Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)People & TeamsMedium
A Scrum Master observes that the Developers are consistently taking on more work than they can realistically complete in a Sprint, despite prior discussions about sustainable pace. This leads to frequent carry-over of undone work and demotivation. What is the MOST appropriate action for the Scrum Master?
- ARemind the Developers of the importance of the Sprint Goal and their commitment to finish selected work.
- BFacilitate a Sprint Retrospective discussion focused on refining their estimation techniques and understanding their capacity.
- CSuggest implementing a 'no new work' policy during the Sprint to prevent scope creep.
- DAdvise the Product Owner to provide fewer Product Backlog Items during Sprint Planning to reduce pressure.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Facilitate a Sprint Retrospective discussion focused on refining their estimation techniques and understanding their capacity.
The Scrum Master's role is to help the team improve its processes and self-organization. By facilitating a Retrospective focused on estimation and capacity, the Scrum Master empowers the Developers to understand and address their own challenges in forecasting, leading to a more sustainable pace.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is a directive and doesn't address the underlying cause of overcommitment. It can also increase pressure on the team.
- C. While 'no new work' is a good principle, it doesn't address the initial overcommitment. The issue is selecting too much work at the start, not necessarily scope creep during the Sprint.
- D. While the Product Owner has a role, the Developers are ultimately responsible for selecting how much work they can do. Placing this responsibility solely on the PO undermines the team's self-management.
Sustainable Pace
The principle that a team should work at a rate they can maintain indefinitely, without burnout, to ensure consistent delivery and quality.
- Prevents burnout and promotes long-term productivity.
- Aids in consistent delivery and predictable outcomes.
- Requires accurate forecasting and realistic Sprint commitments.
Memory trick: Pace yourself, or face the race to burn out.