PSPO-II Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II (PSPO2) Questions and Answers

A. Increase transparency: The Definition of Done (DoD) creates transparency by providing everyone a shared understanding of what work was completed and what standards were met as part of the Increment1.

C. Create a shared understanding of when work is complete: The DoD is a shared understanding among the team members of when a product increment is ready for release2.

D. Describe the work that must be done before the Sprint can be declared complete: The DoD includes all of the characteristics and standards an Increment needs to meet in order to be released1. Once the Definition of Done is met, the Increment is Done and can be delivered1.

D is correct because the timebox for the Sprint Review is four hours or less for a one-month Sprint, and usually shorter for shorter Sprints1. The Sprint Review is an event where the Scrum Team and the stakeholders inspect the outcome of the Sprint and collaborate on what to do next1. A is incorrect because the Sprint Review is not an open-ended event, but a timeboxed one that respects the attendees’ time and ensures productivity2. B is incorrect because the Sprint Review is not a point in time, but a timeboxed event that has a specific purpose and agenda1. C is incorrect because the Sprint Review is not the same asthe Daily Scrum, which is a 15-minute event for the Developers to synchronize their work1.

A. To influence the Total Cost of Ownership of the product: Adhering to the Definition of Done ensures that the product meets the required quality standards, which can influence the Total Cost of Ownership1.

B. To have transparency into what has been done at the end of each Sprint: The Definition of Done provides a shared understanding of what work was completed and what standards were met as part of the Increment2. This creates transparency and allows the Product Owner to understand what has been accomplished at the end of each Sprint12.

B is correct because the Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Developers1, and delaying answers to the Developers can cause waste, rework, and missed opportunities2. E is correct because the Product Owneris responsible for ensuring that the product Increment is valuable and useful for thestakeholders and customers3, and this requires close collaboration and feedback with the Scrum Team and the users4. A is incorrect because the Product Owner does not need to dedicate 100% of their time to the Scrum Team, as they also have other accountabilities such as engaging with the market, managing the product vision, and aligning with the business strategy5. C is incorrect because the Product Owner is not a proxy for the stakeholders, and they should not delegate their role to business analysts or anyone else. D is incorrect because the Product Owner does not need the approval of the stakeholders to decide how much time they spend with the Scrum Team, as they are empowered to make the best decisions for the product. F is incorrect because the Product Owner should not base their time allocation on the complaints of the Developers, but on the value and quality of the product.

The Sprint Goal is a summary statement of the Sprint objective, which ideally has a cohesive theme. The Sprint Goal also gives the Scrum Team guidance and flexibility on how to achieve the objective. The Sprint Goal is crafted by the entire Scrum Team during the Sprint Planning, based on the Product Owner’s proposal of the most valuable Product Backlog items and the Development Team’s forecast of the work that can be done in the Sprint. The Product Owner collaborates with the team to write the Sprint Goal and defines it on the basis of the value being sought. The Product Owner does not define the scope or the solution for the Sprint, but rather the outcome and the benefit. The Product Owner also does not work with stakeholders to set the Sprint Goal, but rather represents their interests and needs. The Product Owner has a role in crafting the Sprint Goal, but not the sole responsibility for it. References:

Professional Scrum Product Owner II Assessment

Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework

Managing Products with Agility

The Role of the Product Owner during the Sprint

Sprint Goal – An Essential Ingredient in Scrum Recipe

According to the Scrum Guide, the Developers are the people in the Scrum Team who are committed to creating any aspect of a usable Increment each Sprint. They are accountable for creating a plan for the Sprint, the Sprint Backlog, and for adhering to the Definition of Done. The Product Owner and the Scrum Master are not accountable for these activities, but they may support the Developers as needed. The Scrum Team as a whole is accountable for delivering a valuable, useful, and potentially releasable Increment each Sprint, but the Developers have the specific accountability for planning and buildingit. References := Scrum Guide, Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework, Managing Products with Agility

As a Product Owner, you are accountable for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Scrum Team. To do this, you need to collaborate with various stakeholders, user communities and other Product Owners to understand their needs, expectations and feedback, and to align them with the product vision and strategy. You also need to work with the Developers on Product Backlog refinement, which is an ongoing activity to add detail, estimates and order to Product Backlog items. This helps the Developers to understand what is valuable and feasible to deliver in the upcoming Sprints, and to plan and execute their work accordingly. These are typical and essential work for a Product Owner in a Sprint.

