Relationships between the Product Owner and Development team have been tense for many Sprints. The Product Owner has lost trust and respect for the Development Team as they consistently fail to…

Question

Options

• ASpeak to the line managers of the various Development Team members about their lack of
• BDiscuss the situation with the Scrum Team. Help them find improved ways to clarify and set a
• CTake no action. Allow the Development Team to self organise to address the issue
• DTalk to the Product Owner and tell them not to increase scope mid Sprint

• A
  31% (15)
• B
  47% (23)
• C
  6% (3)
• D
  16% (8)

Explanation

B is correct because the Scrum Master's primary role is to facilitate team health and process improvement - not to solve the problem unilaterally. Bringing the whole Scrum Team together to inspect the root causes (unclear Sprint Goals, scope changes) and collaboratively improve aligns directly with the Scrum values of transparency, inspection, and adaptation. The Scrum Master coaches the team toward self-resolution rather than acting as a mediator or enforcer.

A is wrong because the Scrum Master has no authority over line managers and bypassing the team to escalate upward violates Scrum's self-organizing principle - it would likely damage trust further.

C is wrong because "self-organize" doesn't mean "ignore dysfunction." The Scrum Master has a responsibility to remove impediments and facilitate collaboration; inaction when the team is in conflict is a failure of the role.

D is wrong because telling the Product Owner what to do is directive and unilateral - the Scrum Master serves, coaches, and facilitates, not commands. It also ignores the Development Team's part in the dynamic.

Memory tip: When a Scrum Master question involves conflict or dysfunction, the answer almost always involves facilitating a team conversation, not taking unilateral action on behalf of either side. The Scrum Master is a coach, not a referee.

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