Answering: “What are three ways Scrum promotes self-management?” (PSM I)

Scrum promotes self-management by letting the Scrum Team decide what work to do in a Sprint, by staying a lightweight framework, and by removing titles and hierarchy within the team. A Scrum Master shielding the team from interruptions helps focus, not self-management.

Exam Question

What are three ways Scrum promotes self-management? (choose the best three answers)

• A. By the Scrum Team deciding what work to do in a Sprint.
• B. By having the Scrum Master protect the Scrum Team from interruptions.
• C. By being a lightweight framework.
• D. By removing titles for Scrum Team members.

Correct Answer

A, C and D.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

The Scrum Guide calls Scrum a lightweight framework and says it is “purposefully incomplete”, leaving room for the people doing the work to fill in the details. The team decides much of what goes into a Sprint, since the Developers select items with the Product Owner and the whole team shapes the Sprint Goal. The Guide also says that within a Scrum Team “there are no sub-teams or hierarchies.” Without titles that rank people, the team shares responsibility for the work. Each of these pushes decisions to the team rather than to a manager or a detailed process.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

B. The Scrum Master protects the team from interruptions. This can help the team focus, but it is a service the Scrum Master provides, not a way the team manages itself.

Exam Tip

For self-management questions, look for options that move decisions into the team. Options where someone else acts on the team’s behalf are usually wrong.

Key Takeaways

• A lightweight framework leaves room for team decisions.
• No titles or hierarchy inside the team supports shared ownership.
• Protection from outside is support, not self-management.