PSM-I Professional Scrum Master I Questions and Answers

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.

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 the guideline that a Scrum Master should give is that estimates are made by the Development Team. 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 should estimate the work in Scrum, using any method or unit they prefer.

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, ordering Product Backlog items is solely up to the Product Owner’s discretion. The Product Owner orders items in the Product Backlog to best achieve goals and missions. To do this, they optimize value by considering various factors such as cost and benefit, risk, dependencies, date needed, etc. The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the work the Development Team does. 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, an appropriate action for the Scrum Master to take if the Product Owner is struggling with ordering the Product Backlog is to offer the Product Owner help in understanding that the goal of ordering the Product Backlog is to maximize value.

References: Scrum Guide

According to the Scrum Guide, the best approach for Scrum Teams in order to produce valuable Increments is to have each Developer work on the component where they feel that they can contribute. This means that the Developers can self-organize and collaborate effectively to deliver a valuable Increment that meets the Definition of Done and the Sprint Goal. The other options are not valid approaches, as they either imply that the Developers work in silos or rely on external people (such as developing functionality from beginning to end, working on an independent set of components, or working only as an independent layer of the system).

The Sprint Backlog is the Development Team’s plan for the Sprint, as stated in the Scrum Guide1: “The Sprint Backlog is a plan with enough detail that changes in progress can be understood in the Daily Scrum. The Development Team modifies the Sprint Backlog throughout the Sprint, and the Sprint Backlog emerges during the Sprint.”

The correct answer is B, because the Development Team determines how work is performed during the Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “development Teams are self-organizing. No one (not even the Scrum Master) tells the Development Team how to turn Product Backlog into Increments of potentially releasable functionality.” Therefore, the Development Team has the autonomy and responsibility to organize and manage its own work.

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 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.

When a Development Team determines that it will not be able to finish the complete forecast, both the Product Owner and the Development Team have to be present when reviewing and adjusting the Sprint work selected, as stated in [6]: “If there is not enough work remaining for all members of a Development Team then they can renegotiate scope with their Product Owner. If there is too much work remaining then they can also renegotiate scope with their Product Owner.”

The correct answer is D, because if a new Development Team decides that a Sprint Retrospective is unnecessary, the Scrum Master should begin facilitating productive and useful Sprint Retrospectives. 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 Master should help the Development Team understand the value and importance of the Sprint Retrospective, and make it an engaging and constructive event.

 According to the Scrum Guide, changing the terminology of Scrum may have negative consequences, such as losing the benefits of Scrum, not understanding what has changed, or having very little change at all. Therefore, all answers apply to this question. The Scrum Guide recommends using the same terminology as in the guide to avoid confusion and misunderstanding.

The correct answer is A. 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, “If there are multiple Scrum Teams working on the system or product release, the development teams on all of the Scrum Teams must mutually define the definition of “Done”.” This ensures that the product increment is integrated, consistent, and potentially releasable at the end of each Sprint. The other options are incorrect because they allow for different Definitions of Done for different teams, which can lead to confusion, inconsistency, and technical debt.

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, 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. 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.

References: Scrum 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).

The correct answer is D, because this statement best describes the Sprint Review. The Scrum Guide states that “a Sprint Review is held at the end of the Sprint to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog if needed. During the Sprint Review, the Scrum Team and stakeholders collaborate about what was done in the Sprint.” Therefore, the Sprint Review is when the Scrum Team and stakeholders inspect the outcome of a Sprint and figure out what to do next.

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

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.

The correct answer is B, because the Scrum Guide states that “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 Development Team on why it is building the Increment.” Therefore, the Sprint Goal provides the Development Team with a target and overarching direction for the 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 correct answers are B, E, and F, because these activities would probably help the team in starting up. Having the Scrum Team members introduce themselves and give a brief background of their skills and work history helps build trust and rapport among them. Ensuring the team understands they need a definition of “Done” helps create transparency and alignment on the quality standards for the product. Asking the Product Owner to discuss the product or project, its history, goals, and context, as well as answer questions helps clarify the vision and value of the product.

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

The correct answer is B, because the Development Team is responsible for managing the progress of work during a Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “the Development Team tracks this total work remaining at least for every Daily Scrum to project the likelihood of achieving the Sprint Goal. By tracking the remaining work throughout the Sprint, the Development Team can manage its progress.”

The correct answer is A, because if two Scrum Teams are added to the development of a product that previously had only one Scrum Team, the immediate impact on the productivity of the original Scrum Team is likely to decrease. This is because adding more teams may introduce some challenges and trade-offs, such as increased communication and coordination overhead, reduced alignment and cohesion, and potential conflicts or dependencies.

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

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 A, because Development Team membership should change as needed, while taking into account a short term reduction in productivity. The Scrum Guide states that “development Teams are cross-functional, with all of the skills as a team necessary to create a product Increment; development Teams are self-organizing. No one (not even the Scrum Master) tells the Development Team how to turn Product Backlog into Increments of potentially releasable functionality.” Therefore, changing Development Team membership may affect their cross-functionality and self-organization in the short term.

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.”

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 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 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 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]

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 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, the Developers are accountable for managing the progress of work during a Sprint, 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 the Product Owner, the Scrum Master, or the most junior member of the team are accountable for managing the progress of work, which is not consistent with Scrum.

