Scrum.org Scrum Open Assessment

Question 1

True or False: When multiple Scrum Teams work together on the same product, each team should maintain a separate Product Backlog.

Answer 1

False

Products have one Product Backlog, regardless of how many Scrum Teams are used. Any other setup makes it difficult for the Developers to determine what they should work on.

Question 2

What is the role of Management in Scrum?
A)
Monitor the progress of the Developers on the Scrum Team.
B)
Identify and remove people that are not working hard enough.
C)
Support the Product Owner with insights and information into high value product and system capabilities. Support the Scrum Master to cause organizational change that fosters empiricism, self-management, bottom-up intelligence, and intelligent product delivery.
D)
Continually monitor staffing levels of the Scrum Team.

Answer 2

C

Management has no active role in the actual product development through Scrum. However, management external to the Scrum Team is relevant in setting the vision and strategy to guide the overall direction of the organization.

Question 3

When is a Sprint over?
A)
When all Product Backlog items meet their Definition of Done.
B)
When the timebox expires.
 C)
When the Product Owner says it is done.
 D)
When all the tasks are completed.

Answer 3

B

Sprints are fixed length events of one month or less to create consistency. A new Sprint starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint.

Question 4

How much work must the Developers complete for each Product Backlog item they select for a Sprint?
A)
Analysis, design, programming, testing and documentation.
B)
Enough so that each Product Backlog item they select meets the Definition of Done.
C)
All development work and at least some testing.
D)
As much as it can fit into the Sprint.

Answer 4

B

The purpose of each Sprint is to deliver useful and valuable Increments that adhere to the Scrum Team’s current Definition of Done.

Question 5

The length of a Sprint should be:
A)
Short enough to keep the business risk acceptable to the Product Owner.
 B)
Short enough to be able to synchronize the development work with other business events.
 C)
One month or less.
D)
All of the above.

Answer 5

D

All of these choices are appropriate considerations in determining the length of a Sprint.

Question 6

An organization has decided to adopt Scrum, but management wants to change the terminology to fit with terminology already used. What will likely happen if this is done?
A)
Without a new vocabulary as a reminder of the change, very little change may actually happen.
B)
The organization may not understand what has changed with Scrum and the benefits of Scrum may be lost.
C)
Management may feel less anxious.
D)
All of the above.

Answer 6

D

Question 7

True or False: It is mandatory that the product Increment be released to production at the end of each Sprint.

Answer 7

False

The product Increment should be usable and releasable at the end of every Sprint, but it does not have to be released.

Question 8

True or False: Scrum has a role called “project manager.”

Answer 8

False

A Scrum Team has a Scrum Master, a Product Owner and Developers. As a whole they have all controls needed.

Question 9

Why is the Daily Scrum held at the same time and same place?
A)
The consistency reduces complexity.
 B)
The place can be named.
 C)
The Product Owner demands it.
 D)
Rooms are hard to book and this lets it be booked in advance.

Answer 9

A

The Daily Scrum is held at the same time and place each day to reduce complexity.

Question 10

True or False: The Scrum Team must choose at least one high priority process improvement item, identified during the Sprint Retrospective, and place it in the Sprint Backlog.

Answer 10

False

An earlier version of the Scrum Guide prescribed the practice of placing one improvement in the Sprint Backlog. This was removed in the 2020 update to the Scrum Guide because it was felt to be too prescriptive. However, if this practice provides value to you then you should adopt it. It is simply not prescribed anymore, but can still be valuable.

Question 11

Select three incorrect, untrue, or misleading statements about Scrum?
A)
Scrum is a methodology where you can pick and choose which parts of Scrum you think will work for your environment.
B)
Scrum is a framework for developing and sustaining complex products.
C)
Each component of Scrum serves a specific purpose and is essential to your ability to use Scrum to develop complex products.
D)
Scrum is like traditional processes but with self-organization to replace Project Managers.
E)
Scrum is a framework that eliminates complexity.
F)
Scrum is based on empirical process control theory.

