PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

What does a Burndown Chart show?

A Burndown Chart shows the amount of work remaining across time. It visualizes the correlation between the amount of work remaining at any point in time and the progress of the Team in reducing this work.

What is the duration of a Sprint, as it is defined in Scrum?

A Sprint is an iteration of 30 consecutive calendar days.

A task in the Sprint Backlog should take, roughly, how many hours to finish?

A task in the Sprint Backlog should take, roughly, 4 to 16 hours to finish.

According to the Agile Manifesto, Agile processes harness change for what?

Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage.

According to the Agile Manifesto, Agile processes harness what for the customer's competitive advantage?

Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage.

According to the Agile Manifesto, how should projects be built?

Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done.

The Agile Manifesto says that who must work together, and how often?

Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.

The Agile Manifesto values customer collaboration over what?

Contract negotiation.

What is "defined process control," and how does it related to Agile or Scrum?

Defined process control is laying out a process that repeatably will product acceptable quality output. Agile and Scrum take a very different approach called "empirical process control."

Scrum's philosophical underpinnings focus on what 2 things?

Empowering the development team and satisfying customers.

What happened on February 11-13, 2001?

The Agile Manifesto was written.

Who leads the Sprint Retrospective?

The Scrum Master leads the Sprint Retrospective.

What is the role of the XP Programmer Administrator?

The XP Programmer Administrator - deals with establishing the physical working environment - assumes most of the traditional software development technical roles, such as designer, implementer, integrator, and administrator

What is the role of the XP Programmer?

The XP Programmer is responsible for implementing the code to support the user stories.

What does the XP Tester do?

The XP Tester - helps the customer define and write acceptance tests for user stories - runs the tests frequently and posts results for the team to see - creates and maintains tools to make it easier to define and run tests and quickly gather results

According to the Agile Manifesto, the best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from what?

The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.

A Scrum project starts with what?

A vision of the system to be developed.

What does the Agile Manifesto say teams should do at regular intervals/

At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.

Name 3 disciplines that gave rise to the Agile Manifesto.

Extreme Programming, SCRUM, Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), Adaptive Software Development, Crystal, Feature-Driven Development, Pragmatic Programming.

What is the purpose of the Sprint Retrospective?

In the Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum Master encourages the Team to revise, within the Scrum process and framework, its development process to make it more productive and enjoyable for the next Sprint.

The Agile Manifesto values what over processes and tools?

Individuals and interactions.

The Agile Manifesto values individuals and interactions over what?

Processes and tools.

What are the 3 management roles in Scrum?

Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Team.

What is the Definition of Done for an increment of functionality, or Release?

The Definition of Done for an increment of functionality, or Release is the following: 1. The increment of functionality consists of thoroughly tested, well structured, well written code that has been built into an executable. 2. The user operation of the functionality is documented.

Define "Product Backlog" in Scrum.

The Product Backlog is a list of functional and nonfunctional requirements that, when turned into functionality, will deliver the vision of the system to be developed.

What is the list of prioritized requirements called in Scrum?

The Product Backlog.

What is a complexity factor?

A complexity factor increases the work estimate on a Product Backlog item due to project characteristics that reduce the productivity of the Team.

What does the Agile Manifesto say about sustainable development?

Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.

How does the Scrum Product Owner acheve initial and ongoing funding for a project?

By creating the project's initial overall requirements, return on investment (ROI) objectives, and release plans.

The Agile Manifesto values working software over what?

Comprehensive documentation.

According to the Agile Manifesto, paying continuous attention to what 2 things enhances agility?

Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.

The Agile Manifesto values what over contract negotiation?

Customer collaboration.

What happens during a Daily Scrum?

During the Daily Scrum, each Team member addresses 3 questions: 1. What have you done on this project since the last Daily Scrum? 2. What do you plan to do on this project between now and the next Daily Scrum? 3. What impediments stand in the way of meeting your commitments to this Sprint and to this project?

What happens during the Sprint Review?

