CSM Service to the Product Owner Practice Question
A Product Owner is new to Scrum and is unsure how to effectively order the Product Backlog to maximize value. They have asked the Scrum Master for guidance. Which approach best aligns with Scrum principles?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking the Scrum Master should give a prescriptive ordering method or let the Developers order the backlog, rather than coaching the Product Owner to collaborate and decide.
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
✓
Suggest the Product Owner collaborate with the Developers and stakeholders to identify value drivers and then order the backlog accordingly.
The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner by facilitating collaboration and helping them understand techniques for effective Product Backlog management. Encouraging the Product Owner to work with the Developers and stakeholders to identify value drivers ensures that ordering decisions are well-informed and aligned with maximizing product value. This approach respects the Product Owner's accountability while leveraging the team's collective knowledge.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Instruct the Product Owner to order the backlog based solely on the estimated effort of each item, with smaller items first.
Why it's wrong here
Ordering by effort alone ignores value, risk, and dependencies. The Product Owner should consider multiple factors, including value, risk, and stakeholder needs. Effort is a factor for the Developers, but the Product Owner's ordering should focus on maximizing value. This approach could lead to delivering low-value items quickly while high-value items are delayed.
- ✗
Advise the Product Owner to use a simple prioritization technique like MoSCoW without involving others.
Why it's wrong here
While MoSCoW can be useful, applying it in isolation without input from the Developers and stakeholders may lead to poor decisions. The Product Owner should collaborate to understand value and feasibility. The Scrum Master should encourage collaboration, not prescribe a solo technique that might ignore important perspectives.
- ✗
Tell the Product Owner to let the Developers order the backlog since they know the technical dependencies best.
Why it's wrong here
The Product Owner is accountable for ordering the Product Backlog; delegating this to the Developers would violate Scrum principles. While Developers provide input on effort and dependencies, the Product Owner must prioritize based on value. The Scrum Master should reinforce this accountability, not shift it to the Developers.
- ✓
Suggest the Product Owner collaborate with the Developers and stakeholders to identify value drivers and then order the backlog accordingly.
Why this is correct
This is correct because the Product Owner is responsible for ordering the backlog but should leverage input from the Developers and stakeholders to understand value. Collaboration ensures that technical feasibility and stakeholder needs are considered. The Scrum Master can facilitate this collaboration, helping the Product Owner make informed decisions that maximize value.
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.