SSM Supporting Team Events Practice Question
A SAFe Scrum Master is facilitating the Team Sync (a SAFe event replacing the Daily Stand-up in some contexts) for a distributed team. The team members are in three time zones, and the meeting often runs long because two team members engage in detailed problem-solving. What is the most effective action for the Scrum Master to take?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that because the team is distributed, deep problem-solving must happen during the Team Sync, when the timebox and the team's synchronization needs should take priority.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Interrupt the two team members and ask them to take the detailed discussion offline or into a separate focused session after the Team Sync, so the whole team can finish the synchronization.
The Team Sync is a timeboxed event for synchronization, and the Scrum Master protects that timebox while fostering collaboration. When two members dive into detailed problem-solving, the most effective action is to redirect that conversation to a separate session so the whole team can complete its synchronization. This keeps the event focused, respects all participants' time, and still allows the technical issue to be resolved.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ask the two team members to stop discussing the issue entirely and focus only on their individual task updates.
Why it's wrong here
Shutting down the discussion completely may prevent the team from addressing a real impediment or dependency. The Scrum Master's goal is not to suppress collaboration but to channel it appropriately. The two members should be encouraged to continue their problem-solving in a separate session, not to abandon it, so that the issue can still be resolved without disrupting the Team Sync.
- ✓
Interrupt the two team members and ask them to take the detailed discussion offline or into a separate focused session after the Team Sync, so the whole team can finish the synchronization.
Why this is correct
The Team Sync has a timebox and a purpose: to synchronize and plan the next 24 hours. Redirecting a deep technical discussion to a separate session respects the timebox and keeps the event focused for everyone. The Scrum Master facilitates this by politely intervening and helping the team capture the topic for later, ensuring the two members can still resolve the issue without derailing the team.
- ✗
Extend the Team Sync by 15 minutes to accommodate the problem-solving, and ask the other team members to wait.
Why it's wrong here
Extending the event penalizes the rest of the team and undermines the timebox, which is a key element of the event. Team members in other time zones may have hard stops, and a longer meeting increases fatigue. The Scrum Master should protect the timebox and help the team find another time or channel for the detailed discussion, rather than routinely extending the event.
- ✗
Allow the problem-solving to continue so that the team can resolve the issue immediately, since the team is distributed and ad hoc conversations are difficult.
Why it's wrong here
While resolving issues quickly is valuable, allowing detailed problem-solving during the Team Sync can cause the event to exceed its timebox and exclude other team members who may have updates or impediments. The Team Sync is meant for synchronization, not deep technical work. The Scrum Master should help the team stay within the timebox and schedule a follow-up for the detailed discussion.
Visual reference
About these practice questions
This SSM question is part of Courseiva's 385-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Scaled Agile exam blueprint
This SSM practice question is part of Courseiva's free Scaled Agile certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SSM exam.