PMI DASSM - Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM) Exam

The responsibility for choosing the team's lifecycle in Disciplined Agile (DA)depends on the context. DA promotes a context-driven approach where decisions are made based on the specific needs, objectives, and constraints of the team and the organization. In some cases, the team itself may choose the lifecycle that best fits its way of working. In other scenarios, the decision could be influenced by an Agile coach, team manager, or organizational guidelines. Therefore, it is not a one-size-fits-all answer, and the context determines who is best suited to make this decision.

The best way to eliminate waste in Disciplined Agile is to "eliminate delays in workflow and feedback." Lean principles focus on removing any non-value-added activities (waste) to improve efficiency. By minimizing delays, teams can ensure a smoother flow of work and faster feedback loops, which helps to identify and resolve issues quickly and reduces the time taken to deliver value to customers. While making sure each step is done as quickly as possible (A) or correctly(D) and ensuring people know their job (B) are important, they are not the primary method of eliminating waste according to Lean principles.

False: In a complex adaptive system, it is generally better to havepatterns of good practicesrather than one best practice. This is because complex systems are characterized by dynamic and unpredictable behavior, where a single best practice may not be applicable or effective in all situations. Instead, using a variety of good practices allows teams to adapt to changing conditions and choose the most appropriate approach for their specific context. Disciplined Agile promotes a flexible, context-driven approach to process decisions rather than a rigid adherence to one best practice.

"Enterprise awareness" in the Disciplined Agile framework means understanding and considering the needs and goals of the broader organization while making decisions at the team level. It does not mean standardizing processes across all teams; rather, it encourages teams to align with organizational objectives and practices in a way that fits their unique context. Therefore, the statement is false. Standardizing processes would contradict DA’s core principle that "Context Counts," which supports flexible and situationally appropriate process choices.

In the Disciplined Agile (DA) approach, the role of a team lead, such as a Scrum Master or Agile Coach, includes supporting team members and helping them overcome obstacles. Option B reflects this mindset: having a conversation with the team member to understand the root causes of their struggle and collaboratively seeking solutions. This approach aligns with agile principles of servant leadership, empathy, and collaboration. It encourages open communication, trust-building, and personal development, which are core to maintaining a high-performing and motivated team.

Providing time management training (Option A), holding a one-on-one meeting focused on failures (Option C), or redistributing work without addressing underlying issues (Option D) are less aligned with the values of Disciplined Agile, as they do not directly address the specific impediments faced by the team member or promote a supportive and growth-oriented team culture.

References:

PMI’s Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM) materials.

"Choose Your WoW! A Disciplined Agile Delivery Handbook for Optimizing Your Way of Working (WoW)", PMI

When choosing your team's way of working (WoW), it is important to focus onall of the goal diagrams. In Disciplined Agile, the goal diagrams provide guidance on various aspects of agile project management, including inception, construction, transition, and ongoing work. By considering all of these diagrams, teams can select the most appropriate practices and strategies for their specific context. This comprehensive approach helps teams build a tailored way of working that optimizes their processes across all phases of development, from inception to ongoing support. Relying on only one set of diagrams would limit the team's ability to adapt and optimize effectively.

Governance is indeed a critical aspect in Disciplined Agile (DA) projects. While it is true that many DA teams are self-organizing, governance provides oversight, ensures alignment with organizational goals, and helps mitigate risks. Disciplined Agile recognizes the importance of governance to maintain quality and compliance, manage risk, and deliver value. Therefore, "False" is the correct answer because governance remains a critical issue regardless of the self-organizing nature of the teams, ensuring that practices align with organizational policies and objectives.

Governance in a Disciplined Agile (DA) project involves ensuring that the organization's standards, practices, and compliance requirements are being met while allowing teams to operate within a defined framework. It includes activities such as creating forums for sharing knowledge (A), making decisions about funding (B), administering rewards and recognition (C), ensuring compliance with a regulatory standard (E), and having a defined process for decision-making (F).

However, governance does not mean giving the team complete freedom to make decisions (D). In DA, while teams are encouraged to be self-organizing and empowered, they must still operate within the constraints of organizational governance policies and practices. Governance ensures there is a balance between team autonomy and alignment with organizational goals and standards. Therefore, "complete freedom to the team to make decisions" is not aligned with the DA approach to governance.

This aligns with the principles found in the PMI Disciplined Agile framework, which emphasizes both flexibility and control. In DA, governance is about guiding and monitoring the team’s activities to align with the organizational context, rather than granting unrestricted autonomy.

In Disciplined Agile (DA), the "Specialist" is considered a supporting role. Specialists possess expertise in specific areas (e.g., security, database management) and are brought in as needed to support the primary delivery team. The supporting roles are not part of the core team but contribute specialized skills and knowledge when required.

Options A (Stakeholder), B (Team Lead), and D (Architecture Owner) are not supporting roles. Stakeholders represent end-users or business interests, while Team Leads and Architecture Owners are considered primary roles within a DA team.

References:

PMI’s Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM) curriculum materials.

"Choose Your WoW! A Disciplined Agile Delivery Handbook for Optimizing Your Way of Working (WoW)", PMI.