CSM Scrum Team Roles and Accountabilities — 20 Questions

Question 1

Refer to the exhibit.

Accepted Answer

The configuration correctly identifies the mandatory attendees for the Daily Scrum and Sprint Planning events.. The JSON configuration correctly reflects Scrum event participation rules where the Daily Scrum is restricted to developers. Other team members may attend by invitation if they contribute, but only developers participate directly. This matters because strict adherence to event boundaries keeps daily events focused on technical planning and tactical execution without external distraction.

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The configuration is invalid because the Product Owner must attend every Daily Scrum to answer requirement questions.

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The configuration is incorrect because the Scrum Master must lead the Daily Scrum and must be listed as an attendee.

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The configuration is invalid because external stakeholders must be included in Sprint Planning by default.

Question 2

Refer to the exhibit. What is the primary accountability gap causing the performance drop in Sprint 14?

Accepted Answer

The Scrum Master failed to remove the impediment of the Product Owner's travel.. While the Product Owner is responsible for the Product Backlog, the Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide, which includes ensuring that the Scrum Team has the necessary support and that impediments are removed. If the Product Owner's unavailability is an impediment to the team's progress, the Scrum Master is accountable for addressing this with the organization. Option D is a more accurate reflection of the Scrum Master's accountability for removing impediments, whereas Option B incorrectly implies the PO is 'failing' by not being available, rather than the Scrum Master failing to facilitate the necessary environment.

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The Scrum Master failed to manage the Developers' capacity.

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The Product Owner failed to provide necessary availability for the team.

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The Developers failed to pivot to a different backlog item.

Question 3

A Scrum Team has been working together for several Sprints. The Product Owner frequently asks the Developers to take on additional tasks outside the Sprint Backlog to satisfy urgent customer requests. The Developers are unsure how to respond. Who is accountable for ensuring that the Sprint Backlog is not altered mid-Sprint by such requests?

Accepted Answer

The Developers, because they own the Sprint Backlog and manage their own work.. The Developers own the Sprint Backlog and are accountable for managing their work during the Sprint. When urgent requests arise, they should collaborate with the Product Owner to assess the impact on the Sprint Goal, but the final decision on Sprint Backlog changes rests with them. This preserves the team's self-management and focus.

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The Scrum Master, because they enforce Scrum rules.

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The stakeholders, because they provide feedback during the Sprint Review.

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The Product Owner, because they manage the Product Backlog.

Question 4

A Scrum Team is preparing for its first Sprint Review with a new product. The Product Owner wants to ensure the event is effective. Which TWO statements accurately describe the Sprint Review according to the Scrum Guide? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

It is a working session where the Scrum Team and stakeholders collaborate on what to do next.. The Sprint Review is a working session where the Scrum Team and stakeholders collaborate on what was done and what to do next, adapting the Product Backlog. It is the second-to-last event of the Sprint, followed by the Sprint Retrospective. It is not a sign-off, status report, or extendable meeting, so the two correct statements reflect its collaborative, timeboxed, and ordered nature.

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It is a timeboxed event that can be extended if stakeholders have many questions.

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It is a formal sign-off meeting where stakeholders approve or reject the Increment.

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It is a status meeting where the Scrum Master reports the team's velocity to stakeholders.

Question 5

A Scrum Team is preparing for its first Sprint. The Scrum Master is explaining the accountabilities of the Product Owner to the team. Which TWO of the following are accountabilities of the Product Owner? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Ordering the items in the Product Backlog to best achieve goals and missions.. The Product Owner is accountable for the Product Backlog, which includes ensuring its transparency and ordering items to maximize value. These responsibilities are central to the role and distinguish it from the Scrum Master and Developers. The other options describe accountabilities of the Developers or Scrum Master.

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Creating the Definition of Done for the product.

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Coaching the team in self-management and cross-functionality.

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Facilitating Scrum events as requested or needed.

Question 6

During a Sprint, the Developers realize that a key user story cannot be completed because a critical external API is unavailable. The Product Owner is unavailable, and the Sprint Goal is at risk. According to Scrum, what is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

The Developers should collaborate with the Product Owner to renegotiate the Sprint Scope and, if needed, adjust the Sprint Goal while preserving the Sprint's timebox.. The Sprint Goal gives the Scrum Team a shared objective, but it does not fix the scope of the Sprint Backlog. When an impediment threatens the goal, the Developers and Product Owner collaborate to adapt the Sprint Backlog, possibly adjusting the goal if it becomes obsolete, while respecting the Sprint timebox. Cancellation is a Product Owner decision reserved for when the goal no longer makes sense, not for every obstacle.

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The Scrum Master should take over the Developers' work on the blocked story and find a workaround.

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The Developers should continue working on other Product Backlog items and ignore the blocked story until the next Sprint.

