PSPO-I Practice Exam Questions and Answers

According to the Scrum Guide, if a Product Backlog item does not meet the Definition of Done, it should not be included in the Increment for the Sprint1. The item is considered unfinished and therefore cannot be part of the Increment that may be released or presented as ‘Done’. The undone work should be re-estimated and put back on the Product Backlog for the Product Owner to prioritize for future Sprints2. This ensures transparency and maintains the integrity of the Increment’s quality.

References: The Scrum Guide provides clear guidance on handling undone work and emphasizes the importance of the Definition of Done as a quality standard for the Increment1. The Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO I) materials also align with this approach, underscoring the Product Owner’s role in managing the Product Backlog and ensuring that only ‘Done’ items are considered for release

• The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. The Product Owner is responsible for managing and refining the Product Backlog, collaborating with the stakeholders and the Developers, and ordering the items in a way that best achieves goals and missions. The Product Owner represents the interests of everyone with a stake in the product and ensures that the Scrum Team works on the right things at the right time.
• To ensure that the product delivers value, a Scrum Product Owner might focus on the following aspects:
• The other options are not valid or relevant aspects that a Scrum Product Owner might focus on to ensure that the product delivers value. They are either too narrow, unrealistic, or unrelated to the product value delivery. They are:

References:

• Scrum Guide: https://www.scrumguides.org/scrum-guide.html
• Product Owner: https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-a-product-owner
• Value: https://www.scrum.org/resources/blog/value-scrum-value
• Velocity: https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/velocity

 A Scrum Team is required to deliver a done Increment by the end of a Sprint. Done means:

• No work is left to meet the Definition of Done. The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product. It is a shared understanding among the Scrum Team and the stakeholders of what it means for work to be complete. It may include criteria such as coding standards, testing, documentation, security, performance, etc. If a Product Backlog item or an Increment does not meet the Definition of Done, it cannot be released or presented at the Sprint Review.
• Ready to be released to end users. The Increment is a concrete output of the Sprint that adds value to the product. It is a potentially releasable functionality that adheres to the Scrum Team’s current Definition of Done. It is not necessarily released at the end of each Sprint, but it must be in a state that allows for immediate release if the Product Owner decides so. The Increment should also align with the Sprint Goal and the Product Goal, and satisfy the needs and expectations of the customers and stakeholders.

References:

• Scrum Guide 2020, page 10: “The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product.”
• Scrum Guide 2020, page 10: “The moment a Product Backlog item meets the Definition of Done, an Increment is born.”
• Scrum Guide 2020, page 14: “The purpose of each Sprint is to deliver Increments of potentially releasable functionality that adhere to the Scrum Team’s current Definition of Done.”

 The Product Owner orders the Product Backlog items according to various criteria, such as:

• The value of Product Backlog items. The Product Owner aims to maximize the value of the product and the work of the Scrum Team. Therefore, they prioritize the items that deliver the most value to the stakeholders and the users, considering factors such as customer satisfaction, market share, revenue, social impact, etc.
• The dependencies between Product Backlog items. The Product Owner tries to minimize the dependencies between items, as they may create complexity, uncertainty, and risk. Therefore, they order the items in a way that reduces or eliminates the dependencies, or resolves them as early as possible.
• The dependencies to other products. The Product Owner also considers the dependencies that the product has to other products, such as platforms, frameworks, libraries, services, etc. Therefore, they order the items in a way that aligns with the availability and compatibility of those products.

References:

• Scrum Guide 2020, page 11: “The Product Owner is accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes … ordering Product Backlog items; and, ensuring that the Product Backlog is transparent, visible and understood.”
• Scrum Guide 2020, page 11: “The ordering of the items in the Product Backlog is the sole responsibility of the Product Owner. They order Product Backlog items to best achieve goals and missions.”
• Scrum Guide 2020, page 11: “Higher ordered Product Backlog items are clearer and more refined than lower ordered ones.”

Scrum

the Daily Scrum is a 15-minute event for the Developers of the Scrum Team that is held at the same time and place every working day of the Sprint. The purpose of the Daily Scrum is to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as necessary, adjusting the upcoming planned work1. The other options are not characteristics of the Daily Scrum, as it is not facilitated by the team lead, it does not consist of the Scrum Master asking the team for status, it is not held first thing in the morning, and it is not free form and designed to promote conversation234.

