CSM Scrum Team Roles and Accountabilities Practice Question
Which TWO of the following describe a responsibility of the Scrum Master regarding the Developers?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often select options involving 'managing' the team or 'assigning' tasks. The Scrum Master never manages the Developers or their work; they only coach and remove impediments.
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 organizational environments in which Scrum is not yet fully adopted.
The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team by coaching the Developers in self-management and cross-functionality. By facilitating sessions and removing impediments, the Scrum Master helps the team increase its effectiveness. These responsibilities are critical for building a high-performing team that can navigate complex work without needing external command-and-control management, which is essential for long-term project success and agility.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Assigning specific tasks to Developers to ensure the Sprint Goal is met.
Why it's wrong here
Assigning tasks is a command-and-control behavior that undermines self-management. Scrum Teams are designed to be self-managing, meaning the Developers decide for themselves how to best turn Product Backlog items into Increments of value. The Scrum Master should coach them on collaboration instead of directing their individual labor.
- ✓
Coaching the team in organizational environments in which Scrum is not yet fully adopted.
Why this is correct
Scrum Masters act as change agents within the organization. They coach the team and the broader organization on how to effectively work within the Scrum framework, even when the surrounding culture is resistant. This helps create an environment where the Developers can maximize their productivity and team health.
- ✓
Removing impediments to the Developers' progress.
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master is explicitly accountable for removing impediments to the Scrum Team's progress. By clearing organizational or technical blockers, the Scrum Master allows Developers to focus entirely on building the Increment, thereby increasing the team's velocity and reducing frustration associated with external delays and bureaucratic hurdles.
- ✗
Approving the final Increment at the end of the Sprint.
Why it's wrong here
The Scrum Master does not have the authority to approve Increments. Product Backlog items are refined and delivered by Developers, and the Product Owner inspects the Increment to ensure it meets the Definition of Done. The Scrum Master's focus remains on the process and team dynamics, not quality assurance.
- ✗
Managing the daily schedule of each Developer to track individual utilization.
Why it's wrong here
Scrum rejects individual utilization tracking as a metric for success. Tracking individual time or schedules encourages siloed work rather than collective ownership of the Sprint Goal. The Scrum Master coaches the team to focus on flow and collective output rather than individual task-tracking, which is harmful to team synergy.
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.