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Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) practice questions

209 free questions with answers and explanations.

Practice test
  1. 101.A Scrum Team is consistently delivering increments that meet the Definition of Done, but key stakeholders are frequently surprised by the functionality delivered, leading to rework after the Sprint Review. The Product Owner is highly engaged but primarily focuses on maximizing the value of the Product Backlog. What aspect of stakeholder management should the Scrum Master focus on to address this issue?People & Teams
  2. 102.A Product Owner is struggling to prioritize Product Backlog items because stakeholders have conflicting perspectives on what is most valuable. The Scrum Master suggests organizing a workshop to bring all key stakeholders together to discuss and align on value. Which Lean Thinking principle does this suggestion best support?Scrum Theory & Principles
  3. 103.A Scrum Team has been together for several Sprints, but the Scrum Master notices that the Developers rarely engage in discussions or offer opinions during Sprint Retrospectives, often waiting for the Scrum Master to prompt them. From the perspective of fostering a self-managing team, what is the best approach for the Scrum Master to take?People & Teams
  4. 104.A Scrum Team is consistently delivering 'Done' Increments, but the stakeholders frequently express confusion about the product's overall direction and how current work contributes to the long-term vision. Which Scrum Value is primarily lacking in this scenario?Scrum Theory & Principles
  5. 105.During a Sprint Retrospective, two Developers are in a heated disagreement about the best architectural approach for a critical component. Their voices are raised, and personal accusations are starting to emerge. The Scrum Master's primary goal in this situation is to ensure a productive outcome for the team. What is the most effective initial approach for the Scrum Master to take?People & Teams
  6. 106.During a Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum Team identifies that their Definition of Done is too lax, leading to frequent re-work in subsequent Sprints. They decide to update the Definition of Done to include a more rigorous testing phase. This action is a direct application of which pillar of Empiricism?Scrum Theory & Principles
  7. 107.A Scrum Team is working on a highly innovative product with rapidly changing customer needs and technological uncertainties. The Product Owner frequently revises the Product Backlog, and the Developers often encounter unforeseen technical challenges. Which approach to managing complexity is most aligned with Scrum's principles in this scenario?Scrum Theory & Principles
  8. 108.A new Scrum Team is frequently blocked by external dependencies and struggles to integrate their 'Done' Increment with other system components, leading to delays and rework. The organization's structure encourages teams to focus solely on their own component. Which Lean principle is being ignored?Scrum Theory & Principles
  9. 109.During a Sprint, the Developers discover a significant technical challenge that was not anticipated during Sprint Planning. Addressing this challenge will require more effort than initially estimated and might jeopardize the Sprint Goal. The Scrum Master encourages the Developers to openly discuss the options with the Product Owner and collaboratively decide on the best path forward, even if it means adjusting the Sprint Backlog. Which Scrum Value is the Scrum Master primarily promoting?Scrum Theory & Principles
  10. 110.A Scrum Team is working on a highly innovative product with rapidly changing customer needs. The Product Owner ensures that the Product Backlog is regularly refined, and the team works in short Sprints, delivering potentially shippable Increments frequently. This approach allows them to quickly incorporate feedback and pivot if necessary. Which aspect of complexity management in Scrum does this strategy primarily leverage?Scrum Theory & Principles
  11. 111.A Product Owner is struggling to prioritize Product Backlog items because stakeholders have conflicting visions for the product's direction. The Scrum Master encourages the Product Owner to engage these stakeholders in a collaborative session to articulate a unified product vision and align priorities. Which Lean Thinking principle is the Scrum Master promoting?Scrum Theory & Principles
  12. 112.A Scrum Team is continuously refining its Definition of Done based on feedback from stakeholders and new technical insights. This ongoing adjustment to improve the quality standard of the Increment is a direct application of which empirical principle?Scrum Theory & Principles
  13. 113.During a Sprint, the Developers realize that a key technology they planned to use is no longer viable. They quickly research alternatives, consult with stakeholders, and decide to pivot to a different solution. This action best demonstrates which core aspect of empiricism?Scrum Theory & Principles
  14. 114.A Scrum Master observes that the Developers are consistently performing tasks in isolation, rarely collaborating or asking for help from each other, even when facing challenges. This behavior often leads to redundant work and missed opportunities for knowledge sharing. Which Scrum Value is primarily being undermined?Scrum Theory & Principles
  15. 115.During a Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum Team identifies that their Definition of Done (DoD) is too vague, leading to inconsistent quality and misunderstandings with stakeholders. They decide to update the DoD with more specific criteria and examples. Which aspect of Empiricism does this action primarily demonstrate?Scrum Theory & Principles
