Which statement best describes a Product Owner's responsibility?
(choose the best answer)

1. A. Ensuring that the work meets the commitments to the stakeholders.
2. B. Maximizing the value of the work the Scrum Team does.
3. C. Keep stakeholders from distracting the Developers.
4. D. Directing the Developers.

Correct Answer: B
The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. The Product Owner is responsible for creating and communicating a vision, ordering the Product Backlog, and ensuring that the best possible job is done to delight customers. The Product Owner does not manage the Developers, but collaborates with them and the Scrum Master to optimize the value delivery. The Product Owner does not ensure that the work meets the commitments to the stakeholders, but rather that the work delivers value to the stakeholders. The Product Owner does not keep stakeholders from distracting the Developers, but rather engages them and manages their expectations.
References:
✑ Professional Scrum Product Owner™ I Certification
✑ [The Scrum Guide]
✑ [The Product Owner]

A Project Manager working with your Scrum Team has raised concerns about progress and money spent. What are the two best responses?
(choose the best two answers)

1. A. Promote transparency by sharing the Product Backlog and ensuring the Project Manager has access.
2. B. Have a discussion with the Project Manager; share the current impediments and forecast for the Sprint.
3. C. Show the Earned Value Analysis (EVA) report.
4. D. Scrum does not have Project Managers so disregard their concerns.
5. E. Share the last stakeholder briefing document prepared by the Product Owner.

Correct Answer: AB
The two best responses to a Project Manager who has raised concerns about progress and money spent are:
✑ Promote transparency by sharing the Product Backlog and ensuring the Project Manager has access. This helps communicate what is needed to improve the product, what is planned for each Sprint, and what has been done so far. It also helps align expectations and priorities among different stakeholders.
✑ Have a discussion with the Project Manager; share the current impediments and forecast for the Sprint. This helps address any issues or risks that may affect the delivery of value and the achievement of the Sprint Goal. It also helps provide feedback and adaptation based on the empirical evidence and data.
Other options, such as showing the Earned Value Analysis (EVA) report, Scrum does not have Project Managers so disregard their concerns, or sharing the last stakeholder briefing document prepared by the Product Owner, are not the best responses as they do not reflect how to effectively collaborate and communicate with the Project Manager or how to apply the Scrum values and principles.
References:
✑ [Scrum Guide], page 11, section “Product Backlog”
✑ [Scrum Guide], page 15, section “Sprint Backlog”
✑ [Scrum Guide], page 10, section “Increment”
✑ [Scrum Guide], page 5, section “Scrum Theory”
✑ [Scrum Guide], page 4, section “The Scrum Team”

When should the Product Owner update the project plan? (choose the best answer)

1. A. Before the Sprint Planning to know how much work will have to be done in the Sprint.
2. B. The Product Backlog is the plan in Scru
3. C. It is updated as new information and insights emerge.
4. D. After the Daily Scrum to ensure an accurate daily overview of project progress.
5. E. The project plan must be updated prior to the Sprint Retrospective.

Correct Answer: B
The Product Owner is responsible for managing and refining the Product Backlog, which is the single source of truth for the plan of the product development. The Product Backlog is a living artifact that changes as the product and the market evolve. The Product Owner updates the Product Backlog continuously based on feedback, learning, and stakeholder needs. There is no separate project plan document in Scrum.
References:
✑ [Scrum Guide], section 3.1: “The Product Backlog is an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product.”
✑ [Professional Scrum Product Owner], chapter 5: “The Product Backlog represents everything necessary to develop and launch a successful product.”
✑ [What is a Product Backlog?]: “The Product Backlog is a list of all things that need to be done within the project.”

Scrum is based on empiricism. All of its artifacts must be transparent to ensure sufficient accuracy of inspection. How can the Scrum Team maintain the Product Backlog to maximize its transparency?
(choose the best answer)

1. A. The Product Backlog is only updated at the Sprint Review, when both the Scrum Team and the stakeholders are available.
2. B. Product Backlog items should hold no more than 8 points of work, which is the average in the range of acceptable sizes of 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 13.
3. C. Product Backlog items must be sized such that the highest ordered items are no bigger than a Sprint.
4. D. The Product Backlog is only updated at a release planning meeting with the stakeholders and the change control board present.
5. E. The Product Backlog is continually kept up to date with the most recent insights.

Correct Answer: E
The Scrum Team can maintain the Product Backlog to maximize its transparency by continually keeping it up to date with the most recent insights because:
✑ It reflects the current state of the product and the work. The Product Backlog is a dynamic and emergent artifact that represents all the possible features, functions, requirements, enhancements, and fixes that constitute changes to the product. By updating it frequently, the Scrum Team can ensure that the Product Backlog is accurate, complete, and relevant.
✑ It enables the Product Owner to optimize the value of the product and the work of the Scrum Team. The Product Owner is accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes ordering, refining, and communicating the Product Backlog items. By updating it frequently, the Product Owner can incorporate new learnings, feedback, opportunities, and changes into the product decisions and priorities.
✑ It supports the inspection and adaptation of the Scrum Team and the stakeholders.
The Product Backlog is a source of information and transparency for everyone involved in the product development. By updating it frequently, the Scrum Team and the stakeholders can inspect the progress and outcomes of each Sprint, and adapt their plans and actions accordingly.
References:
✑ Scrum Guide 2020, page 10: “The Product Backlog is an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product.”
✑ Scrum Guide 2020, page 11: “The Product Owner is accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes … ensuring that the Product Backlog is transparent, visible and understood.”
✑ Scrum Guide 2020, page 11: “The ordering of the items in the Product Backlog is the sole responsibility of the Product Owner. They order Product Backlog items to best achieve goals and missions.”
✑ Scrum Guide 2020, page 11: “Higher ordered Product Backlog items are clearer and more refined than lower ordered ones.”
✑ Scrum Guide 2020, page 15: “The Sprint Review is an informal meeting, not a status meeting, and the presentation of the Increment is intended to elicit feedback and foster collaboration.”

Which are characteristics of the Daily Scrum? (choose the best two answers)

1. A. It is facilitated by the team lead.
2. B. Its location and time remain constant.
3. C. It consists of the Scrum Master asking the team for status.
4. D. Its purpose is to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog.
5. E. It is held first thing in the morning.
6. F. It is free form and designed to promote conversation.

Correct Answer: BD

Scrum
the Daily Scrum is a 15-minute event for the Developers of the Scrum Team that is held at the same time and place every working day of the Sprint. The purpose of the Daily Scrum is to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as necessary, adjusting the upcoming planned work1. The other options are not characteristics of the Daily Scrum, as it is not facilitated by the team lead, it does not consist of the Scrum Master asking the team for status, it is not held first thing in the morning, and it is not free form and designed to promote conversation234.
1: What is a Daily Scrum? | Scrum.org 2: What Is the Daily Scrum? | A Guide to the Daily Event - Scrum Alliance 3: What is Daily Scrum? | VivifyScrum 4: Daily Scrum | Definition and Overview - ProductPlan