CSM Scrum Master Core Competencies Practice Question

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✗

  Change the team members to improve performance.

  Why it's wrong here

  Changing team members is a drastic measure that rarely addresses systemic process issues. It disrupts team dynamics and ignores the potential that current problems are caused by external factors or organizational impediments. The Scrum Master should focus on improving the team environment and process before considering personnel changes.

• ✓

  Bring up the observations at the next Sprint Retrospective to encourage inspection.

  Why this is correct

  The Retrospective is the dedicated event for the team to inspect their process and create a plan for improvement. By bringing the observation to the team, the Scrum Master triggers an honest, evidence-based discussion, allowing the team to identify why they are failing and how to adapt accordingly.

• ✗

  Report the failure to the team's functional manager.

  Why it's wrong here

  Reporting to a functional manager is an escalation that undermines the team's self-management and psychological safety. It suggests the team cannot solve their own problems. The Scrum Master's role is to support the team internally, not to act as a whistleblower or disciplinary agent for the functional leadership.

• ✗

  Reduce the team's velocity for the next Sprint.

  Why it's wrong here

  Arbitrarily reducing velocity ignores the underlying issues that are causing the failure. While it might lead to 'meeting' the Sprint Goal, it doesn't solve the root cause. The team needs to analyze their process constraints, not just adjust their capacity expectations to fit an broken system.