During the Sprint Review, 1. The Team presents what they developed to the Product Owner and any Stakeholders who wish to attend. 2. Attendees collaboratively determine what the team should do next.

True or False: Only the Product Owner can change the Sprint Backlog.

False. Only the Team can change the Sprint Backlog.

True or False: In Scrum, it is acceptable to change the rules while the Team is still learning how Scrum works.

False. Rule changes should be entertained if, and only if, the Scrum Master has determined that the Team, and everyone else involved has an in-depth understanding of Scrum.

True or False: Once the Product Backlog is identified in the project plan, it undergoes few or no changes.

False. The Product Backlog is never complete, and the Backlog used in the project plan is merely an initial estimate of the requirements.

True or False: The same individual can serve as Product Owner and Scrum Master.

False. The Scrum Master should never serve as the Product Owner. Reasons: - Being a ScrumMaster is a full time job. - The Scrum Master supports the team while the Product Owner represents the clients' needs. At times these roles may come into conflict because often what the client wants and what the Team can accomplish within the Sprint are different. Therefore, the Scrum Master needs to have the role, when necessary, of pushing back on some of the Product Owner's requests. - It is hard to facilitate (Scrum Master) when you also are the person also responsible for priorities (Product Owner). Even if you are good at it, team members may think that your question/request as a ScrumMaster is an order/direction from the Product Owner.

True or False: The Agile Manifesto says that the most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is by thorough and rigorous project documentation.

False. The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.

True or False: The Sprint Planning Meeting's duration cannot exceed 10 hours.

False. The time box for the Sprint Planning Meeting is 8 hours.

When was the Agile Manifesto first written?

February 11-13, 2001.

The Agile Manifesto values responding to change over what?

Following a plan.

Describe what happens in a Scrum iteration.

Having looked at requirements, considered the available technology, evaluated its own skills and capabilities, the team collectively determines how to build the functionality, revising its approach daily as it encounters new complexities, difficulties, and surprises.

If someone wants to change the rules for a Scrum team, what is the proper time to discuss these changes?

If someone wants to change the rules for a Scrum team, this should be discussed in the Retrospective.

In Scrum, what happens during the Sprint planning meeting?

In the Sprint Planning meeting, two things happen: 1. The Product Owner and Team discuss content, purpose, meaning, and intentions of the highest priority items in the Product Backlog. 2. The Team selects as much of the Product Backlog as it feels it can turn into an increment of potentially shippable functionality as it can deliver by the end of the Sprint.

Who determines whether a change can be made in a Team's Scrum process?

No Scrum rules can be changed until the Scrum Master has determined that the Team and everyone else involved has an in-depth understanding of Scrum.

Outside of the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Team, who has direct authority over the project's execution or progress?

No one other than the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Team have direct authority over the project's execution or progress. All others are spectators.

According to the Agile Manifesto, at what point in development are changing requirements no longer welcome?

None. Changing requirements are welcome, even late in development.

One of the Agile Manifesto's principles is to deliver working software _________________.

One of the Agile Manifesto's principles is to deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale.

According to Agile Project Management With Scrum, what is the optimal size for a Sprint team?

Optimally, a Team should include 7 people.

Why are complete increments important?

Partial answers often fool us into thinking that an approach will work, when in reality, it does not work upon closer examination.

What does "Pigs and Chickens" signify in Scrum?

Pigs have skin in the game. Chickens are spectators.

According to Ken Schwaber, in Agile Project Management With Scrum, what is a time-honored approach to dealing with complexity?

Relinquishing central control to independent agents.

Name 4 avenues of reporting in Scrum.

Reporting in Scrum can be handled in the following ways: - In the Daily Scrum, which is open to everyone - In the Sprint Review, which provides monthly insight into whether the project is creating valuable functionality - In the Product Backlog, which lists and prioritizes the project's requirements - Sprint Reports generated at the end of every Sprint.

