The Developers decide how many Product Backlog items to select for the Sprint. The Product Owner discusses the options with them, but the amount of work is the Developers’ call.
Exam Question
Who determines how many Product Backlog items the Developers select for a Sprint?
(choose the best answer)
A. The Scrum Master.
B. The Product Owner.
C. The Developers.
D. The Scrum Team.
E. The stakeholders attending Sprint Planning.
Correct Answer
C. The Developers.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
In Sprint Planning, the Developers select items from the Product Backlog through discussion with the Product Owner. The Scrum Guide notes that choosing how much can be completed may be challenging. It adds that the more the Developers know about their past performance, upcoming capacity and Definition of Done, the more confident they will be in their forecasts. Only the people doing the work can judge how much fits. The Product Owner influences which items are most valuable and helps clarify them, and the Scrum Master may facilitate. Stakeholders do not set the amount, because that would remove ownership from the Developers and lead to unrealistic plans.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
A. The Scrum Master. The Scrum Master may facilitate Sprint Planning but does not decide the amount of work.
B. The Product Owner. The Product Owner proposes value and order, not how much the Developers can complete.
D. The Scrum Team. The whole team collaborates in planning, but the decision on volume belongs to the Developers specifically.
E. The stakeholders attending Sprint Planning. Stakeholders may be invited for advice, but they do not determine the Developers’ workload.
Exam Tip
Separate “which” from “how many.” The Product Owner shapes which items are most valuable, but the Developers decide how many they can take on.
Key Takeaways
- The Developers decide how much work to select.
- Past performance, capacity and the Definition of Done inform the forecast.
- The Product Owner shapes value; the Developers judge capacity.
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