Answering: “User documentation is part of your Definition of Done. However, there are not enough technical writers for all teams. Your Scrum Team does not have a Technical Writer. What should the Scrum Team do?” (PSM I)

The Developers on the Scrum Team should write the user documentation. If it is in the Definition of Done, the team must deliver it every Sprint, whether or not it has a technical writer.

Exam Question

User documentation is part of your Definition of Done. However, there are not enough technical writers for all teams. Your Scrum Team does not have a Technical Writer. What should the Scrum Team do? (choose the best answer)

• A. Form a separate team of technical writers that will work on an on-demand basis for the various Product Owners. Work order will be first in, first out.
• B. The Developers on the Scrum Team should write the user documentation.
• C. Wait until you have a technical writer on your Scrum Team to take care of this.
• D. Let the user documentation remain undone and accumulate until after the last development Sprint. It will be then done by any available technical writers.

Correct Answer

B. The Developers on the Scrum Team should write the user documentation.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

The Scrum Guide says Scrum Teams are cross-functional, with “all the skills necessary to create value each Sprint,” and it treats anyone who creates part of the Increment as a Developer. Since documentation is part of the Definition of Done, an item without it is not done. The team cannot wait for a specialist or push the work to later. The Developers either write it themselves or build the skill over time. Doing so keeps each Increment complete and avoids a growing pile of undone work.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. Form a separate team of technical writers working first in, first out. A separate service team creates queues and hand-offs, so items wait and are not done within the Sprint.

C. Wait until a technical writer joins the team. Waiting leaves every item undone in the meantime, since documentation is part of the Definition of Done.

D. Let documentation pile up until after the last Sprint. This builds undone work and hides the real state of the product. Every Increment must meet the Definition of Done.

Exam Tip

If something is in the Definition of Done, the Scrum Team does it every Sprint. Options that delay it or hand it to another group are wrong.

Key Takeaways

• Anything in the Definition of Done must be done every Sprint.
• Cross-functional teams cover the skills they need, including writing.
• Separate specialist teams create queues and hidden work.