PSPO-I Scrum Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO I) Exam Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

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The correct answers are A and D.

A. Coach the Scrum Team to improve its skills, tools and environment over time and adjust the Definition of Done accordingly. This is an appropriate action for a Scrum Master, as it helps the Scrum Team to overcome the impediments that prevent them from delivering a potentially releasable Increment. The Definition of Done should reflect the current reality of the Scrum Team, but also be a source of continuous improvement12.

D. Have the Scrum Team establish a Definition of Done that is actually possible to achieve given current circumstances. This is also an appropriate action for a Scrum Master, as it ensures that the Scrum Team has a clear and shared understanding of what it means to complete a Product Backlog item. The Definition of Done should be realistic and achievable, but also challenging and ambitious12.

B. Refocus the current Sprint on establishing the Scrum Team’s environment instead of delivering an Increment. This is not an appropriate action for a Scrum Master, as it violates the purpose of the Sprint, which is to deliver a valuable product Increment that meets the Sprint Goal. The Scrum Team should not change the Sprint Goal or scope during the Sprint, unless the Product Owner decides to cancel the Sprint3.

C. Encourage the Product Owner to accept partially done Increments until the situation improves. This is not an appropriate action for a Scrum Master, as it compromises the quality and value of the product. The Product Owner should only accept Increments that meet the Definition of Done and the acceptance criteria. Partially done Increments increase technical debt and risk, and reduce transparency and feedback12.

E. Declare the Scrum Team not ready for Scrum. This is not an appropriate action for a Scrum Master, as it undermines the Scrum values and principles. The Scrum Master should support the Scrum Team in adopting and applying Scrum, regardless of the challenges and constraints they face. The Scrum Master should foster a culture of empiricism, self-organization, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

The “cone of uncertainty” is a graphical representation of the degree of uncertainty in a project estimate over time. It shows that the range of possible outcomes is wider at the beginning of the project and narrows down as the project progresses and more information becomes available.

The “cone of uncertainty” can be used to illustrate that as a project forecast lengthens, it is increasingly less certain. This means that the longer the time horizon for a project, the more variability and risk there is in the estimate. This also implies that shorter iterations and frequent feedback can help reduce uncertainty and improve accuracy.

The “cone of uncertainty” cannot be used to determine whether to cut quality, similar to the “Iron Triangle” of project management. The “Iron Triangle” is a model that shows the trade-offs between scope, time, and cost in a project. Quality is often considered as a fourth dimension that is affected by these three factors. Cutting quality is not a desirable option for any project, especially for Scrum projects that value delivering high-quality products that meet customer needs.

The “cone of uncertainty” cannot be used to determine the cost of a project before it begins. The cost of a project depends on many factors, such as the scope, the resources, the complexity, the risks, and the market conditions. The “cone of uncertainty” only shows the range of possible outcomes based on the available information at a given point in time. It does not provide a definitive or accurate estimate of the cost before the project starts.

The “cone of uncertainty” cannot be used to determine the length of the next Sprint. The length of the next Sprint is determined by the Scrum Team based on their empirical experience and their ability to deliver a potentially releasable Increment of value. The “cone of uncertainty” does not provide any guidance on how long a Sprint should be or how much work can be done in a Sprint.

References:

Scrum Guide: https://www.scrumguides.org/scrum-guide.html

Cone of Uncertainty: https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/cone-of-uncertainty/

Scrum does not require that the Product Owner must use any of the following items:

Burndown chart: A burndown chart is a graphical representation of work left to do versus time. It can be used to track progress and forecast completion dates of projects or Sprints. However, it is not mandatory or prescribed in Scrum. It is one of the possible techniques that a Product Owner may use to monitor and communicate product development.

Feature burn-up: A feature burn-up chart is a graphical representation of features completed versus time. It can be used to track progress and forecast scope changes of projects or Sprints. However, it is not mandatory or prescribed in Scrum. It is one of the possible techniques that a Product Owner may use to monitor and communicate product development.

Critical Path Analysis: Critical Path Analysis is a project management technique that identifies the sequence of tasks that must be completed on time for a project or Sprint to finish on schedule. It can be used to plan, monitor, and control complex projects or Sprints. However, it is not mandatory or prescribed in Scrum. It is one of the possible techniques that a Product Owner may use to manage product development.

