Answering: “Your management has asked you to take the lead in the development of a new product. Six teams new to Scrum will build this product.”

Work with the Developers to analyze the work and break it apart in a way that reduces dependencies between the six teams. The Product Owner does not untangle dependencies alone, and splitting the backlog creates bigger problems.

Exam Question

Your management has asked you to take the lead in the development of a new product. Six teams new to Scrum will build this product.
You have gathered a number of requirements and ideas into an early form of a Product Backlog. How would you minimize dependencies between the Scrum Teams?
(choose the best answer)

• A. You create an independent Product Backlog per Scrum Team.
• B. You identify the dependencies and re-order the Product Backlog for them.
• C. You work with the Developers on how to best analyze and break apart the work.
• D. You divide the Product Backlog items among the six Product Owners.
• E. You raise this as an impediment with the Scrum Master.

Correct Answer

C. You work with the Developers on how to best analyze and break apart the work.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

Dependencies are mostly a technical question: how the product’s components, code and skills are shared. The Developers understand that best. When the Product Owner and Developers refine the Product Backlog together, they can slice items so each team can deliver a valuable, integrated piece of the Increment with as few hand-offs as possible. The Scrum Guide’s rule that several Scrum Teams on one product share “the same Product Goal, Product Backlog, and Product Owner” still applies, so the answer is better slicing, not separate lists.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. Create an independent Product Backlog per Scrum Team. One product has one Product Backlog. Separate backlogs hide dependencies instead of removing them and make integration harder.

B. Identify the dependencies yourself and re-order the backlog. Ordering can sequence around dependencies, but working alone the Product Owner misses technical knowledge and does nothing to reduce them.

D. Divide the items among six Product Owners. There is one Product Owner per product. Six Product Owners would fragment ownership and value decisions.

E. Raise it as an impediment with the Scrum Master. Dependencies are normal work to manage through refinement. The Product Owner and Developers can handle them directly.

Exam Tip

In scaling questions, “one product, one Product Backlog, one Product Owner” rules out several options straight away. The remaining right answer usually involves collaboration with the Developers.

Key Takeaways

• Multiple Scrum Teams on one product share one Product Backlog and one Product Owner.
• Dependencies are reduced by slicing work well with the Developers.
• Refinement across teams is where dependencies are found and removed.