PSM QUESTIONS FROM PSM EXAM GUIDE
What factors will increase complexity? Select all that apply
1) Larger # of project people
2) Longer duration of the project
3) Batching of product release into one big bang - Answers- Answer: All the above
What is the cone of uncertainty? - Answers- In complex adaptive problems, the amount
of the unknown is really huge in the initial stages and will likely trend down over the
course of the product development.
The trend is called the cone of uncertainty.
What is the Critical Path Method (CPM)? - Answers- A way that planners calculate the
duration of the project during the initial stages by inputting such assumptions on things
like product definition, people productivity, etc.
What is Empiricism based on? - Answers- Based on the concept that complex
problems are hard to predict. Applies an iterative, incremental approach to optimize
predictability and control risk.
Empiricism advocates observation rather than prediction to navigate complex adaptive
problems.
Select the best answer. Scrum is a newer way of doing things to address complex
problems. It is a new way because
a) It offers new terminology for traditional practice
b) It is easier to master than the traditional way
c) It increases the opportunity to control risk and optimize the predictability of progress
d) It is closely associated with emerging technologies - Answers- Answer: C
Scrum brings in new terminology, but it is not the primary difference. It is easy to learn,
but difficult to master. There is incidental association of a lot of emerging technologies
executed in Scrum, but that is not the reason for its identity as a new way.
Scrum does not guarantee success, but it increases the likelihood of success by
controlling the risk and optimizing predictability.
Scrum framework consists of:
a) Scrum Standards
b) Scrum Teams
c) Product Development Processes
, d) Roles, events, artifacts, and rules associated with Scrum Teams - Answers- Answer:
B&D
Scrum framework consists of Scrum Teams and their associated roles, events, artifacts,
and rules. Though there are standards such as definition of "Done", they are not
formally called as Scrum Standard. Correct answers are 'b' and 'd'.
How is progress measured in Scrum? What are the key performance indicators (KPI)? -
Answers- Answer: Only the Increment is a measure of progress in Scrum.
In Scrum, Team Velocity (Rate of Completion) is a good metric to track the progress of
product development.
a) Yes
b) No - Answers- Answer: No. This is only an internal metric used by the team to
manager their work. It is not an indicator of progress for stakeholders.
Is the Scrum Master only a teaching role? - Answers- Answer: No, they are not just
teachers or coaches, they are responsible for many other activities that are instrumental
in transforming teams into value creators. An example of a critical activity the play is
when the Scrum Team runs into issues that prevent it from achieving their goal and if
these issues are outside of the team's influence, the Scrum Master owns these
impediments and resolves them. They also help the organization to adopt Scrum, set
the goals to improve the way of working in Scrum, etc.
Which of the following statement is not correct?
a) Only the people who perform the work can finalize the estimate of Product Backlog
items
b) The Product Owner always orders the Product Backlog Items based solely on the
value of each individual item compared to another item
c) Mult. Dev. Teams working for the same product should have one common Product
Backlog
d) The Dev. Team finalized all estimates - Answers- Answer: B
Because the P.O. strives to maximize the collective value of the Product and the Dev.
Team's work To achieve that, they can follow any appropriate logic for ordering. It does
not always need to be the individ. business value.
What is the logic behind which parameter is chosen to order the Product Backlog?
A) Individual Product Backlog Item's value
B) Whatever increases the overall value of team's work
C) Whatever is deemed appropriate by the P.O. - Answers- Answer: C
Choose the best choice:
What factors will increase complexity? Select all that apply
1) Larger # of project people
2) Longer duration of the project
3) Batching of product release into one big bang - Answers- Answer: All the above
What is the cone of uncertainty? - Answers- In complex adaptive problems, the amount
of the unknown is really huge in the initial stages and will likely trend down over the
course of the product development.
The trend is called the cone of uncertainty.
What is the Critical Path Method (CPM)? - Answers- A way that planners calculate the
duration of the project during the initial stages by inputting such assumptions on things
like product definition, people productivity, etc.
What is Empiricism based on? - Answers- Based on the concept that complex
problems are hard to predict. Applies an iterative, incremental approach to optimize
predictability and control risk.
Empiricism advocates observation rather than prediction to navigate complex adaptive
problems.
Select the best answer. Scrum is a newer way of doing things to address complex
problems. It is a new way because
a) It offers new terminology for traditional practice
b) It is easier to master than the traditional way
c) It increases the opportunity to control risk and optimize the predictability of progress
d) It is closely associated with emerging technologies - Answers- Answer: C
Scrum brings in new terminology, but it is not the primary difference. It is easy to learn,
but difficult to master. There is incidental association of a lot of emerging technologies
executed in Scrum, but that is not the reason for its identity as a new way.
Scrum does not guarantee success, but it increases the likelihood of success by
controlling the risk and optimizing predictability.
Scrum framework consists of:
a) Scrum Standards
b) Scrum Teams
c) Product Development Processes
, d) Roles, events, artifacts, and rules associated with Scrum Teams - Answers- Answer:
B&D
Scrum framework consists of Scrum Teams and their associated roles, events, artifacts,
and rules. Though there are standards such as definition of "Done", they are not
formally called as Scrum Standard. Correct answers are 'b' and 'd'.
How is progress measured in Scrum? What are the key performance indicators (KPI)? -
Answers- Answer: Only the Increment is a measure of progress in Scrum.
In Scrum, Team Velocity (Rate of Completion) is a good metric to track the progress of
product development.
a) Yes
b) No - Answers- Answer: No. This is only an internal metric used by the team to
manager their work. It is not an indicator of progress for stakeholders.
Is the Scrum Master only a teaching role? - Answers- Answer: No, they are not just
teachers or coaches, they are responsible for many other activities that are instrumental
in transforming teams into value creators. An example of a critical activity the play is
when the Scrum Team runs into issues that prevent it from achieving their goal and if
these issues are outside of the team's influence, the Scrum Master owns these
impediments and resolves them. They also help the organization to adopt Scrum, set
the goals to improve the way of working in Scrum, etc.
Which of the following statement is not correct?
a) Only the people who perform the work can finalize the estimate of Product Backlog
items
b) The Product Owner always orders the Product Backlog Items based solely on the
value of each individual item compared to another item
c) Mult. Dev. Teams working for the same product should have one common Product
Backlog
d) The Dev. Team finalized all estimates - Answers- Answer: B
Because the P.O. strives to maximize the collective value of the Product and the Dev.
Team's work To achieve that, they can follow any appropriate logic for ordering. It does
not always need to be the individ. business value.
What is the logic behind which parameter is chosen to order the Product Backlog?
A) Individual Product Backlog Item's value
B) Whatever increases the overall value of team's work
C) Whatever is deemed appropriate by the P.O. - Answers- Answer: C
Choose the best choice:
