SSM Multiple Select — 60 Questions

Question 1

An enterprise is transitioning to SAFe and introducing Scrum at the team level. The Release Train Engineer wants to ensure that the newly formed Agile Teams understand how Scrum integrates with the broader framework. Which TWO activities are critical for the Scrum Master to champion during this introduction phase? (Choose two.)

Choose an answer to begin — your selection is scored in the full session.

Accepted Answer

Facilitating team participation in Program Increment Planning and execution events.. Championing relentless improvement through effective retrospectives and ensuring alignment with PI planning are vital Scrum Master responsibilities. These activities bridge the gap between team-level Scrum execution and enterprise-level value delivery. Mastering these foundational practices accelerates team maturity and fosters sustainable value streams across the Agile Release Train.

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Establishing independent team financial budgets and standalone profit-and-loss statements.

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Redefining corporate governance policies to bypass traditional HR performance reviews.

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Replacing the Product Owner with an enterprise portfolio manager for backlog prioritization.

Question 2

An organization is introducing Scrum inside a SAFe Agile Release Train, and a new Scrum Master is clarifying how the Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team and the larger organization. Which two services are explicitly part of the Scrum Master's role in this context? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Helping the team and organization adopt Scrum by removing impediments to the team's progress.. SAFe describes the Scrum Master as serving the team by coaching self-management and cross-functionality, and serving the organization by helping it adopt Scrum and removing impediments. Those two services build capability and clear the path for delivery. Backlog ownership, technical direction, and quality approval belong to the Product Owner, the Developers, and the team's Definition of Done respectively, not to the Scrum Master.

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Directing the Developers on technical design and architecture decisions during the Iteration.

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Approving whether completed stories meet the Definition of Done before they are accepted.

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Owning and prioritizing the Team Backlog to maximize the value delivered each Iteration.

Question 3

A SAFe Scrum Master is preparing to facilitate the Iteration Retrospective for a team that has just completed a challenging Iteration with several unplanned dependencies. Which TWO actions best fulfill the Scrum Master's responsibilities during this event? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Create a safe environment where team members can speak openly about the challenges and disagreements they experienced.. During the Iteration Retrospective, the Scrum Master facilitates a safe, timeboxed environment and helps the team identify a manageable set of improvements. The team owns the improvement backlog, so the Scrum Master does not assign actions or dictate items. Fostering openness and focusing on actionable outcomes are key responsibilities that enable the team to inspect and adapt effectively after a challenging Iteration.

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Document all team member complaints in detail and report them to the Release Train Engineer for resolution.

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Assign specific improvement actions to individual team members to ensure accountability for the next Iteration.

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Decide on the team's improvement backlog items yourself to save time and avoid prolonged discussion.

Question 4

Which TWO of the following are true about the Scrum Master's role in the PI Planning event?

Accepted Answer

The Scrum Master facilitates the team's breakout sessions.. During PI Planning, the Scrum Master manages the team's breakouts, facilitates the estimation process, and keeps the team focused on their objectives and dependencies. Their contribution is crucial because PI Planning sets the vision and plan for the next several iterations. Without the Scrum Master's facilitation, the team would struggle to produce a realistic and aligned plan that fits into the broader ART schedule.

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The Scrum Master defines the PI objectives for the team.

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The Scrum Master is responsible for presenting the final PI objectives to the ART.

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The Scrum Master acts as the decision-maker for all feature prioritization.

Question 5

Successful PI Planning requires significant preparation. Which TWO areas are part of the 'Content Readiness' for this event? (Choose 2)

Accepted Answer

The Executive briefing on the current business context. Content Readiness ensures that the 'what' and 'why' of the upcoming PI are clear. This includes having a Program Backlog that is refined and prioritized, as well as Briefings for the vision, context, and any architectural changes. Without this readiness, teams will struggle to create meaningful plans during the breakout sessions.

