CSM Scrum Team Roles and Accountabilities Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are responsibilities that fall under the Scrum Master's accountability toward the Scrum Team?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates frequently select tasks that sound like 'managing the team' or 'assigning work,' which contradicts the servant-leadership and self-management principles at the heart of the Scrum Master's role.
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
✓
Coaching the team in self-management and cross-functionality.
The Scrum Master acts as a servant-leader for the Scrum Team. These specific responsibilities focus on removing impediments, coaching the team on self-management, and ensuring that all Scrum events take place and are productive. By focusing on these areas, the Scrum Master enables the team to maintain high velocity and quality while adhering to the core principles of the Scrum framework.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Coaching the team in self-management and cross-functionality.
Why this is correct
Helping a team move toward self-management is a core duty. A team that manages its own work is more resilient and adaptable. Cross-functionality ensures that the team has all the skills necessary to turn Product Backlog items into a Done increment without external dependencies slowing them down.
- ✗
Ordering the Product Backlog items to maximize value.
Why it's wrong here
This is strictly the accountability of the Product Owner. The Scrum Master should not interfere with the ordering or content of the backlog. Intervening here would create confusion about the roles and undermine the Product Owner's authority to make value-based decisions for the product.
- ✓
Helping the team focus on creating high-value increments.
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master supports the team by removing distractions and obstacles. By ensuring the team stays focused on their Sprint Goal and the Definition of Done, the Scrum Master directly contributes to the creation of high-value increments that satisfy the customers and meet stakeholder requirements.
- ✓
Removing impediments to the Scrum Team's progress.
Why this is correct
An impediment is anything that slows the team down. The Scrum Master is responsible for identifying, tracking, and resolving these issues, whether they are technical, cultural, or organizational. By clearing the path, they allow the Developers to focus entirely on building the product increment.
- ✗
Writing the user stories for the Product Backlog.
Why it's wrong here
While the Scrum Master may facilitate refinement, they should not be the one writing the stories. That work belongs to the Product Owner or the Developers during collaboration. Writing stories for the team would create a dependency and reduce the ownership Developers feel over their tasks.
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.