Professional Scrum Master Scrum Theory and Empiricism Questions and Answers

Question 1

Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory. Which of the following best describes the core principle of empiricism in the context of Scrum?

Accepted Answer

Making decisions based on what is observed, experienced, and experimented with, rather than on speculation or theory alone.

Answer

Following a detailed, upfront plan and tracking variances against that plan throughout the project.

Answer

Relying on the expertise of a single authority figure, like a project manager, to make all key decisions.

Answer

Implementing a fixed set of processes and techniques that have been proven successful in past projects.

Question 2

A Scrum Team is in the middle of a Sprint. The Developers realize they have significantly underestimated the effort for a Product Backlog Item. To maintain transparency, what is the most appropriate immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Make the issue visible immediately, for instance, by updating the Sprint Backlog and communicating within the Scrum Team during the Daily Scrum.

Answer

Continue working on the item and hope to finish it by the end of the Sprint, without mentioning the difficulty.

Answer

Wait until the Sprint Review to inform the stakeholders that the item is not complete.

Answer

Ask the Product Owner to remove the item from the Sprint Backlog to protect the team's velocity.

Question 3

Which Scrum event is the primary opportunity for stakeholders to inspect the Increment and for the Scrum Team to adapt the Product Backlog based on feedback?

Accepted Answer

The Sprint Review

Answer

The Daily Scrum

Answer

The Sprint Retrospective

Answer

Sprint Planning

Question 4

If one of the three pillars of empiricism (Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation) is weak or missing, what is the likely outcome?

Accepted Answer

The value delivered will be diminished, and risk will increase.

Answer

The other two pillars will become stronger to compensate for the weakness.

Answer

The Scrum Team will deliver value more efficiently as there are fewer rules to follow.

Answer

The Scrum Master's role becomes unnecessary.

Question 5

A Product Owner is being pressured by stakeholders to provide a fixed-scope, fixed-date release plan for the next six months. As a Scrum Master, how would you coach the Product Owner to respond in a way that aligns with Scrum and empiricism?

Accepted Answer

Work with the Product Owner to create a forecast based on the team's current velocity and the state of the Product Backlog, while clearly communicating that this is a projection, not a guarantee, and will be adapted based on what is learned each Sprint.

Answer

Agree to the request and create a detailed Gantt chart to satisfy the stakeholders.

Answer

Explain that forecasting is impossible in Scrum and refuse to provide any long-term outlook.

Answer

Tell the stakeholders that their request is against Scrum rules and direct them to read the Scrum Guide.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a direct implementation of the empirical pillar of 'Adaptation' in Scrum?

Accepted Answer

The Product Owner defining a clear, long-term Product Goal.

Answer

Adjusting the Sprint Backlog during the Sprint in response to new discoveries.

Answer

Modifying the Product Backlog during the Sprint Review based on stakeholder feedback.

Answer

The Scrum Team creating an improvement action item in the Sprint Retrospective to change their process.