  16. 116.A Scrum Team has been consistently delivering 'Done' Increments, but the Product Owner frequently expresses dissatisfaction with the order of items delivered, stating that critical functionality is often delayed. During the Sprint Review, stakeholders also voice concerns about the perceived lack of business value in recent Increments. What Scrum Value is most likely being undermined in this scenario?Scrum Theory & Principles
  17. 117.A Scrum Master observes that the Developers are highly skilled individually but tend to work in isolation, prioritizing their own specialized tasks rather than collaborating to finish Sprint Backlog Items as a team. This often leads to incomplete items at the end of the Sprint. What is the best way for the Scrum Master to encourage a more collaborative, cross-functional approach?People & Teams
  18. 118.During a Daily Scrum, the Developers discuss a new technical challenge that was discovered yesterday. They decide to spend the next two days researching various solutions before resuming development on the affected Product Backlog item. What principle of Lean Thinking is this decision aligned with?Scrum Theory & Principles
  19. 119.A Scrum Team is consistently delivering 'Done' Increments, but the stakeholders frequently express surprise and dissatisfaction during Sprint Reviews because the product's direction seems to diverge from their expectations. The Scrum Master notes that the Product Backlog has not been transparently shared or discussed with key stakeholders outside of the Sprint Review. Which pillar of empiricism is most fundamentally lacking?Scrum Theory & Principles
  20. 120.A Product Owner is struggling to prioritize Product Backlog items because stakeholders have conflicting visions for the product, and market research provides ambiguous results. The Scrum Master advises the Product Owner to focus on delivering the highest value items first to gather concrete user feedback. This approach aligns with which principle of Lean Thinking?Scrum Theory & Principles
  21. 121.A Scrum Team is operating in an environment where the requirements are initially vague and change frequently. The team delivers small, iterative increments, frequently seeking feedback from users. This approach helps manage the inherent uncertainty by reducing the impact of potential misinterpretations. Which aspect of Risk Management is this team primarily employing?Scrum Theory & Principles
  22. 122.A Product Owner is consistently struggling to say 'no' to stakeholders, frequently adding new, urgent requests directly to the current Sprint Backlog, disrupting the Developers' focus and jeopardizing the Sprint Goal. The Scrum Master has observed this pattern over several Sprints. What is the MOST impactful long-term action the Scrum Master should take?People & Teams
  23. 123.A Scrum Master observes that the Developers are reluctant to bring up challenges and impediments during the Daily Scrum, often waiting until they become critical issues. Which Scrum Value should the Scrum Master encourage to foster a more proactive approach to problem-solving?Scrum Theory & Principles
  24. 124.During a Sprint, the Developers discover a significant technical challenge that was not anticipated during Sprint Planning. Addressing this challenge will require more effort than initially estimated and might jeopardize the Sprint Goal. What Scrum Value is most important for the Developers to uphold in this situation?Scrum Theory & Principles
  25. 125.During a Sprint Review, stakeholders express confusion about the Increment presented, stating it doesn't align with their current understanding of the product's direction. Which Scrum Value is primarily being undermined?Scrum Theory & Principles
  26. 126.A Scrum Master observes that the Developers are consistently performing tasks in isolation, rarely collaborating or helping each other, even when one member is struggling. This leads to bottlenecks and delays. Which Scrum Value is primarily lacking in this team dynamic?Scrum Theory & Principles
  27. 127.During a Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum Team identifies that their Definition of Done is not strict enough, leading to quality issues being discovered in later Sprints by end-users. The Scrum Master facilitates a discussion where the team agrees to add new, more rigorous quality checks to their Definition of Done. This action is an example of which aspect of Empiricism?Scrum Theory & Principles
  28. 128.A Scrum Team is working on a complex system where the interdependencies between components are high, and the impact of changes often propagates unexpectedly. To manage this, the Developers invest significant time in creating detailed architectural diagrams and conduct frequent integration tests. What aspect of managing complexity in Scrum does this approach primarily address?Scrum Theory & Principles
  29. 129.A new Scrum Team is struggling to deliver a "Done" Increment every Sprint. The Product Owner is frequently changing the order of Product Backlog items mid-Sprint, and the Developers are often blocked waiting for external dependencies. Which aspect of Empiricism is most directly impacted by these challenges?Scrum Theory & Principles
  30. 130.A Scrum Team is continuously refining its Definition of Done based on feedback from stakeholders and internal quality metrics. This practice ensures that the team's understanding of 'done' evolves with the product and organizational needs. Which aspect of Empiricism does this practice best exemplify?Scrum Theory & Principles
  31. 131.A Scrum Master observes that the Developers are consistently performing tasks in isolation, rarely collaborating or sharing knowledge, even when their work is interdependent. Which Scrum Value is primarily lacking in this scenario?Scrum Theory & Principles
  32. 132.A Scrum Team consistently delivers 'Done' Increments, but the stakeholders frequently express confusion about the Increment's functionality and how it contributes to the overall product vision. This often leads to rework in subsequent Sprints. Which aspect of Empiricism is primarily lacking?Scrum Theory & Principles