1: What is a Daily Scrum? | Scrum.org 2: What Is the Daily Scrum? | A Guide to the Daily Event - Scrum Alliance 3: What is Daily Scrum? | VivifyScrum 4: Daily Scrum | Definition and Overview - ProductPlan

Non-functional requirements are the criteria that define the quality, performance, security, usability, and other aspects of a product1. They are often implicit or assumed, but they are important to make visible and explicit, as they affect the value and satisfaction of the product2. One effective way to make non-functional requirements visible is to add them to the Product Backlog, which is an ordered list of everything that is known to be needed in the product[3][3]. By adding non-functional requirements to the Product Backlog, the Product Owner and the Developers can prioritize, refine, and estimate them, and make them transparent to the stakeholders4. Another effective way to make non-functional requirements visible is to add them to the Definition of Done, which is a shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete, and ensures transparency of the quality of the work done5. By adding non-functional requirements to the Definition of Done, the Developers can ensure that every Product Backlog item and Increment meets the expected quality standards, and that the work is taken care of every Sprint.

References:

1: Non-functional requirement, Wikipedia, accessed on December 16, 2023

2: Managing Products with Agility, Scrum.org, accessed on December 16, 2023

[3][3]: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 6

4: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 7

5: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 13

 Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework, Scrum.org, accessed on December 16, 2023

Scrum

Explore

The correct answers are A and

D.  

A.  

D.  

B.  

C.  

E.  

A product’s success is measured by the value it delivers to the customers and the organization. The impact on cost, revenue, and customer satisfaction are three important indicators of value. The Scrum Guide states that "The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team."1 The Product Owner should consider the cost of developing and maintaining the product, the revenue generated by the product, and the satisfaction of the customers and users who use the product. These factors help the Product Owner to prioritize the Product Backlog, define the Product Goal, and collaborate with the stakeholders.

References:

• 1: The Scrum Guide2, page 6
• 2: The Scrum Guide

The Scrum Guide defines a Scrum Team as “a cohesive unit of professionals focused on one objective at a time, the Product Goal”. It also states that “the Scrum Team consists of one Scrum Master, one Product Owner, and Developers”. Therefore, the correct answer is A, B, and

D.  

References:

• The Scrum Guide, section 2.1. The Scrum Team
• Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) Learning Path, section 1.1. The Scrum Team
• Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) Sample Questions, question 1

The Product Owner is typically responsible for collaborating with stakeholders, users, and customers to understand their needs and expectations, and to validate the value of the product. The Product Owner is also responsible for working with the Scrum Team on Product Backlog refinement, which is the act of adding detail, estimates, and order to Product Backlog items.1 These two responsibilities help the Product Owner to maximize the value of the product and the work of the Developers.

References:

• 1: The Scrum Guide2, page 18
• 2: The Scrum Guide

the first Sprint is the same as any other Sprint, and the Scrum Team should deliver a potentially releasable Increment of "Done" product at its conclusion. This means that the team should build at least one piece of valuable functionality that meets the Definition of Done and aligns with the Sprint Goal. The other options are not things that the Scrum Team should do during the first Sprint, as they are either too detailed, too vague, or too long-term for the Scrum framework. The Scrum Team should not make up a plan for the rest of the project, as Scrum is an empirical process that adapts to changing requirements and feedback1. The Scrum Team should not define the major product features and a release plan architecture, as these are the responsibilities of the Product Owner, who should have a vision and a roadmap for the product2. The Scrum Team should not analyze, describe, and document the requirements for the subsequent Sprints, as this would violate the principle of emergent design and just-in-time planning3.

1: The Scrum Guide | Scrum.org 2: What is a Product Owner? | Scrum.org 3: Emergent Design and Just-in-Time Planning | Scrum.org

• The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. The Product Owner is responsible for managing and refining the Product Backlog, collaborating with the stakeholders and the Developers, and ordering the items in a way that best achieves goals and missions. The Product Owner represents the interests of everyone with a stake in the product and ensures that the Scrum Team works on the right things at the right time.
• The job of a Product Owner focuses on the following aspects:
• The other options are not valid or relevant aspects of a Product Owner’s job. They are either too narrow, unrealistic, or unrelated to the product value delivery. They are:

References:

• Scrum Guide: https://www.scrumguides.org/scrum-guide.html
• Product Owner: https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-a-product-owner
• User Stories: https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/user-stories

