Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum Master StancesEasy
A Development Team reports to the Scrum Master that they are consistently facing delays because the internal IT department takes several days to provision new virtual machines required for their testing environment. This delay is impacting their ability to meet Sprint Goals. What is the most appropriate Scrum Master stance to address this issue?
- AMentor, by guiding the team on how to better manage their expectations with IT.
- BTeacher, by educating the team on the importance of planning ahead for infrastructure needs.
- CImpediment Remover, by actively working with the IT department to streamline the provisioning process.
- DCoach, by encouraging the team to find workarounds for the slow provisioning process.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Impediment Remover, by actively working with the IT department to streamline the provisioning process.
The Scrum Master's role as an Impediment Remover involves actively addressing obstacles that hinder the Development Team's progress. Delays in IT provisioning are a clear impediment requiring direct action beyond coaching or teaching the team.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Mentoring focuses on guidance and advice for individuals, not direct removal of systemic impediments.
- B. Teaching might be part of the solution, but the immediate need is to remove the current impediment, not just educate the team.
- D. Coaching the team to find workarounds doesn't address the root cause of the impediment and can lead to unsustainable practices.
Scrum Master as Impediment Remover
The Scrum Master actively works to remove obstacles that hinder the Development Team's progress or the organization's adoption of Scrum.
- Focuses on removing barriers to team productivity.
- May involve organizational or technical issues.
- Requires proactive problem-solving.
Memory trick: An IMPEDIMENT is a 'STOP' sign for progress, requiring active removal.