The other options are not typical or effective work for a Product Owner in a Sprint. Attending every Daily Scrum is not necessary, as the Daily Scrum is an event for the Developers to inspect their progress and plan their next steps. The Product Owner can attend the Daily Scrum if invited by the Developers, but should not interfere or answer questions that are not related to the Sprint Goal or the Product Backlog. Creating financial reporting upon the spent hours reported by the Developers is not a valuable activity, as it does not reflect the outcome or the value delivered by the product. It also goes against the Scrum values of trust and respect, as it implies that the Developers are not self-managing or committed to their work. Updating the work plan for the Developers on a daily basis is also not a good practice, as it undermines the autonomy and creativity of the Developers, and reduces their ability to inspect and adapt their work based on the empirical evidence. The Product Owner should not tell the Developers how to do their work, but rather focus on what is the most valuable outcome for the product.

References:

Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II Certification

Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework

Managing Products with Agility

Option A is correct because talking to users is one of the best ways to understand their needs, goals, and pain points. By spending more time with them, you can identify the impact they seek from your product and how your features align with that impact. This will help you validate your assumptions and learn from your customers12.

Option B is incorrect because disabling features that have never been used is a risky and potentially harmful action. It may cause frustration and confusion for the users who rely on those features, or who may want to use them in the future. It may also damage your reputation and trust with your customers. Instead of disabling features, you should seek feedback from your users and understand why they are not using them34.

Option C is correct because running experiments is a powerful way to increase your understanding of what customers find valuable. By testing different hypotheses and measuring the outcomes, you can learn from your data and evidence. You can also use experiments to validate your ideas and assumptions before investing in building features5 .

Option D is correct because examining whether the rarely used features solve the intended problem is a crucial step to evaluate your product performance. You should review your product vision and goals, and assess how your features contribute to them. You should also analyze the feedback and data you have collected from your users and stakeholders, and identify any gaps or mismatches between your features and their needs .

References:

1: Product Backlog Management

2: Stakeholders & Customers

3: Product Value

4: Evidence-Based Management

5: Product Vision

: Forecasting & Release Planning

: [Business Strategy](https://www

= Based on the Evidence-Based Management (EBM) framework, your product has a high Current Value (CV), which means that it delivers value to the existing customers and meets their needs and expectations. However, it also has a high Unrealized Value (UV), which means that there is a large gap between the potential and actual use of the product in the market. This indicates that your product has a low awareness, reach, or appeal among the potential customers who could benefit from it.

To increase the business performance of the product, you need to reduce the UV and increase the Ability to Innovate (A2I), which is the ability to deliver future value. One way to do this is to improve the marketing of the product, which can help you to communicate the value proposition, differentiate the product from the competitors, and attract a greater number of customers. This can also provide you with more feedback and data to inform your product strategy and backlog prioritization.

The other options are not the best actions to take, because they either do not address the root cause of the high UV, or they may compromise the CV or A2I of the product. Increasing the number of product features may not necessarily increase the value or the demand for the product, and it may also increase the complexity and the cost of development. Releasing an identical product with a new name may confuse the customers and dilute the brand identity, and it may also create legal or ethical issues. Dropping the price for the product may not be a sustainable or profitable strategy, and it may also affect the perceived quality or value of the product. References := Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II Certification, Managing Products with Agility, Evidence-Based Management

According to the Scrum Guide, the Scrum Team consists of one Scrum Master, one Product Owner, and Developers. There is no distinction between different types ofDevelopers, such as testers, programmers, designers, etc. The Developers are the people who deliver a potentially releasable Increment of “Done” product at the end of each Sprint. They are accountable for creating and adhering to the Definition of Done, ensuring technical excellence and good design, and collaborating with the Product Owner to maximize value1. Therefore, everyone on the Scrum Team is responsible for ensuring the quality of the product, and there is no specific tester role. However, this does not mean that testing skills are not needed or valued. On the contrary, testing is an essential activity that supports the team and critiques the product throughout the development process2. A professional tester can contribute to the Scrum Team by coaching the team on testing techniques, tools, and practices, helping the team to define clear and unambiguous acceptance criteria, challenging the team to consider different scenarios and edge cases, creating and executing test plans, and providing feedback on the product’s usability, performance, security, and other aspects3. A professional tester can also collaborate with the Product Owner to ensure that the product meets the expectations and needs of the stakeholders and users.

According to the Scrum Guide, the Developers are accountable for creating a plan for the Sprint, which includes selecting the Product Backlog items that they can deliver in the Sprint1. If they realize that the workload is too high, they have two options: either reduce the scope or increase the capacity. Reducing the scope means removing or changing some of the Product Backlog items, in agreement with the Product Owner, so that theSprint Goal can still be achieved2. Increasing the capacity means adding more Developersto the team, but this is not recommended, as it can disrupt the team dynamics, lower the quality, and increase the communication overhead3. Therefore, the best actions to take are A and B, as they respect the self-organization and collaboration of the Scrum Team, and allow them to deliver a valuable and potentially releasable Increment at the end of the Sprint4.

