Answering: “How should Product Backlog items be chosen when multiple Scrum Teams work from the same Product Backlog?” (PSM I)

When several Scrum Teams share one Product Backlog, the Developers pull work in agreement with the Product Owner. Nobody pushes work onto teams, and there is no formula for splitting it.

Exam Question

How should Product Backlog items be chosen when multiple Scrum Teams work from the same Product Backlog? (choose the best answer)

• A. The Developers pull in work in agreement with the Product Owner.
• B. The Product Owner should provide each team with its own Product Backlog.
• C. Each Scrum Team takes an equal number of items.
• D. The Product Owner decides.
• E. The Scrum Team with the highest velocity pulls Product Backlog items first.

Correct Answer

A. The Developers pull in work in agreement with the Product Owner.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

Sprint Planning works the same way with one team or many. The Scrum Guide says that “Through discussion with the Product Owner, the Developers select items from the Product Backlog to include in the current Sprint.” The Product Owner brings the order and the value view. The Developers bring what they know about their capacity, skills and dependencies. With several teams, they also need to talk to each other so the work fits together into one integrated Increment. Pulling work this way respects self-management while keeping the Product Owner’s ordering in charge of what matters most.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

B. The Product Owner gives each team its own Product Backlog. One product has one Product Backlog. Separate backlogs fragment ordering and hide the full picture.

C. Each team takes an equal number of items. Items differ in size and value. Equal counts ignore both and ignore team capacity.

D. The Product Owner decides. The Product Owner orders the backlog, but the Developers select what they can do in the Sprint. Pushing work removes their ownership of the forecast.

E. The team with the highest velocity pulls first. Velocity is not comparable across teams. Using it this way creates competition and gaming.

Exam Tip

“Pull” and “in agreement with the Product Owner” together are a strong signal. Options where one person pushes work, or where a fixed formula splits it, are usually wrong.

Key Takeaways

• Many teams on one product still share one Product Backlog.
• Developers select work in discussion with the Product Owner.
• Velocity is not a basis for comparing or ranking teams.