Scrum SPS Scaled Professional Scrum Exam Practice Test

Answer : B

The most important concern for multiple Scrum Teams when they are working from the same Product Backlog is minimizing dependencies between teams. Dependencies are the relationships or constraints that exist between the work items or the teams that affect the delivery of the product 11. Dependencies can cause delays, rework, waste, and quality issues, and they can reduce the agility and value delivery of the Scrum Teams 2233. Therefore, minimizing dependencies between teams is a critical concern for scaling Scrum effectively 112233.

Statement A is incorrect because meeting original scope projections is not a primary concern for multiple Scrum Teams working from the same Product Backlog. Scrum does not prescribe a fixed scope for the product, but rather embraces change and adaptation based on feedback and learning 44. The Product Backlog is a dynamic and emergent artifact that reflects the current understanding of the product vision, goals, and requirements 44. The Product Owner is responsible for managing the Product Backlog and ordering the items in a way that maximizes the value of the product and the work of the Scrum Teams 44. Therefore, meeting original scope projections is not a relevant or realistic concern for scaling Scrum.

Statement C is incorrect because clear definition of requirements is not the most important concern for multiple Scrum Teams working from the same Product Backlog. While having clear and well-defined requirements is desirable and beneficial for the Scrum Teams, it is not always possible or necessary in a complex and uncertain environment 44. Scrum does not require detailed upfront specifications, but rather encourages empirical discovery and experimentation through frequent delivery and feedback 44. The Product Backlog items are refined and clarified by the Product Owner and the Developers as they collaborate and learn more about the product and the users 44. Therefore, clear definition of requirements is not the most critical concern for scaling Scrum.

Statement D is incorrect because making sure there is enough work for everyone on every team is not the most important concern for multiple Scrum Teams working from the same Product Backlog. Scrum does not focus on maximizing the utilization of the Scrum Team members, but rather on maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Scrum Teams 44. The Scrum Teams are self-organizing and cross-functional, which means they can decide how to do their work and have all the skills needed to create a potentially releasable Increment 44. The Scrum Teams pull work from the Product Backlog in agreement with the Product Owner, and they commit to delivering an Integrated Increment that meets the Nexus Sprint Goal 1144. Therefore, making sure there is enough work for everyone on every team is not the most essential concern for scaling Scrum.

Answer : A

The best answer for this question is A. Integrating more frequently. This answer is correct because integrating more frequently can help the Scrum Teams in a Nexus to detect and resolve integration issues or dependencies earlier and faster, and to deliver a potentially releasable product increment at the end of each Sprint. Integrating more frequently can also reduce the complexity and risk of integration, and increase the quality and feedback of value delivery 112233.

The other answers are not correct for the following reasons:

B . Doing more acceptance testing. This answer is not sufficient because doing more acceptance testing does not address the root cause of the problem, which is the late integration of the work. Acceptance testing can help to verify the quality and functionality of the product increment, but it does not ensure that the integration is done early and often. Moreover, doing more acceptance testing may consume more time and resources, and delay the delivery of the product increment 44.

C . Doing more exploratory testing. This answer is not helpful because doing more exploratory testing does not solve the issue of the late integration of the work. Exploratory testing can help to discover and learn more about the product increment, but it does not guarantee that the integration is done smoothly and quickly. Furthermore, doing more exploratory testing may introduce more uncertainty and variability, and hinder the delivery of the product increment 55.

D . Using Behavior-Driven Development. This answer is not relevant because using Behavior-Driven Development does not directly affect the integration of the work. Behavior-Driven Development is a technique that can help to define and communicate the expected behavior and outcomes of the product increment, but it does not ensure that the integration is done frequently and effectively. Additionally, using Behavior-Driven Development may require more collaboration and coordination, and complicate the delivery of the product increment [6].

E . Investing in more Requirements Traceability. This answer is not useful because investing in more Requirements Traceability does not improve the integration of the work. Requirements Traceability is a practice that can help to track and document the origin and evolution of the product requirements, but it does not ensure that the integration is done timely and efficiently. Also, investing in more Requirements Traceability may increase the overhead and bureaucracy, and slow down the delivery of the product increment [7].

F . All of the above. This answer is not correct because none of the above answers are effective for addressing the issue of the late integration of the work. As explained above, each of the above answers has its own limitations and drawbacks, and does not directly or sufficiently help the Scrum Teams in a Nexus to integrate their work more frequently and successfully. Therefore, the best answer is A. Integrating more frequently.

Answer : A

A Nexus is a framework for scaling Scrum that enables multiple Scrum Teams to work on a single product 1. A Nexus has one Product Backlog, which is an ordered list of the work to be done by the Scrum Teams in the Nexus 1. The Product Backlog has a single source of requirements and priorities for the product, and it is managed by the Product Owner, who is accountable for maximizing the value of the product and the work performed and integrated by the Scrum Teams 1. Having one Product Backlog for a Nexus ensures that the Scrum Teams have a common vision, goal, and alignment for the product 23. Therefore, the statement is true.

Answer : B, D

The purpose of the Nexus Sprint Backlog is to provide a view of dependent Product Backlog items in a Sprint and to make dependencies transparent to the Scrum Teams 15. The Nexus Sprint Backlog is a composite of the Product Backlog items from the Sprint Backlogs of the individual Scrum Teams, and it is used to highlight dependencies and the flow of work during the Sprint. It is updated throughout the Sprint as more is learned 21324354.