The Agile Manifesto values what over following a plan?

Responding to change.

Describe the Scrum practice of Sashimi.

Sashimi stipulates that every slice of functionality created by developers is complete. That is, all requirements gathering and analysis, design work, coding, testing, and documentation that constitute the functionality are completed in the Sprint and demonstrated in the Sprint increment of functionality.

How can cost/benefit and assumptions data help guide a Scrum project?

Scrum is an empirical process, and cost/benefit and assumptions data can help guide its inspection-and-adaptation cycle.

Scrum uses what kind of process control? Why does it use this?

Scrum uses empirical process control because of the complexity of intermediate activities makes defined process control far less effective.

How does the Agile Manifesto define "simplicity"?

Simplicity - the art of maximizing the amount of work not done - is essential.

According to Scrum, what is the maximum length that a Sprint planning meeting is allowed to be? Why this limit?

Sprint planning meetings cannot exceed 8 hours, to avoid too much hand-wringing about what is possible.

The Agile Manifesto says that motivated individuals working on a project need what 3 things?

The 1., environment and 2., support they need, and 3., trust them to get the job done.

Name the 4 XP values.

The 4 XP values are Communication, Simplicity, Feedback, and Courage.

A Burndown Chart assists with what decision?

The Burndown Chart shows "collision" of the work done and how fast it's being done with what's planned or hoped for. The Product Owner can then decide to add or remove a functionality from the release - to get a more acceptable release date or to extend the release date to include more functionality.

What is the maximum duration allowed for a Daily Scrum?

The Daily Scrum lasts 15 minutes.

What is the process that should take place if an opportunity arises that is more important than the work selected by the Team for the Sprint?

The Product Owner and Team can terminate the Sprint and conduct a new Sprint Planning Meeting. Assuming the new opportunity is the top priority in the Product Backlog, it is selected for the upcoming Sprint.

What is the Product Owner responsible for doing with the Product Backlog?

The Product Owner is responsible for frequently prioritizing the Product Backlog to ensure that the most valuable functionality is produced first and built upon.

What are the Scrum Product Owner's responsibilities?

The Product Owner is responsible for representing the interests of everyone with a stake in the project and its resulting system.

Who is responsible for the contents, prioritization, and availability of the Product Backlog?

The Product Owner is responsible for the contents, prioritization, and availability of the Product Backlog.

What is the Product Owner's primary focus?

The Product Owner's primary focus is Return on Investment (ROI).

The Scrum Master fills the position normally occupied by ______________.

The Scrum Master fills the position normally occupied by the Project Manager.

What is the role of the Scrum Master?

The Scrum Master is responsible for the following: - Removing barriers between development and the Product Owner so that the Product Owner directly drives development. - Teach the Product Owner how to maximize ROI and meet the objectives through Scrum. - Improve the Team's life by facilitating creativity and empowerment. - Improve the Team's productivity in any way possible. - Improve engineering practices and tools so that each increment of functionality is potentially shippable. - Keep information about the team's progress up to date and visible to all parties.

The Scrum Master must walk a fine line between what 2 phenomena?

The Scrum Master must walk a fine line between the organization's need to make changes and its limited tolerance to change.

The Scrum Master protects the Team from what?

The Scrum Master protects the Team from outside interference during the Sprint.

The Scrum Planning Process involves resolving what 3 questions?

The Scrum planning process involves resolving the following 3 questions: 1. What can those funding the project expect to have when the project is finished? 2. What progress will have been made at the end of each Sprint? 3. Why should those funding the project believe that the project is a valuable investment, and why should they believe that the Team can deliver?

The Scrum term for the mechanism that coordinates multiple teams working on a single project is ________________.

The Scrum term for the mechanism that coordinates multiple teams working on a single project is Scrum of Scrums.

Describe the Sprint Backlog and the information it contains.

The Sprint Backlog contains the work that the Team defines for the part of the Product Backlog it selected for the Sprint into an increment of potentially shippable functionality.