  33. 133.A Scrum Team is consistently unable to forecast accurately during Sprint Planning, leading to frequent uncompleted Sprint Goals. The Scrum Master notices that the Developers often pick up new work mid-Sprint without consulting the Product Owner. Which Scrum Value is primarily being undermined?Scrum Theory & Principles
  34. 134.A Scrum Team is working on a new product where the market needs are rapidly evolving, and the technical approach is highly experimental. The Product Owner frequently changes the order of the Product Backlog, and the Developers often find themselves discarding work or re-architecting solutions mid-Sprint. This environment best exemplifies which characteristic of complex work?Scrum Theory & Principles
  35. 135.A newly formed Scrum Team is struggling to understand their roles and responsibilities. During the Daily Scrum, Developers often ask the Scrum Master for task assignments. What is the most appropriate action for the Scrum Master to take to help the team become more self-managing?People & Teams
  36. 136.A Scrum Team is working on a product where the requirements are constantly evolving due to market shifts and new customer feedback. The Product Owner prioritizes the Product Backlog frequently, and the Developers are adept at incorporating changes even mid-Sprint if absolutely necessary. This approach is a direct reflection of which core principle of Scrum?Scrum Theory & Principles
  37. 137.A Scrum Team has been consistently delivering 'Done' Increments, but the Product Owner frequently expresses dissatisfaction because the delivered features, while functional, do not fully meet the evolving market needs. Which aspect of Empiricism is most likely being insufficiently applied?Scrum Theory & Principles
  38. 138.A Scrum Team consistently delivers 'Done' Increments, but the stakeholders frequently express surprise and dissatisfaction with the product's features during Sprint Reviews. This indicates a potential breakdown in which aspect of empiricism?Scrum Theory & Principles
  39. 139.A Scrum Master notices that the Developers are consistently waiting for external teams to provide critical information, leading to frequent delays in Sprint completion. This situation also causes re-work when assumptions made by the Developers are later proven incorrect. Which Scrum Value is most directly being undermined by this lack of timely information flow?Scrum Theory & Principles
  40. 140.During a Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum Team discusses recurring communication breakdowns between Developers and the Product Owner regarding new feature requirements. The Scrum Master facilitates the discussion. Which of the following actions best demonstrates the Scrum Master acting as a mentor in this situation?People & Teams
  41. 141.A Scrum Team has recently undergone a significant change in its composition, with several new Developers joining. The Scrum Master notices that the team is struggling with decision-making, often deferring to the most experienced members or waiting for the Product Owner to make choices. Which of the following Scrum Master stances would be MOST beneficial in helping the new team establish self-management?People & Teams
  42. 142.A Scrum Master is facilitating a Sprint Retrospective where the Developers are hesitant to openly discuss painful process issues, fearing blame. The Scrum Master reminds them that the purpose of the event is continuous improvement and learning. Which Scrum Value is the Scrum Master attempting to reinforce?Scrum Theory & Principles
  43. 143.A Scrum Team has been consistently delivering 'Done' Increments, but the Product Owner frequently expresses frustration that the delivered features do not fully meet the evolving needs of the market. Which principle of empiricism is most likely being underutilized?Scrum Theory & Principles
  44. 144.A Scrum Master observes that the Developers are frequently waiting for external teams to complete tasks, leading to delays and missed Sprint Goals. The external teams are not part of the Scrum Team and have their own priorities. What is the MOST appropriate action for the Scrum Master to take in this situation?People & Teams
  45. 145.A Scrum Master observes that during Sprint Planning, the Developers often commit to a large number of Product Backlog items but struggle to complete them by the end of the Sprint. Which Lean Thinking principle is primarily being violated?Scrum Theory & Principles
  46. 146.A Scrum Master notices that the Developers are reluctant to raise technical impediments or ask for help, often struggling in silence until the issue becomes critical. This behavior represents a lack of which Scrum Value?Scrum Theory & Principles
  47. 147.A Scrum Team is working on a complex system where the interdependencies between components are not fully understood. The Developers are hesitant to refactor older parts of the codebase, fearing unknown side effects and introducing new bugs. This fear is a direct indication of a lack of which Scrum Value?Scrum Theory & Principles
  48. 148.A Product Owner is struggling to prioritize Product Backlog items because stakeholders have conflicting opinions on what constitutes the highest value. This leads to frequent reordering and indecision, impacting the Developers' ability to plan effectively. Which Lean principle, if applied, would best help resolve this situation?Scrum Theory & Principles
  49. 149.A Scrum Team is consistently delivering 'Done' Increments, but the stakeholders frequently express surprise and dissatisfaction with the product's direction during Sprint Reviews. What Scrum Value is primarily lacking in this scenario?Scrum Theory & Principles
  50. 150.A Scrum Team has been consistently struggling with Sprint Planning, often overcommitting and failing to deliver the forecasted work. The Scrum Master observes that the Developers are reluctant to challenge the Product Owner's ambitious goals. What is the most appropriate initial action for the Scrum Master to take to support the team in becoming more self-managing in this context?People & Teams