The Product Owner comes to Sprint Planning with a business objective in mind and works with the Developers to craft the Sprint Goal. The Product Owner neither dictates the goal nor leaves it entirely to the Developers.
Exam Question
What is the responsibility of the Product Owner in crafting the Sprint Goal? (choose the best answer)
- A. The Product Owner cannot attend Sprint Planning without having documented the Sprint Goal in advance.
- B. The Product Owner should come to the Sprint Planning with a business objective in mind and work with the Developers to craft the Sprint Goal.
- C. The Product Owner has no responsibility for the Sprint Goal. It is the sole responsibility of the Developers.
- D. The Product Owner defines the scope for the Sprint and therefore also the Sprint Goal.
- E. The Product Owner must work with the stakeholders to set each Sprint’s Goal.
Correct Answer
B. The Product Owner should come to the Sprint Planning with a business objective in mind and work with the Developers to craft the Sprint Goal.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The Scrum Guide says that during Sprint Planning “the Product Owner proposes how the product could increase its value and utility in the current Sprint. The whole Scrum Team then collaborates to define a Sprint Goal that communicates why the Sprint is valuable to stakeholders.” So the Product Owner brings the business intent, and the whole Scrum Team shapes the final goal together. The Developers bring their view of what is feasible, and the result is a goal everyone understands and can commit to.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
A. The Product Owner must document the Sprint Goal before Sprint Planning. The Sprint Goal is created during Sprint Planning by the whole Scrum Team, not prepared in advance by one person.
C. The Product Owner has no responsibility for the Sprint Goal. The Product Owner proposes how to increase value and takes part in defining the goal.
D. The Product Owner defines the Sprint scope and therefore the Sprint Goal. The Developers select the items they forecast for the Sprint, and the goal is defined collaboratively.
E. The Product Owner must set each Sprint Goal with stakeholders. Stakeholder input informs the Product Owner, but the Sprint Goal is created by the Scrum Team during Sprint Planning.
Exam Tip
For Sprint Goal questions, the pattern is: Product Owner proposes value, whole Scrum Team defines the goal. Answers where one role decides alone are wrong.
Key Takeaways
- The Product Owner arrives at Sprint Planning with a value proposal.
- The whole Scrum Team defines the Sprint Goal together.
- The Sprint Goal is created during Sprint Planning, not before.
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More PSM I exam questions
- Which output from Sprint Planning provides the Scrum Team with a target and overarching direction for the Sprint?” (PSM I)
- True or False: The Product Owner makes sure the Developers select enough from the Product Backlog for a Sprint to satisfy the stakeholders.” (PSM I)
- What is the timebox for the Sprint Planning event?” (PSM I)
- As the Sprint Planning progresses, the Developers realize that the workload may be greater than their capacity to complete the work. Which two are valid actions?” (PSM I)
- When should a Sprint Goal be created?” (PSM I)