Pass the Scrum Professional Scrum Master PSM-I Questions and answers with CertsForce

According to the Scrum Guide, the Scrum Master is responsible for coaching the Scrum Team to improve its skills, tools and environment over time and adjust the Definition of Done accordingly 1 .  The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product 1 .  The Definition of Done should be possible to achieve given current circumstances 2 . Therefore, option B and E are appropriate for a Scrum Master to do, if the Scrum Team does not have the tools and environment to completely finish each selected Product Backlog item.

Option A is not appropriate because declaring the Scrum Team not ready for Scrum implies that there is a fixed set of prerequisites for using Scrum, which is not true.  Scrum is a framework that can be applied to any complex product development effort 1 .

Option C is not appropriate because encouraging the Product Owner to accept partially done Increments until the situation improves violates the principle of transparency.  Transparency requires that the Increment is a usable product that meets the current Definition of Done 1 .  Accepting partially done Increments also increases technical debt and reduces value delivery 3 .

Option D is not appropriate because refocusing the current Sprint on establishing the Scrum Team’s environment instead of delivering an Increment goes against the purpose of a Sprint. A Sprint is a time-boxed event that serves as a container for the other Scrum events and activities.  The goal of each Sprint is to deliver a potentially releasable Increment that adheres to the current Definition of Done 1 .

The correct answer is A. During the Sprint, the Product Owner remains actively engaged with the Scrum Team, especially by helping clarify Product Backlog items and answering questions from the Developers about the work selected for the Sprint. This supports transparency and helps the Developers better understand the desired outcome, business context, and value of the work.

Option B is incorrect because the Sprint Backlog belongs to the Developers. They organize the work required to meet the Sprint Goal and manage the Sprint Backlog throughout the Sprint. The Product Owner does not prioritize the Developers’ tasks inside the Sprint. Option C is incorrect because the Daily Scrum is an event for the Developers. The Product Owner does not run it. Option D is incorrect because updating management is not defined as a Product Owner accountability during the Sprint.

The Product Owner’s key accountability is maximizing product value, primarily through Product Backlog management and collaboration with the Scrum Team. During a Sprint, that often includes clarifying items, answering questions, and helping the team stay aligned on value and product direction. This makes Option A the best answer.

According to the Scrum Guide 1 , each event in Scrum is a formal opportunity to inspect and adapt something. These events are specifically designed to enable critical transparency and inspection. Failure to include any of these events results in reduced transparency and is a lost opportunity to inspect and adapt. All events are time-boxed events, such that every event has a maximum duration. Once a Sprint begins, its duration is fixed and cannot be shortened or lengthened. The remaining events may end whenever the purpose of the event is achieved, ensuring an appropriate amount of time is spent without allowing waste in the process.

Scrum promotes self-management by empowering the Scrum Team to take ownership of their work and processes. The best three answers are:

A. By having the Scrum Master protect the Scrum Team: The Scrum Master plays a key role in shielding the team from external distractions and impediments, allowing the team to focus on self-management and delivering value.

B. By the Scrum Team deciding what work to do in a Sprint: During Sprint Planning, the Scrum Team collaboratively selects and commits to the work they can accomplish within the Sprint, fostering self-organization and decision-making.

C. By being a lightweight framework: Scrum ' s simplicity and minimal structure provide the team with the flexibility to adapt and manage their work, encouraging self-management without imposing rigid controls.

The Product Owner should know the most about the progress toward a business objective or a release, as stated in the Scrum Guide: “The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from work of the Development Team. How this is done may vary widely across organizations, Scrum Teams, and individuals.”

The correct answer is A, because the Product Owner does not determine how many Product Backlog items the Development Team selects for a Sprint. The Scrum Guide states that “the number of items selected from the Product Backlog for the Sprint is solely up to the Development Team. Only the Development Team can assess what it can accomplish over the upcoming Sprint.” Therefore, the Development Team is responsible for choosing the scope of work for a Sprint.

Scrum is not a process, technique, or definitive method. Rather, it is a framework within which you can employ various processes and techniques. Scrum makes clear the relative efficacy of your product management and work techniques so that you can continuously improve the product, the team, and the working environment.

The correct answer is C, because the Development Team should inform the Product Owner so he/she can work with the CEO. The Scrum Guide states that “only the Product Owner has the authority to cancel the Sprint, although he or she may do so under influence from the stakeholders, the Development Team, or the Scrum Master.” Therefore, if the CEO wants to add a “very important” item to a Sprint that is in progress, he or she should communicate with the Product Owner, who can then decide whether to cancel or continue the current Sprint.

The correct answer is A, because keeping component teams while starting Scrum may cause less initial disruption than organizing into new teams. As they start using Scrum, they will discover what works best for them and how to potentially re-organize towards feature teams. However, component teams may face some challenges in delivering a working Increment of software that provides business value every Sprint, as they may depend on other teams or layers.

In the Scrum framework, there is no specific role or accountability for a Tester. Instead, the responsibility for quality lies with the entire Scrum Team, particularly the Developers. Scrum emphasizes cross-functional teams, where every team member contributes to all aspects of the development process, including testing. The Developers collectively ensure that the work meets the Definition of Done and maintains high-quality standards. This approach fosters collaboration, shared responsibility, and continuous improvement, aligning with the core principles of Scrum.