SSM Supporting Team Events Practice Question
During a SAFe Scrum Master's facilitation of the Iteration Retrospective, one team member proposes a process change and immediately another team member says, 'That will never work here; we tried something like that before.' Several other team members nod in agreement. What is the most effective action for the Scrum Master to take next?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming the Scrum Master must either defend the new idea or defer to past failure, when the real job is to facilitate shared exploration.
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
✓
Facilitate a brief discussion to understand what was tried before and what conditions have changed, then help the team decide whether to test a small experiment.
The Retrospective is a team event for inspecting and adapting, and the Scrum Master facilitates the conversation rather than controlling the outcome. When a new idea meets resistance based on past experience, the most effective response is to explore what happened before and what has changed, then let the team choose a small, safe experiment. This keeps the team engaged, respects prior learning, and supports continuous improvement without forcing a premature decision.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Facilitate a brief discussion to understand what was tried before and what conditions have changed, then help the team decide whether to test a small experiment.
Why this is correct
This approach honors the prior experience while keeping the door open to adaptation, which is central to the Retrospective. By exploring what was tried and what has changed, the team can make an informed decision rather than dismissing the idea outright. Testing a small experiment also lowers risk and generates learning, aligning with SAFe's continuous improvement mindset.
- ✗
Suggest the team park the idea and move on to the next Retrospective topic so the meeting stays on schedule.
Why it's wrong here
Parking the idea may keep the meeting moving, but it also suppresses a potentially valuable improvement and can signal that dissent or new ideas are not welcome. The Retrospective exists to inspect and adapt, and cutting discussion short when disagreement appears undermines psychological safety. The Scrum Master should facilitate the conflict, not avoid it by skipping the topic.
- ✗
Ask the team member who proposed the change to provide more detail and evidence before allowing further discussion.
Why it's wrong here
Placing the burden of proof only on the proposer can discourage the very openness the Retrospective needs and may make the proposer feel singled out. The Scrum Master's role is to facilitate the team's shared exploration, not to adjudicate whose idea is initially stronger. Asking for evidence first may also shift the conversation away from understanding the earlier attempt and toward debate.
- ✗
Take a vote immediately to see whether the majority supports the change, and proceed based on the result.
Why it's wrong here
An immediate vote can shut down dialogue and may reinforce the majority view before the team has fully examined the idea. Voting too early often produces a decision that lacks shared understanding and may leave the proposer disengaged. The Scrum Master should first help the team explore the proposal and the earlier attempt, then decide how to proceed.
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.