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Cross-functional Teams in Scrum

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Cross-functional teams are pivotal in Scrum as these enable diverse knowledge and skills to contribute to product development. Irrespective of the industry, such teams drive innovation, improve problem-solving, and reduce dependencies on other teams. In manufacturing, these teams can handle design, production, and quality control tasks, thereby accelerating product delivery. In digital marketing, cross-expertise can optimize campaigns addressing design, content, SEO, and analytics. Hence, the concept of cross-functional teams is crucial in applying Scrum across sectors.

Guide: Cross-functional Teams in Scrum

What is it?
Cross-functional Teams in Scrum is the concept of having a team that consists of individuals with varied experience and skills, working together towards a common goal thereby enhancing productivity and innovation in Scrum framework.

Why is it important?
Cross-functional teams are integral to Scrum as they help in sharing varied insights and expertise, fostering team collaboration and pushing boundaries for innovation and creativity, making problem-solving efficient and effectual.

How does it work?
Cross-functional teams in Scrum work holistically, that is, each member contributes through their distinct skills and experiences to deliver the project in an innovative way. This team structure also fosters a high degree of communication and cooperation among team members, facilitating continuous learning and improvement.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Cross-functional Teams in Scrum
1. Thorough Understanding: Grasp the concept of cross-functional teams, how they function and their role in Scrum.
2. Team Structure: Be aware of the team structure and the importance of having a varied mix of skills.
3. Collaboration & Communication: Understand the role of collaboration and communication in such teams.
4. Problem Solving: Acknowledge how cross-functional teams improve problem solving, leading to improved performance and outcomes.

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PSM I - Applying Scrum to Various Industries Example Questions

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Question 1

There's a task that requires both frontend and backend development skills. Your Scrum team consists of members who are specialized in either one. As the Scrum Master, how should you manage this situation to ensure cross-functionality?

Correct Answer: Encourage the team members to pair up - frontend with backend - promoting knowledge sharing and cooperation.

The correct approach in Scrum is to encourage cross-functionality and collaboration within the team. Pairing up team members with different skills (frontend with backend) promotes knowledge sharing and helps in building a versatile team over time. Creating separate sprints or consulting with external experts, while it might seem practical, does not foster team unity or skill enhancement for future projects. Reorganizing the team into specialized sub-teams contradicts the Scrum principle of having cross-functional teams that can self-organize to complete tasks. The aim is to encourage learning and adaptability within the team, ensuring they grow to handle diverse tasks collectively.

Question 2

Your Scrum team consists of software developers and quality assurance engineers. However, there's a deliverable that requires graphic designing skills. What would be your best approach as a Scrum Master?

Correct Answer: Coach the team on the fundamentals of cross-functional collaboration and facilitate the process of integrating a temporary graphics designer to impart essential skills to the team.

A key responsibility of a Scrum Master is to promote and support Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. This includes coaching the Scrum Team in self-management and cross-functionality. Hiring a temporary graphic designer to train the team enhances their skills and adheres to the principle of building a cross-functional team without permanently altering the team composition based on a singular need. The wrong answers, while plausible in certain contexts, do not directly address the challenge of enhancing the team's capabilities to meet current and future requirements as effectively as the correct answer does.

Question 3

As a Scrum Master, you notice that a developer in your Scrum Team is overloaded with tasks while a QA engineer has a much lighter workload. What would be the best course of action to ensure a balanced workload and foster cross-functionality?

Correct Answer: Promote a skill-swapping session where the team gets to share their current tasks and volunteer to take on tasks that might help broaden their skill set.

The best approach for a Scrum Master in this scenario is to encourage teamwork and self-organization by promoting a skill-swapping session. This allows for a balance in workload and fosters cross-functionality by encouraging team members to volunteer for tasks outside of their usual responsibilities, broadening their skill set. Forcing task delegation, setting strict task rotation without considering project needs, or implementing long training programs are less effective and can disrupt project progress and team morale.

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