Resolving Impediments

Correct Answer: Shield the team member from external distractions and handle the interference directly.

The ScrumMaster's duty is to facilitate the Scrum framework within their teams, this includes shielding the team from distractions and interruptions that could undermine their productivity. Hence, they must take steps to handle the interference and protect the team member. The other options are inappropriate. Ignoring the issue does nothing to solve it, and can actually perpetuate the problem. Escalating the issue to penalize the stakeholder may lead to conflicts and misunderstandings, and doesn't reflect a collaborative approach encouraged in Scrum. Asking the team member to work extra hours might address the immediate challenges but is not a sustainable solution, as it can lead to burnout and reduces the time available for the team member to handle their tasks during normal working hours.

Correct Answer: Facilitate a discussion between the product owner and the team to align on priorities.

The most effective way for a ScrumMaster to handle frequent requirement changes by a product owner is to facilitate a discussion between the product owner and the team to align on priorities. This approach encourages collaboration and understanding, ensuring that everyone is on the same page regarding the project's goals and constraints. It allows the team to adjust to changes in a controlled manner, minimizing disruptions while maintaining the project's momentum. The alternative options, such as asking the product owner to only discuss changes during the sprint review, limiting the number of changes per sprint, or requiring changes to be submitted in writing two weeks in advance, do not address the core issue of ensuring alignment and understanding between the team and the product owner. These alternatives could also introduce unnecessary rigidity into the agile process, potentially stifling innovation and adaptation. The recommended approach balances the need for flexibility with the necessity of maintaining a clear and shared vision for the project.

Correct Answer: Facilitate a discussion within the team to identify potential solutions and encourage them to collaborate and share knowledge to overcome the impediment.

The best approach for the ScrumMaster is to facilitate a discussion within the team to identify potential solutions and encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing to overcome the impediment. This aligns with the Scrum values of openness, courage, and respect, as well as the ScrumMaster's role as a servant leader who enables the team to self-organize and find solutions to their challenges. Escalating the issue to management goes against the principle of self-organization and may undermine the team's autonomy. Assigning the task to a single experienced developer fails to leverage the collective knowledge and problem-solving abilities of the team. Postponing the current sprint and dedicating the next sprint solely to resolving the issue may be an overreaction and could disrupt the team's momentum and value delivery.