Project Gantt chart: A project Gantt chart is a graphical representation of tasks, dependencies, durations, and milestones of a project or Sprint. It can be used to plan, monitor, and control complex projects or Sprints. However, it is not mandatory or prescribed in Scrum. It is one of the possible techniques that a Product Owner may use to manage product development.

Therefore, the correct answer is none of the above.

References:

[Scrum Guide], page 6, section “Product Owner”

[Scrum Guide], page 11, section “Product Backlog”

[Professional Scrum Product Owner™ Training], page 8, section “Release Management”

The Scrum Master should talk to the IT manager and explain that progress in Scrum comes from inspecting an Increment at the Sprint Review. This is because:

The Scrum Team is self-managing and does not need to report to anyone outside the team1.

The Sprint Review is an event where the Scrum Team and the stakeholders collaborate on the product and inspect the Increment2.

The Increment is a concrete and usable outcome of the Sprint that provides a measure of progress and value delivery3.

The IT manager can attend the Sprint Review as a stakeholder and provide feedback on the product and the process4.

References:

Scrum Guide, page 7, section “The Scrum Team”

Scrum Guide, page 13, section “Sprint Review”

Scrum Guide, page 10, section “Increment”

Scrum Guide, page 14, section “Sprint Review”

Scrum is a framework for developing, delivering, and sustaining complex products. Scrum defines three roles: the Product Owner, the Scrum Master, and the Developers. Scrum does not have any other roles or titles, such as “tester”, “analyst”, “designer”, or “architect”.

The Developers are the people in the Scrum Team who are accountable for creating a “Done” Increment that meets the Definition of Done each Sprint. The Developers are responsible for planning and executing the Sprint Backlog, designing and building the product functionality, testing and improving the product quality, and delivering a potentially releasable Increment. The Developers work closely with the Product Owner to understand and clarify the Product Backlog items, provide feedback and estimates, and suggest improvements and innovations.

The Developers are responsible for quality, not just for programming. Quality is not something that can be added or verified after the product is built. Quality is something that must be built into the product from the start, by following good practices, standards, and principles. Quality is also something that must be inspected and adapted continuously, by applying feedback loops, testing methods, and improvement actions.

The Developers are not divided into sub-teams or sub-roles based on their skills or specialties. The Developers are a cross-functional and self-organizing team that has all the skills and capabilities needed to create a valuable product Increment. The Developers collaborate and coordinate their work as one unit, without any hand-offs or silos.

The Developers may have different backgrounds or expertise, such as testing, analysis, design, or architecture. However, these are not separate roles or responsibilities in Scrum. They are part of the collective accountability and responsibility of the Developers as a whole. The Developers may perform different tasks or activities based on their skills or preferences, but they are all equally responsible for delivering a high-quality product Increment.

References:

Scrum Guide: https://www.scrumguides.org/scrum-guide.html

Developers: https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-a-developer-in-scrum

Quality: https://www.scrum.org/resources/blog/quality-scrum-value

It is not true that a Product Owner must create clear and unambiguous acceptance criteria for each Product Backlog item before it may be selected in Sprint Planning. This is because:

Acceptance criteria are a set of conditions that a Product Backlog item must satisfy to be accepted by the Product Owner or the stakeholders. They are used to verify that the item meets the expected quality and value standards.

Acceptance criteria are not mandatory or prescribed in Scrum. They are one of the possible techniques that a Product Owner may use to communicate their expectations and requirements to the Developers and the stakeholders. They are not part of the Scrum Guide or the Definition of Done.

Acceptance criteria do not need to be created before Sprint Planning. They can be created or refined at any time during the product development process, as long as they are clear and agreed upon before the item is considered complete. They can also be changed or updated based on feedback or new insights.

The only requirement for a Product Backlog item to be selected in Sprint Planning is that it is sufficiently clear and ready for selection. This means that it has enough detail and precision for the Developers to understand what they are supposed to build and why. It also means that it has been refined and ordered by the Product Owner based on value and impact.

References:

[Scrum Guide], page 14, section “Sprint Planning”

[Scrum Guide], page 12, section “Product Backlog Refinement”

[Professional Scrum Product Owner™ Training], page 7, section “Product Backlog Management”

The Sprint Backlog is the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint, plus a plan for delivering the product Increment and realizing the Sprint Goal1. The Sprint Backlog is a forecast by the Developers about what functionality will be in the next Increment and the work needed to deliver that functionality into a “Done” Increment1. The Sprint Backlog makes visible all the work that the Developers identify as necessary to meet the Sprint Goal1. The Sprint Backlog can include any items that the Developers deem necessary to achieve the Sprint Goal, such as user stories, tasks, use cases, tests, or others. The Sprint Backlog is a plan with enough detail that changes in progress can be understood in the Daily Scrum1.