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Ensuring all team members are assigned to a specific Scrum team

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Setting up the physical or virtual Program Board

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Finalizing the iteration-by-iteration plan for each team

Question 6

During the root cause analysis phase of the Problem-Solving Workshop, which TWO tools or techniques are most commonly recommended to help teams identify the source of an issue? (Choose 2)

Accepted Answer

The 5 Whys. SAFe recommends specific structured techniques for root cause analysis during the Inspect and Adapt event. The '5 Whys' is used to drill down into the cause-and-effect relationships, and the 'Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram' is used to categorize potential causes into groups like People, Process, Tools, and Environment to ensure a comprehensive view.

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The Program Board

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Pareto Analysis

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Confidence Voting

Question 7

The Coach Sync (formerly Scrum of Scrums) and the PO Sync are two vital ART synchronization events. Which TWO statements accurately describe the focus of the Coach Sync? (Choose 2)

Accepted Answer

Gaining visibility into progress and impediments across the train. The Coach Sync focuses on the execution and health of the Agile Release Train. It is a meeting for Scrum Masters and the RTE to discuss progress, dependencies, and impediments. Unlike the PO Sync, which focuses on content and priority, the Coach Sync ensures the process is working and the teams are collaborating effectively.

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Reviewing and adjusting the Feature priorities in the Program Backlog

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Demonstrating newly completed Features to the Business Owners

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Determining the Business Value for the team's PI Objectives

Question 8

Which TWO roles are primarily responsible for facilitating the Team Breakout sessions during PI Planning? (Choose TWO)

Accepted Answer

Scrum Master. Team Breakouts are the heart of PI Planning where teams work locally to define their stories and objectives. The Scrum Master and Product Owner work as a leadership pair for the team during these sessions. They ensure the team stays focused, resolves internal conflicts, and aligns their technical tasks with the business priorities.

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Release Train Engineer

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System Architect

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Business Owner

Question 9

A Scrum Master is helping a newly formed Scrum team in a SAFe ART understand which activities belong to the team's own Scrum events rather than to ART-level events. Which two activities are performed by the Scrum team during its own Scrum events? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Identifying and addressing process improvements during the Iteration Retrospective. The team's own Scrum events include Iteration Planning, the Daily Stand-up, the Iteration Review, and the Iteration Retrospective. Establishing the Iteration Goal occurs in Iteration Planning, and identifying process improvements occurs in the Iteration Retrospective, so both are team-level activities. The Program Board, PI Objectives review, and Scrum of Scrums are ART-level activities.

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Facilitating the Scrum of Scrums to coordinate cross-team dependencies

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Managing and updating the Program Board dependencies during PI Planning

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Reviewing and adjusting the ART's PI Objectives during the Inspect and Adapt event

Question 10

A Scrum Master is preparing a team for its first PI Planning on a new Agile Release Train. The team asks which activities they will participate in during the two-day event. Which TWO activities are part of the team's PI Planning responsibilities? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Creating and committing to team PI Objectives during team breakout sessions.. During PI Planning, each team works in breakout sessions to review its backlog, estimate capacity, draft PI Objectives, and identify dependencies and risks. These outputs feed the program board and the draft plan review. Budgeting, management review facilitation, and solution intent negotiation belong to other roles and are not team responsibilities within the event.

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Establishing the ART's budget and approving the Lean Portfolio Management funding for the next PI.

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Facilitating the management review and problem-solving session that follows the draft plan review.

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Negotiating the ART's top-level solution intent with enterprise architects outside the planning event.

Question 11

Which THREE items are primary responsibilities of a Scrum Master when introducing Scrum within a SAFe environment?

Accepted Answer

Removing impediments that block the team's progress.. The Scrum Master is a servant leader who facilitates team events, coaches the team on SAFe practices, and removes systemic impediments. In SAFe, they also coordinate across teams to manage dependencies. These responsibilities are vital for maintaining the flow of value across the Agile Release Train and ensuring the team remains aligned with the broader program goals while maximizing their own local agility.

