Handling Concerns About Team Commitment and Productivity

When a Product Owner expresses concerns about the team’s commitment and productivity, particularly in comparison to other teams, it’s crucial for a Scrum Master to address the issue thoughtfully and constructively. This situation presents an opportunity to reinforce Scrum principles, understand the team’s unique context, and collaboratively find ways to improve.

Exam Question

Your team’s Product Owner approaches you for a word in private. She expresses some concerns she has about the team’s commitment and productivity. She has noticed that comparable teams within the development organization have a higher average velocity. How would you handle this situation?

Explanation

Understanding Velocity and Its Limitations

• Velocity as a Relative Metric:
  Purpose: Velocity is a measure of a team’s throughput, reflecting the amount of work completed in a Sprint. However, it is relative and varies significantly between teams based on factors like team composition, experience, domain knowledge, and complexity of work.
  Example: A team that is new to a product or technology may have a lower velocity compared to a more experienced team working on similar tasks. This does not necessarily indicate a lack of commitment or productivity but reflects the team’s current learning curve and context.
• Encouraging a Focus on Value, Not Just Velocity:
  Purpose: The ultimate goal in Scrum is to deliver valuable Increments that meet the Product Goal, not merely to achieve high velocity. Emphasizing value over velocity encourages teams to focus on quality and meaningful progress.
  Example: A team might have a lower velocity because they are taking the time to ensure that their work meets the Definition of Done, reducing technical debt and delivering higher-quality Increments.

Addressing the Product Owner’s Concerns

• Investigate the Root Cause:
  Action: As a Scrum Master, I would first seek to understand the Product Owner’s concerns in detail. I would ask specific questions about what she has observed regarding the team’s behavior, commitment, and productivity.
  Outcome: This conversation helps to clarify whether the issue lies in the team’s actual performance, the nature of the work they are handling, or a misunderstanding of what velocity represents.
• Facilitate a Transparent Discussion:
  Action: I would facilitate a discussion between the Product Owner and the Scrum Team during a Sprint Retrospective or a dedicated meeting. This open conversation allows the team to express their perspective and discuss any challenges they are facing.
  Outcome: Transparency in this discussion ensures that the team is aware of the concerns and can collaboratively explore solutions to improve their process and outcomes.
• Focus on Continuous Improvement:
  Action: I would encourage the team to use empiricism—through inspection and adaptation—to identify areas for improvement. This could involve experimenting with different approaches to increase efficiency, enhancing collaboration, or refining their Definition of Done.
  Outcome: The team’s commitment to continuous improvement will likely lead to gradual increases in velocity, but more importantly, it will ensure that they deliver valuable and high-quality Increments.

Relevance to the PSM III Exam

Understanding how to address concerns about velocity and productivity while staying true to Scrum principles is crucial for a Scrum Master at the PSM III level. This scenario tests the ability to balance metric-driven concerns with a focus on value delivery and team dynamics.

Key Takeaways

• Velocity is Relative: Velocity varies between teams and should not be the sole measure of commitment or productivity.
• Focus on Value: Encouraging a focus on delivering value over achieving high velocity promotes quality and meaningful progress.
• Empirical Process: Using inspection and adaptation helps the team continuously improve and address any underlying issues.

Conclusion

In addressing concerns about a team’s commitment and productivity, it’s essential to approach the issue with a focus on understanding the context, fostering transparency, and encouraging continuous improvement. By emphasizing value delivery and using empiricism, the team can work towards enhancing their productivity in a sustainable and meaningful way. For more insights into Scrum practices and to prepare for the PSM III exam, visit our Scrum Master PSM III™ Exam Prep.