References:

The Scrum Guide, section 3.3. Sprint Backlog

Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) Learning Path, section 2.2. The Product Owner and the Sprint

Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) Sample Questions, question 11

The Scrum Team is a self-organizing and cross-functional team that delivers valuable products in an agile way. The Scrum Team consists of one Product Owner, one Scrum Master, and Developers. They are all accountable for creating a valuable, useful, and potentially releasable product Increment each Sprint.

An Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the product vision. It is the sum of all the Product Backlog items completed during a Sprint and the value of the increments of all previous Sprints. At the end of a Sprint, the new Increment must be “Done”, which means it meets the Definition of Done and is usable.

The Scrum Team is accountable for creating a valuable increment every Sprint, not just once or occasionally. This means that the Scrum Team must deliver a product functionality that provides value to the customers and users and contributes to the product goals and missions. The value of an increment can be measured by various factors, such as customer satisfaction, feedback, revenue, market share, or social impact.

The Scrum Team is also accountable for creating a valuable increment every Sprint, not just any increment. This means that the Scrum Team must deliver a product functionality that meets the quality standards and expectations of the customers and users and complies with the Definition of Done. The quality of an increment can be measured by various factors, such as usability, reliability, performance, security, or maintainability.

References:

Scrum Guide: https://www.scrumguides.org/scrum-guide.html

Scrum Team: https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-a-scrum-team

Increment: https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-an-increment

A Sprint is a time-boxed period when a Scrum Team works to complete a set amount of work that delivers value to the customer1. A Sprint concludes when the time-box expires, regardless of whether all the tasks, Product Backlog items, or Definition of Done are completed or not23. The Product Owner has the authority to cancel a Sprint if they determine that the Sprint Goal is obsolete or the work done is no longer valuable1. Therefore, the Product Owner decides when enough has been delivered to meet the Sprint Goal, and the Sprint ends accordingly.

A Scrum Master does not fulfill the same role as a traditional Project Manager. A Project Manager is typically responsible for planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing a project, as well as managing the scope, schedule, budget, quality, risks, and stakeholders of the project1. A Scrum Master is a servant-leader for the Scrum Team, who helps the team understand and enact Scrum values, principles, and practices, and removes impediments to the team’s progress2. A Scrum Master does not manage the project, the scope, the schedule, the budget, or the team, as these are either shared responsibilities or emergent outcomes of the Scrum framework[3][3]. A Scrum Master also does not have authority over the team or the stakeholders, but rather facilitates collaboration and empowerment among them4.

References:

1: What is Project Management?, Project Management Institute, accessed on December 16, 2023

2: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 7

[3][3]: Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework, Scrum.org, accessed on December 16, 2023

4: Developing People and Teams, Scrum.org, accessed on December 16, 2023

The Definition of Done is a shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete, and ensures transparency of the quality of the work done1. A Product Backlog item is considered complete when it meets the Definition of Done, which means that it is usable and potentially releasable, and that it meets the quality standards set by the Scrum Team and the stakeholders2. The other options are not sufficient to determine the completeness of a Product Backlog item, as they may not reflect the actual value and quality of the product.

References:

1: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 13

2: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 6

To say that an event has a timebox means that the event has a fixed duration that cannot be exceeded. The Scrum Guide states that "All events are time-boxed events, such that every event has a maximum duration. Once a Sprint begins, its duration is fixed and cannot be shortened or lengthened. The remaining events may end whenever the purpose of the event is achieved, ensuring an appropriate amount of time is spent without allowing waste in the process."1 This means that the timebox sets an upper limit for the event, but the event can end sooner if the goal is met.

References:

1: The Scrum Guide2, page 10

2: The Scrum Guide

A Product Owner orders a Product Backlog in any way they think will maximize the value of the product1. They take various factors into consideration when ordering the Product Backlog such as business value, risk, return on investment (ROI), dependencies and impact1. Dependencies between Product Backlog items and their relevance to achieving the Product Goal are two of these factors12. The availability of the Scrum Master and the number of stakeholders who approve of the item are not valid criteria for ordering the Product Backlog3.

