A Scrum Team is consistently struggling to complete all selected Product Backlog Items by the end of the Sprint. During the Sprint Retrospective, the Developers admit they are reluctant to ask for help from team members they perceive as 'busier' or 'more expert' in certain areas, leading to bottlenecks. What should the Scrum Master do to address this impediment to cross-functionality and self-management?
- ASuggest a stricter adherence to individual task assignments to ensure clear accountability for each item.
- BAdvise the Product Owner to create smaller, more independent Product Backlog Items to reduce the need for cross-team collaboration.
- CFacilitate a discussion about the value of swarming and collective code ownership, encouraging direct peer-to-peer support.
- DImplement a rotating 'buddy system' where Developers are assigned to mentor each other on different skills.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Facilitate a discussion about the value of swarming and collective code ownership, encouraging direct peer-to-peer support.
The Scrum Master should facilitate discussions that foster self-management and cross-functionality. By discussing swarming and collective code ownership, the Scrum Master encourages the Developers to actively help each other and share knowledge, directly addressing their reluctance to ask for help and improving their ability to achieve the Sprint Goal.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Stricter individual assignments would exacerbate the problem by reinforcing siloed work and discouraging collaboration, moving away from cross-functionality.
- B. Smaller PBIs can be beneficial, but this doesn't address the team's internal dynamics regarding collaboration and knowledge sharing, which is the root cause of the current problem.
- D. While mentoring can be useful, a 'buddy system' can be seen as imposed and might not address the underlying reluctance to ask for help in real-time work scenarios. Swarming is more immediate and organic.
Swarming (in Scrum)
A practice where multiple Developers collaboratively focus on completing a single Product Backlog Item or a small set of items, often when one item is becoming a bottleneck.
- Enhances collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Helps the team achieve the Sprint Goal more effectively.
- Promotes collective code ownership and reduces individual bottlenecks.
Memory trick: Team work makes the dream work, share the load for the Sprint Goal.