Week 2: Scrum 101
Scrum 101 INTRODUCTION
The core Scrum values crucial for building a successful Scrum Team have been taught in Coursera’s Google Project Management: Professional Certificate as a pillar called Scrum 101. These values—Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, and Courage—help engender trust, enable collaboration, and amsome being important in promoting continuous learning within Scrum Teams.
This unit also defines the roles in a typical Scrum team apart from understanding the Scrum values. These roles are Scrum Master, responsible for ensuring Scrum adherence within all decision-making processes; Product Owner, the representative between stakeholders and developers; and lastly, the team focused on Development, which iteratively codes toward value delivery.
The idea of Scrum Values and Roles will hence empower a learner to lay a very strong foundation in Scrum before exploring the Scrum Framework at a more advanced level. This pillar is an important aspect of Coursera’s Google Project Management: Professional Certificate, providing students with the knowledge that will make them Scrum specialists.
Learning objectives
- Identify and differentiate critical roles present in a Scrum team and what makes them effective.
- Explain the pillars of Scrum and how they support Scrum values.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: SCRUM ROLES
1. What is the primary role of the Development Team, also known as Developers?
- Help the team understand why their work matters
- Maximize the value of the product delivered by the team
- Build the product (CORRECT)
- Ensure the team is building the right product
Correct: It is the Development Team’s primary role to construct the product. Its members are accountable for delivering working software, or product increments, during each Sprint in partnership with the Product Owner and the Scrum Master, along with ensuring that the product is developed iteratively to meet the needs of stakeholders.
2. What are the primary responsibilities of a Product Owner? Select all that apply.
- Coaches the Scrum Team
- Makes sure the product or service fulfills the customer’s needs (CORRECT)
- Ensures the Product Backlog is visible and transparent to all (CORRECT)
- Prioritizes the Product Backlog to optimize delivery and value to customers (CORRECT)
The Product Owner must ensure that the product or service meets customer needs. The customer must also prioritize the product backlog and maintain visibility and transparency.
The Product Owner makes sure the Product Backlog is transparent and visible to everyone. The items are prioritized against how well the product or service meets customer requirements.
The Product Owner is responsible for managing the prioritization of the Product Backlog. The Product Owner also monitors the transparency of the items in the Product Backlog and those related to the customers’ interests of the product or service.
While Waterfall is all about predictability, Agile welcomes flexibility. Waterfall resembles a series of stages done linearly and consecutively. Agile implies having the work iterated on a cycle.
3. What is the primary role of the Scrum Master?
- They do the work to build the product.
- They work to continuously maximize the value of the product delivered by the Scrum Team.
- They promote and support the Scrum process by helping everyone understand and implement Scrum. (CORRECT)
- They ensure the team is building the right product.
Correct: Facilitating and management of the Scrum process is the principal responsibility of the Scrum Master, together with accountability for the effectiveness of the Scrum Team.
4. Imagine you are a Scrum Master coaching Developers to embrace the traits of an effective Development Team: being cross-functional, self-organizing, and supportive. Which additional trait should effective Development Teams display?
- They should be customer-oriented. (CORRECT)
- They should work as individuals rather than as a team.
- They should operate independently, without direct oversight from the Product Owner
- They should share expertise in the same discipline.
Correct: It is the Development Team that shapes the product; thus, they will design the product around the needs of the end-user themselves.
Agile Project Management WEEKLY CHALLENGE 2
1. In the three pillars of Scrum Theory, what does inspection refer to? Select all that apply.
- Allowing stakeholders a look into project plans
- Continuously checking in on progress and deliverables to detect any undesirable changes (CORRECT)
- Performing regular evaluations in order to find improvements (CORRECT)
- Conducting timely checks towards the outcome of a sprint goal to detect undesirable variances (CORRECT)
2. In Agile, what is a mission statement?
- A short statement that shows stakeholders what your team’s values are.
- A short statement that helps your team imagine what the work will be like when they’re done.
- A short statement that gives your team something to work towards and stays constant throughout the project. (CORRECT)
- A short statement that explains specific tasks your team members should work on.
3. Fill in the blank: In Scrum, the _____ often assumes the role of the Scrum Master.
- Product Owner
- Stakeholder
- project manager (CORRECT)
- Development Team Member
4. What are some key skills a successful Scrum Master should have? Select all that apply.
- Budgeting
- Coaching (CORRECT)
- Leadership (CORRECT)
- Communication (CORRECT)
5. What two qualities should a successful Development Team possess? Select all that apply.
- Independent
- Self-sufficient
- Cross-functional (CORRECT)
- Self-organizing (CORRECT)
6. What are the key characteristics of successful Product Owners? Select all that apply.
- Independent
- Optimistic (CORRECT)
- Customer-focused (CORRECT)
- Collaborative (CORRECT)
7. A team member is working on a very specific solution involving a new technology. Teammates work together to speed up their progress. With their teammates’ help, they get it across the finish line.