Answer 11

A, D, E

Scrum is meant to be implemented as prescribed in the Scrum Guide. For example, the five events in the Scrum Guide are mandatory, each event has a specific purpose.
Scrum does not eliminate the complexity that is inherent in delivering a product in today’s world, instead it offers a framework for dealing with complexity. By regularly delivering Increments of value teams gain the ability to inspect and rapidly adapt based on the feedback received.
Project Managers are not simply replaced by self-managing teams. Scrum is a framework for optimizing decision making based on the knowledge and experience of the entire team.

Question 12

Which of the following services is appropriate for a Scrum Master in regard to the Daily Scrum?
A)
Ensure that all 3 questions have been answered.
B)
Teach the Developers to keep the Daily Scrum within the 15 minute timebox.
C)
Facilitate in a way that ensures each team member has a chance to speak.
D)
Lead the discussions of the Developers.
E)
All answers apply.

Answer 12

B

The Scrum Master ensures that the Developers have the event, but the Developers are responsible for conducting the Daily Scrum. The Scrum Master teaches the Developers to keep the Daily Scrum within the 15-minute timebox. The Scrum Master enforces the rule that only members participate in the Daily Scrum.

Question 13

The Developers should not be interrupted during the Sprint and the Sprint Goal should remain intact. These are conditions that foster creativity, quality and productivity.

Which of the following answers is FALSE?

A)
The Product Owner can help clarify or optimize the Sprint when asked by the Developers.
B)
The Developers may work with the Product Owner to remove or add work if it finds it has more or less capacity than it expected.
C)
The Sprint Backlog is fully formulated in the Sprint Planning event and does not change during the Sprint.
D)
As a decomposition of the selected Product Backlog items, the Sprint Backlog changes and may grow as the work emerges.

Answer 13

C

The Sprint Backlog makes visible all of the work that the Developers identify as necessary to meet the Sprint Goal. The Developers modify the Sprint Backlog throughout the Sprint, and the Sprint Backlog emerges during the Sprint.

Question 14

The Product Backlog is ordered by:
A)
Items are randomly arranged.
B)
Size, where small items are at the top and large items are at the bottom.
C)
Least valuable items at the top to most valuable at the bottom.
D)
Whatever is deemed most appropriate by the Product Owner.
E)
Risk, where safer items are at the top, and riskier items are at the bottom.

Answer 14

D

The Product Owner is accountable for effective Product Backlog management. The Product Backlog is an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product. It is the single source of work undertaken by the Scrum Team.

Question 15

Upon what type of process control is Scrum based?
A)
Defined
B)
Empirical
 C)
Complex
 D)
Hybrid

Answer 15

B

Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory, or empiricism. Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is observed.

Question 16

Which statement best describes a Product Owner’s responsibility?
A)
Keep stakeholders from distracting the Developers.
B)
Managing the project and ensuring that the work meets the commitments to the stakeholders.
C)
Directing the Developers.
D)
Optimizing the value of the work the Scrum Team does.

Answer 16

D

The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Scrum Team.

Question 17

A Scrum Team consists of the following:
(Choose the best three answers)
A)
Customers
B)
Product Owner
C)
Developers
 D)
Users
E)
Scrum Master

Answer 17

B, C, E

The Scrum Team consists of one Scrum Master, one Product Owner, and Developers.

Question 18

The three pillars of empiricism are:
A)
Inspection, Transparency, Adaptation.
 B)
Respect For People, Kaizen, Eliminating Waste.
 C)
Planning, Demonstration, Retrospective.
 D)
Transparency, Eliminating Waste, Kaizen.
 E)
Planning, Inspection, Adaptation.

Answer 18

A

Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory, or empiricism. Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is known.
Three pillars uphold every implementation of empirical process control: transparency, inspection, and adaptation.

Question 19

When many Scrum Teams are working on a single product, what best describes the Definition of Done?
A)
All Scrum Teams must have a Definition of Done that makes their combined Increment valuable and useful.
B)
Each Scrum Team uses its own, but must make their definition clear to all other teams so the differences are known.
C)
It depends.

