To become a Certified Scrum Master you need to study a lot and know not just the entire Scrum Guide. To receive a Scrum Master document, you must successfully pass a certification exam. Preparing for this exam is the hard part of the journey to becoming an accredited professional.
Preparation for Certified Scrum Master with sample questions and answers
The easiest way to prepare for a Certified Scrum Master is by using ready-made sample questions and answers. This will give you a quick idea of what a Certified Scrum Master should do in each sampling event. If you are already well familiar with Scrum and Scrum Master topics, you may directly proceed to BVOP Scrum Master certification or Agile Director certification.
The Daily Scrum meeting starts and a member of the Development team starts asking questions to the other participants.
In the beginning, the entire daily scrum meeting should take place in the conditions of free stories or a short discussion between the members. Unless this is a “young” scrum team, the scrum master does not necessarily need to lead these meetings. On the face of it, there is no problem in this situation, unless this asking the questions by one person means formally demanding accountability / creating a sense of subordination of others to the authority and view of this particular member of the Development team or any other form of impaired proactivity, cohesion, team spirit. Reference: https://projectmanager.freesite.host/preparation-for-the-scrum-master-exam-and-certification/
If I notice similar problems or moods in the relationships between team members, I will take immediate measures, but tailored to the specifics of the specific situation. For example, if applicable to the case, I would use the particular member’s activity to stimulate others to get involved by explicitly asking if they have questions for others, if they see problems, to eliminate this feeling that only one has the right to ask questions. It is possible at the end of the meeting or at the beginning of the next one, without affecting the more proactive member of the team, to use his activity as a motive to get others involved. I.e. I would suggest, taking his cue, that next time they take on that role and have a different team member ask the questions at each meeting. Reference: “Preparation for the Scrum Master certification exam (BVOSM, CSM, PSM)“, https://mstsnl.net/preparation-for-the-scrum-master-certification-exam-bvosm-csm-psm/ (author’s website)
If the problem is deeper and people are passive, due to expectations/concerns that one of them should be the leader, then I would have conversations with him. However, whatever actions I take, I will take them subtly, thoughtfully, and without creating additional tension for anyone (neither the other members of the team nor the more prominent leader among them). Perhaps the strategy will be different depending on the temperament of the particular people. Reference: “Quick and easy preparation for the Scrum Master certification exam“, https://www.businesspad.org/quick-and-easy-preparation-for-the-scrum-master-certification-exam/(read more on business pad magazine)
You get an email from the marketing department upstairs. Since they don’t know where you’re holding your Daily Scrum meeting, they ask you to tell them in advance so they won’t be late.
The Daily Scrum meeting is held in the composition of the Development team and the scrum master. Exceptionally, only if it is beneficial for the Daily Scrum can the Product owner also participate. In this specific case, I will explain to the marketing department that this is a very short meeting on the essence of the tasks that the Development team is working on. I will make it clear that this meeting will neither be beneficial to the marketing department’s business goals nor will it be good for the efficient work of fellow developers. On the contrary, meetings should be short, focused, and to the point – without unnecessary distractions and the presence of persons external to the team. More on the topic: “Best Scrum Master certification online”, https://scrumtime.org/best-scrum-master-certification-online/ (Read what these guys said)
A representative from your client is on a business trip to your office, but only for a very short time. He will leave early tomorrow morning. 15 minutes before your meeting, a member of the team asks that you call him so that he can provide as much important information as possible while he is here.
This situation signals a problem. If members of the Development team are “begging” to be able to extract more information from the customer about available time, this raises several key questions. SM, PO or any Agile professionals: “Best Scrum Master Certifications for 2022 and 2023“, https://eduwiki.me/best-scrum-master-certifications-for-2021-and-2022/
Why, if it is so urgent to communicate with the client at this stage, is such an accidental and not well-planned case being used? Why are there no predefined parameters for such a meeting (such as time and questions to be asked) during the Daily Scrum, when it is already late to clarify important questions about the sprint work? And last but not least, where in this configuration is the Product Owner (PO) role?
