Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum Theory & PrinciplesHard
A Scrum Team is working on a product in a rapidly changing market where customer needs evolve weekly. The Product Owner insists on having a fixed, detailed Product Backlog for the next six months. This approach is in direct conflict with which Lean Thinking principle?
- AOptimize the Whole
- BEliminate Waste
- CDeliver Fast
- DDecide as Late as Possible
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Decide as Late as Possible
In a rapidly changing market, fixing a detailed Product Backlog for six months goes against 'Decide as Late as Possible.' This principle advocates for delaying irreversible decisions until the last responsible moment to incorporate new information and reduce the risk of building the wrong thing. A fixed, long-term backlog forces early, potentially incorrect decisions.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Optimizing the whole is about systems thinking, but the specific issue is the timing of decisions.
- B. Eliminating waste is about removing non-value-adding activities, but the primary conflict is with decision-making under uncertainty.
- C. While delivering fast is a Lean aim, the conflict here is about how decisions are made regarding what to build.
Lean Principle: Decide as Late as Possible
Delay irreversible decisions until the last responsible moment to maximize knowledge, reduce uncertainty, and allow for adaptation to new information.
- Maximizes options and flexibility.
- Reduces risk by gathering more information.
- Avoids premature commitments.
- Supports adaptability in complex environments.
Memory trick: Deliver value, respect people, decide late, eliminate waste, optimize whole, build quality, amplify learning.