Empowering Scrum Teams in Hiring Decisions

Empowering Scrum Teams to make decisions about their composition can enhance their sense of ownership, improve team dynamics, and increase productivity. This article discusses the best approach to handle a Scrum Team’s request to add new Developers.

Exam Question

You manage a product development organization. A Scrum Team comes to you with a request to add two more Developers to the Scrum Team in order to increase their capacity to get work done. You have budget and headcount. The Scrum Team’s case is compelling, and they have a good track record for delivering and making good decisions. In response to the Scrum Team’s request, you decide to:
(choose the best answer)
A. Let the Scrum Team screen candidates, and pass candidates to you to interview and make the final hiring decision.
B. Ask the Scrum Team to write a job description. You will handle the initial screening and pass along passing candidates to the team, who conduct their own interviews and make the final decision.
C. Give the Scrum Team budgetary boundaries, but let them recruit, interview, and hire their own new team members, with the help from a partner in Human Resources.

Correct Answer

C. Give the Scrum Team budgetary boundaries, but let them recruit, interview, and hire their own new team members, with the help from a partner in Human Resources.

Explanation

Correct Answer

C. Give the Scrum Team budgetary boundaries, but let them recruit, interview, and hire their own new team members, with the help from a partner in Human Resources:
This approach empowers the Scrum Team to take ownership of their composition, which can enhance team cohesion and ensure that new members align well with the existing team dynamics. Providing budgetary boundaries ensures that the team understands the constraints within which they must operate, promoting responsible decision-making. Involving Human Resources as a partner ensures that the recruitment process adheres to organizational policies and procedures.

Incorrect Answers

A. Let the Scrum Team screen candidates, and pass candidates to you to interview and make the final hiring decision:
While this approach involves the team in the screening process, it retains final decision-making power with the manager, which can undermine the team’s sense of ownership and empowerment.

B. Ask the Scrum Team to write a job description. You will handle the initial screening and pass along passing candidates to the team, who conduct their own interviews and make the final decision:
This approach provides a balanced involvement but still limits the team’s control over the initial screening process. Full empowerment requires the team to be involved in all aspects of recruitment, from job description to final hiring.

Agile Leadership Insights

• Team Empowerment: Empowering Scrum Teams to make decisions about their composition enhances their sense of ownership and responsibility.
• Collaboration with HR: Involving Human Resources ensures that the recruitment process complies with organizational standards and policies.
• Budgetary Constraints: Providing budgetary boundaries helps teams make responsible decisions while ensuring they understand and respect organizational constraints.

Relevance to the PAL I Exam

Understanding the importance of empowering Scrum Teams in recruitment decisions is crucial for the PAL I exam. This knowledge demonstrates the ability to foster self-managing teams and enhance team dynamics.

Key Takeaways

• Empowering Scrum Teams to make recruitment decisions enhances their sense of ownership and team cohesion.
• Collaboration with Human Resources ensures compliance with organizational policies.
• Providing budgetary boundaries promotes responsible decision-making within the team.

Conclusion

Empowering Scrum Teams to recruit and hire their own members within budgetary boundaries, with the support of Human Resources, fosters a sense of ownership and enhances team cohesion. This approach aligns with Agile principles of self-management and responsibility. For more information on preparing for the PAL I exam, visit our Professional Agile Leadership PAL I™ Exam Prep.