Answering: “Five new Scrum Teams have been created to build one product. A few of the Developers on one of the Scrum Teams ask the Scrum Master how to coordinate their work with the other teams. What should the Scrum Master do?” (PSPO I)

Coordinating Work Among Multiple Scrum Teams

When multiple Scrum Teams are working on the same product, coordination becomes essential to ensure a cohesive and integrated Increment. This article explores the role of the Scrum Master in facilitating this coordination.

Exam Question

Five new Scrum Teams have been created to build one product. A few of the Developers on one of the Scrum Teams ask the Scrum Master how to coordinate their work with the other teams. What should the Scrum Master do?
(choose the best answer)
A. Teach them that it is their responsibility to work with the other teams to create an integrated Increment that is inclusive of all five team’s work.
B. Visit the five teams each day to inspect that their Sprint Backlogs are aligned.
C. Teach the Product Owner to work with the lead developers on ordering Product Backlog in a way to avoid too much overlap during a Sprint.
D. Collect the Sprint tasks from the teams at the end of their Sprint Planning and merge that into a consolidated plan for the entire Sprint.

Correct Answer

A. Teach them that it is their responsibility to work with the other teams to create an integrated Increment that is inclusive of all five team’s work.

Explanation

Correct Answer

A. Teach them that it is their responsibility to work with the other teams to create an integrated Increment that is inclusive of all five team’s work:
Scrum promotes self-management and cross-team collaboration. The Developers on each Scrum Team are responsible for coordinating with other teams to ensure that their work integrates into a single, cohesive Increment by the end of each Sprint. Because they are the ones doing the work, they have the best understanding of what needs to be done and how to integrate their work with each other.

Incorrect Answers

B. Visit the five teams each day to inspect that their Sprint Backlogs are aligned: This approach undermines the self-managing nature of Scrum Teams. The Scrum Master should facilitate coordination rather than micromanage the teams.

C. Teach the Product Owner to work with the lead developers on ordering Product Backlog in a way to avoid too much overlap during a Sprint: While the Product Owner is responsible for ordering the Product Backlog, the focus should be on maximizing value rather than solely avoiding overlap. Coordination should be a collaborative effort among the Scrum Teams.

D. Collect the Sprint tasks from the teams at the end of their Sprint Planning and merge that into a consolidated plan for the entire Sprint: This contradicts the principle of self-management. Each Scrum Team should manage its own Sprint Backlog while coordinating with other teams as needed.

Responsibilities in Scrum

• Product Owner: The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product by ordering the Product Backlog. They ensure that the work aligns with the product vision and stakeholder needs.
• Scrum Master: The Scrum Master facilitates coordination among Scrum Teams, ensuring that they work together to deliver an integrated Increment. They coach the teams on effective collaboration and self-management.
• Developers: The Developers are responsible for creating an integrated Increment. They collaborate with other teams to ensure their work aligns and integrates well with the work of other Scrum Teams. Because they are the ones doing the work, they are the ones that have the best understanding of what needs to be done and how to integrate their work with each other.

Relevance to the PSPO I Exam

Understanding the coordination among multiple Scrum Teams is crucial for the PSPO I exam. This knowledge ensures that candidates appreciate the importance of collaboration, self-management, and delivering integrated Increments in a multi-team environment.

Key Takeaways

• Scrum Teams are self-managing and responsible for coordinating their work with other teams.
• The Product Owner orders the Product Backlog to maximize value, not just to avoid overlap.
• The Scrum Master facilitates coordination and ensures effective collaboration among teams.
• Developers work collaboratively to deliver an integrated Increment each Sprint.

Conclusion

Effective coordination among multiple Scrum Teams is essential for delivering integrated Increments. By fostering self-management and collaboration, Scrum Teams can ensure that their work aligns and integrates well, resulting in a cohesive product.