SSM Introducing Scrum in SAFe Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are true about the Scrum Master's role in the PI Planning event?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often mistakenly believe the Scrum Master creates the final program plan or assigns user stories to developers during PI Planning breakouts.
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
✓
The Scrum Master facilitates the team's breakout sessions.
During PI Planning, the Scrum Master manages the team's breakouts, facilitates the estimation process, and keeps the team focused on their objectives and dependencies. Their contribution is crucial because PI Planning sets the vision and plan for the next several iterations. Without the Scrum Master's facilitation, the team would struggle to produce a realistic and aligned plan that fits into the broader ART schedule.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The Scrum Master defines the PI objectives for the team.
Why it's wrong here
PI objectives are collaboratively defined by the team and the business owners. If the Scrum Master defines them, they are missing the opportunity to build team ownership and commitment. The team needs to be the one defining their objectives to ensure they truly understand and believe in them.
- ✓
The Scrum Master facilitates the team's breakout sessions.
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master ensures that the team stays on track during the breakout sessions, keeping the discussion focused, managing time, and ensuring that dependencies are identified. This facilitation is essential for the team to produce a feasible plan within the limited time available during the PI Planning event.
- ✓
The Scrum Master ensures the team identifies and documents dependencies.
Why this is correct
Identifying and documenting dependencies on the Program Board is a critical task during PI Planning. The Scrum Master ensures the team takes this seriously, as these dependencies will impact the feasibility of the plan. Failing to capture them during planning leads to significant alignment issues during the PI.
- ✗
The Scrum Master is responsible for presenting the final PI objectives to the ART.
Why it's wrong here
The team members usually present their own PI objectives to the ART. This builds transparency and confidence across the train. The Scrum Master may support them, but the team should lead the presentation to demonstrate their commitment and clear understanding of the goals they have signed up for.
- ✗
The Scrum Master acts as the decision-maker for all feature prioritization.
Why it's wrong here
Feature prioritization is the responsibility of the Product Owner, guided by the ART stakeholders. The Scrum Master must not interfere with this role, as their focus is on the process and the team's ability to execute, not on the business value prioritization which rests with the business owners.
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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.