Development Team

5 minutes 5 Questions

The Development Team comprises of professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable Increment of 'Done' product at the end of each Sprint. A 'Done' increment is required at the Sprint review. Only members of the Development Team create the Increment. They are structured and empow…

Guide: Understanding the Development Team in Scrum (PSM I)

The Development Team is a key component of the Scrum framework. It consists of professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable Increment of 'Done' product at the end of each Sprint. The Development Team is structured and empowered by the organization to organize and manage their own work.

Importance: A self-organizing, cross-functional team is at the heart of Scrum. The Development team has the autonomy to decide how to best accomplish their work rather than being directed by others outside the team.

How it Works: The Development Team is responsible for turning Product Backlog items into a potentially releasable Increment by the end of the Sprint, or sooner if possible. The team has full autonomy over technical practices and has the final say in deciding what will be delivered at the end of a Sprint.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Development Team: Understanding the nature and purpose of Development Team in Scrum is essential for the PSM-I exam.

- Always remember that the Development Team is self-organizing and cross-functional. It doesn't contain any sub-teams and has no titles amongst team members.
- A key principle is that no one (not even the Scrum Master or the Product Owner) tells the Development Team how to turn Product Backlog into Increments of potentially releasable functionality.
- The size of the team is typically between 3-9 members.
- Highlight the importance of team members having T-shaped skills - they need to have one or more areas of deep expertise and an ability and willingness to perform all other tasks within the team when needed.

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PSM I - Development Team Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Development Team

Question 1

In a retrospective, some members of the Development Team suggest they would benefit from adopting a new technology, but others are resistant due to the learning curve. What's the best action?

The reluctant team members should be forced to learn the new technology. The Scrum Master should make the final decision. Those who suggested the new technology should start using it and the rest should follow eventually. The Development Team should discuss the pros and cons, estimate the learning curve impact on productivity, and make a consensus decision.

Correct Answer: The Development Team should discuss the pros and cons, estimate the learning curve impact on productivity, and make a consensus decision.

The best action would be for the Development Team to have a collaborative discussion about the potential advantages and disadvantages of adopting the new technology. Determining the impact of the learning curve on productivity is also crucial to make a balanced decision. This approach aligns with Agile and Scrum principles that emphasize team collaboration, shared responsibility and decision-making. The idea that the Scrum Master should make the final decision or that the reluctant team members should be forced to learn the new technology contradicts these principles as it takes away from the autonomy of the team and can lead to negative outcomes. Similarly, having some team members begin using the new technology while others catch up over time may lead to discontinuity in the team's output and functioning.

Question 2

During a sprint, a Development Team member identifies a potential improvement to an existing feature that is beyond the scope of the current sprint goal. How should the member proceed?

Bring up the potential improvement in the Daily Scrum to immediately pivot the sprint focus towards this new direction, leveraging collective wisdom. The team member should update the sprint backlog themselves, reallocating tasks to accommodate the improvement within the current sprint. The team member should take note of the improvement for discussion in the next Sprint Planning meeting to evaluate its alignment with the product backlog and future sprint goals. The team member should prepare a detailed presentation on the potential improvement, including a cost-benefit analysis, to present at the Sprint Review for stakeholder feedback.

Correct Answer: The team member should take note of the improvement for discussion in the next Sprint Planning meeting to evaluate its alignment with the product backlog and future sprint goals.

The correct approach to handle a potential improvement identified outside the current sprint goal is to bring it up in an appropriate Scrum event aimed at planning work, such as the Sprint Planning meeting. This approach ensures that any changes to the scope align with the product owner's vision and the product backlog priorities, maintaining the focus of the current sprint on its original goals. The wrong answers suggest methods that either bypass necessary discussions with the Product Owner and the Development Team or disrupt the current sprint's focus and goals.

Question 3

A development team in an Agile project has been slow at responding to critical issues during the sprint. What component of the Agile methodology would help the team address this problem?

Technical Design Session Sprint Review Meeting Daily Stand-up Meeting Product Backlog Refinement Meeting Team Capacity Planning Meeting Sprint Retrospective Meeting

Correct Answer: Daily Stand-up Meeting

The Daily Stand-up Meeting is a short 15-minute meeting held every day to discuss the progress, identify any impediments, and facilitate better communication and collaboration among the team members.

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