Facilitation Techniques

5 minutes 5 Questions

Facilitation techniques are the methods used by Scrum Master to guide meetings, discussions, decision-making processes, conflict resolution, or problem-solving sessions in a neutral manner. These techniques can vary widely depending on the goals, team dynamics, and context. The aim is to promote fu…

Guide on Facilitation Techniques

Importance of Facilitation Techniques:
Facilitation Techniques are integral tools in any Agile or Scrum environment. They enable a Scrum Master to guide discussions, aid decision-making, and promote effective teamwork. Quality facilitation boosts team performance and helps to achieve consensus among team members.

What are Facilitation Techniques:
Facilitation Techniques include a variety of methodologies intended to guide group discussions and decision-making processes. Examples include brainstorming exercises, SWOT analysis, and the Nominal Group Technique. They aim to make the decision-making process efficient, inclusive, and collaborative.

How Facilitation Techniques work:
Facilitation Techniques guide the information flow, maintain constructive communication, generate new ideas and reach agreements within the team. The Scrum Master or facilitator implements these techniques to ensure all voices are heard and the team reaches a solution or decision effectively.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Facilitation Techniques:
1. Understand the core principles of each technique.
2. Be able to describe how different techniques can be applied in varying scenarios.
3. Refer to real-life examples whenever possible.
4. Ensure you understand the role of the facilitator in each technique. Their role is to guide, not dictate the discussion.
5. Review questions and practice exams to get an idea of what to expect.

Facilitation Techniques are key competencies for effective Scrum Masters and understanding these methods is crucial for PSM I certification.

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PSM I - Facilitation Techniques Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Facilitation Techniques

Question 1

During a sprint retrospective, the team is divided on how to improve their process. Some want to keep the current approach, while others advocate for significant changes. What facilitation technique can help the team reach a consensus?

Encourage the team to discuss the pros and cons of each approach, but ultimately allow the majority to decide, as consensus may not always be possible in the given timeframe. Use a decision-making framework like the Decider Protocol to guide the team towards a mutually agreeable solution, ensuring all perspectives are considered. Ask the team to vote on the proposed changes and implement the option with the most votes, regardless of the minority's concerns. As the facilitator, make an executive decision based on your expertise and enforce the changes you believe are best for the team, even if some disagree.

Correct Answer: Use a decision-making framework like the Decider Protocol to guide the team towards a mutually agreeable solution, ensuring all perspectives are considered.

Using a decision-making framework like the Decider Protocol is the best approach in this situation. This technique allows the team to consider all perspectives and work towards a mutually agreeable solution. It ensures that everyone's voice is heard and helps the team reach a consensus through a structured process. Simply voting and implementing the option with the most votes disregards the concerns of the minority, which can lead to resentment and lack of buy-in. Making an executive decision as the facilitator undermines the team's autonomy and collaborative nature of the retrospective. Discussing pros and cons but ultimately allowing the majority to decide may not result in the best outcome, as valuable insights from the minority could be overlooked. By using a decision-making framework, the team can have a constructive discussion, consider all viewpoints, and arrive at a decision that everyone can support, even if it's not their first choice. This approach fosters team unity and commitment to continuous improvement.

Question 2

The development team is discussing how to meet the sprint goal, but the team is divided on two different approaches. Which facilitation technique could help the team reach a consensus?

Using a Decision Matrix to evaluate all possible options based on predefined criteria, which involves a more complex and detailed analysis. Dot Voting Consensus Workshop Multi-voting

Correct Answer: Multi-voting

Multi-voting is a facilitation technique that helps a group to quickly see which options are most popular or preferred among them. It is a democratic way to reach consensus when the team is divided. Dot Voting is often confused with Multi-voting but is more about individual preferences rather than group consensus. Consensus Workshop is a structured process to build agreement but might be too comprehensive for some situations. Using a Decision Matrix is an analytical approach and not typically a facilitation technique used by teams to reach consensus on how to meet a sprint goal.

Question 3

You are facilitating a review meeting, and you find team members are getting defensive when their work is being critiqued. What facilitation technique can help in fostering a healthy discussion?

Retrospective Aikido Systemic Team Coaching which involves understanding team dynamics and employing interventions that consider the team's environment, history, and future aspirations, aiming to improve overall team performance and relationships. Non-Violent Communication Solution-Focused Coaching

Correct Answer: Non-Violent Communication

Non-Violent Communication is a technique that focuses on empathetic listening and speaking in a way that fosters respect and mutual understanding, even when giving or receiving negative feedback. This can help in preventing team members from getting defensive during a review meeting, as it emphasizes the importance of constructing feedback in a manner that can be heard and understood without triggering defensiveness. 'Retrospective Aikido' and 'Solution-Focused Coaching' are fictional concepts created to distract from the correct answer. Systemic Team Coaching, while a valid approach to enhancing team performance through a deep understanding of team dynamics, is not specifically tailored to handling defensiveness in review meetings as Non-Violent Communication is.

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