Scrum SPS Exam Questions

PBI 2 is the most concerning because it involves a cross-team dependency within the same Sprint, which can create challenges and risks for the integration and delivery of the product increment. According to the Online Nexus Guide1, dependencies should be minimized or eliminated as much as possible, and if they exist, they should be made transparent and resolved as early as possible. Cross-team dependencies within the same Sprint can cause delays, conflicts, rework, and waste, and reduce the quality and value of the product increment 234.

The other answers are not correct for the following reasons:

A . PBI 2, because it has the most dependencies. This answer is not accurate because PBI 2 does not have the most dependencies, but only one dependency with PBI 1 from Team Red. PBI 3 has the most dependencies, as it depends on PBI 1, PBI 2, and PBI 4. However, PBI 3 is not as concerning as PBI 2, because its dependencies are not within the same Sprint, but across different Sprints. This means that PBI 3 can be refined and planned in advance, and the teams can coordinate and communicate their work more effectively 5.

B . PBI 1, because it is on the top of the Product Backlog. This answer is not relevant because the position of PBI 1 on the Product Backlog does not indicate its level of concern, but its priority and value. The Product Backlog is ordered by the Product Owner based on various factors, such as business value, risk, complexity, and dependencies. PBI 1 may be on the top of the Product Backlog because it is the most valuable or urgent item, or because it is a prerequisite for other items, but it is not necessarily the most concerning item 6.

C . PBI 1, because it is the first piece of work with a dependency. This answer is not true because PBI 1 is not the first piece of work with a dependency, but the first piece of work that other items depend on. PBI 1 does not have any dependencies itself, but it creates dependencies for PBI 2, PBI 3, and PBI 5. Therefore, PBI 1 is not as concerning as PBI 2, because it does not depend on any other item, and it can be completed independently by Team Red 5.

The Nexus framework is a way of scaling Scrum for multiple teams working on a single product. The Nexus framework uses Scrum as its building block and extends it only where necessary to minimize and manage dependencies between teams 12. The Nexus framework defines the accountabilities, events, and artifacts that bind and weave together the work of the teams in a Nexus 12. One of the key roles in the Nexus framework is the Nexus Integration Team, which is a team of people who are responsible for coordinating, coaching, and supervising the integration of the work done by the Scrum Teams in the Nexus 21.

The purpose of the Nexus Integration Team is to:

Raise transparency. This is answer A. This is a valid answer because the Nexus Integration Team is responsible for raising transparency across the Nexus 213. Transparency is one of the pillars of empiricism, which is the principle of making decisions based on observation, inspection, and adaptation 12. The Nexus Integration Team helps to raise transparency by facilitating the Nexus events, such as the Nexus Sprint Planning, the Nexus Daily Scrum, the Nexus Sprint Review, and the Nexus Sprint Retrospective 213. The Nexus Integration Team also helps to raise transparency by visualizing the Nexus Sprint Backlog, which is a representation of the work across the Nexus that has dependencies 213. The Nexus Integration Team also helps to raise transparency by communicating and collaborating with the stakeholders, the Product Owner, and the Scrum Teams 213.

Be accountable that an Integrated Increment is produced. This is answer C. This is a valid answer because the Nexus Integration Team is accountable that an Integrated Increment is produced 214. The Integrated Increment is the integrated aggregation of all work completed by all the Scrum Teams in a Nexus 124. The Integrated Increment is the potentially releasable outcome of the Sprint, which means it meets the quality standards and expectations of the stakeholders 124. The Nexus Integration Team is accountable that an Integrated Increment is produced by ensuring that the work done by the Scrum Teams meets the Definition of Done, which is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product 214. The Nexus Integration Team is also accountable that an Integrated Increment is produced by helping the Scrum Teams to identify and resolve any integration issues or dependencies that may affect the quality and delivery of the product 214.

The other two answers are not correct because:

Manage the Nexus. This is answer B. This is not a valid answer because the Nexus Integration Team is not the manager of the Nexus. The Nexus Integration Team is a role that consists of the Scrum Master, the Product Owner, and other members who are responsible for coordinating, coaching, and supervising the integration of the work done by the Scrum Teams in the Nexus 211. The Nexus Integration Team does not manage or control the Nexus, but rather supports and enables the Nexus 211. The Nexus is self-organizing and autonomous, which means it decides how to do its work and what work to do 124.

