Pass the Scrum PSPO PSPO-II Questions and answers with CertsForce

The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. They are also accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes clearly expressing Product Backlog items, ordering them to best achieve goals and missions, ensuring that the Product Backlog is transparent, visible andunderstood. The Product Owner may do the above work or may delegate the responsibility to others. However, the Product Owner remains accountable1.

When working with multiple Scrum Teams on the same product, the Product Owner should ensure that there is a shared understanding of the Product Goal among all the teams and stakeholders. The Product Goal is the long-term objective for the Scrum Team. They must fulfill (or abandon) one objective before taking on the next2. The Product Owner should also collaborate with the Developers to create and refine Product Backlog items that are valuable, feasible, and testable. The Developers are accountable for creating a plan for the Sprint, the Sprint Backlog1. The Product Owner should trust the Developers to self-organize and deliver the most valuable increments possible.

The other options are not recommended strategies for the Product Owner, as they may introduce unnecessary complexity, confusion, and waste. Adding component team Product Owners, enlisting the Program Management Office, or assigning sub-Product Owners may create silos, dependencies, and conflicts among the teams and stakeholders. These roles may also undermine the authority and accountability of the Product Owner, and reduce the transparency and alignment of the Product Backlog. The Product Owner should work with the Scrum Master and the Developers to find ways to optimize the value delivery and collaboration across the teams, rather than creating intermediaries or proxies34. References: 1: Scrum Guide 2: Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework 3: Managing Products with Agility 4: Evolving the Agile Organization

Option D is the best answer because it indicates that the Product Owner and the Scrum Team are not aligned on the vision, goals, and value of the product. The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Scrum Team1. Todo so, the Product Owner needs to work closely with the Scrum Team, communicate the product vision, provide clear and valuable Product Backlog items, collaborate on the Sprint Goal, and inspect and adapt the product based on feedback23. If the Increment presented at the Sprint Review does not reflect the Product Owner’s expectations, it means that there is a gap between what the Product Owner wants and what the Scrum Team delivers. This gap can lead to waste, rework, dissatisfaction, and missed opportunities. The Product Owner should work more with the Scrum Team to ensure that they have a shared understanding of the product and its value proposition, and that they deliver Increments that meet the Definition of Done and the acceptance criteria45.

Option A is not the best answer because it does not necessarily imply that the Product Owner needs to work more with the Scrum Team. People may leave the Scrum Team for various reasons, such as personal, professional, or organizational factors. While the Product Owner should care about the well-being and motivation of the Scrum Team members, and try to foster a positive and collaborative environment, the Product Owner is not accountable for the people management or the team composition1. The Scrum Master is more likely to address the issues that cause people to leave the Scrum Team, such as impediments, conflicts, or dysfunctions.

Option B is not the best answer because it does not necessarily imply that the Product Owner needs to work more with the Scrum Team. The Product Owner is expected to spend enough time with the Scrum Team to provide them with the necessary guidance and feedback2. However, the Product Owner also has other responsibilities, such as engaging with stakeholders, customers, and users, managing the Product Backlog, validating the product value, and aligning the product strategy with the business goals12. The Product Owner does not need to work full time with the Scrum Team, as long as they are available and accessible when needed, and they empower the Scrum Team to make decisions and self-organize .

Option C is not the best answer because it does not necessarily imply that the Product Owner needs to work more with the Scrum Team. The acceptance criteria for the Product Backlog items are the conditions that must be met for the items to be considered done and valuable. The Product Owner is accountable for defining and communicating the acceptance criteria to the Scrum Team1. However, the Product Owner can also collaborate with the Scrum Team and the stakeholders to refine and clarify the acceptance criteria, and to ensure that they are aligned with the Definition of Done and the Sprint Goal . The acceptance criteria for the Product Backlog items may not appear to be complete at the beginning of the Sprint, but they can be refined and updated throughout the Sprint, as long as they do not change the scope or the value of the items. The Product Owner should work with the Scrum Team to ensure that the acceptance criteria are clear, testable, and valuable, but they do not need to work more with the Scrum Team just because the acceptance criteria are not complete at a certain point in time.

References:

1: Product Owner Accountabilities

2: Product Backlog Management

3: Product Value

4: Product Vision

5: Sprint Review

: Scrum Master Accountabilities

: Stakeholders & Customers

: Business Strategy

: Definition of Done

: Product Backlog Refinement

: Sprint Planning

: Sprint Backlog

According to the PSPO II guide and Scrum.org competencies, when ordering Product Backlog items, a Product Owner should consider various factors to maximize the value of the work done by the Scrum Team. These factors include:

A. Dependencies to other products: Recognizing dependencies to other products is crucial for the Product Owner to ensure that the Scrum Team is working on items that can be completed and deliver value without being blocked by external dependencies.

