasable product increment every Sprint3.

B and E are not purposes of the Definition of Done.

B. Guide the Developers on how many Product Backlog items to select for the Sprint.

The Definition of Done does not guide the Developers on how many Product Backlog items to select for the Sprint. The Developers select how many Product Backlog items they can complete within a Sprint based on their capacity, skills, and experience. The Definition of Done helps them ensure that the selected items are completed to a high standard of quality4.

E. Describe the purpose, Objective, and timebox Of each Scrum event.

The Definition of Done does not describe the purpose, objective, and timebox of each Scrum event. The Scrum Guide describes these aspects for each Scrum event, such as Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective5. The Definition of Done is related to the product increment, not to the Scrum events.

According to the Scrum Guide, every Scrum Team must have a Product Owner and a Scrum Master, as they are essential roles for Scrum. The outcomes of the Scrum Team are affected by their participation and availability, as they provide guidance, support, and facilitation to the Development Team and the stakeholders. The other options are false, as they imply that a Product Owner or a Scrum Master can be replaced or optional, which is not consistent with Scrum.

The Scrum Master should ask the person to share the issue with the team as soon as possible, as stated in [5]: “The Scrum Master should encourage transparency and collaboration within the team and with other stakeholders. If there is a concern about data security issues, it should be brought up to the team and discussed openly. The team can then decide how to handle it, whether by creating a Product Backlog item, updating the definition of “Done”, or taking some other action.”

The correct answer is B, because the time-box for the Sprint Planning meeting is 8 hours for a monthly Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “Sprint Planning is time-boxed to a maximum of eight hours for a one-month Sprint. For shorter Sprints, the event is usually shorter.”

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

The correct answer is B. The Scrum Team includes skilled individuals who together have all the skills necessary to create value each Sprint. According to the Scrum Guide1, “Scrum Teams are cross-functional, meaning the members have all the skills necessary to create value in each Sprint.” This does not mean that every individual has all the skills, but rather that the team as a whole does. Cross-functionality enables the Scrum Team to deliver a potentially releasable Increment of “Done” product at the end of each Sprint, without depending on others outside the team.

The correct answers are B and D, because 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 can remove or change selected Product Backlog items in agreement with the Product Owner if they see that the workload is greater than they can handle. The Development Team should also ensure that the Product Owner is aware of the situation, start the Sprint, and monitor progress.

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.

The correct answer is B, because a Scrum Master is not the same thing as a traditional PM (Project Manager). The Scrum Guide states that “the Scrum Master is responsible for promoting and supporting Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. Scrum Masters do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values.” Therefore, a Scrum Master is not a manager, but a servant-leader and a coach for the Scrum Team and the organization.

According to the Scrum Guide1, there are five values that guide decisions within Scrum teams:

Commitment

Focus

Openness

Respect

Courage

In order to achieve the benefits of Scrum, it is important to enact these values. Two actions that demonstrate the commitment of Scrum Team members are:

Help the other Scrum Team members, as they work together as a self-organizing team to accomplish the Sprint Goal and create the anticipated Increment by the end of the Sprint.

Do your best, as they strive to deliver a potentially releasable Increment that meets the definition of “Done” and provides value to the stakeholders.

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 answer is D, because there is no gap between Sprints in Scrum. The Scrum Guide states that “a new Sprint starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint.” Therefore, there is no time required after a Sprint to prepare for the next Sprint.

According to the Scrum Guide, two actions that the Scrum Master should support in this scenario are forecasting the Product Backlog items that are most likely to meet the Sprint Goal and creating the Sprint Backlog, and discussing why this happened and what changes will make it less likely to recur during the next Sprint Retrospective. These actions are consistent with Scrum values and principles, such as empiricism, adaptation, and continuous improvement. The other options are not valid actions, as they are either wasteful (such as canceling the Sprint or continuing the Sprint Planning past its timebox) or ineffective (such as asking everyone to take more time to analyze the Product Backlog).