Answer

Writing and maintaining the Program Backlog.

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Setting the vision and roadmap for the ART.

Question 12

Which TWO of the following are the primary responsibilities of the Scrum Master during the Iteration Planning meeting?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate the process to ensure the team plans effectively within the timebox.. The Scrum Master acts as a facilitator to ensure the planning process remains on track, respects the timebox, and results in a realistic, agreed-upon plan. By focusing the team on capacity and the goal, the Scrum Master prevents common pitfalls like over-commitment or lack of focus, which is essential for ensuring the team is set up for success at the start of every iteration.

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Prioritize the product backlog items for the team.

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Assign tasks to team members based on their specific technical skills.

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Define the acceptance criteria for all user stories in the iteration.

Question 13

A SAFe Scrum Master / Team Coach is facilitating a team's first PI Planning event. The team is struggling to define their Iteration Goals and identify dependencies. Which TWO actions should the Scrum Master / Team Coach take to best support the team? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Coach the team to break down Features into Stories and define clear Iteration Goals before finalizing PI Objectives.. The Scrum Master / Team Coach supports PI Planning by coaching the team on breaking down work and defining Iteration Goals, and by facilitating dependency identification with other teams. These actions build the team's capability and ensure alignment with the ART, while keeping ownership with the team.

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Delay dependency mapping until after PI Planning to avoid disrupting the team's flow during the event.

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Instruct the Product Owner to write the PI Objectives on behalf of the team to save time.

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Take over the team's planning session to ensure the PI Objectives are aligned with the portfolio strategy.

Question 14

A Scrum Master / Team Coach is working with a new Agile Team that is struggling to self-organize. The team frequently waits for the Scrum Master to assign tasks and make decisions. Which TWO actions best support the team in developing self-management? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Teach the team to use the Iteration Retrospective to identify their own improvements and commit to actions.. Self-management grows when the team owns its process and decisions. Using the Iteration Retrospective to drive improvements and establishing team agreements on decision-making and conflict resolution both transfer ownership to the team. Assigning tasks, making decisions for the team, or imposing a strict process all keep the Scrum Master at the center, which prevents the team from learning to self-organize.

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Assign clear tasks to each team member at the start of each Iteration to ensure work is distributed evenly.

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Make key decisions for the team during Iteration Planning to keep the event on schedule.

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Direct the team to follow a strict task assignment process defined by the Scrum Master until they improve.

Question 15

A SAFe Scrum Master/Team Coach is supporting an Agile Team that is struggling with internal conflicts and low trust. The team often blames individuals for missed commitments and avoids open discussion during retrospectives. Which TWO actions should the Scrum Master take to improve the team's health? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a team-building session focused on psychological safety and shared norms, using techniques like working agreements and conflict resolution.. The Scrum Master should facilitate a team-building session on psychological safety and model constructive conflict. These actions directly build trust, establish shared norms, and teach the team how to engage in healthy disagreement. They address the root causes of blame and avoidance, empowering the team to improve their own dynamics. Punitive or avoidant measures would worsen the situation.

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Publicly reprimand the individuals who blame others, to set an example of acceptable behavior.

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Recommend that the team skip retrospectives until they can interact without conflict, to avoid further tension.

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Ask the Release Train Engineer to reassign the most vocal team members to other teams to reduce friction.

Question 16

A SAFe Scrum Master / Team Coach is working with a team that has recently adopted SAFe. The team is struggling to understand how their role fits into the larger Agile Release Train. Which TWO actions should the Scrum Master / Team Coach take to help the team connect with the ART? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Facilitate the team's participation in PI Planning and help them prepare their iteration plans and objectives.. The Scrum Master / Team Coach helps the team connect with the ART by facilitating their participation in PI Planning and System Demos. These events provide the context for alignment, dependency management, and feedback across teams. Encouraging active involvement in these cadences builds the team's understanding of how their work contributes to the train's objectives and fosters collaboration.

