Facilitating Effective Daily Scrums in Distributed Teams

A Scrum Master working with a distributed Scrum Team faces unique challenges, especially regarding logistics for the Daily Scrum. It’s essential to understand the best approach to facilitate these meetings effectively.

Exam Question

A Scrum Master is working with a Scrum Team that has Developers in different physical locations. The Developers meet in a variety of meeting rooms and have much to do logistically (for example: reserve meeting rooms and set up conference calls) before the Daily Scrum. What action should the Scrum Master take? (choose the best answer)

• A. Allow the Developers to self-manage and determine for themselves what to do.
• B. Set up the meeting and tell the Scrum Team that is how it will be done.
• C. Ask the Developers to alternate who is responsible for meeting setup.
• D. Inform management and ask them to solve it.

Correct Answer

A. Allow the Developers to self-manage and determine for themselves what to do.

Explanation

Why A is Correct

A. Allow the Developers to self-manage and determine for themselves what to do:

One of the core principles of Scrum is self-management. The Developers should be empowered to decide how to handle logistical challenges themselves. This approach fosters ownership, responsibility, and collaboration within the team. The Scrum Master’s role is to facilitate and support the team’s decision-making process, not to dictate solutions.

Why B, C, and D are Incorrect

B. Set up the meeting and tell the Scrum Team that is how it will be done: This approach undermines the self-managing nature of the Scrum Team. It takes away the team’s autonomy and responsibility for their processes.

C. Ask the Developers to alternate who is responsible for meeting setup: While this might seem like a collaborative approach, it still imposes a specific solution on the team rather than allowing them to come up with their own.

D. Inform management and ask them to solve it: Involving management in solving day-to-day logistical issues goes against the principle of self-management and can create dependency on external solutions rather than fostering team autonomy.

Key Points

• Self-Management: Empowering the team to manage their logistics supports the core Scrum principle of self-management.
• Facilitation: The Scrum Master’s role is to facilitate the team’s decision-making process, not to impose solutions.

Responsibilities in Scrum

• Product Owner: Ensures the Product Backlog is ordered and refined to maximize value and align with the team’s capacity.
• Scrum Master: Facilitates Scrum events, removes impediments, and helps teams adhere to Scrum principles.
• Developers: Plan, manage, and execute all tasks necessary to deliver a potentially shippable Increment, ensuring quality and adherence to the Definition of Done.

Relevance to the PSM I Exam

Understanding the importance of self-management and the Scrum Master’s role in facilitating rather than directing is crucial for the PSM I exam. This knowledge emphasizes the value of team autonomy and collaborative problem-solving.

Conclusion

The best approach for a Scrum Master working with a distributed team is to allow the Developers to self-manage and determine their logistics. This fosters ownership, responsibility, and collaboration within the team, aligning with Scrum principles.

For comprehensive preparation and practice exams, check out PSM I Exam Prep to enhance your understanding and application of Scrum principles.