Scrum Artifacts

5 minutes 5 Questions

Scrum Artifacts are key tools used in Scrum projects to provide information and value. These include the Product Backlog, the Sprint Backlog, and the Increment. The Product Backlog is a comprehensive list of all items to be done by the Scrum Team. It provides transparency about what the team will w…

Guide on Scrum Artifacts

What are Scrum Artifacts?
Scrum Artifacts are tools used in Scrum methodology to provide key information about the project progress. They include the Product Backlog, the Sprint Backlog, and the Increment. These documents provide everyone with a clear view of the project status.

Why are they important?
Scrum Artifacts are important because they provide transparency and opportunities for inspection and adaptation. They are essential tools to control the project's direction and to anticipate potential issues.

How do they work?
The Product Backlog is a prioritized list of features prepared by the Product Owner for the product. The Sprint Backlog is what the team prepares for the upcoming Sprint. The Increment is the sum of all completed items during a Sprint.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Scrum Artifacts
Understanding Scrum Artifacts requires you to understand the roles and the process involved in Scrum methodology. Remember:- The Product Backlog is managed by the Product Owner and it contains a list of user stories. - The Sprint Backlog is the plan for the next Sprint and is managed by the Scrum Team. - The Increment is the result of the work done during a Sprint and should be a working part of the software.
Always carefully read the question and answers, as nuances in the wording can hint at the correct answer.

Test mode:

Exam (Timed)

Practice (With explanations)

Start practice test

CSM - Scrum Artifacts Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Scrum Artifacts

Question 1

You are a Scrum Master. While conducting the Daily Scrum, you notice that the team is not updating the Product Backlog regularly, resulting in incomplete Increment at the end of the Sprint. What is the best way to handle this situation?

Coach the Development Team on the importance of keeping the Product Backlog updated and aligned with the progress of the project. Suggest pausing the current Sprint and focusing solely on refinement activities until the Product Backlog is fully updated, ensuring no incomplete Increments. Directly assign Product Backlog items to team members for them to update, ensuring everyone has a specific task. Arrange for a separate meeting with the Product Owner to revise the Product Backlog without involving the development team.

Correct Answer: Coach the Development Team on the importance of keeping the Product Backlog updated and aligned with the progress of the project.

As a Scrum Master, coaching and facilitating understanding within the Development Team regarding Scrum processes and their importance is crucial. The correct answer involves helping the team understand the significance of an up-to-date Product Backlog for the project's success. Assigning Product Backlog items directly goes against Scrum values of self-organization. Revising the Product Backlog without the development team undermines team collaboration and the importance of collective ownership. Lastly, pausing a Sprint to focus only on backlog refinement is not aligned with Scrum principles, as it disrupts the flow of delivering value through continuous work cycles.

Question 2

As a Scrum Master, you have noticed that the Product Owner is not able to maintain the Product Backlog effectively, leading to confusion and delay in completing the items in the Sprint. What would be the best approach to rectify this situation?

Encourage the Development Team to directly contact stakeholders for clarification on backlog items. Organize a Product Backlog refinement workshop with the Product Owner, Development Team, and stakeholders to collectively define and prioritize backlog items, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives and understanding. Given the greater involvement, this might initially seem like a comprehensive approach yet may lead to decision paralysis and dilute the Product Owner's accountability and ability to prioritize based on value. Collaborate with the Product Owner to adequately prioritize and refine the Product Backlog. Suggest the Product Owner to use more detailed User Stories to avoid confusion.

Correct Answer: Collaborate with the Product Owner to adequately prioritize and refine the Product Backlog.

The Scrum Master's role includes coaching and facilitating the Scrum Team and its environment to understand Scrum practices. Collaborating with the Product Owner to prioritize and refine the Product Backlog is in alignment with scrum values of openness, respect, and commitment. Other options like suggesting more detailed User Stories or encouraging the Development Team to bypass the Product Owner could lead to further confusion or misalignment. While involving multiple stakeholders in backlog refinement can provide value, it should not substitute the structured collaboration between the Scrum Master and the Product Owner to effectively manage the backlog. The correct answer focuses on empowering the Product Owner with the tools and techniques needed to manage the backlog effectively, reflecting a scrum master's facilitatory role.

Question 3

As a Scrum Master, you notice that the Product Owner is constantly changing the scope of Sprint Backlog during the Sprint, causing disruptions and low morale among the Development Team members. What's the right thing to do?

Implement a change control board involving key stakeholders to review and approve any changes to the Sprint Backlog proposed by the Product Owner. Encourage the Development Team to adjust their working pace to accommodate the Product Owner's requirements, fostering a more adaptive and responsive workflow. Schedule an immediate Sprint Review meeting to reassess the Sprint Goals and Backlog with the full Scrum Team and stakeholders, ensuring alignment and understanding. Discuss the issue with the Product Owner emphasizing the importance of respecting the agreed Sprint Goals and the concept of Sprint Backlog being a forecast of the work to be done.

Correct Answer: Discuss the issue with the Product Owner emphasizing the importance of respecting the agreed Sprint Goals and the concept of Sprint Backlog being a forecast of the work to be done.

The correct action aligns with the Scrum Guide, which emphasizes the importance of the Scrum Team respecting the negotiated Sprint Goals and understanding that the Sprint Backlog is a forecast by the Development Team about what will be done during the Sprint. Changes can be made by the Development Team as long as the Sprint Goal remains intact. The incorrect answers, though plausible in certain contexts, either do not directly address the core issue of protecting the team from disruptions during the Sprint, introduce unnecessary bureaucracy, or mistakenly advise adjusting the team's pace, which could further harm morale and productivity.

🎓 Unlock Premium Access

Certified ScrumMaster + ALL Certifications

🎓 Access to ALL Certifications: Study for any certification on our platform with one subscription
3861 Superior-grade Certified ScrumMaster practice questions
Unlimited practice tests across all certifications
Detailed explanations for every question
CSM: 5 full exams plus all other certification exams
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed: Full refund if unsatisfied
Risk-Free: 7-day free trial with all premium features!

Start Your Free 7-Day Trial