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Self-Organizing Teams

5 minutes 5 Questions

In Agile project management, self-organizing teams are groups of individuals who coordinate their efforts without the need for a hierarchy or command structure. They decide how to accomplish tasks, allocate resources, and solve problems independently. Agile teams are expected to be self-organizing, which allows them to adapt quickly to changing requirements and continuously improve. This autonomy empowers team members, encouraging collaboration, transparency, and collective decision-making, leading to increased accountability and motivation.

Self-Organizing Teams Guide & Exam Tips

Self-organizing teams are a key component of agile project management, as they empower team members by providing them with the authority to make decisions related to their work. In a self-organizing team, the roles and responsibilities are flexible and can be shared or swapped based on the needs of the project.

Importance: Self-organizing teams promote a high level of collaboration and enhance decision-making speeds. They help to remove operational bottlenecks, deliver faster results, and foster innovation and learning.

How it works: Self-organizing teams follow the principles of shared leadership. Team members collaboratively decide on the ways to distribute tasks and solve problems, with minimal management intervention. Regular team meetings, constructive feedback, and continuous learning are essential components.

Answering Exam Questions: When answering questions about self-organizing teams in an exam, stick to the definition, key characteristics, and working principles. Use real-world examples where possible. Demonstrating clear understanding of the pros and cons of self-organizing teams can also help to score high.

Exam tips: Read the question carefully and answer directly. Avoid drifting off-topic. Be specific, concise, and clear in your responses. Incorporate key agile principles and practices in your answers to demonstrate your understanding.

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Agile Project Management - Agile Team Dynamics Example Questions

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Question 1

In a self-organizing team, when a member consistently underperforms, missing deadlines and affecting the team's progress, what should be the first step according to Scrum principles?

Correct Answer: Team discusses the issue in a retrospective to find solutions collectively.

According to Scrum principles, a self-organizing team addresses challenges and improvements collectively. The first step in managing a member who consistently underperforms is for the team to discuss the issue during a retrospective. This is because Scrum values transparency, inspection, and adaptation, and it relies on the team to figure out solutions to their problems. The retrospective provides a structured format for the team to reflect on their work process, identify areas for improvement, and devise actionable plans, thus making it the ideal setting for addressing underperformance issues. The other options presented are not in line with Scrum principles. Direct intervention by the Scrum Master to address underperformance undermines the concept of a self-organizing team, as it takes away the team's autonomy to manage its internal issues. Reassigning the member to less critical tasks as an immediate response can be a temporary measure but doesn't address the root cause of the underperformance. Consulting with higher management for disciplinary actions goes against the Scrum ethos of team autonomy and collective problem-solving.

Question 2

A new member joins the self-organizing team, but they seem to be more focused on individual work and are reluctant to collaborate. How should the team address this situation?

Correct Answer: Mentor the new member and emphasize the importance of collaboration and team goals in Agile development

Agile methodology encourages collaboration and mentoring. By helping the new member to understand the importance of teamwork, they will be more likely to adapt to Agile practices and contribute efficiently to the team.

Question 3

The self-organizing team is struggling to adapt to a new technology introduced by the company. They are concerned about meeting upcoming deadlines. What is the most suitable course of action?

Correct Answer: Arrange for targeted training sessions for the team to become proficient in the new technology

Agile Project Management encourages continuous learning and improvement. Organizing targeted training sessions will ensure that the team acquires the necessary skills to handle the new technology and support the project's success.

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