Answering: “In accordance with Scrum theory, how should a group of 100 people be divided into multiple Scrum Teams?” (PSM I)

The 100 people should divide themselves into teams once they understand the product, its vision and the rules of Scrum. Assignment by a department, a skills matrix or rotation all take the decision away from the people who will do the work.

Exam Question

In accordance with Scrum theory, how should a group of 100 people be divided into multiple Scrum Teams? (choose the best answer)

• A. Check with the allocation department to see who has worked together before and make these the first teams.
• B. Understanding the product, the product vision and the rules of the Scrum framework, the people divide themselves into teams.
• C. Create a matrix of skills, seniority, and level of experience to assign people to teams.
• D. It does not matter since you can rotate the teams every Sprint to spread knowledge.

Correct Answer

B. Understanding the product, the product vision and the rules of the Scrum framework, the people divide themselves into teams.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

Scrum Teams are self-managing and cross-functional. Self-organizing into teams is one of the first places that principle shows up. The people who will build the product know their own skills and working relationships best. With a clear view of the product and its vision, they can form teams that each have “all the skills necessary to create value each Sprint.” The Scrum Guide also notes that teams which grow too large should reorganize into multiple cohesive Scrum Teams that share the same Product Goal, Product Backlog and Product Owner, so the shared product context matters.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. Have the allocation department pick people who have worked together before. Past collaboration might help, but a central department deciding team makeup removes self-management and may ignore skills the product needs.

C. Use a matrix of skills, seniority and experience to assign people. This is a top-down assignment. The people doing the work are better placed to judge how to form effective teams.

D. It does not matter because teams can rotate every Sprint. Rotating teams every Sprint prevents them from building trust and effectiveness. Stable teams learn and improve over time.

Exam Tip

Questions about forming teams almost always favor self-organization with a shared understanding of the product, over assignment by managers or departments.

Key Takeaways

• People forming teams should understand the product and its vision first.
• Self-selection respects the self-managing nature of Scrum.
• Stable teams improve over time, so constant rotation hurts.