B. Value of Product Backlog items: The primary role of a Product Owner is to maximize the value delivered by the Scrum Team, and ordering items based on their value is a fundamental aspect of this responsibility.

C. Dependencies between Product Backlog items: Understanding and managing dependencies between Product Backlog items helps in planning Sprints more effectively, ensuring that the team is working on items in a logical sequence.

D. Cost of delay: The cost of delay is a critical economic factor that influences the ordering of Product Backlog items. Items that would result in a higher cost if delayed should be prioritized.

E. Cost of implementation: While value maximization is the goal, the cost of implementation cannot be ignored. Balancing the cost and the expected value is essential for effective Product Backlog management.

These considerations are in line with the Scrum.org Professional Scrum competencies, particularly under 'Managing Products with Agility', where it's emphasized that Product Owners should have a deep understanding of market value, product feasibility, and the importance of making trade-offs to maximize value.

According to the Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II certification guide1, the Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. This means that the Product Owner is responsible for defining, ordering, and validating what the Scrum Team works on, and ensuring that the product delivers value to the customers, users, and the organization. The other options are not the most important thing a Product Owner can do, because they are either too narrow (A), too unrealistic (B), or too prescriptive ©. References: 1: Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II Certification | Scrum.org

Let's break down why the correct answer isCand why the others are incorrect, referencing the Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II (PSPO II) objectives and associated competencies:

C. The Scrum Team is more focused through a common yet specific goal.

Verification:This is thecorrectanswer and aligns perfectly with the purpose of a Sprint Goal as defined in the Scrum Guide and emphasized within the PSPO II competencies.

Explanation and References:

Professional Scrum Competency: Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework - Applying the Scrum Framework - Empiricism

The Sprint Goal promotestransparencywithin the team about what they are trying to achieve during the Sprint.

It provides a basis forinspectionduring the Sprint, allowing the team to adapt their plans based on progress toward the Sprint Goal.

Professional Scrum Competency: Managing Products with Agility - Forecasting & Release Planning

The Sprint Goal helps the team focus on achieving a specific, valuable outcome each Sprint.

It provides a basis for forecasting what can be achieved in the Sprint.

Professional Scrum Competency: Managing Products with Agility - Product Value

The Sprint Goal should be aligned with maximizing product value, providing a clear link between the work done in the Sprint and the overall product vision.

Scrum Guide:The Scrum Guide states, "The Sprint Goal is an objective set for the Sprint that can be met through the implementation of Product Backlog. It provides guidance to the Developers1on why it is building the Increment.2[...] During Sprint Planning the Scrum Team also crafts a Sprint Goal. The Sprint Goal is an objective set for the Sprint that can be met through the implementation of Product Backlog."3This clearly emphasizes that the Sprint Goal provides focus and guidance.  

A. A Sprint Goal ensures that all the Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint are implemented.

Verification:This isincorrect.

Explanation and References:

Professional Scrum Competency: Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework - Applying the Scrum Framework - Empiricism

Scrum acknowledges that the plan for the Sprint (what Product Backlog items are chosen) may change as the team learns more during the Sprint.

The Sprint Goal is the commitment, and while the team strives to complete the selected Product Backlog items, the primary focus is on achieving the Sprint Goal, even if it means adapting the plan.

Scrum Guide:While the selected Product Backlog items are the initial plan, the Scrum Guide states, "The selected Product Backlog items deliver one coherent function, which can be the Sprint Goal." This implies that the focus is on the coherent function (represented by the Sprint Goal), not necessarily the completion of every single Product Backlog item.

B. A Sprint Goal only gives purpose to Sprint 1.

Verification:This isincorrect.

Explanation and References:

Professional Scrum Competency: Managing Products with Agility - Forecasting & Release Planning

Every Sprint should have a Sprint Goal, providing ongoing direction and focus for the team.

Scrum Guide:The Scrum Guide explicitly states that a Sprint Goal is crafted during Sprint Planning, implying that it's a necessary component of every Sprint, not just Sprint 1.

D. Sprint Goals are not valuable. Everything is known from the Product Backlog.

Verification:This isincorrect.

Explanation and References:

Professional Scrum Competency: Managing Products with Agility - Product Value

Sprint Goals are crucial for maximizing product value by providing focus and ensuring the team is working on the most important aspectsin each Sprint.

Professional Scrum Competency: Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework - Applying the Scrum Framework - Empiricism

The Sprint Goal provides context and purpose beyond the individual Product Backlog items. It helps the team understand the "why" behind the work.

Scrum Guide:The Scrum Guide's emphasis on the Sprint Goal throughout the Sprint lifecycle (planning, daily Scrum, review, retrospective) demonstrates its importance.