What are the two segments of the Sprint Planning Meeting, and what are their time boxes?

The Sprint Planning Meeting consists of 1. Selecting priorities in the Product Backlog: 4 hours. 2. Preparing the Sprint Backlog: 4 hours.

A Sprint Report contains what information?

The Sprint Report contains a snapshot of the project's progress - specifically work done during the Spring just ended.

When does the Sprint Retrospective take place?

The Sprint Retrospective takes place after the Sprint Review and before the next Sprint Planning Meeting.

What is the maximum time box for the Sprint Review?

The Sprint Review is a 4-hour, time-boxed meeting.

What is the role of the Team in Scrum?

The Team is responsible for figuring out how to turn the Product Backlog into an increment of functionality within an iteration, and managing their own work to do so.

What are the 3 main characteristics of a Scrum Team?

The Team is self-managing, self-organizing, and cross-functional.

In Scrum, what does the project Vision describe?

The Vision describes - why the project is being undertaken - what the desired end state is.

What are the roles of the XP Coach?

The XP Coach - Helps the team stay on process - Helps the team to learn - Brings an outside perspective to help a team see themselves more clearly - Helps balance the needs of delivering the project while improving the use of the practices - Supports the Customer Team, the Developer Team, and the Organization - Makes decisions that always stem from the XP values: Communication, Simplicity, Feedback, and Courage.

What are the roles of the XP Customer?

The XP Customer is responsible for - Defining what is the right product to build - Determining the order in which features will be built - Making sure the product actually works - Writing system features in the form of user stories that have business value - Using the Planning Game to choose the order in which the stories will be done by the development team - Defining acceptance tests that will be run against the system to prove that it is reliable and does what is required.

What does the XP Tracker do?

The XP Tracker measures and communicates the team's progress. The three basic things the XP Tracker will track are - the release plan (user stories) - the iteration plan (tasks) - the acceptance tests. The tracker may also keep track of other metrics that help in solving problems the team is having. A good XP Tracker has the ability to collect the information without disturbing the process significantly.

According to the Agile Manifesto, what emerges from self-organizing teams?

The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.

What is the desired end-product of a Sprint?

The end product of a Sprint is an Increment of Potentially Shippable Product Functionality.

Scrum moves control from central authority to what?

The individual teams doing the work.

What 2 things comprise the minimum plan necessary to start a Scrum project?

The minimum plan necessary to start a Scrum project consists of - A vision - A product backlog

According to Ken Schwaber, in Agile Project Management With SCRUM, what is likely to break down the more complex a system becomes?

The more complex the system, the more likely it is that central control systems will break down.

What is the purpose of the Daily Scrum?

The purpose of the Daily Scrum is the following: 1. To synchronize the work of all Team members daily. 2. To identify any meetings that need to take place in order for the Team to keep progressing.

Because the Product Owner may decide to ship an increment of functionality at the conclusion of a Sprint, what must the team ensure has taken place during the Sprint?

The team must ensure that 1. The increment of functionality consists of thoroughly tested, well structured, well written code that has been built into an executable. 2. The user operation of the functionality is documented.

How many different roles are there in Scrum? Name them.

There are only 3 Scrum roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Team.

What is the Agile Manifesto's highest priority?

To satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.

What are the 4 main activities that constitute the empirical inspection and adaptation practices of Scrum?

Together, the Sprint Planning Meeting, the Daily Scrum, the Sprint Review, and the Sprint Retrospective constitute the empirical inspection and adaptation practices of Scrum.

True or False: Rule changes in Scrum should originate from the Team.

True. Scrum Teams are self-managing. Rule changes should not originate from management.

What are the three "legs" that hold up every implementation of empirical process control?

Visibility, inspection, and adaptation.

According to the Agile Manifesto, what is the primary measure of progress?

Working software is the primary measure of progress.

The Agile Manifesto values what over comprehensive documentation?

Working software.