Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum Master StancesHard
A Development Team is consistently missing their Sprint Goals because they are frequently pulled into urgent production support tasks that are not part of their Sprint Backlog. The team has raised this issue multiple times, but no lasting solution has been found. What is the most appropriate Scrum Master stance to address this recurring problem?
- ACoach, by guiding the team to self-organize and decline unplanned work.
- BImpediment Remover, by working with management to establish a policy for handling urgent production issues.
- CFacilitator, by organizing a meeting with relevant managers to discuss resource allocation.
- DServant Leader, by protecting the team from external interruptions and helping them focus.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Impediment Remover, by working with management to establish a policy for handling urgent production issues.
This is a recurring, systemic impediment that prevents the team from achieving their Sprint Goals. As an Impediment Remover, the Scrum Master is responsible for addressing obstacles that are beyond the team's self-organizing capabilities. This often involves working with management and establishing organizational policies to resolve the root cause.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Coaching the team to decline unplanned work might be part of the solution, but it doesn't address the organizational expectation or the need for a formal process for urgent support.
- C. Facilitating a meeting is a technique, but the primary stance is identifying and removing the impediment itself, which requires more than just a meeting.
- D. While a Servant Leader protects the team, 'Impediment Remover' specifically describes the action of addressing such issues, especially when they are systemic.
Scrum Master as Impediment Remover
The Scrum Master removes impediments to the Development Team's progress, which can range from technical issues to organizational obstacles.
- Identifies obstacles hindering the team.
- Works to resolve issues beyond the team's self-management.
- Often involves collaborating with external stakeholders and management.
Memory trick: Remove Impediments, Roads to Progress Unblocked.