Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum FrameworkHard
A Scrum Team has just finished its Sprint Retrospective. They identified a key improvement: automating their testing process. Who is primarily accountable for ensuring this improvement is actually implemented in the upcoming Sprints?
- AThe Product Owner
- BThe Scrum Master
- CThe Developers
- DThe entire Scrum Team
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. The entire Scrum Team
While the Developers will likely implement the technical solution, the Scrum Guide states that the Sprint Retrospective identifies the most helpful improvements to increase effectiveness. These improvements are added to the Sprint Backlog for the next Sprint. The entire Scrum Team is accountable for creating value and continuously improving, and thus for implementing the agreed-upon improvements.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The Product Owner focuses on product value; while they benefit from improvements, they are not primarily accountable for process improvements.
- B. The Scrum Master facilitates the Retrospective and may coach on implementing improvements, but is not solely accountable for their execution.
- C. The Developers will perform the work, but the accountability for ensuring the improvement is *implemented* as a team commitment rests with the whole Scrum Team.
Scrum Team Accountability for Improvements
The entire Scrum Team is accountable for implementing the improvements identified during the Sprint Retrospective to increase their effectiveness and quality.
- Improvements from Retrospective.
- Added to Sprint Backlog.
- Scrum Team implements.
Memory trick: Team improvements are like a shared garden: everyone is responsible for tending to them.