Cross-team Coordination

Correct Answer: Arrange a Scrum of Scrums meeting to facilitate conversation about integration issues between the teams and work out a joint definition of done.

The best step for a Scrum Master in such a situation is to arrange a Scrum of Scrums meeting to facilitate conversation about integration issues between the teams and work out a joint definition of Done. This promotes collaboration, transparency, and forward progress. The Scrum of Scrums is a technique used when multiple teams are working on the same product, allowing teams to sync on work that might otherwise remain in silos. The Scrum Master's role is to foster self-organization and ensure a conducive environment for the teams to achieve their goals. Directly intervening and dictating the definition of Done would conflict with self-organization. Changing the sprint goal midway is counter to Scrum principles, as the sprint goal should remain unchanged once set. And lastly, arranging separate meetings would not foster the necessary communication and collaboration between the teams, which is the real issue at hand.

Correct Answer: Initiate a cross-team Retrospective to discuss challenges and collaborate on improvement strategies.

The correct answer focuses on active collaboration and problem-solving between the teams, leveraging Scrum's principle of transparency, inspection, and adaptation. The first wrong answer falsely assumes that merely documenting and exchanging workflows will solve communication problems without real-time discussion or collaboration. The second wrong answer disregards the need for a strategy when introducing new tools, potentially adding more complexity without solving the underlying issue. The third wrong answer is longer and suggests a passive approach that does not ensure the teams will actually address and solve their communication problems together.

Correct Answer: Facilitate communication between the teams and drive a conversation to better align the teams' sprint goals with the overall project timeline.

The best way to address this issue is captured in the answer 'Facilitate communication between the teams and drive a conversation to better align the teams' sprint goals with the overall project timeline.' This approach aligns with the spirit of Scrum, as the Scrum Master plays a facilitative role instead of having absolute power over the team members. This is why 'Manage the other team’s work to ensure they deliver components on time' is not the best answer. Additionally, 'Directly communicate to the other team's Product Owner about their tardiness and demand adjustments' is not suitable, as this might incorrectly suggest exerting authority over the Product Owner, which is not in line with the Scrum Master's role. Lastly, 'Keep focusing on your own team's work, hoping the other team will eventually catch up' is not proactive enough, and does not ensure that the issue will be resolved.