CSM Scrum Team Roles and Accountabilities Practice Question
Midway through a Sprint, a Developer identifies that a technical approach will not meet the Sprint Goal and proposes a different design. The Product Owner is concerned about scope but trusts the team. According to Scrum, how should this situation be handled?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is treating the Sprint Backlog as a frozen contract that only the Product Owner can change.
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
✓
The Developers should adjust their plan and approach, because they self-manage how to turn Product Backlog items into an Increment of value.
Developers are accountable for managing and adapting their own work, including the technical approach. The Sprint Backlog is a living plan that can change at any time during the Sprint. The Product Owner may discuss scope and value, but the how belongs to the Developers, who are best positioned to make design decisions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The change must wait until the Sprint Review, because the Sprint Backlog is frozen once the Sprint begins.
Why it's wrong here
The Sprint Backlog is not frozen; it is updated throughout the Sprint as the Developers learn more. Waiting until the Sprint Review would risk missing the Sprint Goal. The Developers own the Sprint Backlog and can adapt it at any time to improve progress toward the goal.
- ✗
The Product Owner must approve the new design before any change, since they are accountable for the value delivered.
Why it's wrong here
The Product Owner is accountable for value and backlog ordering, not for technical design approval. Requiring approval for internal technical decisions undermines the Developers' self-management. The Scrum Team collaborates, but the how remains with the Developers, who are closest to the technical work.
- ✗
The Scrum Master should decide, because they are accountable for removing impediments and ensuring the Sprint Goal is met.
Why it's wrong here
The Scrum Master removes impediments and coaches, but does not make technical or design decisions. Deciding the approach would take ownership away from the Developers and contradict self-management. The Scrum Master's role is to help the team find its own solution, not to arbitrate design.
- ✓
The Developers should adjust their plan and approach, because they self-manage how to turn Product Backlog items into an Increment of value.
Why this is correct
Developers are accountable for organizing their own work and for the technical decisions needed to create the Increment. Changing the approach mid-Sprint to meet the Sprint Goal is exactly what self-management means. The Product Owner focuses on value and scope, while the Developers determine how to build the product.
About these practice questions
This CSM question is part of Courseiva's 312-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.