CSM Service to the Organization Practice Question
An organization wants to adopt Scrum but insists that a project manager assign tasks to team members daily and approve all changes to the Sprint Backlog. The Scrum Master is asked to support this approach. What should the Scrum Master do?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse respect for organizational authority with accepting practices that fundamentally contradict Scrum, when the Scrum Master's service includes coaching the organization toward the framework's defined accountabilities.
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 organization that self-management of the Sprint Backlog is essential to Scrum, and help the project manager transition to a role that supports the team without directing its work.
The Scrum Master serves the organization by helping it understand and apply Scrum. Self-management of the Sprint Backlog is a core principle: the Developers decide how to turn Product Backlog items into a Done Increment. A project manager who assigns tasks and approves changes prevents this. The Scrum Master should coach the organization and the project manager toward a supportive role that enables team ownership.
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 organization that self-management of the Sprint Backlog is essential to Scrum, and help the project manager transition to a role that supports the team without directing its work.
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master serves the organization by helping it understand Scrum and by facilitating the changes needed for it to succeed. A project manager assigning tasks and approving changes prevents the team from self-managing its Sprint Backlog. The Scrum Master should coach leadership and the project manager on why self-management matters and help them find ways to support the team without directing its work.
- ✗
Refuse to work with the organization until it fully adopts Scrum without any modifications.
Why it's wrong here
Refusing to engage is not service; it abandons the organization and leaves teams without support. The Scrum Master should stay engaged, explain the purpose of self-management, and help the organization experiment with letting the team own its Sprint Backlog. An all-or-nothing stance rarely leads to meaningful change and does not respect the organization's current context.
- ✗
Accept the approach because the organization has the authority to define how Scrum is implemented.
Why it's wrong here
Scrum is a framework with defined accountabilities and events; it is not infinitely customizable. Allowing a project manager to assign tasks and approve Sprint Backlog changes undermines the self-managing nature of the Scrum Team. The Scrum Master serves the organization by helping it understand that this approach is not Scrum and by coaching toward an environment where the team manages its own work.
- ✗
Allow the project manager to assign tasks but ask them to attend the Daily Scrum as an observer only.
Why it's wrong here
Attending as an observer does not resolve the core problem: the team is still not self-managing its Sprint Backlog. The Daily Scrum is for the Developers to inspect progress and adapt their plan. If an external role assigns tasks, the team cannot own its plan. The Scrum Master should address the underlying issue rather than apply a superficial fix.
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.