• In Scrum, there is only one product and one Product Backlog for a given product. The Product Backlog is the single source of truth for the Scrum Team and the stakeholders. It contains all the requirements, features, functions, enhancements, fixes, and anything else that can deliver value to the customers and users of the product. The Product Backlog is ordered by the Product Owner based on the product vision, goals, and value.
• Having multiple Product Backlogs for one product would create confusion, duplication, inconsistency, and waste. It would also make it harder to align the Scrum Teams and the stakeholders on the same product direction and priorities. Therefore, each Scrum Team should not have a separate Product Backlog.
• The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. The Product Owner is responsible for managing and refining the Product Backlog, collaborating with the stakeholders and the Developers, and ordering the items in a way that best achieves goals and missions. The Product Owner represents the interests of everyone with a stake in the product and ensures that the Scrum Team works on the right things at the right time.
• Having multiple Product Owners for one product would create conflicts, overlaps, gaps, and inefficiencies. It would also make it harder to maintain a clear and consistent product vision, strategy, roadmap, and backlog. Therefore, there should be only one Product Owner for one product.
• In some cases, when there are multiple Scrum Teams working on one product, it may be necessary to have some form of scaling or coordination mechanism to ensure alignment and collaboration among the teams. However, this does not mean that there should be multiple Product Owners or Product Backlogs. Instead, there should be ways to facilitate communication, feedback, integration, and transparency among the teams and with the Product Owner. For example, some frameworks or practices that can help with scaling Scrum are Nexus, LeSS, SAFe, or Scrum of Scrums.

References:

• Scrum Guide: https://www.scrumguides.org/scrum-guide.html
• Nexus: https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-nexus
• LeSS: https://less.works/
• SAFe: https://www.scaledagileframework.com/
• Scrum of Scrums: https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/scrum-of-scrums/

In Scrum, feedback loops are essential mechanisms that allow for inspection and adaptation at regular intervals. The three feedback loops from the options provided are:

• Sprint Review (A): This is a feedback loop that occurs at the end of the Sprint to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog if needed. It involves stakeholders and provides an opportunity to inspect the progress towards the Product Goal.
• Daily Scrum ©: This is a daily feedback loop for the Developers to synchronize their work and plan for the next 24 hours. It helps in identifying challenges and creating a plan to achieve the Sprint Goal.
• Sprint Retrospective (D): This feedback loop occurs after the Sprint Review and before the next Sprint Planning. It is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint.

The Refinement Meeting (B) is not considered a feedback loop but rather an ongoing process of adding details to Product Backlog items. Release Planning (E) is not a formal event in Scrum and thus not a prescribed feedback loop.

References: The Scrum Guide and the Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO I) materials describe these events as integral parts of the Scrum framework that serve as feedback loops1

• A product’s success is measured by the impact it has on the customers, the business, and the market. Different products may have different success criteria and metrics, depending on their vision, goals, value proposition, and target audience. However, some of the common and important aspects that can indicate a product’s success are:
• The other options are not valid or relevant measures of a product’s success. They are either too subjective, narrow, or unrelated to the product’s value proposition and goals. They are:

References:

• Product Success: https://www.productplan.com/glossary/product-success/
• Customer Satisfaction: https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/customer-satisfaction/
• Cost: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cost.asp
• Revenue: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/revenue.asp

 These are the best answers because they ensure that security concerns are addressed in a transparent and consistent way. By adding security criteria to the Definition of Done, the Scrum Team can make sure that every Increment meets a high standard of quality and security. By creating Product Backlog items for specific security concerns, the Scrum Team can prioritize and plan them in collaboration with the Product Owner and stakeholders. References:

• Scrum Guide, page 14: “The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product.”
• Scrum Guide, page 15: “The Product Backlog is an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product.”

According to the Scrum Guide1, the Developers are responsible for selecting the amount of work they can do in a Sprint, based on their capacity and past performance2. If they realize that the workload may be greater than their capacity, they can either remove or change some of the selected Product Backlog items, or they can start the Sprint and monitor the progress, making adjustments as needed3. Recruiting additional Developers, canceling the Sprint, or working overtime are not valid actions, as they would disrupt the Scrum values of commitment, focus, and respect

The Daily Scrum is a 15-minute event for the Developers to synchronize activities and create a plan for the next 24 hours. This meeting is designed to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as necessary. The intended outcomes are to identify any impediments that may prevent the Developers from achieving the Sprint Goal (D) and to foster a shared understanding among the Developers of what work is most important to undertake next in order to make the best possible progress toward the Sprint Goal (E). It is not a status update meeting for the Scrum Master or upper management, nor is it primarily about updating Scrum boards for stakeholder transparency.

References: The Scrum Guide and the resources provided by Scrum.org on the Daily Scrum emphasize these outcomes as essential to the effectiveness of the Daily Scrum event12.

If a stakeholder is unhappy with the quality of the product, the Scrum Master can coach the Product Owner on how to effectively communicate this concern to the Developers1. The Scrum Master can also encourage the Product Owner to put quality specifications on the Product Backlog1. This allows the Developers to understand the stakeholder’s expectations and work towards meeting them1. The Developers are responsible for building quality into the product, but the stakeholders (through the Product Owner) are responsible for setting what is expected in terms of product and process quality1.