Integrate the work of the Scrum Teams. This is answer D. This is not a valid answer because the Nexus Integration Team is not the one who integrates the work of the Scrum Teams. The Nexus Integration Team is a role that consists of the Scrum Master, the Product Owner, and other members who are responsible for coordinating, coaching, and supervising the integration of the work done by the Scrum Teams in the Nexus 211. The Nexus Integration Team facilitates the integration of the work, but does not do it for the teams 211. The teams are responsible for integrating their own work and delivering a potentially releasable Increment of product value in each Sprint 124.

Creating a communication plan is not enough to fully address the coordination challenges that arise when many Scrum Teams work on the same product. A communication plan is a document that outlines the objectives, methods, channels, and frequency of communication among the stakeholders of a project or product 1. While a communication plan is useful for ensuring clarity, transparency, and alignment among the Scrum Teams and other parties involved, it does not address other aspects of coordination, such as integration, dependency management, alignment of goals and vision, and cross-team collaboration 2.

To effectively coordinate multiple Scrum Teams working on the same product, a communication plan should be complemented by other practices and frameworks, such as:

Nexus: Nexus is a framework for scaling Scrum that consists of three to nine Scrum Teams working together to deliver an Integrated Increment every Sprint 3. Nexus provides roles, events, artifacts, and rules that help the Scrum Teams coordinate, integrate, and align their work, while maintaining the Scrum values and principles 4.

Scrum of Scrums: Scrum of Scrums is a technique for scaling Scrum that involves a regular meeting of representatives from each Scrum Team to share progress, identify dependencies, resolve issues, and align on the product vision and goal . Scrum of Scrums helps the Scrum Teams communicate and collaborate effectively, while minimizing the overhead and complexity of coordination .

Communities of Practice: Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a common interest, skill, or domain, and who meet regularly to exchange knowledge, ideas, and best practices . Communities of Practice help the Scrum Teams learn from each other, improve their skills, and foster a culture of continuous improvement .

The best remedy for this situation is to ensure that all Scrum Teams understand the Nexus Sprint Goal. The Nexus Sprint Goal is a commitment that describes the purpose that will be achieved by the Nexus during the Sprint. It aligns with the Product Goal and provides coherence and focus for the work of the Scrum Teams. By understanding the Nexus Sprint Goal, the Scrum Teams can see how their work contributes to the product's progress and value delivery 1234.

The other answers are not effective for this situation because:

A . During Nexus Sprint Planning, have all the teams plan the Sprint together in one room, so they can see what other teams are working on. This answer is not sufficient because it does not address the root cause of the problem, which is the lack of a clear and shared purpose for the Sprint. Having all the teams plan the Sprint together may help them coordinate their work and identify dependencies, but it does not necessarily help them understand how their work relates to the product's progress and value.

C . Ask the Scrum Master to explain to the teams that the Product Owner can choose which features to work on, as she has the final say. This answer is not helpful because it does not foster collaboration and alignment among the Scrum Teams. It also undermines the self-organization and empowerment of the Scrum Teams, and reduces their ownership and accountability for the work. The Product Owner is responsible for managing and ordering the Product Backlog, but the Scrum Teams are responsible for selecting and delivering the work for the Sprint.

D . During Nexus Sprint Planning, ask each Scrum Team to create a Sprint Goal that describes the purpose of the Sprint. This answer is not optimal because it does not ensure that the Scrum Teams have a common objective and direction for the Sprint. Each Scrum Team may have a different Sprint Goal that may or may not align with the Nexus Sprint Goal and the Product Goal. This may lead to confusion, inconsistency, and sub-optimization of the product delivery.

The best option for how Product Ownership might be structured in a company with five products is to have one Product Owner responsible for each product or one Product Owner responsible for all five products. Both of these options are consistent with the Scrum Guide, which states that the Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team 11. The Product Owner may delegate work as needed, but they remain accountable for the value delivered. The Product Owner also provides clarity to the team about the product vision, goal, and backlog 11.

The other options are not advisable for the following reasons:

Assigning as many Product Owners as needed to communicate expectations and requirements to the Scrum Team is not a good idea, as it would create confusion, inconsistency, and conflict among the Product Owners and the Scrum Team. The Scrum Guide states that the Product Owner is one person, not a committee 11. Having multiple Product Owners for one product would compromise the transparency, the alignment, and the decision-making of the Scrum Team.

Having one primary Product Owner and one Product Owner for each product is also not a good idea, as it would create a hierarchy and a dependency among the Product Owners. The primary Product Owner would have too much authority and responsibility, while the Product Owners for each product would have too little. This would undermine the accountability, the collaboration, and the empowerment of the Product Owners and the Scrum Teams.