T-shaped Skills

Correct Answer: Identify the skill gap, provide appropriate trainings, slowly change the task allocation strategy to utilize the gained skill set

The answer 'Identify the skill gap, provide appropriate trainings, slowly change the task allocation strategy to utilize the gained skill set' is the best approach. As a Scrum Master, it is essential to identify areas which need development in the team, provide necessary training for the team members and then gradually allocate tasks based on the new skills acquired. This method ensures that team members smoothly transition to their new roles without feeling overwhelmed. The answer 'Ask each team member to choose a new skill they want to learn and leave them to self-study' lacks direction and control. Giving total freedom may end up with certain skills being over represented and some crucial ones lacking'Hire a new team member with T-shaped skills to complete all the tasks' indicates a misunderstanding about T-shaped skills. T-shaped skills refer to individuals who have deep knowledge in one field (the vertical stroke of the T) and a broad understanding of other areas (the horizontal stroke). Hiring one individual will not help the current team transitionLikewise, 'Force all current team members to quickly learn and implement a new skill simultaneously' sounds impractical and ineffective. Forcing team members to quickly learn new skills can lead to inefficient learning and poor understanding. The pace of learning new skills is also different for each individual.

Correct Answer: Facilitate a skills mapping exercise to identify areas where team members can cross-train and support each other

In a Scrum team with diverse skills, the Scrum Master should facilitate a skills mapping exercise to identify areas where team members can cross-train and support each other. This approach leverages the team's T-shaped skills, allowing them to share knowledge and collaborate effectively. By understanding each team member's primary expertise and secondary skills, the team can adapt and support one another throughout the project, ensuring a successful delivery. Assigning tasks strictly based on primary expertise, focusing only on core strengths, or breaking down the project into skill-specific subteams would not take full advantage of the team's T-shaped skills and could lead to silos, reduced collaboration, and potential delays in the project.

Correct Answer: Developing T-shaped skills would allow team members to better support one another and enhance overall productivity

Fostering T-shaped skills in an agile team enables everyone to contribute meaningfully across multiple roles and tasks. This leads to improved collaboration, better knowledge sharing, and higher productivity among team members.