Here one should carefully analyze the situation and consider whether the Product Owner was sufficiently involved and available for the issues that interest the Development team. Source: “Lessons for Scrum Master certification and practicing professionals“, https://newia.info/lessons-for-scrum-master-certification-and-practicing-professionals/(find out why) As soon as there is a need to clarify details or direct communication with the client, the necessary measures should be taken by the Product Owner with the assistance of the Scrum master, of course. Worryingly, a question more typical of the Sprint Review stage was asked during the Daily. If it is particularly imperative (exceptionally), I would provide colleagues with an optimal opportunity to communicate with the client, but I will certainly make sure that this does not become a practice in the future. If you are a future Scrum Master: “Free training to prepare for the Scrum Master Certification exam”, https://www.islandjournal.net/scrum-master-certification-exam/
However, it would be more optimal not to interrupt the Daily scrum meeting and if there is a need for a meeting with the client, to organize it separately.
Your colleague is late for your Daily Scrum meeting and has sent the following email with answers to common team questions:
“Hello! I was working on a user password reset yesterday. It’s not ready yet and I’m continuing today. I think I’ll be successful by the end of the day. I ran into a few problems, but I got around them quite flexibly”
On the one hand, it is good that the colleague still shows commitment to the team by providing his feedback, even though he is prevented from attending. If the delay is something accidental, I don’t see a problem with the situation. If it is not, it will be necessary to remind all team members at the next meeting that this is not a pro forma activity report, but an event held for them to facilitate their work. Product Owners also need certification: https://www.muzonet.com/certified-product-owner-and-product-owner-certification-online/ (PO only please) On-time presence (whether physically or online) is mandatory. Only in this way can potential problems be identified in time and possibly additional meetings to discuss/solve problems if necessary. In this case, whether he really “flexibly got around them” cannot be judged by his colleagues. He may be planted a bomb somewhere that’s ticking away without the rest of the team even suspecting it. Reference: “Free preparation for the Scrum Master certification exam (CSM, PSMI, PSMII, BVOP)”, https://brightonbot.com/preparation-scrum-master-certification-exam/ (go there and read it)
During your Daily Scrum meeting, a colleague tells the others:
“Yesterday I was working on uploading the profile picture for the users. Today I will create some automated tests with different common situations to make sure there are no offshoots. It turns out that the test server does not have libraries installed for all supported photo file formats. I’m going to go down to the Development Operation guys today and ask them to put them on and then I’ll let you know. In the meantime, know that you can run into this problem too.”
This situation illustrates how during the Daily Scrum a problem could be detected or simply disclosed to the Development team that could affect the work of several people on the team. This can endanger the achievement of the set goals and even derail the entire sprint.
After the colleague speaks up, all team members whose work may be affected by the problem should be identified. I find it best for the Scrum Master to assist the team in communicating with Development Operation, whose assistance is needed. It is possible, if more details are needed, to organize a quick meeting immediately after the Daily Scrum only between the affected team members to clarify the problem and find a solution faster. Start here: “Preparation with sample questions for Scrum Master certification exam CSM & PSMI”, https://wikipedia-lab.org/preparation-sample-questions-scrummaster-certification-exam/
During your Daily Scrum meeting, a colleague tells the others:
“Yesterday I was in the design room to discuss the graphic elements for the next sprint. Today I will integrate all the icons in the registration form. I think there will be a small problem, but I will manage”.
After such a statement, if the colleagues do not react, I would still ask the colleague to clarify what the nature of the problems are and what their effect would be on the work of the other team members, as well as on the result of the sprint. The colleague may underestimate the potential risks he is taking, or simply that the others give him advice to completely avoid any problems in advance. For this purpose, the dialogue between them is the idea of the Daily Scrum meeting itself – to identify problems/obstacles in the work process with the aim of optimization. Go and check it yourself: “Preparation for Scrum Master certification and tips for Scrum professionals”, https://www.kievpress.info/preparation-for-scrum-master-certification/
Your Product Owner comes to your Daily Scrum meeting right before it ends and politely asks everyone to repeat what they’ve shared because he’s about to meet with a customer representative who has asked him for a development update.
