Concerns with Lowering the Frequency of Daily Scrum
The Daily Scrum is a key event in Scrum, designed to help the Development Team inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt their plan for the next 24 hours. This article explores a specific exam question about the implications of reducing the frequency of the Daily Scrum, providing detailed explanations and insights relevant to the PSM II exam.
Exam Question
A Scrum Team is struggling over the fact that not all Developers work full time and that other Developers regularly work from home. To solve the difficulties in aligning daily, at the Sprint Retrospective two Developers suggest having the Daily Scrum every three days, when everyone is in the office.
What would be three key concerns if the frequency of the Daily Scrum were to be lowered? (choose the best three answers)
- A. Impediments are raised and resolved more slowly which might impact productivity and progress.
- B. Opportunities to inspect and adapt the Sprint Backlog are reduced. Re-aligning is bound to become even more difficult.
- C. Less progress information will be shared causing the plan for the Sprint to become inaccurate and transparency over progress toward the Sprint Goal is reduced.
- D. The Scrum Master loses the ability to update the Gantt chart properly, thereby obscuring the Scrum Master’s tracking of Sprint progress.
- E. The Product Owner cannot accurately report progress about the state of the forecasted work to the stakeholders.
Correct Answers
A. Impediments are raised and resolved more slowly which might impact productivity and progress.
B. Opportunities to inspect and adapt the Sprint Backlog are reduced. Re-aligning is bound to become even more difficult.
C. Less progress information will be shared causing the plan for the Sprint to become inaccurate and transparency over progress toward the Sprint Goal is reduced.
Explanation
Correct Answers
A. Impediments are raised and resolved more slowly which might impact productivity and progress: The Daily Scrum provides a platform for Developers to raise impediments daily. Reducing the frequency means that issues are identified and addressed less frequently, which can slow down progress and reduce overall productivity.
B. Opportunities to inspect and adapt the Sprint Backlog are reduced. Re-aligning is bound to become even more difficult: The Daily Scrum is a critical opportunity for the team to inspect their progress and adapt their plan. Fewer Daily Scrums mean fewer chances to make necessary adjustments to the Sprint Backlog, making it harder for the team to stay aligned and on track.
C. Less progress information will be shared causing the plan for the Sprint to become inaccurate and transparency over progress toward the Sprint Goal is reduced: Daily Scrums ensure that all team members are up to date on progress and any changes. Lowering the frequency of this event reduces the flow of information, leading to potential misunderstandings and a lack of transparency, which can affect the accuracy of the Sprint plan and progress toward the Sprint Goal.
Incorrect Answers
D. The Scrum Master loses the ability to update the Gantt chart properly, thereby obscuring the Scrum Master’s tracking of Sprint progress: Scrum does not use Gantt charts. The focus is on maintaining the Sprint Backlog and ensuring that the team can inspect and adapt their work daily.
E. The Product Owner cannot accurately report progress about the state of the forecasted work to the stakeholders: While the Product Owner needs accurate information, the Daily Scrum is primarily for the Development Team to inspect and adapt their work. The Product Owner can gather necessary information during other events such as Sprint Review and by communicating with the team outside of the Daily Scrum.
Responsibilities in Scrum
- Product Owner: Ensures that the Product Backlog is transparent and well-ordered. The Product Owner collaborates with the team to understand progress and any issues that may arise.
- Scrum Master: Facilitates Scrum events, including the Daily Scrum, ensuring that the team understands its purpose and benefits. The Scrum Master helps the team address impediments and improve their processes.
- Developers: Use the Daily Scrum to inspect their progress and adapt their plan. They raise impediments and collaborate to find solutions, ensuring continuous progress toward the Sprint Goal.
Relevance to the PSM II Exam
Understanding the importance of the Daily Scrum and the potential impacts of reducing its frequency is crucial for the PSM II exam. It demonstrates advanced knowledge of Scrum principles and the importance of regular inspection and adaptation. Mastering this concept ensures that Scrum Masters can effectively guide their teams in maintaining efficient and transparent processes.
Key Takeaways
- Daily Scrums are essential for raising and resolving impediments quickly.
- Regular inspection and adaptation help keep the team aligned and on track toward the Sprint Goal.
- Consistent information sharing ensures transparency and accuracy in planning and progress tracking.
Conclusion
Lowering the frequency of the Daily Scrum can significantly impact the team’s ability to inspect and adapt their work, raise and resolve impediments promptly, and maintain transparency and accuracy in their Sprint plan. Ensuring that the team adheres to the Daily Scrum schedule is essential for effective Scrum implementation and success in the PSM II exam. For comprehensive preparation and practice exams, check out PSM II Exam Prep to enhance your understanding and application of Scrum principles.
