Question 1

Mid-Sprint, a senior stakeholder asks a Developer directly to add a new feature. What is the most appropriate Scrum Master response?

Accepted Answer

Coach the stakeholder and Developer to route the request through the Product Owner Value and scope decisions flow through the Product Owner. The Scrum Master helps everyone understand this, protecting the Sprint Goal while keeping the PO accountable for what enters the product.

Question 2

The Developers consistently finish Sprint work with days to spare and then sit idle. What should the Scrum Master do first?

Accepted Answer

Coach the team to pull additional Backlog items or strengthen their Definition of Done Idle capacity is a coaching opportunity, not a reporting one. The Scrum Master helps the team increase value — taking on more work or raising quality via the Definition of Done — rather than optimising for busyness.

Question 3

Management asks the Scrum Master to commit the team to a fixed scope and a fixed deadline. What is the best response?

Accepted Answer

Explain empirical delivery and help forecast with ranges, while keeping scope flexible Scrum is empirical. A good Scrum Master doesn't promise fixed scope and date, but educates stakeholders and helps the team forecast transparently, adapting scope to protect quality and value.

Question 4

The Developers realize mid-Sprint that they cannot complete all forecasted work. Who should review and adjust the scope of work within the Sprint?

Accepted Answer

The Product Owner and the Developers. The Product Owner and the Developers collaborate on the Sprint Backlog. If the forecast can't be met, they renegotiate scope together during the Sprint — no one else owns that conversation.

Question 5

A key stakeholder and the Product Owner both raise concerns about slow system performance that has not been addressed in recent Sprints. What is the most appropriate action for the Scrum Master?

Accepted Answer

Encourage the Product Owner to bring the performance concern to the Scrum Team and collaboratively strengthen the Definition of Done to include performance criteria. Performance is a quality concern that belongs in the Definition of Done. The Scrum Master coaches the Product Owner to engage the whole Scrum Team now, rather than waiting for the Retrospective.

Question 6

The Developers propose removing performance testing from the Definition of Done in order to meet an upcoming deadline. What is the best course of action for the Scrum Master?

Accepted Answer

Coach the team on why performance testing belongs in the Definition of Done and work with the Product Owner to find a balanced approach. Technical excellence and quality are built into every Sprint through the Definition of Done. The Scrum Master coaches the team and involves the Product Owner to balance scope and quality — rather than simply approving or blocking the change.

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