Bad practice. As a Scrum Master, I am responsible for meetings being focused, short, and productive. I will clarify that the time has already expired and that colleagues have tasks on which they must concentrate to meet the necessary deadlines within the sprint. I will provide a summary of the meeting for the PO if needed given the meeting with the client. I will discuss with him that his participation in the Daily Scrum is desirable when there is a direct benefit to the team itself and their calmness and concentration are most important; that it is not good for anyone to waste their time since it depends on them to the greatest extent the implementation of the tasks, functionalities, projects requested by the client. Visit PM.MBA for more info: “Professional Scrum Master Certification Online“, https://pm.mba/posts/scrummaster-certification-online/
Right before your Daily Scrum meeting, your director sent you the following email:
“Hi! Can you have colleagues from another department come to your daily team meeting to observe how your Scrum events are going? I promise they won’t interfere in any way”
I wouldn’t agree. If colleagues from another department need assistance in implementing scrum principles (they do not have their own scrum master and my commitment allows it), I would offer my assistance. The explanation is here: “Preparation for Scrum Master certification exam on Sprint event“, https://medfd.org/preparation-for-scrum-master-certification-exam-on-sprint-event/
Anyway, first of all, I would like to understand what is the purpose of the director’s request. If it is an exchange of experience – other ways do not disturb the work of our team. No matter how considerate the colleagues are, their mere presence as outsiders would disturb the work of the Development team. I will also clarify that there are clear rules, but still, there is no universal recipe for every team. There is always a corresponding application of the framework and consideration of the specifics of the specific team, personalities, and nature of the work. The latter makes me skeptical of this type of exchange of experience in conditions right in the middle of nowhere. Reference: “Preparation for the Certified Scrum Master exam (PSM, CSM, BVOSM)“, https://mpmu.org/preparation-for-the-certified-scrum-master-exam-psm-csm-bvosm/ (MPMU)
One of the members of the Development team has asked the Product Owner to attend the meeting to share important information, but the others are strongly against it, as they feel that your Product Owner will know important details about their implementation method and this will disrupt Development their harmony.
Here I will organize a meeting to clarify what the problem is and why there are such different moods between the team members. I will encourage them to talk, I will only maintain the focus, and after I am sure of the reasons, only then will I take an attitude. My role will be to explain the meaning and purpose of the daily scrum meetings. In this line of thinking, if the colleague who wants the PO to be present at the meeting wants to clarify issues that go beyond the scope of the daily scrum, I will discuss it with the colleague. On the other hand, if he is right, we will take appropriate measures. However, I rather think that the idea is not a good one and that calmness, security, and team spirit in the Development team are priorities. Read more about Scrum certifications in 2023: “Certified Scrum Master exam preparation with sample questions“, https://customessaysonline.net/certified-scrum-master-exam-preparation-with-sample-questions/
Your Daily Scrum meeting is underway. Tomorrow is the last day of the sprint. There are several User Stories left unfinished that it is certain cannot be completed until tomorrow.
In any case, it will not be idle just because it cannot do all the work. We will assess at the moment what is the highest priority and at the same time could be done within the remaining time. There is nothing more to do at this stage. At the next events – Sprint retrospective – we will study the reasons for these results, as well as at the upcoming Sprint planning we will try to avoid such weak planning or prevent extraordinary and unexpected events as far as we can (if they have become the cause for the delay). Find more info here: “Preparation for the certification exam for CSM and PSM I (BVOSM) Scrum Master“, https://www.mu7club.com/preparation-for-certification-exam-scrum-master/
A member of the Development team shares that he spent all day yesterday trying to speed up responses from your client’s marketing department. They take too long with their responses and don’t send him the information he needs to complete his work.