- What core Scrum value is embodied in this scenario?
- Focus (CORRECT)
- Respect
- Openness
- Courage
8. As a project manager organizing a development team, you want to make sure the team has the skills necessary to build the product or carry out the service. Which recommended team trait does this represent?
- supportive
- self-managing
- customer-oriented
- cross functional (CORRECT)
9. Fill in the blank: A Product Owner and project manager typically both have the responsibility of _____.
- timebox management
- Product Backlog management
- team performance management
- stakeholder management (CORRECT)
10. What are some of the tasks Product Owners are responsible for? Select all that apply.
- Deal with vendors and contract negotiations
- Ensure the Product Backlog is visible and transparent to all (CORRECT)
- Continuously maximize the value of the product delivered by the Scrum Team (CORRECT)
- Ensure the team builds the right product or service (CORRECT)
11. What is the main difference between a Scrum Master and a project manager?
- A Scrum Master chiefly acts as a coach and facilitator to the Scrum Team (CORRECT)
- A Scrum Master chiefly acts as a customer liaison to the Scrum Team
- A Scrum Master chiefly acts as the main line of communication between stakeholders and the Scrum Team
- A Scrum Master chiefly acts as a product technical expert to the Scrum Team
12. What is the optimal size of a Development Team?
- 3 to 9 people (CORRECT)
- 1 to 3 people
- 5 to 20 people
- 11 to 15 people
13. Who on the Scrum Team is responsible for meeting customers’ needs and prioritizing the Product Backlog?
- Development Team
- Product Owner (CORRECT)
- Scrum Master
- Project Manager
14. What is one responsibility of both a Product Owner and a project manager?
- Timebox management
- Stakeholder management (CORRECT)
- Product Backlog management
- Team performance management
15. In the three pillars of Scrum, what does transparency mean? Select all that apply.
- Only team members who deal with vendors or stakeholders must be transparent.
- Teams must be upfront and open with all stakeholders, including team members, customers, sponsors, and management. (CORRECT)
- Everyone on the team must be transparent in order to avoid mixed signals, breakdowns of communication, and unnecessary complications. (CORRECT)
- Teams must make the most significant aspects of their work visible to those responsible for the outcome. (CORRECT)
16. In Scrum, the Product Owner is responsible for what? Select all that apply.
- Coaching and facilitating Scrum events
- Ensuring the product or service fulfill the customers’ needs (CORRECT)
- Helping the Developers understand what to build (CORRECT)
- Prioritizing the Product Backlog (CORRECT)
17. What are a Product Owner’s responsibilities? Select all that apply.
- Facilitate Scrum events such as the Sprint Planning and Retrospective
- Help the team understand the overall goal and mission of the project (CORRECT)
- Make sure the product fulfills the customers’ needs (CORRECT)
- Clearly communicate and prioritize the Product Backlog (CORRECT)
18. What are some key skills a successful Scrum Master should have? Select all that apply.
- Budgeting
- Coaching (CORRECT)
- Communication (CORRECT)
- Leadership (CORRECT)
19. Scrum Teams behave according to what core values? Select all that apply.
- Dissension
- Commitment (CORRECT)
- Respect (CORRECT)
- Focus (CORRECT)
- Openness (CORRECT)
20. As a new project begins, the Scrum Team creates processes and structures they believe will help them efficiently complete the project. While they are open to ideas, the team doesn’t want to rely on outside processes to get the work done. Which Development Team trait does this represent?
- Self-organizing (CORRECT)
- Cross-organizing
- Customer-oriented
- Cross-functional
21. Which of the following are responsibilities that a Product Owner would typically have and a project manager would not have? Select all that apply.
- Monitor team performance
- Manage stakeholders
- Create and communicate Product Backlog items (CORRECT)
- Timebox management (CORRECT)
22. Fill in the blank: A Scrum Team should be _____, which means people with different skill sets in the organization work together to complete the project successfully.
- organized
- decisive
- self-disciplined
- cross-functional (CORRECT)
23. What is one difference between a project manager and Scrum Master?
- The project manager is concerned with the team’s performance, while the Scrum Master is concerned with managing the team’s Backlog.
- The project manager prepares the work schedule for the team members and assigns responsibilities, while a Scrum Master coaches the team on Scrum and motivates them. (CORRECT)
- There is no difference between the two.
- The Scrum Master prepares the work schedule for the team members and assigns responsibilities, while a project manager coaches the team on Scrum and motivates them..