Answer 19

A

The Increment must be valuable and useful. This means that when many Scrum Teams are working on a single product, they are expected to adhere to a single Definition of Done for the Increment.

Question 20

Which Scrum events are timeboxed?
(Choose the best three answers)
A)
Refinement.
 B)
Release Retrospective.
C)
Sprint Review.
 D)
Release Testing.
E)
Sprint Planning.
F)
Sprint Retrospective.
 G)
Sprint Testing.

Answer 20

C, E, F

The Scrum Guide states that the Sprint Planning, Sprint Retrospectives, and Sprint Reviews are timeboxed events. Sprints are fixed length events of one month or less to create consistency, and the Daily Scrum is a 15-minute event.

Question 21

What does it mean to say that an event has a timebox?
A)
The event must happen at a set time.
B)
The event can take no more than a maximum amount of time.
C)
The event must happen by a given time.
D)
The event must take at least a minimum amount of time.

Answer 21

B

Timeboxed events are events that have a maximum duration.

Question 22

When does the next Sprint begin?
A)
Immediately following the next Sprint Planning.
B)
Immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint.
 C)
When the Product Owner is ready.
 D)
Next Monday.

Answer 22

B

A new Sprint starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint.

Question 23

Who is required to attend the Daily Scrum?
A)
The Developers.
 B)
The Developers and Product Owner.
 C)
The Scrum Team.
 D)
The Scrum Master and Product Owner.
 E)
The Developers and Scrum Master.

Answer 23

A

Only the people doing the work described on the Sprint Backlog need to inspect and adapt at the Daily Scrum. If the Product Owner or Scrum Master are actively working on items in the Sprint Backlog, they participate as Developers, they will need to be at the Daily Scrum.

Question 24

During a Sprint, a Developer determines that the Scrum Team will not be able to complete the items in their forecast. Who should be present to review and adjust the Product Backlog items selected?
A)
The Developers.
 B)
The Scrum Master, the project manager, and the Developers
 C)
The Product Owner and all stakeholders.
D)
The Product Owner and the Developers.

Answer 24

D

During the Sprint, scope may be clarified and re-negotiated between the Product Owner and the Developers as more is learned. It is important to be transparent when challenges arise since ultimately the entire Scrum Team is accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment.

Question 25

The CEO asks the Developers to add a “very important” item to a Sprint that is in progress. What should the Developers do?
A)
Add the item to the next Sprint.
B)
Add the item to the current Sprint without any adjustments.
C)
Inform the other members of the Scrum Team so the team can decide what to do.
D)
Add the item to the current Sprint and drop an item of equal size.

Answer 25

C

The items selected for a Sprint have been selected as most valuable with the Product Owner. The items serve the Sprint’s goal. No changes should be made that endanger the Sprint Goal. No one external to the Scrum Team can force changes on the Developers.

Question 26

What is the main reason for the Scrum Master to be at the Daily Scrum?
A)
To gather status and progress information to report to management.
B)
To write down any changes to the Sprint Backlog, including adding new items, and tracking progress on the burn-down.
C)
He or she does not have to be there; he or she only has to ensure the Developers have a Daily Scrum.
D)
To make sure every team member answers the three questions.

Answer 26

C

The Scrum Master only ensures that all Scrum events take place and are positive, productive, and kept within the timebox.

Question 27

Who creates the Definition of Done?
A)
The Product Owner since they are responsible for the product’s success.
B)
The Scrum Master since they are responsible for the productivity of the Developers.
C)
If it is not an organizational standard, the Scrum Team must create a Definition of Done appropriate for the product.
D)
The Scrum Team, in a collaborative effort where the result is the common denominator of all members’ definitions.

Answer 27

C

If the Definition of Done for an Increment is part of the standards of the organization, all Scrum Teams must follow it as a minimum. If it is not an organizational standard, the Scrum Team must create a Definition of Done appropriate for the product.

Question 28

When should the Developers on a Scrum Team be replaced?
A)
As needed, while taking into account a short-term reduction in productivity.
B)
Every Sprint to promote shared learning.
C)
Never, it reduces productivity.
D)
As needed, with no special allowance for changes in productivity.