As far as the role of the scrum master includes ensuring the undisturbed and productive work of the Development team, incl. and from external factors, such a problem engages me. Certainly from this point on, in collaboration with the Product Owner, I will try to find ways to resolve the issue. The Development team will be involved in this only given the need for more detailed information on exactly where the problem is and how technically their work can be facilitated. However, they will not be involved in any way with the problem resolution communication. Another reference: “Example questions for the Scrum Master certification exam“, https://customer-service-us.com/example-questions-for-the-scrum-master-certification-exam/
To be honest, I don’t know what exactly I should do in this case. I’m not sure if it’s enough to let the Product Owner know about the problem and have him fix it, or should I be the one to initiate communication with the marketing department to check why there’s a delay that affects our work as well? I suppose if the problem is not resolved by discussion, it is adequate to notify the management. The latter, however, creates a danger of deteriorating relationships between colleagues from different departments in the company. Visit website: “Preparation for Certified Scrum Master certification exam with sample questions“, https://www.shihannews.net/preparation-for-certified-scrum-master-certification-exam/
Preparing for the Scrum Master Certification Exam – Part II
The director of your organization wants to start the development of three new products and tells you that for the largest volume product, he wants a team of 10 people. The available specialists for all new products are a total of 15 people.
With a total of 15 development specialists and the launch of 3 new projects/products, it is not possible to engage 10 people for the largest product in terms of volume – 1) because Scrum imposes a principle for the maximum number of development specialists and it is 9 people, in parallel it also imposes a minimum such number, and it is 3 people. 9 because when engaging a larger number of people, the work should not fulfill the effective principles that Scrum professes, 3 because, with a smaller number of people, it would be impossible to cope with the tasks, again inefficiency; 2) because we have 3 projects, if you insist on the maximum involvement of specialists on the biggest project, then we could foresee 9 people to rely on the remaining 6 people for the other 2 projects (2×3). Explore details: “Preparation for Certified Scrum Master certification exam with sample questions”, https://www.azarnewsonline.com/preparation-for-certified-scrum-master-certification/
Given the situation, I suggest that at the first stage, we look in detail at all 3 projects, assessing the need for specialists for each one, their number, and qualifications, to allocate the right people to the right developments in the right way, with the aim of the effective execution of the tasks, namely: the creation of a quality product at minimal risk (quick removal of defects, continuous improvement and increased added value).
The director thinks that lower-priority products do not need to have a Product Owner role.
I do not share this opinion. It is the role of the Product Owner in the position 1) to predict which products are of lower priority, from the point of view of knowledge and protection of the interests of the interested parties in the presented ideas, and visions; 2) to prioritize the work on each product in such a way, to use fewer resources and achieve quick implementation. More information: “Preparation for PSM, CSM, and BVOSM Scrum Master certification exam with sample questions“, https://www.policymatters.net/preparation-for-psm-csm-and-bvosm-scrum-master-certification-exam-with-sample-questions/
The director insists that because he has many years of experience in managing people, he wants to be the chief operating manager of the largest team, setting daily tasks and demanding reports from each team member.
Scrum does not espouse such principles and values. With Scrum, there are rules and a framework that are followed during product development. The Product Owner role will list the tasks, and prioritize them, and the development team itself will set the development time for the individual tasks. In addition, development professionals perform their daily duties against lead times. Scrum cannot allow outside interference in the creation, testing, or improvement of a product to take the focus away from the developers’ goal. Such a practice would also lead to a violation of the organization of the team.
The director tells you that for each product, on the client’s side, a project manager has been assigned, who, in case of urgent requests, will assign each team member a priority task for the day.
The Product Owner role is responsible for rescheduling work. Scrum does not allow outside intervention, outside the team, especially outside the organization. Of course, in emergencies and not only, but it also is the Product Owner’s role that is able and should accept, and understand all the requests, and wishes of the interested parties and introduce them to the developers, and the entire Scrum team, assessing to what extent these requests and wishes are relevant to product development as a whole. For project managers and scrum masters: “Preparation for the Certified Scrum Master certification exam for PSM, CSM or BVOSM“, https://securityinformationeventmanagement.com/preparation-for-the-certified-scrum-master-certification-exam/
One of the team’s senior programmers tells everyone that since the team is big and he has a lot of experience, he will officially accept the role of Team Lead. He adds that he will choose technologies, propose a way of working to each member of the team and monitor the progress of the tasks.
