SSM Defining the Scrum Master / Team Coach Role Practice Question
A SAFe Scrum Master / Team Coach notices that the team's Product Owner frequently makes technical decisions during Iteration Planning, such as choosing database schemas, while developers stay silent. The team's velocity has dropped because the PO's decisions often require rework. What is the most appropriate action for the Scrum Master / Team Coach?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that public correction or escalation is necessary to enforce role boundaries, when private coaching and team facilitation are more effective.
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
✓
Privately coach the Product Owner on avoiding technical decisions and help the team establish clear decision boundaries.
The Scrum Master / Team Coach is a servant leader who coaches the team and PO on their respective roles. Privately coaching the PO on focusing on value and helping the team clarify technical decision boundaries directly addresses the root cause. It respects the PO's role while empowering developers, and avoids public embarrassment or premature escalation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Privately coach the Product Owner on avoiding technical decisions and help the team establish clear decision boundaries.
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master / Team Coach is responsible for coaching the PO and team on role clarity. By privately coaching the PO to focus on value and priorities, and helping the team define technical decision rights, the SM addresses the root cause without undermining the PO in front of the team. This preserves psychological safety and reinforces self-management.
- ✗
During the next Iteration Planning, publicly remind the Product Owner that technical decisions belong to the developers.
Why it's wrong here
Publicly correcting the PO can embarrass them and damage the collaborative relationship. The Scrum Master should coach privately first. Public confrontation may also undermine the PO's authority and create a toxic dynamic, which is counterproductive to building a high-performing team and does not model servant leadership.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the Release Train Engineer and ask them to instruct the Product Owner to stop making technical decisions.
Why it's wrong here
Escalation to the RTE is premature. The Scrum Master should first attempt to resolve the issue at the team level through coaching. Involving the RTE may be appropriate if the problem persists or involves broader ART issues, but here it bypasses the SM's direct responsibility and may damage trust.
- ✗
Ask the developers to challenge the Product Owner's technical decisions during planning to assert their expertise.
Why it's wrong here
Encouraging confrontation sets up an adversarial dynamic. The Scrum Master should foster collaboration, not conflict. The developers may not feel safe challenging the PO without facilitation. This approach fails to address the underlying role confusion and could escalate tension rather than resolve it.
About these practice questions
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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.