Co-location and Distributed Scrum

Correct Answer: Use collaborative tools that allow asynchronous communication and changes tracking.

In a distributed Scrum team, the ideal solution to address collaboration issues due to time zone differences would be to 'Use collaborative tools that allow asynchronous communication and changes tracking.' This allows teams to communicate and collaborate without everyone needing to be available at the same time. Documents, progress updates, and changes can be tracked and reviewed at convenience, which reduces the dependency on real-time communication. As for the other options, 'Ignore the complexity in the task and continue as planned' is not ideal as it will not solve the existing problem but will prolong it, compromising the team's productivity and quality of work. 'Ask team members to work outside their regular working hours to overlap' might seem like a solution but it could lead to burnout and affect job satisfaction negatively. Finally, 'Assign complex tasks to only one location' contradicts the spirit of a Scrum team that promotes shared responsibility of tasks and problems. It might also lead to overburdening of the team at one location and under-utilization of the team at another.

Correct Answer: Switch to video conference calls to assist in visual communication and interpretation.

The best approach to resolving issues with interpreting body language in a distributed team that relies on audio-only conference calls is to switch to video conference calls. This provides a platform where visual cues can be used to augment communication, thus making interpretation of intentions, mood, and emphasis more effective and accurate. Insisting on in-person meetings for all sprint planning is an unrealistic and potentially costly solution, especially if team members are geographically dispersed. Depending solely on verbal communication discounts the substantial impact of non-verbal cues in communication, which can lead to misunderstandings. Limiting team members to those in similar locations can significantly limit the talent pool and does not guarantee effective communication. Therefore, these options, although plausible, are not as effective as the recommended solution of switching to video conference calls.

Correct Answer: Analyze the reasons for the lag and work with the team to find solutions, perhaps adjusting the sprint length or backlog.

The role of a Scrum Master includes coaching the team and helping them overcome challenges. Therefore, the best choice is to analyze the reasons for the lag and work with the team to find solutions. This could include adjusting the sprint length or backlog. It's about understanding the problem and finding a sustainable solution. The other options are not advisable for a Scrum Master: Forcing the team to work overtime can lead to burnout and reduced quality of work. Ignoring the issue doesn't resolve the problem and it could eventually impact other teams or the entire project. Blaming the team may harm the team morale and it's not a constructive way to problem-solve in Scrum.