All CSM Test Inside Scrum Alliance Questions

One of the key accountabilities of aScrum Masteris toimprove the Scrum Team's effectiveness. This aligns with the Scrum Master's role as a servant leader who helps the team deliver value through better practices, collaboration, and adherence to Scrum principles.

According to the2020 Scrum Guide, the Scrum Master is accountable for:

Establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide, helping everyone understand its theory and practices.

Improving the Scrum Team's effectivenessby enabling the team to self-manage, improve cross-functionality, and focus on delivering high-value Increments.

Removing impedimentsthat hinder progress and supporting the team in achieving its Sprint Goals.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Set the budget:The Scrum Master does not manage budgets. Budgeting decisions are outside the scope of the Scrum framework.

B. Provide estimates:Developers are responsible for providing estimates during Product Backlog refinement and Sprint Planning.

D. Decide when to release the product:Decisions about releases are made collaboratively by theProduct Owner, often based on business needs and stakeholder input.

The Scrum Master ensures that the Scrum Team is working effectively bycoaching the team in self-management and cross-functionality. This enables the team to take ownership of their work, collaborate effectively, and achieve their goals.

According to the2020 Scrum Guide, the Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team in the following ways:

Coaching team members to improve their practices andself-management skills.

Helping the team become cross-functional so they can deliver complete, Done Increments without relying on external dependencies.

Removing impediments to their progress and facilitating productive Scrum events.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Plan Scrum implementations within the organization:While the Scrum Master supports Scrum adoption across the organization, this is not directly related to the Scrum Team's effectiveness.

B. Facilitate Scrum events:Facilitating events is part of the Scrum Master’s responsibilities, but the larger goal is to enable the team's effectiveness through coaching and guidance.

C. Report all user stories in management meetings:Scrum does not involve reporting to management in this way, as the focus is on delivering value rather than detailed reporting.

Facilitatingis the activity that seeks to build consensus in a group setting. In Scrum, the Scrum Master often acts as afacilitator, helping the team reach agreements during events such as Sprint Planning, Retrospectives, or backlog refinement sessions. Facilitators guide discussions neutrally, ensuring all voices are heard and helping the group align on decisions.

According to the2020 Scrum Guide, the Scrum Master:

Facilitates Scrum events as requested or needed.

Removes barriers to communication and fosters collaboration within the team.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Coaching:Coaching involves guiding individuals or teams to improve performance, but it is not specifically about building group consensus.

B. Teaching:Teaching focuses on imparting knowledge, not consensus-building.

C. Mentoring:Mentoring involves a one-on-one relationship where the mentor shares knowledge and experience, which is not a group activity.

ScrumArtifactsrepresent work or value, providing transparency and opportunities for inspection and adaptation. TheSprint Backlogis one of the three primary Scrum Artifacts defined in the2020 Scrum Guide:

Product Backlog: The ordered list of everything that is needed in the product.

Sprint Backlog: The plan for the Sprint, including the Sprint Goal, selected Product Backlog items, and the work plan for delivering the Increment.

Increment: The sum of all work completed during a Sprint that meets the Definition of Done.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Definition of Done:While critical to ensuring quality, the Definition of Done is not an Artifact but rather a standard that applies to the Increment.

C. Sprint Goal:The Sprint Goal is part of the Sprint Backlog but is not a standalone Artifact.

D. Sprint Burndown Chart:This is a complementary tool used for tracking progress but is not an official Artifact in Scrum.