CSM Service to the Product Owner Practice Question
A Scrum Master is working with a Product Owner who is new to Scrum and is struggling to understand how to effectively manage the Product Backlog. Which two actions best describe how the Scrum Master serves the Product Owner in this situation? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking the Scrum Master should take over backlog management or delegate it to Developers, rather than coaching and facilitating.
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
✓
Coach the Product Owner on techniques for ordering Product Backlog items to maximize value.
The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner by coaching on Product Backlog ordering techniques and facilitating collaboration with stakeholders. These actions help the Product Owner maximize value and ensure the backlog reflects stakeholder needs. They build the Product Owner's capability without taking over their responsibilities.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Coach the Product Owner on techniques for ordering Product Backlog items to maximize value.
Why this is correct
This is correct because the Scrum Master serves the Product Owner by coaching them on effective Product Backlog management, including ordering techniques that maximize value. This helps the Product Owner fulfill their accountability and improves the Scrum Team's ability to deliver value.
- ✗
Instruct the Developers to create the Product Backlog items for the Product Owner to save time.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the Product Owner is accountable for managing the Product Backlog, including creating items. While Developers can provide input, delegating creation entirely to them blurs accountability and may lead to a backlog that does not reflect the product vision.
- ✗
Take responsibility for ordering the Product Backlog to ensure it is done correctly.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because ordering the Product Backlog is the Product Owner's accountability. The Scrum Master should not take over this responsibility; doing so undermines the Product Owner's role and prevents them from developing necessary skills.
- ✓
Facilitate collaboration between the Product Owner and stakeholders to ensure the Product Backlog reflects their needs.
Why this is correct
This is correct because the Scrum Master serves the Product Owner by facilitating collaboration with stakeholders. This ensures the Product Backlog is informed by stakeholder needs and helps the Product Owner make better decisions, ultimately maximizing product value.
- ✗
Advise the Product Owner to focus only on short-term items and ignore long-term vision to simplify backlog management.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the Product Backlog should reflect both short-term and long-term goals to guide product development. Ignoring the long-term vision can lead to a lack of direction and poor value delivery. The Scrum Master should coach the Product Owner to balance both.
About these practice questions
This CSM question is part of Courseiva's 312-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. 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.