In conclusion, the Sprint Goal serves as a unifying and focusing mechanism for the Scrum Team, promoting commitment to a specific outcome within each Sprint and is, therefore, a crucial element for successful Scrum implementation, aligning perfectly with the PSPO II competencies and the Scrum Guide.

 A “cone of uncertainty” is a graphical representation of the evolution of the amount of uncertainty during a project. It shows that at the beginning of a project, there is a high degree of variability and unpredictability in the estimates of the scope, cost, time, and value of the product. As the project progresses, more information and feedback are gathered, and the uncertainty decreases, reaching zero when the product is delivered and validated. A “cone of uncertainty” can be used to visualize the uncertainty of the potential value that a Scrum Team delivers over time, and to guide the empirical process of inspection and adaptation. By using a “cone of uncertainty”, a Scrum Team can:

Align the expectations of the stakeholders and customers with the reality of the complex and dynamic environment.

Avoid making premature or unrealistic commitments based on inaccurate or incomplete estimates.

Embrace change and experimentation as opportunities to learn and deliver more value.

Inspect the actual value delivered and the feedback received, and adapt the product vision, strategy, and backlog accordingly.

Forecast the range of possible outcomes and the level of confidence for each Sprint and release.

The other options are not valid uses of a “cone of uncertainty”. A “cone of uncertainty” does not represent the relative level of difficulty for predicting the velocity of individual team members, as velocity is a measure of the amount of work done by the whole Scrum Team, not by individuals. A “cone of uncertainty” does not rapidly identify and prioritize all uncertainties, as uncertainties are not always known or quantifiable, and may change over time. A “cone of uncertainty” does not determine whether to cut quality, similar to the “Iron Triangle” of project management, as quality is not a variable that can be traded off inScrum, but a non-negotiable aspect of the Definition of Done and the value proposition of the product.

References:

Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II Certification

Managing Products with Agility

Cone of Uncertainty - Wikipedia

Option B is the best answer because it reflects the agile and empirical nature of Scrum and Product Ownership. The Product Backlog is a living artifact that represents the current understanding of what the product needs to be most valuable for the customers and the stakeholders1. The Product Backlog is not a fixed or static document, but rather an emergent and dynamic one that adapts to the changing environment, needs, and feedback. The Product Owner is accountable for managing the Product Backlog and ensuring that it is transparent, ordered, and refined2. The Product Owner collaborates with the Scrum Team and the stakeholders to inspect and adapt the Product Backlog items based on the new insights, opportunities, and learnings that arise from the changing environment34. The Product Owner also uses various techniques, such as product vision, value proposition, user stories, experiments, and evidence-based management, to define, validate, and prioritize the Product Backlog items5 .

Option A is not the best answer because it contradicts the agile and empirical nature of Scrum and Product Ownership. The Product Backlog is not a requirements specification document, but rather a list of hypotheses and assumptions that need to be tested and validated in the real world5. The Product Backlog items are not detailed or fixed upfront, but rather refined and clarified as they get closer to implementation2. Updating the requirements specification document to ensure stability implies a plan-driven and predictive approach that does not embrace change and feedback, and that does not optimize value delivery.

Option C is not the best answer because it contradicts the agile and empirical nature of Scrum and Product Ownership. The Product Backlog is not a project plan, but rather a product roadmap that guides the development of the product. The Product Backlog does not have a predefined end date or scope, but rather evolves and changes as the product grows and matures1. Keeping the Product Backlog the same until the end of the project implies a plan-driven and predictive approach that does not embrace change and feedback, and that does not optimize value delivery.

Option D is not the best answer because it contradicts the agile and empirical nature of Scrum and Product Ownership. The Product Backlog is not a disposable artifact, but rather a cumulative and iterative one that builds on the previous work and learnings1. The Product Backlog items are not discarded or replaced, but rather refined and updated as the product evolves and changes2. Archiving the Product Backlog and creating a new one implies a disruptive and wasteful approach that does not leverage the existing knowledge and feedback, and that does not optimize value delivery.

References:

1: Product Backlog

2: Product Backlog Management

3: Empiricism

4: Stakeholders & Customers

5: Product Vision

: Product Value

: Evidence-Based Management

: [Agile Manifesto]

: [Product Roadmap]

: Product Owner Accountabilities

: Sprint Review

: Product Backlog Refinement

: [User Stories]

: [Value Proposition]

: [Experiments]

Unrealized Value is the value that could be realized by meeting all potential needs of the customer or user1. It represents the opportunity for growth and innovation. When the Unrealized Value of a product is very small, it means that the product has reached a saturation point in the market, and there is little room for improvement or differentiation. Investing more in such a product would not yield much return, and might even cannibalize the Current Value of the product, which is the value delivered to the customer or user today1. Therefore, organizations should reduce their investment in a product when its Unrealized Value is very small, and focus on other products or opportunities that have higher Unrealized Value