In Scrum, Developers hold specific accountabilities that are essential for delivering value and maintaining the framework's effectiveness. The Development Team, now simply called Developers in the 2020 Scrum Guide, consists of professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable Inc…In Scrum, Developers hold specific accountabilities that are essential for delivering value and maintaining the framework's effectiveness. The Development Team, now simply called Developers in the 2020 Scrum Guide, consists of professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable Increment of Done product at the end of each Sprint.
Developers are accountable for creating a plan for the Sprint, known as the Sprint Backlog. This involves selecting Product Backlog items during Sprint Planning and determining how to accomplish the work. They commit to achieving the Sprint Goal while maintaining flexibility in their approach to reaching it.
Quality remains a core accountability. Developers must adhere to the Definition of Done, ensuring that each Increment meets the agreed-upon quality standards. They are responsible for instilling quality throughout the development process, not treating it as an afterthought.
Developers are self-managing, meaning they decide internally who does what, when, and how. No one outside the team dictates the technical approach or assigns tasks to individual members. This autonomy comes with the responsibility to organize their work effectively and collaborate as a cohesive unit.
During the Sprint, Developers must adapt their plan daily as they learn more about the work. They participate in the Daily Scrum to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog accordingly. Holding each other accountable as professionals is fundamental to their success.
Developers also contribute to Product Backlog refinement, helping the Product Owner understand technical complexity and effort estimates. They collaborate with stakeholders and the Product Owner to clarify requirements and ensure shared understanding.
Ultimately, Developers are accountable for turning Product Backlog items into valuable Increments. Their cross-functional nature means the team collectively possesses all skills needed to create value each Sprint, fostering collaboration over individual specialization and ensuring consistent delivery of working software.
Developers Accountability in Scrum: A Complete Guide for PSPO I Exam
Why Developers Accountability is Important
Understanding Developers accountability is crucial for Product Owners because it defines the boundaries of responsibility within a Scrum Team. When accountability is clear, collaboration becomes more effective, and the Product Owner can focus on maximizing value while trusting the Developers to handle their commitments. This clarity prevents role confusion and ensures the Scrum framework functions as intended.
What is Developers Accountability?
In Scrum, Developers are accountable for:
• Creating a plan for the Sprint, known as the Sprint Backlog • Instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done • Adapting their plan each day toward the Sprint Goal • Holding each other accountable as professionals • Creating a usable Increment each Sprint
The Developers are the professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable Increment of product at the end of each Sprint. They are self-managing, meaning they decide internally how to accomplish their work.
How Developers Accountability Works in Practice
During Sprint Planning, Developers select Product Backlog items and create a plan for delivering them. They own this commitment and are responsible for meeting it.
During the Sprint, Developers manage their own work. They coordinate daily, adapt their approach, and ensure they are progressing toward the Sprint Goal. The Product Owner does not assign tasks or manage their daily work.
The Definition of Done is particularly important. Developers must ensure every Increment meets this standard. If organizational standards exist, Developers must follow them as a minimum. They may also choose stricter criteria.
Key Distinctions to Remember
• The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing value and managing the Product Backlog • The Scrum Master is accountable for the Scrum Team's effectiveness • The Developers are accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment
No one outside the Scrum Team tells Developers how to turn Product Backlog items into Increments of value.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Developers Accountability
Tip 1: When a question asks who decides how work is done, the answer is always the Developers. The Product Owner decides what to build, not how.
Tip 2: Questions about quality and the Definition of Done point to Developers accountability. They own quality standards for their work.
Tip 3: If a scenario describes someone outside the team assigning tasks to Developers, this violates Scrum principles. Developers self-manage their work.
Tip 4: Remember that Developers are accountable to each other. Peer accountability is a core concept in Scrum Teams.
Tip 5: The Sprint Backlog belongs to the Developers. Only they can modify it during the Sprint. The Product Owner may negotiate scope, but Developers decide what fits.
Tip 6: Watch for answers that suggest the Scrum Master or Product Owner directs Developers' daily work. This is incorrect in Scrum.
Tip 7: When questions mention estimation or capacity, remember that only Developers can assess their own capacity and estimate effort for work items.