CSM Service to the Scrum Team Practice Question
A new team member is struggling to understand their role within the Scrum Team. As a Scrum Master, what is the best way to help?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often suggest assigning a mentor or having the team manager explain the role, forgetting that the Scrum Master is specifically accountable for team understanding of Scrum.
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
✓
Provide the Scrum Guide and schedule a session to clarify team accountabilities.
The Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring the Scrum Team understands its accountabilities. By coaching the new member on the principles of Scrum and the specific roles of Developers, Product Owner, and Scrum Master, the individual gains clarity. This educational approach empowers the team member to contribute effectively while maintaining the structure and values that make Scrum successful, ultimately fostering a more cohesive and productive cross-functional 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.
- ✗
Assign the new member a set of tasks that align with their previous job title.
Why it's wrong here
Scrum encourages cross-functional collaboration and discourages siloed roles based on job titles. The team should self-organize around the work needed to reach the Sprint Goal. Assigning tasks based on old job titles limits growth and prevents the team from becoming truly cross-functional and flexible in their delivery.
- ✓
Provide the Scrum Guide and schedule a session to clarify team accountabilities.
Why this is correct
Providing resources and clarifying accountabilities through discussion is a fundamental service. It ensures everyone is on the same page regarding Scrum principles. This proactive coaching helps the new member integrate quickly and effectively into the team, reducing ambiguity about expectations and fostering a healthy, shared understanding of team roles.
- ✗
Tell them to watch the other team members and copy their behavior.
Why it's wrong here
Simply copying others is not a reliable way to learn professional accountabilities. It may lead to the adoption of bad habits or misconceptions about team roles. Coaching requires intentional explanation and discussion to ensure the team member understands the underlying principles of why the team operates the way it does.
- ✗
Ask the team to create a new role description for the person.
Why it's wrong here
Scrum does not have custom roles; it has three specific accountabilities. Creating a new role description is outside the framework and will likely lead to confusion. The team should focus on how the new person fits into the existing accountabilities rather than trying to invent new, non-standard roles.
About these practice questions
One of 312 original CSM practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. 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 Scrum Alliance exam blueprint
This CSM practice question is part of Courseiva's free Scrum Alliance 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 CSM exam.