CSM Practice Test 14 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A Scrum Master joins a team that has been using Scrum for six months. During the Daily Scrum, the Developers give a detailed status report to the Scrum Master, who then updates the Sprint Burndown Chart and assigns follow-up tasks. The team consistently meets its Sprint Goal, but the Scrum Master is concerned about long-term effectiveness. What should the Scrum Master do first?

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

Accepted Answer

Coach the Developers to own the Daily Scrum by focusing on progress toward the Sprint Goal and updating their own Sprint Backlog.. The Scrum Master should coach the Developers to take ownership of the Daily Scrum and the Sprint Backlog. The Daily Scrum exists for the Developers to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt their plan. When the Scrum Master runs the event and assigns tasks, the team is not self-managing, even if they deliver.

Answer

Ask the Product Owner to attend the Daily Scrum and take over the task of updating the Sprint Burndown Chart.

Answer

Stop attending the Daily Scrum so the Developers can self-organize without the Scrum Master's influence.

Answer

Continue the current practice since the team is meeting its Sprint Goal, and introduce changes only if performance declines.

Question 2

A Scrum Team is six Sprints into a product. The Scrum Master notices that the Product Owner has started attending the Daily Scrum and asking each Developer for a status update, which has stretched the event to nearly 30 minutes. Several Developers have privately complained that the Daily Scrum now feels like a reporting session to the Product Owner. What should the Scrum Master do first?

Accepted Answer

Coach the Product Owner that the Daily Scrum is for the Developers to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt their plan, and that the Product Owner's participation should not turn it into a status report.. The Daily Scrum exists so the Developers can inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt their plan, and the Scrum Master is accountable for the team's effectiveness and for coaching Scrum theory and practice. Coaching the Product Owner on the event's purpose restores the correct dynamic without banning participation or dismantling a core event.

Answer

Instruct the Developers to give shorter answers so the meeting finishes within the timebox regardless of who attends.

Answer

Ask the Product Owner to leave all future Daily Scrums so the Developers can speak freely.

Answer

Cancel the Daily Scrum and replace it with a written status report that the Product Owner can read asynchronously.

Question 3

A Scrum Master joins a team that has been using Scrum for six months. During the Daily Scrum, the Developers give a detailed status report to the Scrum Master, who then updates the Sprint Burndown Chart and assigns follow-up tasks. The team consistently meets its Sprint Goal, but the Scrum Master is concerned about long-term effectiveness. What should the Scrum Master do first?

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

Accepted Answer

Coach the Developers toward self-management, teaching them to pull work themselves and to resolve or escalate impediments as a team.. The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team by coaching it in self-management and helping it become cross-functional and accountable for its own work. When Developers wait for direction on task assignment and rely on the Scrum Master for every impediment, the appropriate response is to build their capability to decide and act themselves. Shifting decisions to the Product Owner or escalating for an external owner relocates authority instead of growing the team.

Answer

Ask the Product Owner to assign each Developer to specific items so accountability is clearly documented.

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Escalate to management that the team is not mature enough to self-organize and request a formal process owner.

Answer

Continue assigning work and resolving impediments personally so the team keeps delivering predictably.

Question 4

During a Sprint Retrospective, a Developer says the team's Daily Scrum has become a 30-minute round-robin status update for the Scrum Master. Several teammates nod in agreement. What should the Scrum Master do?

Accepted Answer

Remind the Developers that the Daily Scrum is their event and facilitate a discussion about how they want to use the 15-minute timebox to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal.. The Daily Scrum belongs to the Developers, who use it to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog. When it degrades into a status report for the Scrum Master, the right service is coaching and facilitation that returns ownership of the event to the Developers and reconnects it to the Sprint Goal within its timebox.

Answer

Stop attending the Daily Scrum so the Developers are forced to run it themselves without the Scrum Master present.

Answer

Shorten the Daily Scrum to 10 minutes and require each Developer to submit a written update before the meeting to save time.

Answer

Ask the Product Owner to attend the Daily Scrum and redirect the discussion toward the highest-value Product Backlog items each morning.

Question 5

A Scrum Team has just completed the Sprint Review and is about to begin the Sprint Retrospective. The Scrum Master wants to confirm the purpose of the upcoming event. What is the primary purpose of the Sprint Retrospective?

Accepted Answer

To inspect how the last Sprint went regarding individuals, interactions, processes, tools, and their Definition of Done, and to identify improvements.. The Sprint Retrospective is the final event of the Sprint and exists to inspect how the team worked across individuals, interactions, processes, tools, and the Definition of Done. The team identifies the most impactful improvements and may add them to the next Sprint Backlog. Product inspection and backlog adaptation belong to the Sprint Review, while goal setting and item selection belong to Sprint Planning.

Answer

To plan the Sprint Goal and select Product Backlog items for the next Sprint.

Answer

To inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog based on stakeholder feedback.

