The Scrum Master should watch how the Developers and Product Owner communicate and help them collaborate directly. Acting as a go-between or teaching one side the other’s language only treats part of the problem.
Exam Question
Which technique is the best way the Scrum Master can ensure that the Developers communicate effectively with the Product Owner? (choose the best answer)
- A. Act as a go-between for them.
- B. Teach the Developers to talk in terms of business needs and objectives.
- C. Monitor communications between them and facilitate direct collaboration.
- D. Teach the Product Owner about the technologies employed during the Sprints.
Correct Answer
C. Monitor communications between them and facilitate direct collaboration.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Scrum relies on close, direct collaboration between the Product Owner and the Developers, for example when they clarify items and “scope may be clarified and renegotiated with the Product Owner as more is learned.” The Scrum Master is accountable for the Scrum Team’s effectiveness, and part of that is noticing when communication breaks down and helping people talk to each other. Facilitating direct collaboration builds the team’s own capability over time. A Scrum Master in the middle of every conversation becomes a bottleneck and a source of distortion.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
A. Act as a go-between. A middleman slows communication and filters the message. The goal is direct collaboration.
B. Teach the Developers to talk in business terms. This can help, but it puts the whole burden on one side and is not the best overall technique.
D. Teach the Product Owner about the technologies used. Some technical awareness helps, but it does not make the two sides communicate better by itself.
Exam Tip
Scrum Master answers that put the Scrum Master in the middle as a proxy are usually wrong. Look for options that help people work directly with each other.
Key Takeaways
- The Product Owner and Developers should talk directly.
- The Scrum Master observes and facilitates rather than relays.
- Direct collaboration grows the team’s own capability.
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More PSM I exam questions
- Five new Scrum Teams have been created to build one product. A few of the Developers on one of the Scrum Teams ask the Scrum Master how to coordinate their work with the other teams. What should the Scrum Master do?” (PSM I)
- During the Sprint, the Scrum Master’s role is to do which two of the following:
- For which is the Scrum Master responsible?
- The Product Owner is not collaborating with the Developers during the Sprint. What are two valuable actions for a Scrum Master to take?
- The IT manager asks a Scrum Team for a status report describing the progress throughout the Sprint. The Scrum Team asks the Scrum Master for advice. The Scrum Master should:” (PSM I)