PSPO-I Scrum Exam Lab Questions

If the Developers find out during the Sprint that they are not likely to build everything they forecast, the best response from the Product Owner is to re-work the selected Product Backlog items with the Developers to meet the Sprint Goal. This is because:

• The Sprint Goal is a short-term objective that provides guidance and focus to the Scrum Team throughout the Sprint. It is a flexible and negotiable commitment that can be adjusted as more is learned throughout the Sprint.
• The Developers are accountable for creating a “Done” Increment in every Sprint. They must ensure that every Product Backlog item they work on meets the Definition of Done before it is considered complete.
• The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. They must inspect the Increment at the end of each Sprint and assess how it delivers value and contributes to the Product Goal.
• The Product Owner and the Developers must collaborate closely throughout the Sprint to ensure that they have a shared understanding of what they are building and why. The Product Owner must provide clarifications, feedback, and guidance to the Developers as needed to help them create a valuable Increment.
• If the Developers find out during the Sprint that they are not likely to build everything they forecast, it means that there is a gap between their initial plan and their actual progress. This may happen due to various reasons, such as new insights, changing requirements, technical challenges, or unforeseen circumstances.
• In this situation, the Product Owner should work with the Developers to re-work the selected Product Backlog items to meet the Sprint Goal. This may involve adding, removing, or modifying some items, as long as they still support the Sprint Goal and deliver value. The Product Owner should also communicate any changes or impacts to the stakeholders and customers as appropriate.

Other options, such as skipping Product Backlog refinement activities, informing management that more Developers are needed, changing the Sprint Goal, or canceling the Sprint, are not valid responses from the Product Owner as they do not reflect what should happen in Scrum or how to deal with uncertainty and complexity.

References:

• [Scrum Guide], page 15, section “Sprint Goal”
• [Scrum Guide], page 7, section “Developers”
• [Scrum Guide], page 6, section “Product Owner”
• [Scrum Guide], page 10, section “Definition of Done”
• [Scrum Guide], page 10, section “Increment”
• [Scrum Guide], page 10, section “Product Goal”

If a stakeholder is unhappy with the quality of the product, the Scrum Master can coach the Product Owner on how to effectively communicate this concern to the Developers1. The Scrum Master can also encourage the Product Owner to put quality specifications on the Product Backlog1. This allows the Developers to understand the stakeholder’s expectations and work towards meeting them1. The Developers are responsible for building quality into the product, but the stakeholders (through the Product Owner) are responsible for setting what is expected in terms of product and process quality1.

The Sprint Retrospective is one of the five events defined by Scrum. It is a formal opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint. The purpose of the Sprint Retrospective is to adapt the way of working so that it becomes more effective and enjoyable. The other options are not required by Scrum, but may be useful practices depending on the context. Developers do not have to stand up at the Daily Scrum, they can choose any format that works for them. A Sprint Burndown Chart is a common way to visualize the remaining work in a Sprint, but it is not mandated by Scrum. Release Planning is a topic that falls under the broader competency of Managing Products with Agility, but it is not a prescribed event in Scrum.

References:

• The Scrum Guide
• Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework
• Professional Scrum Product Owner™ I Certification

Explanation: The Product Owner is responsible for managing and refining the Product Backlog, which is the single source of truth for the plan of the product development. The Product Backlog is a living artifact that changes as the product and the market evolve. The Product Owner updates the Product Backlog continuously based on feedback, learning, and stakeholder needs. There is no separate project plan document in Scrum.

References:

• [Scrum Guide], section 3.1: “The Product Backlog is an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product.”
• [Professional Scrum Product Owner], chapter 5: “The Product Backlog represents everything necessary to develop and launch a successful product.”
• [What is a Product Backlog?]: “The Product Backlog is a list of all things that need to be done within the project.”