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Ask the Release Train Engineer to assign the team a mentor from another team to explain SAFe.

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Instruct the team to focus solely on their own iteration goals and avoid distractions from other teams.

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Coach the team to establish and maintain their team board and information radiators for transparency.

Question 17

A Scrum Master / Team Coach is helping an Agile Team improve its collaboration with the Product Owner. The team complains that backlog items are unclear and priorities shift mid-Iteration. Which TWO actions best fulfill the Scrum Master / Team Coach role in this situation? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Coach the Product Owner and team on backlog refinement practices so items are ready before Iteration Planning.. The Scrum Master / Team Coach improves collaboration by coaching the Product Owner and team on backlog refinement and by facilitating a shared agreement on how scope changes are handled during an Iteration. These actions address unclear items and shifting priorities at their source. Directing the Product Owner, taking over refinement, or escalating for a replacement bypasses coaching and undermines the team's ownership and the Product Owner's accountability.

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Instruct the Product Owner to stop changing priorities and freeze the backlog for the entire Program Increment.

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Escalate to the Release Train Engineer that the Product Owner is not performing and request a replacement.

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Take over backlog refinement meetings and write the acceptance criteria for each story on behalf of the team.

Question 18

A Scrum Master / Team Coach is supporting an Agile Team whose members consistently bypass the team's working agreements, arriving late to events and skipping refinement sessions. The team's Iteration Goals are slipping. Which TWO actions are most appropriate for the Scrum Master / Team Coach in this situation? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Model the expected behaviors yourself by arriving early and prepared to every event, and coach individual team members privately about the impact of their absence.. Coaching a team back to its working agreements happens through the team's own inspection forums and through modeling and private coaching, not through escalation or imposed rules. Raising the pattern in the Iteration Retrospective lets the team choose to change or recommit, while modeling behavior and coaching individuals addresses specific gaps with respect for the people involved. Both actions build durable self-management.

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Rewrite the team's working agreements yourself with stricter rules and present them as non-negotiable so the team has clear boundaries.

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Document each missed agreement and submit the record to the team's functional manager so attendance expectations can be enforced through performance management.

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Suspend the team's refinement sessions until attendance improves, so the team experiences the consequences of skipping them.

Question 19

Marcus is the Scrum Master / Team Coach for the Identity Agile Team, which has just finished its first PI Planning on a new Agile Release Train. He wants to establish practices that build the team's self-management over the coming Iterations. Which TWO actions best support this goal? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Facilitate the Iteration Retrospective so the team identifies and owns its own improvement actions.. Self-management is built when the team owns its improvement actions and its decision-making norms. Facilitating the Retrospective and coaching working agreements both transfer ownership to the team, while assigning roles, maintaining the board, or selecting Stories keep authority with the coach. The Scrum Master / Team Coach grows capability by designing conditions for the team to decide, not by deciding for them.

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Take ownership of updating the team's Iteration board daily so it stays accurate for ART-level reporting.

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Assign each team member a specific role in every team event so responsibilities are always covered.

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Decide which Stories the team should pull next based on the ART's highest-priority Features.

Question 20

A Scrum Master is facilitating a team's first Iteration Retrospective after a challenging Iteration. The team is frustrated and wants to skip the Retrospective to focus on fixing defects. Which TWO actions should the Scrum Master take? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Facilitate the Retrospective with a focus on identifying systemic causes of the defects and actions to improve the team's process.. The Scrum Master should uphold the Retrospective as an essential event and help the team see its value in addressing defects through process improvement. Focusing the Retrospective on systemic causes and actions ensures it is relevant and productive. Cancelling, shortening, or replacing the event would undermine continuous improvement and the Scrum framework.

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Cancel the Retrospective and schedule a defect triage meeting instead, since the team's immediate priority is fixing defects.

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Shorten the Retrospective to 15 minutes and use the remaining time for defect fixing.

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Allow the team to cancel the Retrospective this once, since fixing defects is more urgent and the team can retrospect later.