Open Assessment Flashcards
(50 cards)
How does an organization know that a product built through Scrum is successful?
(choose the best answer)
By measuring that velocity has increased since the last release
By the Product Owner and stakeholders accepting the Increment at the Sprint Review
By releasing often, and updating key performance indicators (KPIs) on value after every release and feeding this information back into work on the Product Backlog
By measuring the actual time spent on development versus the time estimated for development
By releasing often, and updating key performance indicators (KPIs) on value after every release and feeding this information back into work on the Product Backlog
Feedback
Scrum Teams deliver products iteratively and incrementally, maximizing opportunities for feedback. If a product isn’t released, the opportunity to capture user and market feedback is lost.
What pre-conditions must be fulfilled in order to allow Sprint Planning to begin?
(choose the best answer)
A fully refined Product Backlog
Formal budget approval to conduct another Sprint
A clear and non-negotiable Sprint Goal
A clear but negotiable business objective for the Sprint
Enough “Ready” Product Backlog to fill the Sprint
There are no such pre-conditions
There are no such pre-conditions
Feedback
Sprint Planning serves to plan the work to be performed in the Sprint. This plan is created by the collaborative work of the entire Scrum Team. Sprint Planning is time-boxed to a maximum of eight hours for a one-month Sprint. What can be achieved in this time-box may be influenced by additional practices that are however not prescribed by Scrum.
Which two statements explain why the definition of “Done” is important to the Product Owner?
(choose the best two answers)
It assures the Increment reviewed at the Sprint review is usable so the Product Owner may choose to release it.
It identifies undone work that can be addressed in a separate Sprint.
It helps the Product Owner track the open work during a Sprint.
It creates transparency regarding progress within the Scrum Team.
- It assures the Increment reviewed at the Sprint review is usable so the Product Owner may choose to release it.
- It creates transparency regarding progress within the Scrum Team.
Feedback
All Scrum Team members must have a shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete, to ensure transparency. This is the definition of “Done” for the Scrum Team and is used to assess when work is complete on the product Increment. The Increment reviewed at the Sprint Review must be useable, so a Product Owner may choose to immediately release it.
Which description best fits the role of the Product Owner?
(choose the best answer)
Scope Protector
Project Manager 2.0
Requirements Collector
Chief Analyst
Value Maximizer
Value Maximizer
Feedback
The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product. How this is done will vary widely.
The process of regular inspection and adaptation employs knowledgeable and skilled inspectors. What are two ways in which the Product Owner takes the lead in the inspection process?
(choose the best two answers)
At the end of Sprint Planning the Product Owner verifies the Sprint Backlog for completeness in order to allow the Sprint to start.
At the Sprint Review the Product Owner shares the current state of Product Backlog, which, combined with the inspection of the Increment, leads to an updated Product Backlog.
The Product Owner invites stakeholders to the Sprint Review to learn how the current state of the marketplace influences what is the most valuable thing to do next.
At the Daily Scrum the Product Owner inspects the Sprint burn-down for progress towards a complete Increment and re-planning the team’s work.
- At the Sprint Review the Product Owner shares the current state of Product Backlog, which, combined with the inspection of the Increment, leads to an updated Product Backlog.
- The Product Owner invites stakeholders to the Sprint Review to learn how the current state of the marketplace influences what is the most valuable thing to do next.
Feedback
Scrum users must frequently inspect Scrum artifacts and progress to detect undesirable variances. The primary tool for the Product Owner to uphold transparency is the Product Backlog. Product Backlog is a living artifact that is actively maintained and updated to reflect reality. At the Sprint Review, attendees collaborate on the next things that could be done to optimize value, which is processed into an updated Product Backlog.
The Product Owner’s authority to change and update the Product Backlog is unlimited, except for:
(choose the best answer)
Technical and architectural work that needs to be done first, as indicated by the chief enterprise architect.
High impact changes that have not been approved by the change request board.
Decisions by the chief program manager.
Work for which impediments exist that the Scrum Master still needs to resolve.
Nothing. The entire organization must respect a Product Owner’s decisions.
Decisions by the CFO, the CEO or the board of directors.
Nothing. The entire organization must respect a Product Owner’s decisions.
Feedback
For the Product Owner to succeed, the entire organization must respect his or her decisions. No one is allowed to tell the Development Team to work from a different set of requirements, and the Development Team isn’t allowed to act on what anyone else says.
What is a Product Backlog?
(choose the best answer)
It is a detailed list of functionality from which the Development Team draws items, to be complemented by a separate Technology Backlog managed by the Development Team.
It is a list of references to Use Case documents that are stored in a central repository. The references should be viewable and clickable by anybody to enhance transparency.
