Grand Question Bank
How do Sprints enable predictability?
By ensuring inspection and adaptation of progress toward a Sprint Goal at least every calendar month. Sprints also limit risk to one calendar month of cost.
What does the Scrum framework consist of and what does each component do?
Scrum 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.
• Topic One: What can be done this Sprint? Who chooses the number of items selected from the Product Backlog?
The Dev. Team because only they can assess what it can accomplish over the upcoming Sprint
• Topic Two: How will the chosen work get done? Who decides how "Done" product increment during the Sprint will be built and when is this decided?
The Dev. Team decides this after setting the Sprint Goal and selecting the Product Backlog items for the Sprint.
• Topic One: What can be done this Sprint? What are the input to this meeting? (Sprint Planning)
The Product Backlog The latest product increment Project capacity of the Dev. Team during the Sprint Past performance of the Dev. Team
Who has the ability to cancel the Sprint?
The Product Owner
Who ensures that the Sprint Planning session takes place and understands its purpose?
The Scrum Master
What is the heart of Scrum?
The Sprint
Who might influence the Product Owner to cancel the Sprint?
The stakeholders, the Development Team, or the Scrum Master.
The Product Owner may manage the backlog or have the Development Team do it
True. They can pass off the responsibility to the Dev. Team, but they still remain accountable.
Why are Sprints limited to 1 calendar month?
When a Sprint's horizon is too long the definition of what is being built may change, complexity may rise, and risk may increase.
Can a Sprint be canceled before the Sprint time-box is over?
Yes
• Topic Two: How will the chosen work get done? Can the Dev. Team invite other people to attend the Sprint Planning session?
Yes, they may do this in order to provide technical or domain advice
• What are the 3 Sprint Artifacts and what do they do?
o 1) Product Backlog o 2) Sprint Backlog o 3) Increment o Scrum's artifacts represent work or value to provide transparency and opportunities for inspection and adaptation. They are specifically designed to maximize transparency of key information so that everybody has the same understanding of the artifact.
• Who attends the Sprint Review?
o Attendees include the Scrum Team and key stakeholders invited by the Product Owner
• Who is responsible for the Product Backlog?
o The Product Owner is responsible for the Product Backlog, including its content, availability, and ordering.
• What is a Scrum Master and what do they do?
- They are the person responsible for ensuring that Scrum is understood and enacted by ensuring that the Scrum Team adheres to Scrum theory, practices, and rituals. - They are a servant-leader for the Scrum Team. - They also help those outside of the Scrum Team understand which of their interactions with the Scrum Team are helpful and which aren't. - They help everyone change these interactions with the Scrum Team to maximize the value created by the Scrum Team.
Sprints are limited to what?
1 calendar month
What is Scrum? (3 things):
1) Lightweight 2) Simple to understand 3) Difficult to master
During the Sprint:
1) No changes are made that would endanger the Sprint Goal 2) Quality goals do not decrease 3) Scope may be classified and renogtiated between the Product Owner and Dev. Team as more is learned.
What do Sprints contain and consist of?
1) Sprint Planning 2) Daily Scrums 3) The development work 4) Sprint Review 5) Sprint Retrospective
• How does the Scrum Master serve the Development Team?
1) They coach them in self-organization and cross-functionality 2) They help them create high-value products 3) They remove impediments to their progress 4) They facilitate scrum events as requested or needed 5) They coach them in organization environments in which Scrum is not yet fully adapted and understood
• How does the Scrum Master serve the Product Owner?
1) They help them find techniques for effective Product Backlog management 2) They help the Scrum Team understand the need for clear and concise Product Backlog management. 3) They help the Product Owner understand product planning in an empirical environment 4) They help ensure that the Product Owner knows how to arrange the Product Backlog to maximize value 5) They help the Product Owner understand and practice agility 6) They facilitate Scrum Events as requested or needed
• How does the Scrum Master serve the Organization?