Answer

To demonstrate the completed Increment to stakeholders and collect their feedback for the next Sprint.

Question 6

A Product Owner is preparing for an upcoming Sprint and wants to make sure the Product Backlog is ready for the Developers to select work. Which action best describes how the Scrum Master serves the Product Owner in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Help the Product Owner understand and apply Product Backlog refinement so items are clear enough for the Developers to discuss and size.. Refinement is how the Product Backlog is kept ready for Sprint Planning, and the Product Owner is accountable for its content and ordering. The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner by helping them apply refinement so items become clear and appropriately sized for discussion. Writing backlog content, enforcing a format, or requiring estimates for all items all take decision-making away from the Product Owner or distort the purpose of refinement.

Answer

Convert all Product Backlog items into user stories with story points so the Developers can estimate them more easily.

Answer

Ask the Developers to estimate every Product Backlog item before the Product Owner decides what to order next.

Answer

Write detailed acceptance criteria for every Product Backlog item so the Product Owner can focus on stakeholder communication.

Question 7

During a Sprint Review, a key stakeholder expresses dissatisfaction with the Increment's functionality and demands that the Developers immediately start working on a new feature that was not in the Sprint Backlog. The Product Owner is present. How should the Scrum Master respond?

Accepted Answer

Explain that the Sprint Review is for gathering feedback, and the Product Owner will consider the new feature for the next Sprint Planning.. The Sprint Review is a working session for inspecting the Increment and adapting the Product Backlog. New requests should be directed to the Product Owner for consideration in future Sprints. The Scrum Master should facilitate this understanding and protect the Developers from mid-Sprint disruptions, ensuring the Sprint Goal remains intact.

Answer

Tell the stakeholder that they must submit a formal change request to the Scrum Master for approval.

Answer

Ignore the stakeholder's demand and continue the Sprint Review as planned without addressing the concern.

Answer

Ask the Developers to stop their current work and begin the new feature immediately to satisfy the stakeholder.

Question 8

A Scrum Team is new to Scrum and asks the Scrum Master to clarify the purpose of the Daily Scrum. Which statement best describes why the Developers hold this event every day?

Accepted Answer

To inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as needed.. The Daily Scrum is a 15-minute event for the Developers to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog. It is not a status report to the Scrum Master, Product Owner, or stakeholders. Its value lies in daily inspection and adaptation that keeps the team focused on the Sprint Goal.

Answer

To give the Product Owner a daily update on which Product Backlog items have been completed.

Answer

To report individual task status to the Scrum Master so that progress can be tracked and recorded.

Answer

To allow stakeholders to ask questions and provide feedback on the team's daily work.

Question 9

A Scrum Master joins a Scrum Team that has been working together for several Sprints. During a Daily Scrum, the Scrum Master notices that two Developers are describing their progress to the Scrum Master rather than to each other. The Scrum Master says nothing and the pattern continues. What is the most appropriate action for the Scrum Master to take?

Accepted Answer

During the next Sprint Retrospective, coach the team to recognize that the Daily Scrum is for the Developers and help them decide how to refocus it on each other.. The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team by coaching self-management and helping the team improve its practices. Because the Daily Scrum is the Developers' event, the Scrum Master should not command or take it over, but should help the Developers see the pattern and decide how to change it. The Retrospective is the appropriate, non-disruptive setting for that inspection and adaptation.

Answer

Take over facilitation of the Daily Scrum and ask each Developer a direct question in turn to ensure the event stays on track.

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Immediately interrupt the Daily Scrum and remind the Developers that they should speak only to each other, then resume the event.

Answer

Report the behavior to the Product Owner so the Product Owner can direct the Developers to follow the correct Daily Scrum format.

Question 10

A Product Owner decides that the market has shifted so dramatically that the current Sprint Goal no longer provides value, and cancels the Sprint midway. What should happen to the completed and incomplete Sprint Backlog items?

Accepted Answer

Completed items that meet the Definition of Done are reviewed and potentially accepted, while incomplete items are returned to the Product Backlog.. Canceling a Sprint does not discard work. Completed Product Backlog items that satisfy the Definition of Done are reviewed and may be accepted by the Product Owner if potentially releasable, while incomplete items return to the Product Backlog for future consideration. The next Sprint still begins with Sprint Planning to establish a new Sprint Goal and Sprint Backlog.

Answer

Completed items are released to production immediately, and the team moves directly into a new Sprint without Sprint Planning.

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All Sprint Backlog items are discarded, and the team starts fresh in the next Sprint with a new Product Backlog.

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The entire Sprint Backlog is carried over unchanged into the next Sprint to maintain continuity of work.