It is a living artifact of product requirements that exists and evolves as long as a product exists.
It is a formally approved list of requirements to be implemented over a set period.
It is a living artifact of product requirements that exists and evolves as long as a product exists.
Feedback
The Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything that might be needed in the product and is the single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product. The Product Backlog evolves as the product and the environment in which it will be used evolves. Higher ordered Product Backlog items are usually clearer and more detailed than lower ordered ones. As long as a product exists, its Product Backlog also exists.
In order to make investment decisions, the Product Owner is likely to look at the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the product being built. What costs will a Product Owner take into account?
(choose the best answer)
The accumulated cost over the earned value of the product
The money spent on development of the product, often a fixed cost per Sprint multiplied by the Sprints required
All investments required to conceive, develop, operate and maintain the product
All investments required to conceive, develop, operate and maintain the product
Feedback
The owner of a product is not only accountable for development and release of a product, but also the cost of maintaining and operating the product. If a person ‘owns’ the product, he/she can be expected to be responsible for the complete lifecycle of a product.
How important is it for a Product Owner to order Product Backlog items by value points?
(choose the best answer)
It is a good practice, keeping in mind that market reception is the best measure of value.
Using value points is the ultimate way for a Product Owner to predict the value that the product will provide.
Calculating value points is an upfront approach that conflicts with the empiricism of Scrum, and is therefore not acceptable.
It is a good practice, keeping in mind that market reception is the best measure of value.
Feedback
Indications of value on Product Backlog are useful but are only a prediction until validated against users and market.
What two things best help the Product Owner manage the value of a product?
(choose the best two answers)
Validating assumptions of value through frequent releases
Devising a formula for a neutral calculation of value
The order of the Product Backlog
Setting value on individual Product Backlog items using Value Poker
- Validating assumptions of value through frequent releases
- The order of the Product Backlog
Feedback
The Product Owner manages Product Backlog against the assumption that value will be generated. Indications of value on Product Backlog are useful but are only a prediction until validated against users and market.
Learning turns into ‘validated learning’ when assumptions and goals can be assessed through results. What is a key way for a Product Owner to apply validated learning?
(choose the best answer)
Release an Increment to the market to learn about the business assumptions built into the product.
Accept an Increment at the Sprint review to learn about the forecast of functionality that was developed.
Set the Sprint Goal before selecting Product Backlog items at Sprint Planning to learn about a Development Team’s productivity.
Release an Increment to the market to learn about the business assumptions built into the product.
Feedback
The Product Owner manages Product Backlog against the assumption that value will be generated. This assumption remains invalidated when not checked against users and market.
Must the Product Owner be present at the Sprint Retrospective?
(choose the best answer)
It is mandatory. The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to assess its performance and improve itself.
It is not allowed. The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Development Team to inspect itself.
It is optional. Attendance is only required when the Product Owner gets invited by the Scrum Master.
It is mandatory. The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to assess its performance and improve itself.
Feedback
The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint.
What two things should be done if the Product Owner is unavailable?
(choose the best two answers)
Within the Sprint, the Development Team makes the best decisions possible to assure progress toward the Sprint Goal, re-aligning with the Product Owner once he/she is available again.
Development of functional requirements stops until the Product Owner is available again.
There should be a Product Owner team to allow a different person from that team to instantly take over the role of Product Owner.
In a permanent state of unavailability, a new Product Owner needs to be appointed. Development efforts without a Product Owner are not employing Scrum.
- Within the Sprint, the Development Team makes the best decisions possible to assure progress toward the Sprint Goal, re-aligning with the Product Owner once he/she is available again.
- In a permanent state of unavailability, a new Product Owner needs to be appointed. Development efforts without a Product Owner are not employing Scrum.
Feedback
The Scrum framework consists of Scrum Teams and their associated roles, events, artifacts, and rules. Each component within the framework serves a specific purpose and is essential to Scrum’s success and usage. The Scrum Team consists of a Product Owner, the Development Team, and a Scrum Master. The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Development Team. In the absence of a Product Owner, the latter accountability is not performed.
What is the Product Owner accountable for in Scrum?
(choose the best answer)
Writing the User Stories so they are understandable to stakeholders
Describing an Increment at the Sprint Planning and make sure that the Development Team delivers it by the end of the Sprint
Refining the top level Product Backlog items until they are ready to be handed over to the Development Team
Clearly expressing a Product Backlog that maximizes value and represents the needs of the stakeholders
Clearly expressing a Product Backlog that maximizes value and represents the needs of the stakeholders
Feedback
The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Development Team. The primary tool to do so is the Product Backlog.
What best describes the relationship of the Product Owner and the stakeholders?
(choose the best answer)
The Product Owner actively asks for stakeholder input and expectations to process into the Product Backlog.