24. What are the benefits of locating a team in the same physical space (also known as co-locating)? Select all that apply.
- The team collaborates effectively over video conferencing platforms.
- The team works across time zones by coordinating schedules.
- The team delivers a higher quality of work at a quicker rate. (CORRECT)
- The team gets together quickly to get work done or solve a problem. (CORRECT)
25. Which of the following are the pillars of Scrum Theory?
- Collaboration, transparency, and adaptation
- Adaptation, introspection, and transparency
- Transparency, inspection, and adaptation (CORRECT)
- Introspection, collaboration, and transparency
Correct: The pillars of Scrum Theory are transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
26. Which Scrum value refers to having the grit needed to do the right thing and work on tough problems?
- Respect
- Openness
- Courage (CORRECT)
- Focus
- Commitment
Correct: Courage is what will help you along way in a project where tasks are easy and somewhat complex, requiring a very careful approach. Courage, for example, could mean taking on fairly tough tasks, finding help when necessary, or resolving some undesirable behavior in the group-all of which lead to team resilience.
27. What are the three roles of every Scrum Team?
- Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team (CORRECT)
- Project Manager, Product Team, and Development Team
- Scrum Master, Product Manager, and Development Team
- Project Manager, Product Manager, and Product Team
Correct: Three vital parts exist in every Scrum Team: Scrum Master, Product Owner, and the Development Team.
28. What is the primary responsibility of the Scrum Master?
- They negotiate contracts with vendors.
- They work on things like budget management, risk spreadsheets, or GANTT charts.
- They facilitate Scrum events and coach the Scrum Team. (CORRECT)
- They facilitate traditional project management-oriented work.
Correct: The Scrum Master’s primary responsibility is to act as a facilitator and coach to the Scrum Team.
29. What are some traits Scrum Masters should possess? Select all that apply.
- Coding skills
- Stakeholder management (CORRECT)
- Facilitation skills (CORRECT)
- Leadership skills (CORRECT)
- Organizational skills (CORRECT)
- Coaching skills (CORRECT)
Scrum Masters must possess stakeholder management skills.
Facilitation skills should be possessed by Scrum Masters.
Scrum Masters should be able to lead.
Scrum Masters are expected to be organized.
Scrum Masters need to have some Agile coaching skills.
30. Fill in the blank: A Product Owner’s main task is ensuring the team is _____.
- following directions
- building the right product or service (CORRECT)
- staying on task
- staying on time and on budget
Correct: Ensuring that the team builds a product or service in the right manner is the main responsibilities of the Product Owner.
31. What are some traits of an effective Product Owner? Select all that apply.
- Independent
- Available (CORRECT)
- Optimistic (CORRECT)
- Customer-focused (CORRECT)
- Decisive (CORRECT)
- Flexible (CORRECT)
- Collaborative (CORRECT)
One of the effective characteristics of a suitable product owner is accessibility.
An effective Product Owner should be hopeful.
An effective Product Owner should be people-oriented.
An effective Product Owner should be decisive.
An effective Product Owner should be flexible.
An effective Product Owner should be collaborative.
32. A team member runs into an issue within the project but they aren’t sure how to fix it. They share this problem with the team to ensure everyone is aware of the challenge they encountered.
What core Scrum value is embodied in this scenario?
- Openness (CORRECT)
- Respect
- Commitment
- Focus
33. What are attributes of a project team that uses Scrum development? Select all that apply.
- Customer-oriented (CORRECT)
- Independent
- Cross-functional (CORRECT)
- Self-managing (CORRECT)
34. Which two of the following statements regarding a product vision are correct?
- A product vision tells your team the specific tasks they need to complete.
- A product vision makes it clear where your team’s boundaries are. (CORRECT)
- A product vision is a short statement that stays constant throughout the project.
- A product vision helps your team imagine what the work will be like when they’re done. (CORRECT)
35. Fill in the blank: The Product Owner’s key responsibility is acting as the voice of the _____ within the team.
- stakeholder
- vendor
- organization
- customer (CORRECT)
36. What are some of the main responsibilities of a Scrum Master? Select all that apply.
- Minimizes unhelpful interactions or interruptions coming from outside of the team (CORRECT)
- Facilitates scrum events such as Sprint Retrospectives (CORRECT)
- Acts as the voice of the customer
- Coaching team members to use Agile and Scrum practices (CORRECT)
37. Fill in the blank: Product Owners should be _____.
- customer-focused (CORRECT)
