Remedying Lack of Understanding of Contribution in a Six Team Nexus
In a large-scale Scrum environment, such as a six-team Nexus, it’s crucial for all Scrum Teams to understand how their work contributes to the overall product progress. This understanding fosters motivation, alignment, and effective collaboration.
Exam Question
Scenario B: Six Team Nexus with complex dependencies
A six team Nexus is developing a full-featured e-commerce application. There are different parts of the application that only certain Scrum Teams can work on. In fact, there are some highly specialized individuals outside the Nexus that are required for some of the work. In past Sprints the Nexus encountered challenges dealing with the many dependencies between Scrum Teams.
Some individual Scrum Teams in this Nexus have said that they do not see how the work they are doing is contributing to the product’s progress. What is the best remedy for this situation?
(choose the best answer)
A. Ask the Scrum Master to explain to the teams that the Product Owner can choose which features to work on, as she has the final say.
B. During Nexus Sprint Planning, have all the teams plan the Sprint together in one room, so they can see what other teams are working on.
C. During Nexus Sprint Planning, ensure that all Scrum Teams understand the Nexus Sprint Goal.
D. During Nexus Sprint Planning, ask each Scrum Team to create a Sprint Goal that describes the purpose of the Sprint.
Correct Answer
C. During Nexus Sprint Planning, ensure that all Scrum Teams understand the Nexus Sprint Goal.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C. During Nexus Sprint Planning, ensure that all Scrum Teams understand the Nexus Sprint Goal:
Ensuring that all Scrum Teams understand the Nexus Sprint Goal during Nexus Sprint Planning is essential for aligning the teams’ efforts towards a common objective. The Nexus Sprint Goal provides a shared purpose and helps teams see how their work contributes to the overall product progress. This understanding enhances motivation and coordination across the Nexus, leading to more effective and cohesive Sprint execution.
Why the Other Options Are Less Effective
A. Ask the Scrum Master to explain to the teams that the Product Owner can choose which features to work on, as she has the final say:
While the Product Owner has the final say on feature prioritization, this approach does not address the underlying issue of understanding the contribution to the product’s progress. Simply asserting authority may not foster the necessary alignment and collaboration.
B. During Nexus Sprint Planning, have all the teams plan the Sprint together in one room, so they can see what other teams are working on:
Planning the Sprint together can help with visibility, but it may not necessarily provide a clear understanding of how each team’s work contributes to the overall product progress. The key is to ensure alignment with the Nexus Sprint Goal.
D. During Nexus Sprint Planning, ask each Scrum Team to create a Sprint Goal that describes the purpose of the Sprint:
While creating individual Sprint Goals can be helpful, it does not address the need for a unified understanding of the overall Nexus Sprint Goal. The focus should be on ensuring that all teams are aligned with the Nexus Sprint Goal to see their contribution to the product’s progress.
Importance of Understanding the Nexus Sprint Goal
- Unified Direction: The Nexus Sprint Goal provides a common direction for all teams, ensuring that their efforts are aligned towards achieving the same objective.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Understanding the shared goal fosters collaboration and coordination among teams, reducing the risk of misalignment and inefficiencies.
- Increased Motivation: When teams see how their work contributes to the overall product progress, it enhances their motivation and engagement.
Relevance to the SPS Exam
Understanding the importance of the Nexus Sprint Goal and how to ensure all teams are aligned with it is crucial for the SPS exam. It demonstrates the ability to apply scaled Scrum practices effectively, ensuring that large-scale projects are managed efficiently and cohesively.
Key Takeaways
- Ensuring that all Scrum Teams understand the Nexus Sprint Goal is essential for alignment and effective collaboration.
- The Nexus Sprint Goal provides a unified direction, enhancing motivation and reducing misalignment.
- Proper facilitation during Nexus Sprint Planning ensures that teams are focused on contributing to the overall product progress.
Conclusion
Aligning Scrum Teams with the Nexus Sprint Goal is critical for effective large-scale Scrum implementation. By ensuring that all teams understand and are motivated by the shared goal, the Nexus can achieve greater cohesion, collaboration, and product success. For more information on preparing for the SPS exam, visit our Scaled Professional Scrum SPS™ Exam Prep.
