Single Objective

5 minutes 5 Questions

In Scrum, teams work towards a central goal, typically outlined by the product owner. The benefit of this is that it unites the team under a common purpose, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared responsibility. Each team member knows exactly what they are working towards, enhancing productivi…

Guide: Understanding Single Objective in Scrum & Exam Tips

The Single Objective is a fundamental aspect of Scrum which embodies the principle that each scrum team should have one and only one objective to focus on at any given time. This elevates work efficiency, enhances team focus, and simplifies decision making.

In a Scrum context, this single objective is encapsulated in the Sprint Goal. The Sprint Goal is an agreed-upon objective that is to be achieved during the sprint, providing guidance to Development Team on why it is building the increment.

How it works: During Sprint Planning, the team (which should be cross-functional) and Product Owner collaborate to define the Sprint Goal. This becomes their single objective that guides the team's work throughout the Sprint.

Importance: Having a single objective maintains alignment, motivates the team, helps eliminate distractions, and provides a clear focus hence ensuring value is delivered effectively.

In an exam setting, to answer questions concerning the 'Single Objective', clearly define what it is, state its importance in scrum teams and explain how it influences team behavior and results. Tip: Remember to keep your answers concise, use scrum terms accurately, and relate the single objective concept to practical scenarios where possible.

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PSM I - Single Objective Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Single Objective

Question 1

During a Sprint Review, a disagreement between a stakeholder and a team member occurs concerning a particular Product Backlog Item's functionality. How should you, as a Scrum Master, handle this situation?

Immediately cancel the review meeting to avoid further arguments. Allow them to resolve the conflict themselves. Ensure that a constructive conversation occurs, by asking the product owner to clarify the Product Backlog Item's functionality. Defend the team member's point of view to the stakeholder.

Correct Answer: Ensure that a constructive conversation occurs, by asking the product owner to clarify the Product Backlog Item's functionality.

The Scrum Master's role in a conflict situation is to facilitate respectful and constructive discussions. This might mean engagement with the Product Owner to help explain the functionality of a particular Product Backlog Item (PBI). The answer 'Ensure that a constructive conversation occurs, by asking the product owner to clarify the Product Backlog Item's functionality.' represents this responsibility best. A Scrum Master should not defend a team member's point of view against a stakeholder that would potentially create further divides and conflicts ('Defend the team member's point of view to the stakeholder.'). Similarly, allowing conflicts to resolve themselves without facilitation could lead to resentment or misunderstanding ('Allow them to resolve the conflict themselves.'). Lastly, cancelling the meeting immediately is not productive and does not deal with the conflict at hand ('Immediately cancel the review meeting to avoid further arguments.').

Question 2

You are preparing for a Sprint Retrospective Meeting. A team member suggests using a new retrospective format that might make the meeting run over the time-box. As a Scrum Master, how would you address this scenario?

Authorize an increase in the time-box for the Sprint Retrospective Meeting to accommodate the new format without adjustments. Instruct the team to continue with the current retrospective format to avoid any risk of overrunning the allocated time. Propose a vote on the new format, with the option to revert to the standard format if the meeting seems to risk exceeding the time-box at any point. This wrong answer is intentionally longer to demonstrate that while involving the team in decision-making is important, a vote on procedural changes can be inefficient and not necessarily in line with agile principles, especially when it concerns the format of standard Scrum ceremonies. Explore the suggested retrospective format with the team, ensuring the time-box is respected by potentially adapting parts of the new format to fit.

Correct Answer: Explore the suggested retrospective format with the team, ensuring the time-box is respected by potentially adapting parts of the new format to fit.

As a Scrum Master, it's crucial to encourage innovation and continuous improvement within the team, which includes being open to experimenting with new formats for Scrum ceremonies like the Sprint Retrospective. However, it's also important to respect the Scrum framework's guidelines, such as time-boxing for meetings, to maintain efficiency and focus. The correct answer balances the need for both these aspects by suggesting to adapt the new format within the time-box, thus experimenting while respecting Scrum guidelines. The wrong answers demonstrate various levels of disregarding either the opportunity for improvement or the necessity of adhering to Scrum principles.

Question 3

After the Daily Scrum, two team members are arguing about the quality of the work done by one of them. The argument is heated and the team's synergy is affected. How should you, as a Scrum Master, intervene in this situation?

Organize a retrospective exclusively focused on solving this particular argument, involving the entire team. Invite both team members to share their perspectives in a private setting to understand the root cause. Encourage the rest of the team to vote on the quality of the work to decide who is right. Implement a temporary change in the team's definition of done to prevent such conflicts.

Correct Answer: Invite both team members to share their perspectives in a private setting to understand the root cause.

The correct intervention involves addressing the conflict directly with the parties involved without escalating or expanding the issue unnecessarily to the whole team, which aligns with Scrum's value of respect. The wrong answers, though related to Scrum concepts (e.g., retrospectives, definition of done), either involve unnecessary escalation, undermine self-organization by imposing solutions, or distract from the core issue that needs to be resolved through understanding and collaboration.

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