CSM Service to the Scrum Team Practice Question
A Scrum Master notices that the team is not using the Daily Scrum to plan the next 24 hours of work, but instead using it for reporting progress to the Scrum Master. How should the Scrum Master intervene?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often suggest that the Scrum Master should lead the meeting or start asking the questions, effectively turning the Daily Scrum into a status report meeting.
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
✓
Explain the purpose of the Daily Scrum and coach the team to focus on their plan for the next 24 hours.
The Scrum Master must help the team understand that the Daily Scrum is for the developers to coordinate their work, not to report to the Scrum Master. By shifting the focus of the meeting, the Scrum Master promotes self-management. This is critical because reporting to a leader reinforces a traditional hierarchy, whereas planning together builds a collaborative team dynamic essential for Scrum success.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Tell the team that they should not talk to them during the Daily Scrum.
Why it's wrong here
Abruptly stopping communication feels like a rejection and creates confusion. The Scrum Master should explain *why* the meeting is for the team and facilitate the shift in perspective. A calm, educational approach is necessary to ensure the team understands the value of the event and its intended purpose.
- ✓
Explain the purpose of the Daily Scrum and coach the team to focus on their plan for the next 24 hours.
Why this is correct
Coaching the team to realize the Daily Scrum's true purpose is a core Scrum Master responsibility. By emphasizing that the meeting is for the developers to align their efforts towards the Sprint Goal, the Scrum Master helps them take ownership of their plan, leading to better coordination and execution during the day.
- ✗
Stop attending the Daily Scrum entirely so the team is forced to self-organize.
Why it's wrong here
Removing the Scrum Master completely may be counterproductive if the team is still struggling. The Scrum Master should facilitate until the team is ready to run the meeting effectively on their own. Abandoning the team without guidance risks the meeting becoming aimless, which would undermine the coordination efforts of the team.
- ✗
Ask the Product Owner to facilitate the Daily Scrum instead of the Scrum Master.
Why it's wrong here
The Daily Scrum is for the developers. The Product Owner's involvement should be limited to clarifying requirements if needed. Having someone else facilitate doesn't change the dynamic if the reporting culture persists. The team itself must be the ones facilitating and focusing on their plan, not an external party.
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.