CSM Scrum Master Core Competencies Practice Question
A Scrum Team has been delivering increments for several Sprints, but the Scrum Master notices that the Developers rarely update the Sprint Backlog during the Sprint. Instead, they rely on the Scrum Master to track progress and remind them of remaining work. Which action best aligns with the Scrum Master's accountability?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming the Scrum Master should take over tracking or escalate to management, when the correct action is to coach the Developers to manage their own Sprint Backlog.
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 Developers to update the Sprint Backlog themselves as they discover new work, ensuring transparency and self-management.
The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum and coaching the team toward self-management. Since the Developers own the Sprint Backlog, they should update it themselves. Coaching them to do so strengthens transparency and reduces reliance on the Scrum Master, which is the essence of the role. The other options create dependencies or shift accountability away from the Developers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to management so they can assign someone to maintain the Sprint Backlog.
Why it's wrong here
Escalating to management to assign a person contradicts Scrum's self-management principle. The Scrum Master should coach the team to solve its own problems rather than relying on external authority. Assigning a specific individual to update the Sprint Backlog would also create a bottleneck and reduce collective ownership.
- ✗
Ask the Product Owner to take over updating the Sprint Backlog since they are responsible for maximizing value.
Why it's wrong here
The Product Owner is accountable for the Product Backlog, not the Sprint Backlog. The Sprint Backlog is created and managed by the Developers. Involving the Product Owner in this operational task would blur accountabilities and reduce the Developers' ownership, which contradicts Scrum's emphasis on self-management.
- ✗
Continue tracking progress for the Developers to ensure the Sprint Backlog remains accurate and up to date.
Why it's wrong here
While the Scrum Master might temporarily help, continuing to track progress for the Developers undermines self-management. The Developers are accountable for managing their own work and updating the Sprint Backlog. This approach creates a dependency and prevents the team from taking full ownership of their commitments and process.
- ✓
Coach the Developers to update the Sprint Backlog themselves as they discover new work, ensuring transparency and self-management.
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team by coaching self-management. The Sprint Backlog is owned by the Developers, and they are responsible for updating it in real time to reflect the plan for the Sprint. By coaching them to take ownership, the Scrum Master fosters transparency and reduces dependence on a single person for tracking, which aligns with Scrum principles.
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.