- meeting-facilitators
- cross-functional
- Agile leaders
38. In Scrum, what is the main responsibility of the Development Team?
- Planning the project
- What the project mission statement is
- Determining how a team will deliver a product (CORRECT)
- Help unblock team obstacles so things can get done
39. In Scrum, which role is responsible for ensuring that the right thing is being built?
- Development Team
- Product Owner (CORRECT)
- Scrum Master
- Project Manager
40. What are some tasks Product Owners are responsible for? Select all that apply.
- Deal with vendors and contract negotiations
- Continuously maximize the value of the product delivered by the Scrum Team (CORRECT)
- Ensure the the Product Backlog is visible and transparent to all (CORRECT)
- Ensure the team builds the right product or service (CORRECT)
41. Fill in the blank: In a Scrum team, the Scrum Master often assumes the same responsibilities, and in many ways is similar to the role of the _____.
- Technical Manager
- Project Owner
- Developers
- Project Manager (CORRECT)
42. As part of the Development Team, Gilly is working on a product feature which requires them to use an unfamiliar programming language. Another team member, Sakira, realizes they can help. Sakira decides to pause their current tasks to help Gilly complete the feature. What core Scrum value does this describe?
- Respect
- Courage
- Commitment (CORRECT)
- Openness
43. Your Scrum team encounters an issue with the review process that delays feedback to the team. In order to improve the review process, they reduce the deliverables in each review cycle. Which pillar of Scrum does this describe?
- Malleability
- Adaptation (CORRECT)
- Flexibility
- Transparency
44. Scrum Masters should have which of the following skills? Select all that apply.
- Programming knowledge
- Organization (CORRECT)
- Leadership (CORRECT)
- Facilitation (CORRECT)
45. Who should be skilled in coaching team members on Scrum theory and application?
- Product Owner
- Developers
- Scrum Master (CORRECT)
- Project Manager
46. What are the key characteristics of successful Product Owners? Select all that apply.
- Independent
- Customer-focused (CORRECT)
- Optimistic (CORRECT)
- Collaborative (CORRECT)
47. Which of the following statements regarding a product vision are correct? Select all that apply.
- A product vision is a short statement that stays constant throughout the project.
- A product vision tells your team the specific tasks they need to complete.
- A product vision makes it clear where your team’s boundaries are. (CORRECT)
- A product vision helps your team imagine what the work will be like when they’re done. (CORRECT)
48. In Scrum, the Development Team should operate in what way?
- As hierarchical group
- As a self-organizing group (CORRECT)
- As self-sufficient individuals
- As an independent group
49. A Development Team wants to become more effective. They have a tendency to work as individuals even when a team member is stuck on a task. What trait should they improve upon as a team?
- Supportive (CORRECT)
- Self-organizing
- Customer-oriented
- Cross-functional
50. In Scrum, which role is responsible for the team’s performance and overseeing tasks and progress?
- Product Owner
- Scrum Master
- Development Team
- Project manager (CORRECT)
51. It is the responsibility of the Scrum Master to facilitate Scrum events which positively impact the team. Which of the following is an example of this?
- Retrospectives ( CORRECT)
- Introspectives
- Performance reviews
- Sprints
52. Whose needs is the Product Owner responsible for meeting?
- The customer’s (CORRECT)
- The Scrum Master’s
- The developer’s
- The project manager’s
53. A team member is concerned that the actions of another team member is counterproductive to the Scrum environment. They speak up at the next meeting in order to come to an amicable solution with this team member. What core Scrum value does this describe?
- Respect
- Commitment
- Courage (CORRECT)
- Focus
54. Which Scrum team role is primarily responsible for reconciling conflict between team members?
- Product Owner
- Development Team
- Scrum Master (CORRECT)
- Project Owner
55. When using Scrum, the team repeats project processes in a timebox. What Agile term does this approach represent?
- Iterations (CORRECT)
- Increments
- Inspections
- Increases
56. A Product Owner at your company regularly meets with the team and the stakeholders to ensure that the customer’s needs are being met. What beneficial trait is the Product Owner displaying?
- Collaboration (CORRECT)
- Optimism
- Availability
- Decisiveness
57. Fill in the blank: The Development Team acknowledges that the best products come from teams who are _____.
- cross-organizing
- self-organizing
- co-located
- customer-oriented (CORRECT)
Scrum 101 conclusion
It seems that you have just finished a module on Scrum! You have learned all the three things about Scrum transparency, inspection, and adaptation, as well as how they relate to Scrums. Also, there are the five Scrum Roles- Product Owner Development Team Scrum Master stakeholders Management. This knowledge will help make sure that your collaboration and commitment lead to value in your projects.
So, you really want to dig in or get Scrum certification? You can check out many other online resources on Coursera for further development. Speak to me if you want further information or if you have any queries!