The Scrum Master observes the Product Owner struggling with ordering the Product Backlog. What is an appropriate action for the Scrum Master to take? (choose the best answer)

Question

Options

• AOffer the Product Owner help in understanding that the goal of ordering the Product
• BSuggest that the Developers order the Product Backlog to be sure that it is a feasible
• CEncourage the Product Owner to work with the Developers to see which items
• DSuggest the Product Owner extend the Sprint, so he can have more time to order the
• EPresent the Product Owner with an ordered Product Backlog to use.

• A
  74% (28)
• C
  13% (5)
• D
  5% (2)
• E
  8% (3)

Explanation

Option A is correct because the Scrum Master's role is to coach and serve, not to do the work for others. Helping the Product Owner understand why and how to order the backlog (typically by maximizing value) empowers them to fulfill their own accountability - which is exactly what a Scrum Master should do.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• B - Ordering the Product Backlog is the Product Owner's sole accountability; shifting it to Developers violates Scrum's accountabilities.
• C - While collaboration with Developers is healthy, the framing of "seeing which items are feasible" conflates ordering (value-based) with technical feasibility, which is not the primary ordering criterion.
• D - Extending a Sprint is not a valid Scrum move to solve a backlog management problem; Sprints have fixed lengths.
• E - Handing the PO a pre-ordered backlog does their job for them, creating dependency rather than capability.

Memory tip: Think of the Scrum Master as a coach, not a player. Whenever you see an option where the SM takes over someone else's responsibility, it's wrong. The correct answer almost always involves the SM teaching, facilitating, or helping someone understand - never doing the work on their behalf.

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