Scrum Burn Down Chart

Correct Answer: New tasks have been added to the sprint

If the work left on the Burn Down chart for the sprint is increasing, it means more tasks have been added to the sprint. This is because the Burn Down chart is a graphical representation of work left to do versus time. The chart is supposed to burn down, not up - meaning it should decrease over time as tasks get completed and fewer tasks remain. If the chart is going up, it indicates that tasks are being added to the sprint backlog, making more work left to do. The answer 'The team has completed all the tasks for the sprint' is wrong because if that were the case, the chart would be at zero, not going up. The answer 'There is an issue with how the chart is being updated' could be a possible scenario but not the most likely. If more tasks are added, it will naturally cause the curve to increase. Lastly, the answer 'The team is working faster than expected' would make the chart burn down faster, not increase. Therefore, the most likely issue is that new tasks have been added to the sprint.

Correct Answer: Increased team velocity

A steep decline in the Scrum Burn Down Chart, when the scope remains unchanged, typically indicates an 'Increased team velocity'. This means the team is completing tasks faster than anticipated. The other options do not correctly describe this situation: 'Additional tasks are being added' would likely cause the burn down chart to show less of a decline or even an increase in the remaining work, as new work is being added. 'Decreased team efficiency' would result in a slower decline or a plateau in the chart, not a steep decline. 'Uneven distribution of task complexity' could potentially affect the slope of the burn down chart but is more related to the variability in task completion times rather than the overall rate of progress represented by a steep decline.

Correct Answer: The team likely had some initial impediments or unclear requirements that slowed progress, then resolved them and accelerated, but didn't adapt and take on more work.

The described Burn Down pattern with a slow start, steep drop, and leveling off at the end suggests the team likely encountered some initial impediments or unclear requirements that hindered their progress at the beginning of the sprint. However, they managed to resolve these issues and accelerated their work, resulting in a steep drop in the remaining work. The leveling off at the end indicates they didn't adapt and take on more work, but rather completed the planned work at a sustainable pace. The other answers are incorrect because: The pattern is not ideal, as it shows an uneven progress; It doesn't necessarily imply lack of collaboration or working in silos, as the team did manage to complete the work; and It's not indicative of an unclear Definition of Done, as the work is getting completed by the end of the sprint, just at an uneven pace.