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The Developers should cancel the Sprint immediately because the Sprint Goal can no longer be met.

Question 7

A Development Team member consistently interrupts fellow developers during Daily Scrums and pushes technical architectural changes without team consensus. What is the most appropriate Scrum Master response?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a private coaching session with the developer to discuss collaborative norms and active listening.. The Scrum Master acts as a servant leader by facilitating self-organization and resolving impediments without taking direct command. Coaching the individual on collaborative behavior helps preserve team autonomy while addressing disruptive dynamics. This matters because a healthy Scrum Team relies on psychological safety and shared ownership rather than autocratic technical dictation by a single dominant developer.

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Escalate the developer's behavior to the functional engineering manager for a formal performance review.

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Facilitate the Daily Scrum personally to strictly enforce time limits and prevent anyone from speaking out of turn.

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Remove the developer from the Scrum Team immediately to restore immediate harmony during the next sprint.

Question 8

Who holds the final authority for determining the order of items within the Product Backlog in a Scrum environment?

Accepted Answer

The Product Owner, incorporating feedback from stakeholders, customers, and the Scrum Team.. The Product Owner is solely responsible for maximizing product value and managing the Product Backlog. Their decisions regarding ordering reflect stakeholder input, market analysis, and strategic vision. This matters because a single decision-maker prevents conflicting priorities from paralyzing the Development Team during sprint execution and planning.

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The entire Scrum Team through unanimous consensus during Sprint Planning sessions.

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The Scrum Master after facilitating alignment workshops with organizational executives.

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The Development Team based purely on technical dependencies and architectural complexity.

Question 9

A Product Owner is unavailable for three consecutive Sprints due to a medical emergency. Who is responsible for managing the Product Backlog during this absence?

Accepted Answer

The organization must ensure the Product Owner accountabilities are fulfilled through temporary delegation or reassignment.. The Scrum Guide states that the Product Owner is accountable for effective Product Backlog management. If the Product Owner is unavailable, the organization must ensure this accountability is fulfilled. While others may help with the mechanics, the accountability remains with the Product Owner role or requires an explicit handover. This ensures the team remains focused on value delivery while maintaining clarity on product direction despite unforeseen personnel changes.

Answer

The Scrum Master takes over all Product Owner accountabilities until they return.

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The Developers collectively decide on the priority of the Product Backlog items.

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The Sprint remains frozen until the Product Owner returns to manage the backlog.

Question 10

Which TWO of the following describe a responsibility of the Scrum Master regarding the Developers?

Accepted Answer

Coaching the team in organizational environments in which Scrum is not yet fully adopted.. The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team by coaching the Developers in self-management and cross-functionality. By facilitating sessions and removing impediments, the Scrum Master helps the team increase its effectiveness. These responsibilities are critical for building a high-performing team that can navigate complex work without needing external command-and-control management, which is essential for long-term project success and agility.

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Assigning specific tasks to Developers to ensure the Sprint Goal is met.

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Approving the final Increment at the end of the Sprint.

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Managing the daily schedule of each Developer to track individual utilization.

Question 11

Refer to the exhibit. As a Scrum Master, what is your primary concern regarding the Scrum Team's effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

The Product Owner is failing to provide necessary support for backlog refinement and collaboration.. The exhibit shows a critical disconnect between the Product Owner and the Developers. Effective Product Backlog management requires consistent collaboration. When a Product Owner is absent from the Daily Scrum and limits refinement to only two hours, the Developers lose the business context necessary to build the right thing. This lack of engagement threatens the team's ability to deliver actual value, regardless of their stable velocity.

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The velocity is too low for the size of the team.

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The Scrum Master is not resolving enough impediments.

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The Developers are not taking enough responsibility for the product vision.

Question 12

Who is accountable for creating the Sprint Backlog?

Accepted Answer

The Developers.. The Sprint Backlog is the plan by and for the Developers. While the Product Owner defines the goal and items, the Developers decide how to achieve that goal and create the plan. This ownership is crucial for self-management, as it empowers the team to commit to work they believe they can complete, fostering accountability and high-quality results throughout the Sprint.

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The Product Owner.

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The Scrum Team as a whole.

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The Scrum Master.

Question 13

A Developer frequently misses the Daily Scrum to work on 'urgent' tasks assigned by a functional manager outside the Scrum Team. As the Scrum Master, what is your best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Coach the Developer and the organization on the importance of the team's focus and self-management.. The Scrum Master must protect the team from external interference that disrupts the Scrum process. This situation is a classic case of lack of organizational support for the Scrum structure. By coaching the organization and the Developer, the Scrum Master helps align stakeholders on the benefits of the team's focus and the importance of the Sprint Goal over individual, siloed tasks.