Answer 28

A

Scrum Teams typically go through some steps before achieving a state of increased performance. Changing membership typically reduces cohesion, affecting performance and productivity in the short term.

Question 29

Who should know the most about the progress toward a business objective or a release, and be able to explain the alternatives most clearly?
A)
The Developers
B)
The Product Owner
 C)
The Scrum Master
 D)
The Project Manager

Answer 29

B

The Product Owner is the sole person responsible for ordering the Product Backlog. Their responsibilities include making the Product Backlog visible, transparent, and clear to all.

Question 30

Who is on the Scrum Team?

(choose the best three answers)

A)
Project Manager.
B)
The Product Owner.
C)
Developers.
D)
The Scrum Master.

Answer 30

B, C, D

The Scrum Team consists of the Scrum Master, the Product Owner and Developers. The Scrum Team is a cohesive unit of professionals focused on one objective at a time, the Product Goal.

Question 31

True or False: The purpose of a Sprint is to produce a valuable and useful Increment of working product.

Answer 31

True

The heart of Scrum is a Sprint, a timebox of one month or less during which a done, useful, and valuable working product Increment is created.

Question 32

Which two things should the Scrum Team do during the first Sprint?

(choose the best two answers)

A)
Develop a plan for the rest of the release.
B)
Create the complete Product Backlog to be developed in subsequent Sprints.
C)
Determine the complete architecture and infrastructure for the product.
D)
Develop and deliver at least one piece of functionality.
E)
Deliver an Increment of useful and valuable product.

Answer 32

D, E

The heart of Scrum is a Sprint, which is one month or less during which a done, usable, valuable product Increment is created. This applies to every Sprint.

Question 33

The Developers should have all the skills needed to:
A)
Complete the project as estimated when the date and cost are committed to the Product Owner.
B)
Do all of the development work, except for specialized testing that requires additional tools and environments.
C)
Turn the Product Backlog items they select into an Increment of useful and valuable product functionality.

Answer 33

C

The Developers are a group of professionals who do the work of delivering an Increment of done product at the end of each Sprint. As a team, Developers have all of the skills necessary to create a product Increment.

Question 34

Which statement best describes Scrum?

A)
A defined and predictive process that conforms to the principles of Scientific Management.
B)
A complete methodology that defines how to develop software.
C)
A framework for creating complex products in complex environments.
D)
A cookbook that defines best practices for software development.

Answer 34

C

Scrum is a lightweight framework that helps people, teams and organizations generate value through adaptive solutions for complex problems.

Question 35

Which statement best describes the Sprint Review?
A)
It is a demo at the end of the Sprint for everyone in the organization to check on the work done.
B)
It is when the Scrum Team and stakeholders inspect the outcome of a Sprint and figure out what to do next.
C)
It is a mechanism to control Developer activity during a Sprint.

Answer 35

B

Every event in Scrum, besides the Sprint, which is a container for the other events, is an opportunity to Inspect and Adapt.

Question 36

When might a Sprint be abnormally cancelled?
A)
When the sales department has an important new opportunity.
B)
When the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete.
C)
When it becomes clear that not everything will be finished by the end of the Sprint.
D)
When the Developers feel that the work is too hard.

Answer 36

B

A Sprint could be cancelled if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete. Only the Product Owner has the authority to cancel the Sprint.

Question 37

The timebox for the Sprint Review is:

A)
As long as needed.
 B)
2 hours.
C)
4 hours for a monthly Sprint. For shorter Sprints it is usually shorter.
 D)
4 hours and longer as needed.
 E)
1 day.

Answer 37

C

Sprint Review is a maximum four-hour timeboxed event for one-month Sprints. For shorter Sprints, the event is usually shorter.

Question 38

When does a Developer become accountable for the value of a Product Backlog item selected for the Sprint?

A)
During the Daily Scrum.
B)
Never. The entire Scrum Team is accountable for creating value every Sprint.
 C)
Whenever a team member can accommodate more work.
 D)
At the Sprint Planning Event.