Question 11

A Scrum Team is distributed across multiple time zones. The Developers complain that the Daily Scrum is inefficient because they spend too much time waiting for each other to join and the discussion often drifts. The Scrum Master wants to help the team improve this event. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Suggest the Developers experiment with a different format, such as a written asynchronous Daily Scrum, and evaluate the impact.. The most appropriate action is to suggest the Developers experiment with a different format, such as an asynchronous written Daily Scrum, and evaluate the impact. Scrum does not prescribe a specific format for the Daily Scrum; it only requires that the Developers inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog. For a distributed team, an asynchronous format can reduce waiting and improve focus. The Scrum Master serves the team by facilitating this experiment and helping them learn from it.

Answer

Take over the Daily Scrum and ask each Developer to send a status report to the Scrum Master before the meeting.

Answer

Advise the team to cancel the Daily Scrum and instead rely on their sprint backlog tool for updates.

Answer

Require all Developers to attend a video conference Daily Scrum at a fixed time, regardless of their time zone.

Question 12

During a Sprint Review, a stakeholder asks the Developers to add a new high-priority feature to the current Sprint Backlog so it can be demonstrated at the next Sprint Review. The Product Owner is present. What is the most appropriate action for the Scrum Master to take?

Accepted Answer

Remind the team that the Sprint Backlog is owned by the Developers and that new work should be negotiated with the Product Owner for future Sprints, while the current Sprint Goal remains protected.. The Sprint Backlog is owned by the Developers, and the Sprint Goal provides focus for the Sprint. While the Product Owner manages the Product Backlog and can collaborate with the Developers to renegotiate scope, stakeholders do not directly assign work during the Sprint Review. The Scrum Master should protect the Sprint Goal and ensure changes are handled through the appropriate Scrum roles and events.

Answer

Escalate the request to the Scrum Master's manager to decide whether the feature should be added to the current Sprint.

Answer

Instruct the Developers to add the feature immediately, since the Sprint Review is the official inspect-and-adapt event where stakeholders provide input.

Answer

Tell the stakeholder that no changes can ever be made during a Sprint and that the feature must wait until the next Sprint Planning regardless of its priority.

Question 13

A large retail organization has adopted Scrum in several product groups, but quarterly funding decisions are still made by a portfolio committee that pre-allocates budget and scope to teams 12 months in advance. The Scrum Master wants to serve the organization by improving its ability to inspect and adapt investments. Which TWO actions best fit the Scrum Master's service to the organization? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Coach the portfolio committee on using Sprint Reviews and Increment evidence as inputs to funding and continuation decisions.. Serving the organization includes helping governance and funding practices become compatible with Scrum. Facilitating workshops with finance and portfolio leaders and coaching them to use Sprint Review evidence for funding decisions both increase organizational empiricism. The other choices either entrench annual planning, damage collaboration, or reduce transparency.

Answer

Direct each Scrum team to submit a detailed 12-month feature roadmap so the portfolio committee can compare plans across teams.

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Instruct teams to stop participating in portfolio reviews until the committee agrees to fund them for a full year without scope constraints.

Answer

Ask the Product Owners to hide uncertain scope from the portfolio committee so teams can keep their annual budgets stable.

Question 14

A Scrum Master is working with a Scrum Team that has a very quiet, introverted member who rarely speaks during Sprint Retrospectives. The other team members dominate the discussion. The Scrum Master wants to ensure that the Retrospective is a safe and productive event for everyone. What should the Scrum Master do?

Accepted Answer

Use techniques such as silent brainstorming or round-robin to give everyone an equal opportunity to contribute.. Using inclusive facilitation techniques such as silent brainstorming or round-robin ensures that all team members, including quieter ones, can contribute to the Retrospective. The Scrum Master serves the team by creating an environment where everyone feels safe to speak and where diverse perspectives are valued. This leads to more honest inspection and better adaptation, which are the goals of the Retrospective.

Answer

Speak to the introverted member privately and encourage them to be more assertive in the next Retrospective.

Answer

Ask the dominating team members to leave the Retrospective so that the introverted member can speak freely.

Answer

Allow the team to continue as they are, since the Retrospective is self-managed and the Scrum Master should not interfere.

Question 15

A Product Owner is planning to attend a Sprint Retrospective to explain why the Sprint Goal was not met and to assign action items to the Developers. How should the Scrum Master respond?

Accepted Answer

Explain that the Retrospective is for the Scrum Team to inspect and adapt its own processes, and the Product Owner may attend if invited but should not assign actions.. The Sprint Retrospective is for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and plan improvements; the Scrum Master ensures it is positive and productive. The Product Owner may attend if invited but should not assign action items or lead the event, as that would undermine the team's self-management and ownership of its process improvement.

Answer

Allow the Product Owner to attend and assign action items, since the Product Owner is accountable for value.

Answer

Cancel the Retrospective and hold a separate meeting with the Product Owner to discuss the missed Sprint Goal.

Answer

Invite the Product Owner to lead the Retrospective and define the improvement actions for the next Sprint.