1) They lead and coach the organization in its Scrum adoption 2) They plan Scrum implementations within the organization 3) They help employees and stakeholders understand and enact Scrum and empirical product development 4) They cause change that increases the productivity of the Scrum Team 5) They work with other Scrum Masters to increase the effectiveness of the application of Scrum in the organization
What 2 questions does the Sprint Planning session answer?
1) What can be delivered in the Increment resulting from the upcoming Sprint? 2) How will the work needed to deliver the Increment be achieved?
What is discussed by the Dev. Team members during the daily Scrum? (3)
1) What did I do yesterday that helped the Development Team meet the Sprint Goal? 2) What will I do today to help the Development Team meet the Sprint Goal? 3) Do I see any impediment that prevents me or the Development Team from meeting the Sprint Goal?
When should a Sprint be cancelled?
A Sprint should be cancelled if it no longer makes sense given the circumstances. But, due to the short duration of Sprints, cancellation rarely makes sense.
Each Sprint has what?
A definition of what is to be built A design A flexible plan that will guide building it, the work, and the resultant product
What is the definition of Scrum?
A framework within which people can address complex adaptive problems, while productively and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value.
• Topic One: What can be done this Sprint? Who crafts the Sprint Goal and when?
After the Development Team forecasts the Product Backlog items it will deliver in the Sprint, the Scrum Team crafts a Sprint Goal.
Is the Sprint Review informal or formal?
Informal
What is scrum not? (2 things, but it is 1 thing):
It is not a process or technique but it is a framework
Why would a Sprint be cancelled and why might this occur?
It would be cancelled if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete. This might occur if the company changes direction or if market or technology conditions change.
Is the Sprint Review a status meeting?
No
• Topic One: What can be done this Sprint? What is the Sprint Goal?
The Sprint Goal is an objective that will be met within the Sprint through the implementation of the Product Backlog, and it provides guidance to the Development Team on why it is building the Increment.
What does Scrum make clear?
The relative efficacy of your product management and development practices so that you can improve.
What do the rules of Scrum do?
The rules of Scrum bind together the events, roles, and artifacts, governing the relationships and interactions between them.
What is Sprint Planning?
The work to be performed in the Sprint is planned at the Sprint Planning. This plan is created by the collaborative work of the entire Scrum Team.
• Topic Two: How will the chosen work get done? If the Dev. Team determines that it has too much or too little work, what can they do?
They can renegotiate the selected Product Backlog items with the Product Owner
Topic One: What can be done this Sprint? What does the entire Scrum team do?
They collaborate on understanding the work on the Sprint.
What do Sprint cancellations do and why?
They consume resources because everyone has to regroup in another Sprint Planning to start another Sprint. They are often traumatic and very uncommon.
Topic One: What can be done this Sprint? What does the Product owner do?
They discuss the objective that the Sprint should achieve and the Product Backlog items that, if completed in the Sprint, would achieve the Sprint Goal.
Topic One: What can be done this Sprint? What does the Development Team do?
They forecast the functionality that will be developed during the Sprint.
• Topic Two: How will the chosen work get done? By the end of Sprint Planning, what should the Dev. Team be able to explain?
They should be able to explain to the Product Owner and Scrum Master how it intends to work as a self-organizing team to accomplish the Sprint Goal and create the anticipated increment.
How long does a Sprint Planning session last?
Time-boxed to a maximum of eight hours for a one-month Sprint. For shorter Sprints, the event is usually shorter.
• Why are prescribed events used in Scrum?
To create regularity and to minimize the need for meetings not defined in Scrum
A new Sprint starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous Sprint?:
True
All events are time-boxed events, such that every event has a maximum duration.
True
Once a Sprint begins, its duration is fixed and cannot be shortened or lengthened.
True
• True or False: Only members of the Dev. Team create the Increment.
