Scrum vs XP Engineering Practices

Correct Answer: Refactoring, which involves continuously improving the code design without changing its external behavior.

Refactoring is the most impactful XP practice to adopt for improving code maintainability and reducing technical debt. Refactoring involves continually improving the code's design without altering its external behavior. By regularly refactoring, the team can keep the codebase clean, readable, and maintainable over time. This practice helps in managing complexity, removing duplication, and ensuring the code remains flexible for future changes. Planning Poker is primarily used for estimation and does not directly impact code maintainability. Pair Programming can lead to better code quality but may not be as effective as refactoring in reducing technical debt across the entire codebase. Small Releases help in delivering working software frequently but do not guarantee maintainable code on their own.

Correct Answer: In Scrum, the sprint backlog is not expected to be changed, but in XP, changes are acceptable within iterations.

In Scrum, once a sprint has started, its backlog is not expected to be changed or modified. The team commits to deliver the selected product backlog items and its respective user stories. It maintains a steady work pace to avoid any disruption within the sprint duration. However, in Extreme Programming (XP), changes can be introduced within iterations. XP is more flexible and encourages modifications as it is more focused on customer satisfaction. This allows XP to continuously adapt to the customer's needs and requirements. The other answers are incorrect because: - 'Scrum welcomes changes at any point in the sprint just as XP.' This is wrong as Scrum does not welcome changes once a sprint has started. - 'Under no circumstances will changes be entertained in XP just as in Scrum.' This is incorrect as XP welcomes changes within iterations. - 'Both Scrum and XP never allow changes once the project has begun.' This is wrong as it contradicts the original philosophy of XP that encourages flexibility and customer satisfaction.

Correct Answer: Observe his XP expertise in operation and consider if any can be beneficially assimilated into your team's current Scrum practices.

The best approach in this scenario is to 'Observe his XP expertise in operation and consider if any can be beneficially assimilated into your team's current Scrum practices.' Scrum is an adaptive and iterative method and encourages assimilation of practices that can improve the process. Forcing a new team member to abandon all his XP practices is not collaborative nor respectful. It may also eliminate potentially beneficial practices. Working only with the new member and following XP while others follow Scrum would lead to fragmentation and inconsistency in the team. Planning a complete switch to XP based on a single team member's recommendation, without exhaustive evaluation, isn't diligent management.