 According to the Scrum Guide, the Sprint Review is a time for the Scrum Team and the stakeholders to inspect the product Increment and adapt the Product Backlog if needed. The Product Owner is responsible for keeping the stakeholders aware of the progress of the project and inviting them to the Sprint Review. If the Product Owner has not been doing this, or if the stakeholders have not been using the Sprint Review to inspect and evaluate progress, then they may be disappointed and angry at the seventh Sprint Review. The other options are not likely factors that led to this situation, as they are either irrelevant (such as the PMO or the development area) or incorrect (such as delaying the release).

The correct answer is C, because a Development Team should deliver an increment of working software that is “done” by the end of a Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “the Increment is the sum of all the Product Backlog items completed during a Sprint and the value of the increments of all previous Sprints. 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’.”

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 of “Done” is created by the development organization (or Development Team if none is available from the development organization). The definition guides the Development Team in creating a “Done” Increment.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide1, 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. Development Teams are structured and empowered by the organization to organize and manage their own work. The resulting synergy optimizes the Development Team’s overall efficiency and effectiveness. Cross-functional teams have all competencies needed to accomplish the work without depending on others not part of the team. The team model in Scrum is designed to optimize flexibility, creativity, and productivity.

References: Scrum Guide

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.

 According to the Scrum Guide1, 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. Development Teams are structured and empowered by the organization to organize and manage their own work. The resulting synergy optimizes the Development Team’s overall efficiency and effectiveness. Cross-functional teams have all competencies needed to accomplish the work without depending on others not part of the team. The team model in Scrum is designed to optimize flexibility, creativity, and productivity.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide, Developers are self-managing, which means that they manage their own Sprint Backlog. They decide how to organize their work and collaborate effectively to deliver a valuable Increment that meets the Definition of Done and the Sprint Goal. The other options are not valid, as they imply that Developers manage things that are either determined by the Scrum framework (such as Sprint length), by collaboration with other roles (such as when to release or stakeholders for the Sprint Review), or by the Product Owner (such as Product Backlog ordering).

Architecture and infrastructure are handled in Scrum by implementing them along with functional development of the product, and by adding them to the Product Backlog and addressing them in early Sprints, while always requiring at least some business functionality, no matter how small, as stated in [2]: “Scrum does not distinguish between developing functionality or architecture. They are developed together, as they are both important and support each other. Architecture is not a separate phase; it is part of the product development. Architecture is added to the Product Backlog as any other feature or functionality.”

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

According to the Scrum Guide, the Development Team should do two things during the first Sprint: develop at least one piece of functionality and create an increment of potentially releasable software. These are the goals of every Sprint, regardless of its order. The other options are not things that the Development Team should do during the first Sprint, as they are either out of scope (such as making a plan for the rest of the project or defining major product features and release plan architecture) or unnecessary (such as analyzing, describing, and documenting requirements for subsequent Sprints).

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, in order to turn Product Backlog items into an Increment of potentially releasable product functionality, the Development Team should have all the skills needed.

References: Scrum Guide

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]

https://scrumguides.org/docs/scrumguide/v2020/2020-Scrum-Guide-US.pdf

Scrum is a framework for developing, delivering, and sustaining complex products. Scrum has three roles: the Product Owner, the Scrum Master, and the Developers. The Developers are the people in the Scrum Team who are committed to creating any aspect of a usable Increment in each Sprint. The Developers are not limited by titles such as programmer, designer, tester, architect, engineer, etc. The Developers are responsible for all aspects of quality, including finding and fixing bugs, tracking quality metrics, and verifying the work of other Developers. Therefore, Scrum has no “tester” role, and the Developers are responsible for quality.

According to the Scrum Guide1, the purpose of the Sprint Retrospective is to plan ways to increase quality and effectiveness. The Scrum Team inspects how the last Sprint went with regards to individuals, interactions, processes, tools, and their Definition of Done. Inspected elements often vary with domain, practices, and people involved. The Scrum Team identifies the most helpful changes to improve its effectiveness. The most impactful improvements are addressed as soon as possible. They may even be added to the Sprint Backlog for the next Sprint. Therefore, two appropriate topics for discussion during a Sprint Retrospective are:

Identifying high priority process improvements for the next Sprint.

How the team collaborates.

The other options are not relevant or appropriate for the Sprint Retrospective.

References: Scrum Guide

The correct answer is A, because the Scrum Guide states that “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, non-functional requirements should be part of the definition of ‘Done’ and ensure every Increment meets them.