Commitment

5 minutes 5 Questions

Commitment in a Scrum environment is all about the resolve of every team member to reach the agreed goals and deliver the expected outcomes. It involves ensuring an alignment of personal goals with the team and project objectives. Commitment enhances the team's focus, productivity, and quality of w…

Commitment in Scrum

Commitment is a fundamental value in the Scrum methodology.

What is Commitment?
Commitment in Scrum relates to the team's dedication to achieving the goals of the project. It encompasses a conscious decision for the team members to align their personal goals with those of the project and expend necessary effort to deliver high-quality results.

Why is Commitment important?
When team members are committed, it ensures that they will not only work efficiently, but will also be motivated to surpass challenges and continuously improve. It ensures individual accountability, which will thereby enhance the overall performance of the team.

How does it work?
In Scrum, commitment is not merely a verbal agreement, but it is demonstrated by continuous action and involvement in the project's activities. It involves defining and agreeing to Sprint Goals, adhering to the defined Scrum processes and roles, and actively participating in Scrum ceremonies.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Commitment
1. Understand the concept: Comprehend the meaning of commitment in the Scrum context and why it is essential for project's success.
2. Use real-life examples: Examiners often appreciate if you can relate the concept to real-life scenarios.
3. Specificity: Be specific and concise in your answers. Don't digress from the topic.
4. Show Your Understanding: Showcase your understanding of how commitment is demonstrated in Scrum practices.
5. Revise your study notes: Consistently revise your notes to be familiarized with different aspects of commitment in Scrum.

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CSM - Commitment Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Commitment

Question 1

During a Sprint Review, a team member is expressing dissatisfaction over not being able to fulfil all his commitments. As a Scrum Master, how should you approach this issue?

Advise the team member to focus on prioritizing tasks more effectively in the next Sprint, using the Sprint backlog as a guide to ensure all commitments are fulfilled. Suggest reallocating some of the team member's responsibilities to other team members for the next Sprint to ensure all commitments are met. Recommend the team to re-evaluate their Definition of Done to make it less stringent, allowing for a higher likelihood of meeting commitments. Encourage the team member to reflect on what was learned during the Sprint and discuss how this learning can contribute to continuous improvement in future Sprints.

Correct Answer: Encourage the team member to reflect on what was learned during the Sprint and discuss how this learning can contribute to continuous improvement in future Sprints.

The correct approach for a Scrum Master is to help the team member view the situation as a learning opportunity, emphasizing continuous improvement and team growth over merely fulfilling commitments. This fosters a positive environment and encourages the team to view challenges as a part of their development process. The wrong answers, while related to Scrum practices, either shift responsibility, alter core Scrum principles inappropriately, or imply a task-focused rather than a learning-focused mindset.

Question 2

The team failed to meet their Sprint commitment, but they are still optimistic and assure they will be able to commit more in the next Sprint. As a Scrum Master, what is your recommended course of action?

Adopt a cautious approach and advise the team to commit to only what they are confident they can deliver to avoid overcommitment. Encourage the team to refine their definition of 'Done' to make the completion of tasks within the Sprint more achievable. Institute a new policy that requires all team members to log additional hours for the forthcoming Sprint, ensuring all committed items are delivered. Propose a series of skill-building workshops to ensure the team can take on more in the next Sprint.

Correct Answer: Adopt a cautious approach and advise the team to commit to only what they are confident they can deliver to avoid overcommitment.

In Scrum, it's important for teams to commit to work they are confident they can complete within a Sprint to maintain sustainability and predictability. Encouraging the team to overcommit, artificially adjusting the definition of 'Done', or mandating overtime can lead to burnout and reduced team morale, which are contrary to Scrum values such as Respect, Courage, and Openness. The correct answer emphasizes a sustainable pace and realistic commitments, respecting the team's capacity and fostering an environment of trust and openness.

Question 3

During a Sprint Planning meeting, the development team struggles to commit to any work due to a lack of technical knowledge in a new domain. What should the Scrum Master do to help the team?

Encourage the team to commit to a smaller set of deliverables and plan for learning and exploration tasks to gain the necessary knowledge. Suggest that the team extends the Sprint duration to accommodate the time required to acquire the technical knowledge needed to complete the work. Advise the team to commit to the work as usual and raise any issues or impediments related to the lack of technical knowledge during the daily stand-ups. Insist that the team commits to the full scope of work proposed by the Product Owner, regardless of their lack of technical knowledge, to ensure maximum value delivery.

Correct Answer: Encourage the team to commit to a smaller set of deliverables and plan for learning and exploration tasks to gain the necessary knowledge.

The best approach for the Scrum Master is to encourage the team to commit to a smaller set of deliverables and plan for learning and exploration tasks to gain the necessary knowledge. This allows the team to make progress while also addressing their lack of technical knowledge in the new domain. Insisting that the team commits to the full scope of work without considering their lack of knowledge may lead to unrealistic commitments and potential delays. Extending the Sprint duration goes against the Scrum principle of maintaining a consistent Sprint length. Advising the team to commit as usual and raise issues during daily stand-ups may not effectively address the knowledge gap and could lead to the team struggling throughout the Sprint.

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