True or False: A Product Owner should measure product value by the increase in the team's velocity.
Correct Answer:
B
A Product Owner should not measure product value by the increase in the team’s velocity. This is because:
✑ Velocity is a measure of how much work a Scrum Team can deliver in a Sprint. It is based on the estimation of Product Backlog items that are selected for a Sprint and completed according to the Definition of Done.
✑ Velocity is not a measure of product value. It does not reflect how well the product meets the needs and expectations of the customers, users, and stakeholders. It does not reflect how much value or impact the product creates in terms of revenue, satisfaction, or social good.
✑ Velocity is not a goal or a target for a Scrum Team. It is a planning tool that helps them forecast their future work based on their past performance. It is not a metric that should be used to compare or judge teams or individuals.
✑ A Product Owner should measure product value by using indicators that are relevant, meaningful, and actionable for their product context. These may include metrics such as customer feedback, usage data, market share, return on investment, or social impact.
References:
✑ [Scrum Guide], page 7, section “Developers”
✑ [Scrum Guide], page 10, section “Definition of Done”
✑ [Scrum Guide], page 15, section “Sprint Backlog”
✑ [Professional Scrum Product Owner™ Training], page 5, section “Product Value”
✑ [Professional Scrum Product Owner™ Training], page 9, section “Business Strategy”
What is the timebox for the Sprint Planning event? (choose the best answer)
Correct Answer:
C
✑ The Sprint Planning is an event that occurs at the beginning of each Sprint, where the Scrum Team plans how to deliver a valuable product Increment. The Sprint Planning consists of two topics: What can be done this Sprint? and How will the chosen work get done? The outcome of the Sprint Planning is an agreed-upon Sprint Goal, a Sprint Backlog, and a plan for delivering the Increment.
✑ The timebox for the Sprint Planning event is proportional to the length of the Sprint. For a one-month Sprint, the timebox is 8 hours. For shorter Sprints, the timebox is usually shorter. The Scrum Team may decide how much time to spend on each topic within the timebox, depending on their needs and preferences.
✑ The timebox for the Sprint Planning event ensures that the Scrum Team does not spend too much or too little time on planning their work for the Sprint. The timebox also ensures that the Scrum Team has enough clarity and alignment on what and how they want to achieve during the Sprint.
References:
✑ Scrum Guide: https://www.scrumguides.org/scrum-guide.html
✑ Sprint Planning: https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-sprint-planning
What does it mean for a Scrum Team to be cross-functional?
(choose the best answer)
Correct Answer:
B
The Scrum Team includes skilled individuals who together have all the skills necessary to create value each Sprint.
According to the Scrum Guide1, “Scrum Teams are cross-functional, meaning the members have all the skills necessary to create value each Sprint.” This implies that the team does not depend on external resources or specialists to deliver a product increment. The other options do not reflect the true meaning of cross-functionality in Scrum.
1: The Scrum Team | Scrum.org
What enhances the transparency of an Increment? (choose the best answer)
Correct Answer:
B
The Definition of Done is a shared understanding of what it means for work
to be complete, and ensures transparency of the quality of the work done1. The Increment is the sum of all the Product Backlog items completed during a Sprint and the value of the increments of all previous Sprints2. The Increment must be usable and potentially releasable, meaning that it meets the quality standards set by the Scrum Team and the stakeholders[3][3]. Doing all work needed to meet the Definition of Done enhances the transparency of the Increment, as it ensures that the Increment is truly done and reflects the current state of the product4. The other options do not enhance the transparency of the Increment, as they either introduce unnecessary complexity, delay, or overhead, or do not provide a clear and consistent way to measure the quality of the work done.
References:
1: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 13
2: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 6
[3][3]: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 13
4: Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework, Scrum.org, accessed on December 16, 2023
For the purpose of transparency, when does Scrum say a valuable and useful Increment must
be available?
(choose the best answer)
Correct Answer:
A
The Scrum Guide states that "The Increment is the sum of all the Product Backlog items completed during a Sprint and the value of the increments of all previous Sprints. At the end of a Sprint, the new Increment must be ‘Done,’ which means it must be in useable condition and meet the Scrum Team’s definition of ‘Done.’"1 This means that a valuable and useful Increment must be available at the end of every Sprint, regardless of the release frequency or the Product Owner’s request. This ensures transparency, feedback, and continuous improvement.
References:
✑ 1: The Scrum Guide2, page 14
✑ 2: The Scrum Guide