Answering: “Which three behaviors demonstrate that a Scrum Team is self-managing?” (PSD)

A self-managing Scrum Team has the skills to create an Increment, lets its Developers select their own work during the Sprint, and has Developers build their own Sprint Backlog covering all Definition of Done work. Handoffs, stakeholder-driven scope and dropping the Scrum Master are not signs of self-management.

Exam Question

Which three behaviors demonstrate that a Scrum Team is self-managing?
(choose the best three answers)
A. The Scrum Team has all the skills needed to create an Increment.
B. The Developers collaboratively selecting their own work during the Sprint.
C. The Scrum Team members are working within the boundaries of their functional description and nicely handing off work from analyst to developer to tester to integration.
D. Stakeholders are attending the Daily Scrum to check progress and work with the Scrum Master to optimize the functional scope for the Sprint.
E. The Developers create their own Sprint Backlog, reflecting all work that is part of the Definition of Done.
F. The Scrum Master is no longer needed.

Correct Answer

A, B and E.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

The Scrum Guide says Scrum Teams are cross-functional and self-managing, “meaning they internally decide who does what, when, and how.” A team with all needed skills (A) can actually make and act on its own decisions, since it does not wait for outsiders. Developers who pick their work collaboratively (B) are deciding who does what without a manager. Developers who create their own Sprint Backlog, including everything the Definition of Done demands (E), own both the plan and its quality. Together these show a team in charge of its work.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

C. Members work within functional descriptions and hand off work. Analyst-to-tester handoffs show a sequential process with fixed roles. It is the opposite of a team organizing around the goal.

D. Stakeholders join the Daily Scrum to optimize scope with the Scrum Master. The Daily Scrum belongs to the Developers. Outsiders adjusting the scope takes away the team’s own planning.

F. The Scrum Master is no longer needed. Self-managing teams still have a Scrum Master. The Scrum Master serves the team and the organization, and is one of the three accountabilities.

Exam Tip

Options claiming a Scrum accountability is “no longer needed” are always wrong. Scrum’s accountabilities stay even as a team matures.

Key Takeaways

• Self-managing teams decide who does what, when and how.
• Cross-functional skills make self-management possible.
• Mature teams still have a Scrum Master.