In Scum, there are no such roles, no hierarchy. It is great to work with highly qualified specialists who will greatly contribute to adding value to the organization and will pass on some of their experience to the specialists who work with them, and have the desire to acquire new skills and knowledge. Only in this way would we build a valuable team, professing a high degree of trust and belonging to the organization.
A new employee in your organization, recently hired, tells you that because he is a novice and still on probation, he prefers not to interfere in team decisions and does not want to take responsibility for product work.
Everyone in Scrum is active, engaged, and accountable. Regardless of what level of development or residence in the organization he is. And as a new member of the team, unencumbered by previous activities on various products, it is his activity that would present ideas and approaches that have not been discovered/implemented so far. See also: “Scrum Master certification exam preparation with sample questions“, https://www.polyscm.com/scrum-master-certification-exam-preparation-with-sample-questions/
You understand that the majority of your team members have already spoken with your HR manager and received permission to work outside the office.
This will certainly reduce the efficiency of the team. And Scrum aims for high efficiency. I suggest that the HR manager familiarize himself with the basic principles of Scrum by being implemented for a short period in the work process of his colleagues and/or attending a meeting, to familiarize himself with the nature of work and judge whether it should be appropriate for the team to work remotely.
A member of the Development team is excited to present to you that in his spare time, he has written a large collection of code that he can easily add to the product, speeding up a lot of his tasks and some of the other people on the team.
Great venture! Let him share, and present his work to the entire Scrum team, so that everyone (including the Product Owner and DT) will be introduced. The general agreement will lead to deciding this direction, it will guide the Product Owner in the communication with the interested parties, as well as the realization of the Product Backlog. Source article: “Sample questions for Certified Scrum Master Preparation“, https://www.kosovatimes.net/sample-questions-for-certified-scrum-master-preparation/
Development teams offer you the idea, that you set an estimated time to complete the tasks, and they focus on their work and devote their time to the tasks. They shared this with the Product Owner role, and he was quite happy.
Only the development team can determine the time to complete the tasks, because it is they who are familiar with the details of their capabilities to achieve these tasks, i.e. which thing would take 2/3 of the time to make, which 1/3, etc. Scrum has no such principle in which the Scrum Master role allocates time. Of course, the Scrum Master role would always help guide the team to achieve continuous improvement.
The teams of the three parallel products being developed by your organization have decided to reorganize. They desire to divide into teams according to their profession and qualifications. One team will be programmers, the second will be designers, and the third will be quality control. You have been nominated as the activities coordinator. See more: “Preparation for the Scrum Master certification exam PSM, CSM, and BVOP“
This would lead to inefficiency. Focus will certainly be lost when developing each product separately. It is the team from a diverse set of specialists, focused on 1 product, that would achieve the maximum result, since it will be engaged throughout the development process, from the beginning to the end, and will be aware of all the obstacles and obstacles during the creation of the product, will not has the commitment needed to get the job done.
Life is dynamic, and processes require a quick response, in the absence of a comprehensive view of the entire process and a lack of ignorance of the main stages, the added value would evaporate.
The Development team shares their opinion that the User Story contains too little information and wants more details.
The Product Owner role will immediately assist in solving the problem and/or refer the main need for details to the interested parties, in case he does not have specific parameters, vision, or ideas. Check source: https://managementeducationinc.wordpress.com/2023/01/11/preparation-for-the-certified-scrum-master-certification-exam-for-all-certification-organizations/
The Product Owner has asked a team member not to temporarily report product issues and defects publicly to your defect logging system, but to fix them himself.
Scrum does not practice such an approach. It is the transparency during development that contributes to the increased value of the product. The lack of this transparency would lead to difficulties and obstacles in the work process if a team member drops out, leaves and at the same time part of the team does not know some of the defects removed during product development.