A Product Owner wants to track team performance using 'Velocity' and insists that the Scrum Master use this metric to evaluate individual developer performance. How should the Scrum Master respond?
Educating the Product Owner on the correct use of Scrum metrics protects the team from toxic performance management practices. By explaining that Velocity is an average measure of team capacity and not a productivity indicator, the Scrum Master helps the Product Owner make better, more informed management decisions.
Why this answer
The Scrum Master must clarify that Velocity is a team-level metric for planning, not an individual performance measurement tool. Using it for evaluation damages morale and encourages behavior that inflates numbers rather than delivering value. The Scrum Master should educate the Product Owner on the dangers of this practice and suggest better ways to measure progress and value.
Exam trap
Candidates often suggest the Scrum Master calculate or track velocity for the PO, failing to recognize that velocity is a team-owned planning tool, not a management control mechanism.