PSM-II Free Practice Test

Three Development Teams are currently building a single product and pulling work from the same Product Backlog. All three teams have identified that they will need Dan, a database specialist, to work full time in their team for the next several Sprints.
What should Steven, the Scrum Master, do to solve this potential problem?

1. A. Manage the items in the Sprint Backlogs so that Dan can be utilized evenly for each team.
2. B. Assign Dan to the team with the most urgent tasks first and then move him to the next team and so on until the required support is completed.
3. C. Facilitate a discussion with all Development Teams on how they want to deal with this issue, and help them implement their preferred solution.
4. D. Ask Dan to work with the HR department to recruit and hire additional database specialist
5. E. In the meantime, have the Product Owner move items that do not depend on Dan to the top of the Product Backlog.

Correct Answer: C
As a servant/leader, the Scrum Master facilitates conversations through open ended QUESTION NO:s in order to help the team members make the best possible decisions according to what is known at the time. He/she does not approve or reject team decisions but ensures the team stays within the boundaries of the Scrum framework.

The Scrum Master is responsible for the process in which Scrum is adopted and enacted.

1. A. True
2. B. False

Correct Answer: A

Individual Development Team members have been approaching Steven, the Scrum Master, to complain about Chris. Chris has the most experience on the system they are building. He often QUESTION NO:s the choices team members make in design and architecture making them feel bad.
What are two good ways for Steven to address this problem? (Choose two.)

1. A. Steven observes whether this topic is raised at the Sprint Retrospectiv
2. B. If not, then he checks with the team on how comfortable they are with the way the design and architecture is being handled.
3. C. Steven suggests facilitating a session with the full team to help resolve the issue.
4. D. Steven tells the concerned members that Chris’ opinions should be respected as he has the most experience and understands what is best for long term sustainability.
5. E. Steven shares his concerns with Chris and the impact on the other team members and that he should be a team player.
6. F. Steven takes the time between Sprints to organize a team building session to build a stronger relationship.

Correct Answer: AB
Conflicts are a natural occurrence and the Scrum Master coaches the Development Team on the value of resolving conflicts. Leaving conflicts unresolved can impact the Scrum values of openness and respect diminishing trust. Lower trust levels will impact the Scrum Team’s effectiveness and can cause impediments in the future. It is the responsibility of the Scrum Master to remove impediments that hinder the team through conflict resolution and facilitation.

Steven is a Scrum Master of a Scrum Team that is new to Scrum. At the halfway point of the Sprint, the Product Owner comes to Steven telling him that he is concerned the Development Team will not be able to complete the entire Sprint Backlog by the end of the Sprint.
What should Steven do in this situation?

1. A. Motivate the Development Team to meet their commitment to the Product Owner.
2. B. Coach the Product Owner that with complex software development, you cannot promise the entire scope that was forecast during Sprint Plannin
3. C. As more is learned during the Sprint, work may emerge thataffects the Sprint Backlog.
4. D. Advise the Product Owner that the Development Team owns the Sprint Backlog and it is up to them to meet their commitment
5. E. No one tells the Development Team how to turn Product Backlog into Increments of potentially releasable functionality.
6. F. Add more people to the Development Team to meet the Product Owner’s expectations.

Correct Answer: 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 known. The Sprint Backlog is a forecast by the Development Team about what functionality will be in the next Increment and the work needed to deliver that functionality into a ‘Done’ Increment. The Development Team modifies the Sprint Backlog throughout the Sprint, and the Sprint Backlog emerges during the Sprint. This emergence occurs as the Development Team works through the plan and learns more about the work needed to achieve the Sprint Goal.
Why C is incorrect:
a) The Dev Team does not commit to finishing all items in the Sprint Backlog. Committing to completing all items would be fixed scope and fixed time leaving no room to adapt. They commit to the Sprint Goal and doing the right thing.
b) It’s also incorrect for the PO to focus on completing the entire Sprint Backlog. Finishing everything should not be his main focus. Having a shippable increment that meets the Sprint Goal is more important than trying to finish everything. The advice in option C is equivalent to “Don’t worry, they’ll get everything done.” but because of the complex domain, you cannot guarantee everything will get done.

What might be a valid reason for abnormally cancelling a Sprint?

1. A. When the Development Team discovers it cannot meet their Sprint commitments.
2. B. When the work becomes too difficult for the Development Team.
3. C. When the sales department discovers features that add more value than the current work being done.
4. D. When the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete.

Correct Answer: D