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).

 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 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.

A Scrum Team is a cohesive unit of professionals that consists of one Product Owner, one Scrum Master, and Developers, as stated in the Scrum Guide: “The Scrum Team consists of one Scrum Master, one Product Owner, and Developers. Within a Scrum Team, there are no sub-teams or hierarchies. It is a cohesive unit of professionals focused on one objective at a time, the Product Goal.”

Two techniques that the Scrum Master could use when the Scrum Team gets caught in an internal disagreement about which agile practices to apply are to involve the complete Scrum Team in making a decision, and to use coaching techniques such as open questions and active listening, as stated in [3]: “The Scrum Master should facilitate a constructive dialogue among the team members and help them reach a consensus on which agile practices to use. The Scrum Master should also use coaching techniques such as open questions and active listening to understand the underlying needs and motivations of each team member and to help them find common ground.”

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, one reason why the Product Owner wants the Development Team to adhere to its definition of “Done” is to have complete transparency into what has been done at the end of each Sprint.

References: Scrum Guide

The correct answer is F, because all of the Scrum Values are affected by a lack of trust in the Scrum Team. Trust is essential for the Scrum Team to work effectively and deliver value. Without trust, the Scrum Team may lose focus, respect, openness, courage, and commitment.

According to the Scrum Guide, the Scrum Team should make sure that everyone on the team does their tasks for the Sprint, as they are collectively accountable for creating valuable Increments that meet stakeholder needs and expectations. The other options are not valid, as they imply that someone else outside the Scrum Team (such as a project manager) or another role on the Scrum Team (such as the Product Owner or the Scrum Master) is responsible for making sure that everyone does their tasks for the Sprint.

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?.

A Scrum Master fulfills a different role than a traditional project manager, as stated in 2: “A project manager helps manage the project timeline, resources, and scope in order to meet business requirements. A Scrum Master, however, helps ensure the Scrum Team follows Scrum theory, practices, and rules. The Scrum Master is a servant-leader who helps optimize the value created by the Scrum Team.”

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.

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.”

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’.”

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 Scrum Master should be concerned about the ability of the Development Teams to produce integrated Increments, as this is one of the goals of Scrum. The Scrum Master should also encourage the Development Teams to figure out a solution for themselves, as this fosters self-management and collaboration. The other options are not relevant or important for the Scrum Master in this situation.

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.

References: Scrum Guide

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 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

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.

According to the Scrum Guide1, Scrum promotes self-organization by giving autonomy and empowerment to the Developers who decide how to do their work within a Sprint. The Developers have no titles other than Developer, regardless of their specialization or skills. Scrum is a lightweight framework that minimizes prescription and maximizes flexibility and adaptability.

References: Scrum Guide

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 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.”

The correct answers are A, C, and E, because these are feedback loops in Scrum. The Sprint Review is a feedback loop that allows the Scrum Team and the stakeholders to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog. The Sprint Retrospective is a feedback loop that allows the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements. The Daily Scrum is a feedback loop that allows the Development Team to inspect its progress and plan its work for the next 24 hours.

According to the Scrum Guide1, 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 serves the Developers in several ways, including:

• Coaching them in self-management and cross-functionality;
• Helping them to create high-value products;
• Removing impediments to their progress;
• Facilitating Scrum events as requested or needed; and,
• Coaching them in organizational environments in which Scrum is not yet fully adopted and understood.

The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner in several ways, including:

• Helping find techniques for effective Product Goal definition and Product Backlog management;
• Helping the Scrum Team understand the need for clear and concise Product Backlog items;
• Helping establish empirical product planning for a complex environment; and,
• Facilitating stakeholder collaboration as requested or needed.

The Scrum Master serves the organization in several ways, including:

• Leading, training, and coaching the organization in its Scrum adoption;
• Planning and advising Scrum implementations within the organization;
• Helping employees and stakeholders understand and enact an empirical approach for complex work; and,
• Removing barriers between stakeholders and Scrum Teams.

Therefore, two things that are true about the Scrum Master role are:

• The Scrum Master teaches the Development Team to keep the Scrum meetings to their time-box, as they help everyone understand Scrum theory and practice.
• The Scrum Master helps those outside the team interact with the Scrum Team, as they serve both the Product Owner and the organization.

The other options are not true about the Scrum Master role, as they imply that they have authority or responsibility over things that are not within their accountability.

References: Scrum Guide

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 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

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.

The product has one Product Backlog, as it is a single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product. There should be only one Product Owner, who is accountable for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Development Team. Having multiple Product Owners or Product Backlogs would create confusion, inconsistency, and waste.

According to the Scrum Guide1, 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 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.

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 Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything that is known to be needed in the product. It is the single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product. The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing value resulting from work by Developers. The Product Owner is also accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes:

• Developing and explicitly communicating the Product Goal;
• Creating and clearly communicating Product Backlog items;
• Ordering Product Backlog items; and
• Ensuring that the Product Backlog is transparent, visible and understood.

Therefore, the Product Owner is responsible for clearly expressing Product Backlog items.

References: Scrum Guide

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.