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Ask the Product Owner to speak with the functional manager.

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Update the Sprint Backlog to account for the time the Developer spends on these tasks.

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Remove the Developer from the team for non-compliance with the team's rules.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the Product Owner's accountability for the Product Backlog?

Accepted Answer

They have the final say on the ordering of the Product Backlog.. The Product Owner is the sole person responsible for managing the Product Backlog. This includes clearly expressing items, ordering them, and ensuring the backlog is transparent, visible, and understood. This accountability is vital because it creates a single source of truth for what the team should build next, preventing confusion and ensuring the team always works on the highest-value items first.

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They must write every user story personally to ensure quality.

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They are responsible for the implementation details of the backlog items.

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They must update the Product Backlog every time a Developer suggests a change.

Question 15

In the Scrum framework, how should a team handle a conflict between two Developers regarding a technical approach?

Accepted Answer

The Developers collaborate to reach a consensus or experiment to find the best solution.. The team should use self-management to resolve the conflict internally. Since the Developers are accountable for the technical quality of the Increment, they must decide the best approach. If they cannot resolve it, the Scrum Master can facilitate a session, but ultimately the team must own the decision. This fosters ownership and maturity, ensuring the team functions as a unified, collaborative unit rather than waiting for external instructions.

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Ask the Product Owner to choose the better approach.

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The Scrum Master makes the final technical decision.

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The team should vote, and the majority choice is implemented.

Question 16

Which TWO of the following are true about the Scrum Master's role?

Accepted Answer

The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner by helping them find techniques for effective Product Backlog management.. The Scrum Master is a servant-leader who focuses on the team, Product Owner, and organization. By ensuring that the Scrum framework is understood and enacted, they create an environment where high-quality work is possible. These dual roles—improving the process and removing blockers—are essential to ensure that the Scrum Team remains effective and that the organization values the agility that Scrum provides.

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The Scrum Master is responsible for the team's final output quality.

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The Scrum Master manages the daily calendar of every team member.

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The Scrum Master directs the Developers on the best ways to write code.

Question 17

A Scrum Team has members in three different time zones. The Product Owner is in a time zone that makes synchronous collaboration during the Daily Scrum impossible. What is the most Scrum-appropriate solution?

Accepted Answer

The Product Owner is not required to attend the Daily Scrum, so the team proceeds without them.. Scrum requires that the Scrum Team adapts to its environment while maintaining the core accountabilities and events. When synchronous meetings are difficult, the team must find a way to meet the purpose of the event—alignment and progress tracking—without necessarily relying on a rigid, live daily call. The focus must be on keeping the team informed and ensuring the work remains transparent to everyone.

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The Scrum Master should mandate that the Product Owner works overtime to join the call.

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The team should replace the Daily Scrum with a daily email update.

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The team should split into two Scrum Teams based on time zones.

Question 18

A senior stakeholder frequently approaches Developers during the Sprint to request 'minor' changes. What should the Developers do?

Accepted Answer

Inform the stakeholder that they must discuss these requests with the Product Owner.. The Developers must protect the Sprint Backlog from outside interference to ensure the Sprint Goal is met. Directing the stakeholder to the Product Owner maintains the integrity of the Scrum process. The Product Owner is the person responsible for the backlog and the value delivery, so they must assess any new requests against existing priorities and determine if they should be included in the product.

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Implement the changes if they are small to keep the stakeholder happy.

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Accept the work but delay a lower-priority task in the Sprint.

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Ask the Scrum Master to handle the stakeholder's request.

Question 19

Refer to the exhibit. What does this reveal about the team's structure and role expectations?

Accepted Answer

The team is not truly cross-functional, as they rely on functional hand-offs.. The team is currently operating as a collection of silos (Backend, Frontend, QA) rather than a truly cross-functional team. The fact that the frontend team is 'waiting' indicates that they lack the necessary skills within their sub-group to complete the work, or that they are not collaborating as a single unit. The team needs to cross-train to become truly cross-functional and move away from siloed thinking.

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The team size is too small; they need more developers.

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The Product Owner is not providing clear requirements for the backend work.

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The Scrum Master failed to assign the backend work to the frontend developers.

Question 20

Which of the following is true about the Scrum Master's role during the Sprint Retrospective?

Accepted Answer

The Scrum Master ensures the event is held and facilitates it as requested.. The Scrum Master facilitates the Retrospective to ensure it is positive, productive, and focused on improvement. They do not own the improvements; the team does. By facilitating the meeting, the Scrum Master helps the team inspect their process and identify ways to become more effective in the next Sprint, which is the primary goal of the Retrospective event in Scrum.

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The Scrum Master decides which improvements the team will implement.

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The Scrum Master reports the team's failures to management.

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The Scrum Master writes the improvement plan for the next Sprint.