The Scrum Team is a small, cross-functional unit designed to deliver value incrementally. It consists of exactly three accountabilities: the Product Owner, the Scrum Master, and the Developers. This composition ensures that the team has all the skills necessary to create a valuable product incremen…The Scrum Team is a small, cross-functional unit designed to deliver value incrementally. It consists of exactly three accountabilities: the Product Owner, the Scrum Master, and the Developers. This composition ensures that the team has all the skills necessary to create a valuable product increment each Sprint.
The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. They manage the Product Backlog, ensuring it is transparent, visible, and understood. The Product Owner makes decisions about what features to build and in what order, representing stakeholder interests and business needs.
The Scrum Master serves the team by promoting and supporting Scrum practices. They help everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values. The Scrum Master removes impediments that block the teams progress and facilitates Scrum events as needed.
The Developers are the professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable Increment each Sprint. They are cross-functional, meaning collectively they possess all the skills needed to create product value. Developers self-manage to decide how to accomplish their work and are accountable for creating a plan for the Sprint (the Sprint Backlog), instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done, and adapting their plan each day toward the Sprint Goal.
Scrum Teams are typically 10 or fewer people. Smaller teams communicate better and are more productive. If teams become too large, they should consider reorganizing into multiple cohesive Scrum Teams, each focused on the same product.
The entire Scrum Team is accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment every Sprint. There are no sub-teams or hierarchies within a Scrum Team. The team operates as a cohesive unit of professionals focused on one objective at a time: the Product Goal.
Scrum Team Composition: A Complete Guide for PSPO-I Exam Success
Why Scrum Team Composition Matters
Understanding Scrum Team composition is fundamental to the Product Owner role because you work closely with every member of the Scrum Team. The way a Scrum Team is structured affects product delivery, stakeholder satisfaction, and overall agility. For the PSPO-I exam, questions about team composition test whether you truly understand collaborative product development.
What is a Scrum Team?
A Scrum Team is a small, self-managing unit responsible for all product-related activities. According to the Scrum Guide, a Scrum Team consists of exactly three accountabilities:
1. Product Owner - One person accountable for maximizing the value of the product and managing the Product Backlog
2. Scrum Master - One person accountable for the Scrum Team's effectiveness and helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice
3. Developers - Professionals who create any aspect of a usable Increment each Sprint
Important Note: The Scrum Guide uses 'Developers' to describe anyone who contributes to creating the Increment, not just programmers. This includes testers, designers, analysts, and other specialists.
Key Characteristics of a Scrum Team
• Small Size: Typically 10 or fewer people. Smaller teams communicate better and remain productive.
• Cross-functional: The team collectively possesses all skills needed to create value each Sprint.
• Self-managing: The team decides internally who does what, when, and how.
• No Sub-teams: There are no hierarchies or sub-teams within a Scrum Team.
• One Product Goal: The entire team focuses on one objective at a time.
How Scrum Team Composition Works in Practice
The Product Owner manages the what and why of the work through the Product Backlog. Developers determine how to turn Product Backlog items into valuable Increments. The Scrum Master serves the team by removing impediments and coaching on Scrum practices.
All three accountabilities are essential. Removing or combining any of them undermines Scrum's effectiveness. For example, if the Product Owner also serves as Scrum Master, conflicts of interest may arise when prioritizing work versus protecting the team's capacity.
Common Misconceptions to Avoid
• The Product Owner is NOT a project manager or team lead • The Scrum Master is NOT a secretary or administrative assistant • Developers are NOT subordinates who take orders • There is NO hierarchy within the Scrum Team • The Scrum Team is NOT just developers plus management
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Scrum Team Composition
Tip 1: Remember the exact terminology. The Scrum Guide refers to 'accountabilities' not 'roles.' Questions may test this distinction.
Tip 2: Know the numbers. There is always ONE Product Owner, ONE Scrum Master, and the total team size is typically 10 or fewer.
Tip 3: Focus on self-management. When questions ask who decides how work gets done, the answer involves the Developers or the Scrum Team deciding together.
Tip 4: Cross-functionality is key. If a question suggests bringing in external specialists for every Sprint, consider whether the team should develop those skills internally.
Tip 5: No committees for Product Ownership. The Product Owner is always one person, even if they represent a committee's decisions. The accountability cannot be shared.
Tip 6: Watch for hierarchy traps. Any answer suggesting the Product Owner directs the Developers or the Scrum Master manages the team is likely incorrect.
Tip 7: Everyone is accountable for value. While the Product Owner maximizes value, the whole Scrum Team is accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment every Sprint.
Sample Question Approach
When you see a question about team composition, ask yourself: Does this answer respect self-management? Does it maintain the three distinct accountabilities? Does it align with a small, cross-functional team structure? Answers that violate these principles are typically incorrect.