The other answers are not correct for the following reasons:

A . To make the work of the Nexus Integration Team transparent. This answer is not accurate because the Nexus Sprint Backlog does not only show the work of the Nexus Integration Team, but also the work of all the Scrum Teams in the Nexus. The Nexus Integration Team is responsible for facilitating the integration and delivery of the work done by the Scrum Teams, but it does not select or assign the work for them 15.

C . To visualize all Product Backlog items. This answer is not true because the Nexus Sprint Backlog does not contain all the Product Backlog items, but only the ones that the developers in the Nexus believe are necessary to achieve the Nexus Sprint Goal. The Product Backlog is the single source of requirements for the product, and it is managed and ordered by the Product Owner 15.

Answer : D

PBI 2 is the most concerning because it involves a cross-team dependency within the same Sprint, which can create challenges and risks for the integration and delivery of the product increment. According to the Online Nexus Guide1, dependencies should be minimized or eliminated as much as possible, and if they exist, they should be made transparent and resolved as early as possible. Cross-team dependencies within the same Sprint can cause delays, conflicts, rework, and waste, and reduce the quality and value of the product increment 234.

The other answers are not correct for the following reasons:

A . PBI 2, because it has the most dependencies. This answer is not accurate because PBI 2 does not have the most dependencies, but only one dependency with PBI 1 from Team Red. PBI 3 has the most dependencies, as it depends on PBI 1, PBI 2, and PBI 4. However, PBI 3 is not as concerning as PBI 2, because its dependencies are not within the same Sprint, but across different Sprints. This means that PBI 3 can be refined and planned in advance, and the teams can coordinate and communicate their work more effectively 5.

B . PBI 1, because it is on the top of the Product Backlog. This answer is not relevant because the position of PBI 1 on the Product Backlog does not indicate its level of concern, but its priority and value. The Product Backlog is ordered by the Product Owner based on various factors, such as business value, risk, complexity, and dependencies. PBI 1 may be on the top of the Product Backlog because it is the most valuable or urgent item, or because it is a prerequisite for other items, but it is not necessarily the most concerning item 6.

C . PBI 1, because it is the first piece of work with a dependency. This answer is not true because PBI 1 is not the first piece of work with a dependency, but the first piece of work that other items depend on. PBI 1 does not have any dependencies itself, but it creates dependencies for PBI 2, PBI 3, and PBI 5. Therefore, PBI 1 is not as concerning as PBI 2, because it does not depend on any other item, and it can be completed independently by Team Red 5.

Answer : A, D, E

Moving away from component teams toward feature teams is a significant change that should be considered carefully. Here are some of the factors that should be taken into account:

Feature teams have less communication overhead than component teams, as they are able to deliver end-to-end customer features without relying on other teams or components 11. This reduces the complexity and the dependencies among the teams, and improves the transparency and the feedback loop. Feature teams also foster more collaboration and cross-functional learning among the team members, as they have to work on different aspects of the product 22.

When making this change, it helps to have support from the organization, as it may require a shift in the culture, the structure, and the processes of the company 33. The organization should provide the necessary resources, training, and coaching to the teams to help them adopt the feature team model. The organization should also align its goals, incentives, and metrics with the feature team approach, and remove any barriers or impediments that may hinder the teams' performance 44.

Productivity may decrease when making this kind of change, as the teams may face some challenges and difficulties in the transition period 55. For example, the teams may have to learn new skills, technologies, or domains that they are not familiar with. The teams may also have to deal with legacy code, technical debt, or integration issues that may slow down their delivery. The teams may also experience some resistance or conflict from the existing component teams or stakeholders. Therefore, the teams should expect some temporary setbacks and losses in productivity, and focus on continuous improvement and adaptation.

The other options are not correct for the following reasons:

With feature teams, it is not easier to calculate the productivity per team, as productivity is not a simple or straightforward metric to measure in software development [6]. Productivity depends on various factors, such as the quality, the value, the complexity, and the customer satisfaction of the product. Moreover, focusing on the productivity per team may create a competitive or individualistic mindset among the teams, rather than a collaborative or collective one. The teams should focus on delivering the best possible product Increment that meets the Product Goal and the Definition of Done, rather than on maximizing their productivity [7].

You can do Scrum without feature teams, as Scrum does not prescribe any specific team structure or organization [8]. Scrum only requires that the Scrum Team is cross-functional, self-organizing, and accountable for delivering a potentially releasable product Increment every Sprint [9]. However, feature teams are generally more aligned with the Scrum values and principles, as they enable the teams to deliver customer-centric features faster and more frequently, and to respond to changes more effectively [10]. Therefore, feature teams are recommended, but not mandatory, for Scrum.

Answer : B

A Nexus Integration Team is not responsible for actually doing the integration work during the Sprint. The Nexus Integration Team is a specialized Scrum Team that provides services and guidance to the Scrum Teams in the Nexus to ensure that the Integrated Increment is produced every Sprint 11. However, the Nexus Integration Team is not accountable for the integration of the work of the individual Scrum Teams, as this is the responsibility of the Scrum Teams themselves 22. The Nexus Integration Team helps the Scrum Teams to coordinate, coach, and supervise the application of Nexus and the operation of Scrum, but it does not take over their work or accountability 33. Therefore, the statement is false.