CSM Service to the Scrum Team Practice Question
During a Sprint, a key developer is assigned to work on a separate project by their department manager, leaving the Scrum Team short-handed. How should the Scrum Master address this?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common error is assuming the Scrum Master has no authority to speak with external management and should simply accept resource reassignments.
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
✓
Discuss the impact of this change with the department manager and the Scrum Team to find a resolution that respects the Sprint commitment.
The Scrum Master must act as a change agent and protector of the Scrum Team's integrity. By addressing this with organizational management, the Scrum Master highlights the negative impact of interrupted focus and broken team cohesion. This intervention is vital because it preserves the team's ability to self-organize and deliver on their commitments, ultimately preventing structural disruptions that lead to failed Sprints and lowered morale.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Advise the team to work harder and accept that management has the final say on resources.
Why it's wrong here
Accepting management interference without pushback ignores the Scrum Master's duty to protect the team. The Scrum framework requires stable, dedicated teams. Adopting a passive stance allows organizational dysfunction to persist, which prevents the Scrum Team from achieving its goals and undermines the agility of the entire organization.
- ✓
Discuss the impact of this change with the department manager and the Scrum Team to find a resolution that respects the Sprint commitment.
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master serves the organization by coaching them on Scrum and facilitating understanding of team dynamics. By engaging the manager, the Scrum Master addresses the systemic issue of resource management, ensuring that the team's ability to deliver value is not compromised by external shifts in personnel and priorities.
- ✗
Remove the task from the Sprint Backlog immediately without consulting the Product Owner.
Why it's wrong here
Modifying the Sprint Backlog without Product Owner alignment violates the Scrum process. The Product Owner must be involved in decisions that affect the Sprint Goal. Bypassing the Product Owner creates misalignment and confusion regarding what the team is actually working on, leading to a lack of transparency and trust.
- ✗
Ask the remaining developers to pick up the missing developer's tasks without adjustment.
Why it's wrong here
Blindly absorbing work without assessing capacity is a recipe for failure. The team must inspect their capacity and adapt their plan. The Scrum Master should facilitate this discussion rather than encouraging the team to overextend themselves, as this leads to technical debt, quality issues, and eventual burnout.
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.