Scrum PSM-I - Professional Scrum Master I

The correct answers are B and D, because adding non-functional requirements to the Product Backlog and keeping the Product Owner posted on the expected effort helps prioritize and plan them in alignment with the product vision and goals. Additionally, adding non-functional requirements to the definition of ‘Done’ ensures that they are met every Sprint and do not accumulate technical debt.

References: Suggested Reading for Professional Scrum Master™ I

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 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 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.

According to 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 product1. The Definition of Done is created by the Developers and it is used to assess when work is complete on the product Increment1.

The Scrum Guide also states that the Definition of Done may vary significantly per Scrum Team, depending on the context. The Definition of Done evolves over time and becomes more stringent as the Scrum Team matures1. Therefore, it is important for the Scrum Team to regularly inspect and adapt the Definition of Done to reflect their current situation and needs.

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 Sprint1. The Sprint Retrospective focuses on three questions: What went well in the Sprint? What could be improved? What will we commit to improve in the next Sprint?1 These questions can help the Scrum Team identify potential changes to the Definition of Done that would increase the quality and value of the product.

Option A is incorrect because Product Backlog refinement is not a formal Scrum event, but rather an ongoing activity that can happen at any time during the Sprint1. Product Backlog refinement is mainly concerned with adding detail, estimates, and order to Product Backlog items1. Changing the Definition of Done during Product Backlog refinement could cause confusion and inconsistency among the Developers and the Product Owner.

Option C is incorrect because Sprint Planning is a time-boxed event that initiates a Sprint by defining a Sprint Goal and selecting Product Backlog items that deliver one coherent function1. Sprint Planning is based on the current state of the Product Backlog and the latest Definition of Done1. Changing the Definition of Done during Sprint Planning could disrupt the flow of the event and affect the scope and feasibility of the Sprint.

Option D is incorrect because prior to starting a new project is not a specific time in Scrum. Scrum does not prescribe any phases or stages for a project, but rather an empirical approach that relies on frequent inspection and adaptation of both the product and the process1. Changing the Definition of Done before starting a new project could be premature and irrelevant, as the Scrum Team may not have enough information or experience to define what ‘Done’ means for their product.

References: 1: The Scrum Guide

The correct answer is C, because 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.” Therefore, the main reason for the Scrum Master to be at the Daily Scrum is to ensure that it happens, but he or she does not have to be there.

The Product Backlog is ordered by the Product Owner with the most valuable items placed at the top, as stated in [6]: “The Product Owner is responsible for ordering items on their product backlog based on their value to customers and users. Value can be measured by various factors, such as business value, customer satisfaction, risk reduction, learning opportunities, etc. The most valuable items are placed at the top of the product backlog so that they can be delivered sooner by the development team.”

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 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.

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).