The Product Owner writes the User Stories as provided by the stakeholders.
The Product Owner provides the stakeholders with acceptance forms at the Sprint Review to record their formal agreement over the delivered software.
The Product Owner has the final call over the requirements and should involve the stakeholders as little as possible.
The Product Owner actively asks for stakeholder input and expectations to process into the Product Backlog.
Feedback
The Product Owner represents the stakeholders to the Scrum Team, which includes representing their desired requirements in the Product Backlog. The Product Owner has the final call over the Product Backlog.
True or False: The value delivered by a product can only be determined by revenue.
True
False
False
Feedback
Value is likely to vary across products and organizations.
True or False: The Scrum Team should choose at least one high priority process improvement, identified during the Sprint Retrospective, and place it in the Product Backlog.
True
False
False
Feedback
False, to ensure continuous improvement, the Sprint Backlog rather than the Product Backlog includes at least one high priority process improvement identified in the previous Sprint Retrospective meeting.
True or False: A Product Owner is essentially the same thing as a traditional Project Manager?
True
False
False
Feedback
A traditional project manager is responsible for all aspects of a project; costs, resources, execution, release, planning, capacity. Scrum is a framework for complex product development, regardless of whether the work is organized in projects. The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work performed, a responsibility that is complemented by the specific accountabilities of the Development Team and the Scrum Master.
True or False: The Sprint Review is the only time at which stakeholder feedback is taken into account.
True
False
False
Feedback
A Product Owner engages actively and regularly with stakeholders. However, to limit the disturbance to the development progress and keep focus high, the stakeholders have a formal role in the process at the Sprint Review only.
When can the Product Backlog be updated?
(choose the best answer)
Only during Product Backlog refinement sessions if the Product Owner is present
Only after a Sprint Review if agreed to by the stakeholders
Never, unless agreed to by the change request
At any time when done by the Product Owner or at the Product Owner’s discretion
At any time when done by the Product Owner or at the Product Owner’s discretion
Feedback
The Product Backlog is dynamic; it constantly changes to identify what the product needs in order to be appropriate, competitive, and useful. Product Backlog items can be updated at any time by the Product Owner or at the Product Owner’s discretion.
The Development Team finds out during the Sprint that they aren’t likely to build everything they forecast. What would you expect a Product Owner to do?
(choose the best answer)
Cancel the Sprint.
Skip Product Backlog refinement activities.
Change the Sprint Goal.
Re-negotiate the selected Product Backlog items with the Development Team to meet the Sprint Goal.
Inform management that more resources are needed.
Re-negotiate the selected Product Backlog items with the Development Team to meet the Sprint Goal.
Feedback
During the Sprint scope may be clarified and re-negotiated between the Product Owner and Development Team as more is learned.
The Product Owner manages the Product Backlog. Who is accountable for estimating the effort to complete the Product Backlog items?
(choose the best answer)
The PMO. They have all the history on projects delivered, and this enables the IT department to make delivery commitments.
The Product Owner. The Product Owner is required to commit on delivery to the users and the stakeholders.
The Development Team. As a collective, they have a complete view of the work needed to transform Product Backlog items into Increments of product.
The Development Team. As a collective, they have a complete view of the work needed to transform Product Backlog items into Increments of product.
Feedback
The Development Team is responsible for all estimates. The people who will perform the work make the final estimate.
What variables should a Product Owner consider when ordering the Product Backlog?
(choose the best answer)
Whatever is most appropriate for the Product Owner to achieve the product’s goals and to optimize the value received
Lowest development cost in order to maximize ROI
Effort first, then value
The availability of resources and skills for implementation
Development cohesion as indicated by the Development Team
Whatever is most appropriate for the Product Owner to achieve the product’s goals and to optimize the value received
The Product Owner is responsible for ordering the items in the Product Backlog to best achieve goals and missions, thereby optimizing the value of the work the Development Team performs. How this is done, and what value means, may vary widely across organizations.
What are two typical activities for a Product Owner in a Sprint?
(choose the best two answers)
Create financial reporting upon the spent hours reported by the Development Team.
Collaborate with stakeholders, user communities, and subject matter experts.
Update the work plan for the Development Team on a daily basis.
Work with the Development Team on Product Backlog refinement.
Attend every Daily Scrum to answer functional questions on the discussed Sprint Backlog items.
- Collaborate with stakeholders, user communities, and subject matter experts.
- Work with the Development Team on Product Backlog refinement.
Feedback
The Product Owner represents the stakeholders to the Scrum Team. This typically requires active interaction in order to be able to represent stakeholders and their needs.
Product Backlog refinement is an ongoing process in which the Product Owner and the Development Team collaborate on the details of Product Backlog items.