The Product Owner does not make sure the Developers select enough from the Product Backlog for a Sprint. The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Developers, but the Developers are self-managing and decide how much work they can do in a Sprint1. The Product Owner and the Developers collaborate on the scope of the Sprint during Sprint Planning, but the final decision is up to the Developers2. The Product Owner should not interfere with the Developers’ work during the Sprint, but should provide feedback and guidance on the product value[3][3].

References:

1: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 6

2: The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 10

[3][3]: Professional Scrum Product Owner I Certification, Scrum.org, accessed on December 16, 2023

The Scrum Team can maintain the Product Backlog to maximize its transparency by continually keeping it up to date with the most recent insights because:

It reflects the current state of the product and the work. The Product Backlog is a dynamic and emergent artifact that represents all the possible features, functions, requirements, enhancements, and fixes that constitute changes to the product. By updating it frequently, the Scrum Team can ensure that the Product Backlog is accurate, complete, and relevant.

It enables the Product Owner to optimize the value of the product and the work of the Scrum Team. The Product Owner is accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes ordering, refining, and communicating the Product Backlog items. By updating it frequently, the Product Owner can incorporate new learnings, feedback, opportunities, and changes into the product decisions and priorities.

It supports the inspection and adaptation of the Scrum Team and the stakeholders. The Product Backlog is a source of information and transparency for everyone involved in the product development. By updating it frequently, the Scrum Team and the stakeholders can inspect the progress and outcomes of each Sprint, and adapt their plans and actions accordingly.

References:

Scrum Guide 2020, page 10: “The Product Backlog is an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product.”

Scrum Guide 2020, page 11: “The Product Owner is accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes … ensuring that the Product Backlog is transparent, visible and understood.”

Scrum Guide 2020, page 11: “The ordering of the items in the Product Backlog is the sole responsibility of the Product Owner. They order Product Backlog items to best achieve goals and missions.”

Scrum Guide 2020, page 11: “Higher ordered Product Backlog items are clearer and more refined than lower ordered ones.”

Scrum Guide 2020, page 15: “The Sprint Review is an informal meeting, not a status meeting, and the presentation of the Increment is intended to elicit feedback and foster collaboration.”

the Product Owner is responsible for refining the Product Backlog, which is an ongoing activity that can occur at any time, including between Sprints. The other options are not typical activities for the Product Owner between Sprints, as the next Sprint starts immediately after the current Sprint1, the project plan is replaced by the Product Backlog2, and the Quality Assurance is done by the Developers of the Scrum Team within the Sprint1.

1: The Scrum Guide | Scrum.org 2: What is a Product Backlog? | Scrum.org

The Scrum Guide defines a Scrum Team as “a cohesive unit of professionals focused on one objective at a time, the Product Goal”. It also states that “the Scrum Team consists of one Scrum Master, one Product Owner, and Developers”. Therefore, the correct answer is A, B, and D. Customers and users are not part of the Scrum Team, but they are important stakeholders who provide feedback and input to the Product Owner and the Developers.

References:

The Scrum Guide, section 2.1. The Scrum Team

Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) Learning Path, section 1.1. The Scrum Team

Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) Sample Questions, question 1

Correct Answer: True

Explanation: Dependencies are relationships between Product Backlog items that affect their order of implementation. For example, a Product Backlog item may depend on another one to be completed first, or it may have a dependency on a third-party system or resource. Dependencies could influence how the Product Owner orders Product Backlog items, as they may introduce risks, constraints, or uncertainties that affect the value delivery. The Product Owner should try to minimize dependencies and order the Product Backlog items in a way that maximizes value and minimizes waste.

References:

[Professional Scrum Product Owner], chapter 6: “Dependencies are relationships between Product Backlog items that affect their order of implementation.”

[Managing Dependencies on Agile Projects]: “Dependencies can have a significant impact on the delivery of value.”

Scrum is a framework that is designed to be lightweight and easy to adopt. To get started with Scrum, the minimal requirements are indeed a Product Owner with enough ideas for a first Sprint, a Development Team to implement those ideas, and a Scrum Master to facilitate and guide the process. This aligns with the core principles of Scrum, which emphasize self-organization, collaboration, and the ability to deliver increments of value quickly and frequently.

References: The Scrum Guide outlines the roles within a Scrum Team and the necessity of having a Product Backlog with enough ‘Ready’ items to fill a Sprint. The guide also emphasizes the importance of having a clear definition of ‘Done’ before starting the first Sprint