SSM Supporting Team Events Practice Question
Which of these is the most effective way for the Scrum Master to encourage team transparency?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often choose answers involving formal reports or management updates, which are less effective for team-level transparency than real-time, visible tools that the team owns and maintains daily.
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
✓
Ensure the team board is always up to date and reflects current reality.
Transparency is built by making the work and the process visible to everyone. Using tools like the team board, burndown charts, and open communication during team events ensures that nothing is hidden. When the team sees the state of their work, they are empowered to self-organize, resolve issues, and take ownership of their progress, which is the hallmark of a high-performing Agile team.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Keep all progress information private until the end of the iteration.
Why it's wrong here
Privacy regarding progress is the opposite of transparency and leads to surprises at the end of the iteration. Agile requires constant, open communication about the state of the work. Keeping it private prevents the team from collaborating effectively and blocks stakeholders from seeing progress until it is too late.
- ✓
Ensure the team board is always up to date and reflects current reality.
Why this is correct
A visible, up-to-date board is the foundation of transparency. It allows the team to see the flow of work, identify bottlenecks, and understand where they stand against their iteration goals. This visibility is essential for team members to self-organize and take collective ownership of their daily progress and challenges.
- ✗
Report all status updates to management on the team's behalf.
Why it's wrong here
Reporting on the team's behalf acts as a filter and prevents direct communication between the team and those interested in their work. It undermines transparency because the team isn't owning their status. The team should be empowered to share their own progress, fostering a culture of openness and shared accountability.
- ✗
Only show the positive results to stakeholders during the demo.
Why it's wrong here
Only showing the good results creates a false sense of security and hides potential issues. Transparency means showing both the successes and the challenges. When stakeholders see the reality of the work, they can provide better guidance, support, and feedback, which is essential for the team's long-term success and growth.
Visual reference
About these practice questions
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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.