The Scrum Master should consider the benefit of the Developers solving the specialist problem themselves and the teams’ ability to deliver integrated Increments. Velocity and keeping everyone busy are not the real concerns.
Exam Question
You are the Scrum Master for four Scrum Teams working from the same Product Backlog. Several of the developers come to you complaining that work identified for the upcoming two Sprints will require full-time commitment from a specialist who is external to the teams.
What should the Scrum Master consider in this situation?
(choose the best two answers)
A. The benefit of Developers figuring out a solution for themselves.
B. The desire to maintain a stable velocity.
C. The need to have enough work to keep all Developers busy.
D. The ability of the Scrum Teams to produce integrated Increments.
Correct Answer
A and D.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
A dependency on one external specialist is an impediment for four teams at once. The Scrum Master’s first instinct should not be to solve it alone. Developers are self-managing, and they may find options such as pairing with the specialist to spread knowledge, reordering work with the Product Owner or changing team composition. Solving it themselves builds cross-functional skill for the future. The bigger risk is that the teams cannot produce one integrated, Done Increment each Sprint while blocked. The Scrum Guide expects every team working on a product to contribute to a usable Increment, so integration is what matters most.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
B. The desire to maintain a stable velocity. Velocity is a planning aid. Protecting it does not address the dependency or the risk to an integrated Increment.
C. The need to have enough work for all Developers. Keeping people busy is not a goal. Delivering a valuable, integrated Increment is.
Exam Tip
Scaled Scrum questions often pair a self-management answer with an integration answer. Look for both and drop options about velocity or utilization.
Key Takeaways
- Let the Developers own solutions to their dependencies.
- Integrated Increments are the key concern across teams.
- Velocity and utilization are not goals in Scrum.
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