Answering: “Who is accountable for creating a valuable and usable Increment each Sprint?”

The whole Scrum Team is accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment each Sprint. The Developers build it, but accountability for the result is shared across the team.

Exam Question

Who is accountable for creating a valuable and usable Increment each Sprint?
(choose the best answer)
A. The Scrum Master.
B. The CEO.
C. The Developers.
D. The Product Owner.
E. The Scrum Team.

Correct Answer

E. The Scrum Team.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

The Scrum Guide states “The entire Scrum Team is accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment every Sprint.” Each accountability contributes in its own way. The Developers create the usable Increment and instill quality by adhering to the Definition of Done. The Product Owner maximizes the value of what is built by managing the Product Backlog. The Scrum Master makes the team effective. The question uses “valuable and usable”, which includes value, so no single accountability covers it alone. That is why the Scrum Team is the best answer rather than the Developers or the Product Owner.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. The Scrum Master. The Scrum Master is accountable for the team’s effectiveness, not for creating the Increment alone.

B. The CEO. The CEO is not part of the Scrum Team and holds no Scrum accountability for the Increment.

C. The Developers. The Developers create the usable Increment, but value depends on the whole team, including the Product Owner.

D. The Product Owner. The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing value, but not for creating the Increment alone.

Exam Tip

Read the exact words: “valuable and useful Increment” points to the whole Scrum Team, while “usable Increment” or “how to build it” points to the Developers.

Key Takeaways

• The whole Scrum Team owns the Increment’s value and usefulness.
• Each accountability contributes differently.
• Watch small wording differences in accountability questions.