CSM Scrum Master Core Competencies Practice Question
A newly formed Scrum Team is struggling to reach a 'Definition of Done'. Which TWO actions should the Scrum Master prioritize to support the team?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often suggest the Scrum Master should dictate the Definition of Done or simply adopt a template, ignoring the need for team-wide consensus and organizational alignment.
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 session to define criteria that ensure the increment is releasable.
The Scrum Master serves as a coach to improve team efficacy. By facilitating the creation of a 'Definition of Done', the Scrum Master helps the team establish a shared understanding of quality. These actions ensure that the product increment meets the necessary standards for release, reducing technical debt and increasing transparency, which is vital for empirical process control and long-term organizational value.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Write the Definition of Done for the team.
Why it's wrong here
The team must own their process and quality standards to ensure commitment and adherence. If the Scrum Master imposes the definition, the team lacks the necessary buy-in and understanding of the technical requirements needed to sustain high-quality output throughout the development life cycle and future iterations.
- ✓
Facilitate a session to define criteria that ensure the increment is releasable.
Why this is correct
Facilitation is a core competency that helps the team articulate their standards collectively. By focusing on the 'releasable' aspect, the Scrum Master ensures the team considers the entire value chain, including testing, documentation, and compliance, which are essential for creating a high-quality, potentially shippable increment every single Sprint.
- ✓
Suggest using the organization's quality standards as a baseline.
Why this is correct
Using existing organizational standards provides a foundation, ensuring that the Scrum Team aligns with company-wide quality and compliance requirements. This pragmatic approach saves time while allowing the team to expand upon these requirements with more specific, project-relevant criteria that address their unique technical and operational context.
- ✗
Force the team to meet daily until they agree on criteria.
Why it's wrong here
Forcing meetings is coercive and counter-productive to the Scrum values of respect and openness. Effective Scrum Masters foster psychological safety and team autonomy. A collaborative approach, rather than a punitive one, ensures the team feels empowered to define standards they can actually maintain during the development cycle.
- ✗
Wait for the Product Owner to define the criteria.
Why it's wrong here
While the Product Owner is a stakeholder, the Definition of Done is a team-wide responsibility. Waiting for a single person to dictate quality standards ignores the expertise of the Developers who perform the work, potentially leading to unrealistic expectations or standards that do not reflect the reality of development.
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 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.