CSM Service to the Product Owner Practice Question
A Scrum Master is helping a Product Owner who wants to improve their ability to forecast delivery dates for stakeholders. Which two actions best align with the Scrum Master's service to the Product Owner? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking the Scrum Master should provide traditional project management tools or take over forecasting, rather than coaching the Product Owner to use empirical Scrum practices.
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
✓
Teach the Product Owner to use empirical data such as velocity and burn-down charts to create forecasts.
The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner by helping them use empirical data and facilitating collaboration with the Developers to create forecasts. Teaching the use of velocity and burn-down charts, and facilitating estimation workshops, empower the Product Owner to make informed forecasts. These actions align with Scrum's empirical nature and respect the Product Owner's accountability for stakeholder communication.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Encourage the Product Owner to commit to fixed delivery dates for all backlog items to satisfy stakeholders.
Why it's wrong here
Committing to fixed dates for all items contradicts empirical planning and can lead to overcommitment. The Product Owner should forecast based on data and adjust as more is learned. The Scrum Master should coach against making promises that cannot be kept, as this undermines trust and agility. Fixed commitments for all items ignore variability and discovery.
- ✓
Teach the Product Owner to use empirical data such as velocity and burn-down charts to create forecasts.
Why this is correct
This is correct because empirical data from the Scrum Team, like velocity and burn-down charts, provides a basis for forecasting. The Scrum Master can help the Product Owner understand how to use this data transparently. This aligns with Scrum's empirical approach and helps the Product Owner communicate realistic expectations to stakeholders without making false promises.
- ✗
Advise the Product Owner to provide stakeholders with a detailed Gantt chart showing every task and dependency.
Why it's wrong here
Gantt charts are not aligned with Scrum's empirical approach and can create a false sense of precision. They are often based on assumptions and do not adapt well to change. The Scrum Master should guide the Product Owner toward lightweight, empirical forecasting methods rather than traditional project management tools that contradict Scrum principles.
- ✗
Suggest that the Product Owner delegate all forecasting to the Scrum Master to save time.
Why it's wrong here
The Product Owner is accountable for managing the Product Backlog and communicating with stakeholders, including forecasts. Delegating this to the Scrum Master would be inappropriate and would not help the Product Owner develop the necessary skills. The Scrum Master should coach and support, not take over the Product Owner's responsibilities.
- ✓
Facilitate a workshop where the Developers and Product Owner collaborate to estimate and forecast using techniques like Planning Poker or relative sizing.
Why this is correct
This is correct because collaboration between the Product Owner and Developers is essential for accurate forecasting. The Scrum Master can facilitate workshops that use techniques like Planning Poker to estimate effort and derive forecasts. This leverages the team's collective knowledge and promotes shared understanding, leading to more reliable forecasts that stakeholders can trust.
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.