Created: 06 February 2023

Last Updated: 20 November 2023

Example case study for you to practice before Scrum Master interview: Questions and Answers

Got lost during your interview for a job as a Scrum Master? Don't worry, we've prepared an example case study for you to practice.

Project Background:

A software company is developing a project management tool for small businesses. The tool will allow business owners to keep track of their projects, tasks, and team members in one place.

Scrum Team:

Product Owner (PO)
Scrum Master (SM)
Development Team (DT) - consisting of 5 developers

Sprint 1:

The PO has defined the following user stories for Sprint 1:

As a business owner, I want to be able to create a project in the tool so that I can start tracking my work.
As a business owner, I want to be able to add team members to a project so that I can collaborate with them.
As a business owner, I want to be able to create tasks in a project so that I can track my progress.
The DT estimates that they can complete all three user stories in one sprint. The PO and DT decide to prioritize user story #1 for this sprint.

Sprint 2:

The PO has defined the following user stories for Sprint 2:

As a business owner, I want to be able to assign tasks to team members so that I can delegate work.
As a business owner, I want to be able to see the status of my projects and tasks so that I can track my progress.
As a business owner, I want to be able to send notifications to team members when a task is assigned or updated so that they are always aware of their responsibilities.
The DT estimates that they can complete all three user stories in one sprint. The PO and DT decide to prioritize user story #1 for this sprint.

Scrum Master Role:

Facilitate Scrum ceremonies such as Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective
Help the PO clarify and prioritize user stories
Ensure the DT is fully functioning and productive
Remove any obstacles that may impede the DT's progress

Questions and Answers:

Can you walk us through the process of a sprint retrospective?

Sure! The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum team to reflect on their past sprint and identify areas for improvement. The process typically involves the following steps:

1. Review the sprint goal: The team discusses whether they met the sprint goal and what went well or poorly during the sprint.
2. Identify what went well: The team identifies any positive aspects of the sprint, such as efficient collaboration or good use of tools.
3. Identify what can be improved: The team identifies areas for improvement, such as communication issues or a lack of clear priorities.
4. Generate action items: Based on the identified areas for improvement, the team generates action items for the next sprint.
5. Review the action items: The team discusses their plans for implementing the action items in the next sprint.

 Close the retrospective: The retrospective is concluded with a summary of the key takeaways and action items. The Scrum Master ensures that the team has a shared understanding of the key points and that the action items are well understood and agreed upon.

It's important to note that the Sprint Retrospective should be a safe and positive environment where the team feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and feedback. The Scrum Master should facilitate an open and honest discussion, while also guiding the team to focus on continuous improvement.

How would you handle a situation where a team member is consistently not meeting their sprint commitments?

As a Scrum Master, it's important to handle situations where a team member is consistently not meeting their sprint commitments in a constructive and effective manner. Here are the steps I would take:

1. Address the issue: Schedule a private meeting with the team member and discuss their consistent failure to meet their sprint commitments. Listen to their perspective and gather information on the underlying issues.
2. Identify the root cause: Try to understand the root cause of the problem. This could be due to a lack of understanding of the task, a lack of resources, or simply a lack of motivation.
3. Develop a plan: Based on the root cause, develop a plan to address the issue. This could involve providing additional training or support, adjusting the scope of the sprint goal, or re-assigning the task to another team member.
4. Communicate the plan: Communicate the plan to the team member and the rest of the team. Ensure that everyone is aware of the steps that will be taken to resolve the issue.
5. Monitor progress: Monitor the team member's progress and provide support as needed. Regular check-ins can help to ensure that the plan is being followed and that the issue is being resolved.
6. Celebrate successes: When the team member successfully meets their sprint commitments, be sure to acknowledge and celebrate their success. This helps to build morale and motivation within the team.

It's important to approach the situation with empathy and a solution-focused mindset. The goal is to help the team member succeed and improve the performance of the entire team.

How do you ensure that the product backlog is properly prioritized?

