Answering: “Which of the following services are appropriate for a Scrum Master in regard to the Daily Scrum?” (PSM I)

The appropriate service is to teach the Developers to keep the Daily Scrum within its 15-minute timebox. Leading the discussion, enforcing questions or tracking who speaks is not the Scrum Master’s job.

Exam Question

Which of the following services are appropriate for a Scrum Master in regard to the Daily Scrum? (choose the best answer)

• A. Lead the discussions.
• B. Make sure that all 3 questions have been answered by each member of the team.
• C. Keep track of whether each Developer has a chance to speak.
• D. Teach the Developers to keep the Daily Scrum within the 15 minutes.
• E. All of the above.

Correct Answer

D. Teach the Developers to keep the Daily Scrum within the 15 minutes.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

The Daily Scrum is “a 15-minute event for the Developers of the Scrum Team.” The Developers run it, and the Guide says they “can select whatever structure and techniques they want,” as long as it focuses on progress toward the Sprint Goal and produces an actionable plan for the next day. The Scrum Master’s role is to make sure the event takes place and is kept within the timebox, and to coach the team in self-management. Teaching the Developers why the timebox matters and how to respect it builds their ability to run the event on their own.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. Lead the discussions. The Daily Scrum belongs to the Developers. A Scrum Master who leads it turns it into a status meeting.

B. Make sure all 3 questions are answered by each member. The three questions were removed from the 2020 Scrum Guide. They are now one optional technique among many.

C. Track whether each Developer has a chance to speak. The Developers manage their own conversation. Tracking turns the Scrum Master into a moderator rather than a coach.

E. All of the above. Since A, B and C are not appropriate, this is wrong.

Exam Tip

“The three questions” are now optional, so any answer that requires them is outdated. For the Daily Scrum, the Scrum Master teaches and the Developers lead.

Key Takeaways

• The Daily Scrum is run by the Developers.
• The Scrum Master teaches the team to respect the timebox.
• The three questions are optional since the 2020 Scrum Guide.