Behaviors Demonstrating a Self-Managing Scrum Team

A self-managing Scrum Team is characterized by its ability to organize and manage its own work to achieve the Sprint Goal efficiently.

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 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.
E. The Developers create their own Sprint Backlog, reflecting all work that is part of the Definition of Done.

Explanation

Why A, B, and E are Correct

A. The Scrum Team has all the skills needed to create an Increment:

A self-managing team must be cross-functional, meaning it has all the necessary skills to transform Product Backlog items into a potentially shippable Increment. This ensures that the team can independently complete all aspects of the work without external dependencies.

B. The Developers collaboratively selecting their own work during the Sprint:

Self-managing teams are responsible for organizing and managing their work. Developers selecting their own work during the Sprint exemplifies their autonomy and collaborative nature, allowing them to adapt and adjust their efforts to meet the Sprint Goal effectively.

E. The Developers create their own Sprint Backlog, reflecting all work that is part of the Definition of Done:

By creating their own Sprint Backlog, Developers demonstrate their ability to plan and manage their workload. This practice ensures that they are accountable for all tasks necessary to meet the Definition of Done, maintaining quality and completeness in their Increments.

Why C, D, and F are Incorrect

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:

This approach reflects a traditional waterfall methodology rather than Scrum’s self-managing and cross-functional team dynamics. Scrum encourages team members to collaborate and share responsibilities rather than strictly adhering to predefined functional roles.

D. Stakeholders are attending the Daily Scrum to check progress and work with the Scrum Master to optimize the functional scope for the Sprint:

The Daily Scrum is intended for the Developers to inspect progress and adapt their plan. Stakeholders do not attend the Daily Scrum; their involvement should be through other events like the Sprint Review.

F. The Scrum Master is no longer needed:

While a mature Scrum Team may require less day-to-day guidance, the Scrum Master remains essential for facilitating Scrum events, removing impediments, and coaching the team towards continuous improvement.

Key Points

• Cross-Functionality: Self-managing teams possess all necessary skills to deliver a complete Increment.
• Autonomy: Teams independently select and manage their work.
• Accountability: Developers are accountable for creating and managing their Sprint Backlog to ensure all work meets the Definition of Done.

Responsibilities in Scrum

• Product Owner: Ensures the Product Backlog is ordered and refined to maximize value and align with the team’s capacity.
• Scrum Master: Facilitates Scrum events, removes impediments, and coaches the team towards self-management and continuous improvement.
• Developers: Plan, manage, and execute all tasks necessary to deliver a potentially shippable Increment, ensuring quality and adherence to the Definition of Done.

Relevance to the PSM I Exam

Understanding the characteristics of a self-managing Scrum Team is crucial for the PSM I exam. This knowledge emphasizes the importance of autonomy, cross-functionality, and accountability within the Scrum framework.

Conclusion

A self-managing Scrum Team demonstrates behaviors such as having all necessary skills to create an Increment, collaboratively selecting their work, and creating their own Sprint Backlog. These practices ensure efficient, autonomous, and high-quality product development.

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