True
• True or False: The Product Owner is one person, not a committee and they may represent the desires of a committee in the Product Backlog, but those wanting to change a Product Backlog item's priority must address the Product Owner
True
• Product Backlog management by the Product Owner includes (5):
o 1) Clearly expressing Product Backlog items o 2) Ordering the items in the Product Backlog to best achieve goals and missions o 3) Optimizing the value of work the Development Team performs o 4) Ensuring that the Product Backlog is visible, transparent, and clear to all, and shows that the Scrum Team will work on next o 5) Ensuring that the Dev. Team understands items in the Product Backlog to the level needed
• What are the 5 values of Scrum?
o 1) Commitment o 2) Courage o 3) Focus o 4) Openness o 5) Respect
• What is the purpose of the Sprint Retro? (3):
o 1) Inspect how the last Sprint went with regards to people, relationships, process, and tools o 2) Identify and order the major items that went well and potential improvements o 3) Create a plan for implementing improvements to the way the Scrum Team does its work
• 3 Pillars of Empirical Process: What are the 4 formal events that Scrum prescribes for inspection and adaptation?
o 1) Sprint Planning o 2) Daily Scrum o 3) Sprint Review o 4) Sprint Retrospective
What is a Daily Scrum?
o A 15-minute time-boxed event for the Dev. Team to synchronize activities and create a plan for the next 24 hours.
• What is the result of the Sprint Review?
o A revised Product Backlog that defines the probable Product Backlog items for the next Sprint. o The Product Backlog may also be adjusted overall to meet new opportunities.
What is a Sprint?
o A time-box of one month or less during which a "Done," usable, and potentially releasable product Increment is created. o Sprints best have consistent duration throughout a development effort.
When is the Sprint Goal created?
o During the Sprint Planning session
•What is a Sprint Review and when is it held?
o During the Sprint Review, the Scrum Team and stakeholders collaborate about what was done in the Sprint. o Based on that and any changes to the Product Backlog during the Sprint, attendees collaborate on the next things that could be done to optimize value.
• 3 Pillars of Empirical Process: When does adaptation occur and why?
o If an inspector determines that one or more aspects of the process deviate outside acceptable limits, and that the resulting product will be unacceptable, the process or the material being processed must be adjusted and it must be made as soon as possible
What are the benefits of Daily Scrums?
o Improve communications o Eliminate other meetings o Identify impediments to development for removal o Highlight and promote quick decision-making o Improve the Development Team's level of knowledge
Each event in Scrum besides the Sprint itself is an opportunity to __________
o Inspect and adapt something
What is Empiricism?
o It asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is known.
• What do incremental deliveries of "done" product ensure?
o It ensures that a potentially useful version of a working product is always available.
• What is the team model in Scrum designed to do?
o It is designed to optimize flexibility, creativity, and productivity.
When is the Daily Scrum held?
o It is held at the same time and place each day to reduce complexity.
What is the presentation of the Increment during the Sprint Review intended to do?
o It is intended to elicit feedback and foster collaboration.
When the purpose of the event is achieved, the remaining events _________
o May end so that an appropriate amount of time is spent without allowing waste in the process.
• Is the Product Backlog ever complete?
o No, it is never complete.
• Who does the Scrum consist of?
o Product Owner o Development Team o Scrum Master
Failure to include any of the Sprint events may result in what?
o Reduced transparency and a lost opportunity to inspect and adapt.
• 3 Pillars of Empirical Process: What does inspection mean?
o Scrum users must frequently inspect Scrum artifacts and progress toward a Sprint Goal to detect undesirable variances. Inspection should not be so frequent that inspection gets in the way of work.
• 3 Pillars of Empirical Process: What does transparency mean?
o Significant aspects of the process must be visible to those responsible for the outcome.
• What is the optimal Development Team size?
o Small enough to remain nimble and large enough to complete significant work within a Sprint. o Between 3-9 team members o The Product Owner and Scrum Master roles are not included in this count unless they are also executing the work of the Sprint Backlog.
• Who does the Development Team consist of?
o The Dev. Team consists of professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable increment of "Done" product at the end of each sprint.