Answer 38

B

All members of the Scrum Team share in the accountability for creating value every Sprint.

Question 39

What is the recommended size for a Scrum Team?

A)
Typically 10 or fewer people.
 B)
9.
C)
7 plus or minus 2.
 D)
Minimum of 7.

Answer 39

A

A Scrum Team is small enough to remain nimble and large enough to complete significant work within a Sprint, typically 10 or fewer people. Generally smaller teams communicate better and are more productive

Question 40

What are two ways a Scrum Master serves to enable effective Scrum Teams?

(choose the best two answers)

A)
By removing impediments that hinder the Scrum Team.
B)
By keeping high value features high in the Product Backlog.
C)
By starting and ending the meetings at the proper time.
D)
By facilitating Developer decision-making.

Answer 40

A, D

The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team in several ways. Facilitation and removing impediments are examples of ways a Scrum Master helps a team become more effective.

Question 41

The timebox for the Sprint Planning event is?

A)
4 hours.
 B)
Monthly.
C)
8 hours for a monthly Sprint. For shorter Sprints it is usually shorter.
 D)
Whenever it is done.

Answer 41

C

Sprint Planning is timeboxed to a maximum of eight hours for a one-month Sprint. For shorter Sprints, the event is usually shorter.

Question 42

When does a Developer become the sole owner of a Sprint Backlog item?

A)
During the Daily Scrum.
 B)
At the Sprint Planning event.
 C)
Whenever a team member can accommodate more work.
D)
Never. All Sprint Backlog items are "owned" by the Developers on the Scrum Team even though each item may be implemented by an individual Developer.

Answer 42

D

The Sprint Backlog and all of its items are collectively owned by the Developers. No individual Developer can claim ownership over an item as this would block communication and collaboration.

Question 43

The timebox for a Daily Scrum is?

A)
Two minutes per person.
 B)
15 minutes for a 4-week sprint. For shorter Sprints it is usually shorter.
 C)
The same time of day every day.
 D)
4 hours.
E)
15 minutes.

Answer 43

E

The Daily Scrum is a 15-minute event for the Developers of the Scrum Team. The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team by ensuring that all Scrum events take place and are positive, productive, and kept within the timebox.

Question 44

Who has the final say on the order of the Product Backlog?

A)
The Stakeholders.
B)
The Product Owner.
 C)
The Developers.
 D)
The Scrum Master.
 E)
The CEO.

Answer 44

B

The Product Owner is the sole person responsible for ordering the Product Backlog.

Question 45

Who is responsible for managing the progress of work during a Sprint?

 A)
The Scrum Master.
 B)
The most junior member of the team.
 C)
The Product Owner.
D)
The Developers.

Answer 45

D

The Developers use the Daily Scrum to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and to inspect how progress is trending toward completing the work in the Sprint Backlog.

Question 46

Which of the following are examples of a Scrum Team practicing Scrum poorly or not exhibiting traits of a self-managing Scrum Team?

(choose the best three answers)

A)
Stakeholders attend the Daily Scrum to check on the Scrum Team’s progress.
B)
The Developers are working within the boundaries of their organizations functional description and nicely handing off work from analyst to developer to tester to integration.
C)
The Developers create their own Sprint Backlog, reflecting all work that is required to meet the Definition of Done.
D)
The Developers have all the skills they need to create a valuable, useful Increment.
E)
The Developers invite external stakeholders to the Sprint Planning to ask them how to turn a Product Backlog item into an Increment via a complete and detailed Sprint Backlog.
F)
The Developers are collaboratively selecting their own work during the Sprint.

Answer 46

A, B, E

The Daily Scrum is for the Developers. It should not be used by external stakeholders to check progress.

During Sprint Planning the Scrum Team should be crafting the Sprint Goal based on the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint. The Developers identify the necessary work to meet the Sprint Goal.

Scrum Team members do not have titles, and no sub-teams; such as testing, architecture, or operations are recognized. Accountability belongs with the Scrum Team as a whole, regardless of whether team members have specialized skills.