As a Scrum Master, you play an important role in ensuring that the product backlog is properly prioritized. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Involve the stakeholders: The product backlog should reflect the needs and priorities of all stakeholders, including the development team, the product owner, and the customer. Involve these stakeholders in the prioritization process to ensure that everyone's needs and perspectives are taken into account.
2. Use relative weighting: Use relative weighting techniques such as MoSCoW (Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, Won't Have) or Kano analysis to prioritize items in the backlog. This helps to ensure that the most important items are prioritized first.
3. Consider dependencies: Consider any dependencies between items in the backlog. For example, if one item must be completed before another can begin, this should be taken into account when prioritizing the backlog.
4. Assess value: Assess the value of each item in the backlog. Consider factors such as the impact on the customer, the expected return on investment, and the cost of development.
5. Review regularly: The product backlog should be regularly reviewed and re-prioritized as needed. This helps to ensure that the backlog remains up-to-date and reflects the current needs and priorities of the stakeholders.

It's important to keep in mind that the product backlog is a living document that should be continuously refined and re-prioritized as the project evolves. As a Scrum Master, you should facilitate this process and ensure that the backlog is being properly managed and prioritized.

Can you give an example of a time when you had to remove an obstacle for the development team?

 Imagine a scenario where the development team is working on a complex project and they are consistently facing technical difficulties with a certain software tool. The tool is critical to the project, but the team is unable to find a solution on their own.

In this situation, the Scrum Master would act as a facilitator and remove the obstacle for the development team. Here's how they might approach the problem:

1. Identify the obstacle: The Scrum Master would work with the development team to identify the specific obstacle that is causing the technical difficulties.
2. Gather information: The Scrum Master would gather information about the obstacle, including the specific issue and the impact it is having on the project.
3. Find a solution: The Scrum Master would explore potential solutions to the obstacle, such as reaching out to the software vendor for support, or finding an alternative tool that would better meet the team's needs.
4. Implement the solution: The Scrum Master would work with the development team to implement the chosen solution, ensuring that it is effective and sustainable.
5. Monitor progress: The Scrum Master would monitor the progress of the development team and ensure that the obstacle has been fully resolved.

By removing the obstacle, the Scrum Master is enabling the development team to focus on delivering the product and achieving the sprint goal. The Scrum Master's role is to support the team and help them overcome any obstacles that are preventing them from being successful.

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 Marcin Chmielewski - Blog Author 
He has extensive IT knowledge combined with enthusiasm for digital marketing.
His experience and knowledge come from many years of working for large corporations. Associated with Information Technology since the beginning of his career, he has qualifications in the fields of team management, Enterprise Architecture, IT Service Management, databases, application servers, and operating systems.
His hobbies include traveling, skiing, and hiking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

• 1. In Scrum, what does a Scrum Master do?
  A Scrum Master's job is to ensure that the Scrum process runs smoothly and that the Scrum team is able to do its work successfully and efficiently. Furthermore, the Scrum Master must eliminate any roadblocks that may impede the team from reaching its objectives.
• 2. What are some common challenges faced by Scrum Masters?
  Scrum Masters often face difficulties such as team members' opposition, a lack of management support, managing stakeholders and making sure everyone is on the same page, and resolving conflicts within the team.
• 3. How does a Scrum Master work with the Product Owner?
  The Scrum Master and Product Owner collaborate closely to prioritise and revise the product backlog and ensure that everyone on the team is on the same page with regards to the product's vision and objectives. The Scrum Master also aids the Product Owner in updating stakeholders and other company members on the project's development and status.
• 4. How does a Scrum Master help the team to improve?
  Through regular retrospectives in which the team can reflect on its procedures and identify areas for improvement, a Scrum Master enables the team to improve. The Scrum Master's role also includes training the team in agile methods and practises to improve productivity.
• 5. What are some common misconceptions about the role of a Scrum Master?
  People often mistakenly assume that a Scrum Master is the team's boss or leader, or that it is their job to guarantee the team's success. In reality, the Scrum Master is a servant-leader who facilitates the Scrum process by partnering closely with the team and making sure that everyone has the resources they need to succeed.

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