Who is responsible for the Daily Scrum?
o The Dev. Team is responsible for conducting the Daily Scrum o The Scrum Master must only insure that it is completed
Why do we use the Daily Scrum?
o The Development Team uses the Daily Scrum to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and to inspect how progress is trending toward completing the work in the Sprint Backlog o The Daily Scrum optimizes the probability that the Development Team will meet the Sprint Goal.
• What is a Product Backlog?
o 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. It is a living artifact.
• What are the events of the Sprint Review? (7)
o The Product Owner explains what Product Backlog items have been "Done" and what has not been "Done"; o The Development Team discusses what went well during the Sprint, what problems it ran into, and how those problems were solved; o The Development Team demonstrates the work that it has "Done" and answers questions about the Increment; o The Product Owner discusses the Product Backlog as it stands. He or she projects likely completion dates based on progress to date (if needed); o The entire group collaborates on what to do next, so that the Sprint Review provides valuable input to subsequent Sprint Planning; o Review of how the marketplace or potential use of the product might have changed what is the most valuable thing to do next; and, o Review of the timeline, budget, potential capabilities, and marketplace for the next anticipated release of the product.
Who enforces the rule that only Development Team members participate in the Daily Scrum?
o The Scrum Master
• Who ensures that the Sprint Retro takes place?
o The Scrum Master ensures that the event takes place
Who ensures that Sprint Reviews take place?
o The Scrum Master ensures that the event takes place and that attendants understand its purpose. o The Scrum Master teaches all to keep it within the time-box.
• By the end of the Sprint Retro, what should the Scrum Team have done?
o The Scrum Team should have identified improvements that it will implement in the next Sprint. o Implementing these improvements in the next Sprint is the adaptation to the inspection of the Scrum Team itself. o Although improvements may be implemented at any time, the Sprint Retrospective provides a formal opportunity to focus on inspection and adaptation.
• What is a Sprint Retrospective?
o 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.
• When does a Sprint Retro occur?
o The Sprint Retrospective occurs after the Sprint Review and prior to the next Sprint Planning.
How is the Daily Scrum completed?
o The work since the last day is inspected o The work for the next day is forecasted
• What is the Product Owner responsible for? (2):
o They are responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Dev. Team. o They are the sole person responsible for managing the Product Backlog.
• What is a self-organizing team?
o They choose how best to accomplish their work, rather than being directed by others outside of the team.
• How do Scrum teams deliver product and why do they do that?
o They deliver products iteratively and incrementally so that they can maximize opportunities for feedback.
• How does Scrum optimize predictability and control risk?
o They do this by employing an iterative, incremental approach.
• What are cross-functional teams?
o They have all competencies needed to accomplish the work without depending on others not part of the team.
If the work of the Sprint Goal turns out to be different than the Dev. Team expected, what can they do?
o They may collaborate with the Product Owner to negotiate the scope of the Sprint Backlog within the Sprint
• What does the Scrum Team do during each Sprint Retro?
o They plan a way to increase product quality by adapting the definition of "Done" as appropriate
• What does the Scrum Master do during the Sprint Retro?
o They teach all to keep it within the time-box o They participate as a peer team member in the meeting from the accountability over the Scrum process
How long do Sprint Reviews last?
o This is a four-hour time-boxed meeting for one-month Sprints. o For shorter Sprints, the event is usually shorter.
• How long does the Sprint Retro last?
o This is a three-hour time-boxed meeting for one-month Sprints. o For shorter Sprints, the event is usually shorter.
• What are the 3 pillars that uphold the empirical process?
o Transparency o Inspection o Adaptation
• 3 Pillars of Empirical Process: What does transparency require?
o Transparency requires those aspects be defined by a common standard so observers share a common understanding of what is being seen.
• 3 Pillars of Empirical Process: When is inspection most beneficial?
o When it is diligently performed by skilled inspectors at the point of work.