 A user satisfaction gap exists when there is a difference between what the user expects from a product or service and what the user actually experiences12. The user’s desired outcome is the goal or benefit that the user wants to achieve by using the product or service3. The user’s actual experience is the perception and evaluation of the product or service by the user4. If the user’s actual experience does not meet or exceed the user’s desiredoutcome, the user will be dissatisfied and may switch to a different product or service. References:

1: Identifying and Closing the Customer Satisfaction Gap

2: Find the Gaps in Your User Experience

3: [Outcome-Driven Innovation]

4: [User Experience]

: Measure Business Opportunities with Unrealized Value

According to the Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II certification guide1, the Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product. The Definition of Done creates transparency by providing everyone a shared understanding of what work was completed and what standards were met as part of the Increment. If the Definition of Done is not met, the Increment is not Done and cannot be released. Therefore, the following statements are true:

A. The next Sprint may be interrupted when quality issues are encountered. This is true because the Scrum Team may have to spend time fixing the quality issues in the previous Increment before working on the new Sprint Backlog items. This may affect the Sprint Goal and the delivery of value.

C. The indication of progress on the Product Backlog is not transparent. This is true because the Product Backlog items that were supposedly Done in the previous Sprint are actually not Done according to the Definition of Done. This means that the Product Owner cannot accurately forecast the release plan and the stakeholders cannot trust the progress reports.

D. The Scrum Team should not release the Increment. This is true because releasing an Increment that does not meet the Definition of Done may compromise the quality, usability, and value of the product. It may also damage the reputation and trust of the Scrum Team and the organization.

E. The incomplete Sprint Backlog items should be returned to the Product Backlog. This is true because the Sprint Backlog items that were not Done according to the Definition of Done are still part of the Product Backlog. The Product Owner should re-order them based on their value and priority and decide when to include them in the next Sprint.

The following statement is false:

B. The project manager cannot effectively update the plan. This is false because there is no project manager role in Scrum. The Product Owner is responsible for managing the Product Backlog and the value delivery, while the Scrum Master is responsible for facilitating the Scrum process and removing impediments. The Developers are responsible for managing the Sprint Backlog and the quality of the Increment.

References: 1: Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II Certification | Scrum.org

To address the issues of interruptions, low-value meetings, and a lack of meaningful work, it is beneficial to consider a holistic approach that includes all the options provided. The Innovation Rate (A) can help understand the balance between new and routine work, the On-Product Index (B) can indicate how much work directly contributes to the product, and Employee Net Promoter Scores © can provide insights into employee satisfaction and loyalty. Together, these measurements can offer a comprehensive view of areas for improvement

Verified Answer: C

Very Very Short Explanation: According to the PSPO II guidelines, the focus should be on improving time-to-market and rate of innovation to enhance responsiveness ©.This aligns with the principles of agility and Scrum, which emphasize the importance of delivering value quickly and responding to market changes123. By improving these areas, you can better meet customer needs and compete more effectively in the market.

According to the Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II certification guide1, the Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. This means that the Product Owner should collaborate with the Developers and the Scrum Master to find the best way to deliver value in the current Sprint, even if the initial forecast is not met. The Product Owner should not change or abandon the Sprint Goal, as it is a commitment made by the Scrum Team during Sprint Planning. The Product Owner should also not skip Product Backlog refinement activities, as they are essential for preparing the Product Backlog for future Sprints. The Product Owner should not end the Sprint prematurely, as it may cause more disruption and waste than delivering a potentially releasable Increment. The Product Owner should not inform management that more resources are needed, as it may imply that the Scrum Team is not self-organizing and cross-functional. The Product Owner should respect the Developers’ autonomy and professionalism and support them in finding the best solution to the problem. Therefore, the best answer is to reduce the scope of the Sprint, if possible, to still meet the Sprint Goal. This means that the Product Owner and the Developers should negotiate the scope of the Sprint Backlog within the Sprint, removing or adding Product Backlog items that are aligned with the Sprint Goal and the value delivery. References: 1: Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II Certification | Scrum.org

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” Increment2. The Sprint Backlog is a plan with enough detail that changes in progress can be understood in the Daily Scrum2. The Developers modify the Sprint Backlog throughout the Sprint, and the Sprint Backlog emerges during the Sprint. This emergence occurs as the Developers work through the plan and learn more about the work needed to achieve the Sprint Goal2. The Sprint Backlog is not a commitment to deliver a fixed scope of work, but rather a forecast of what the Developers believe they can do in the Sprint3. Therefore, the Sprint Backlog does not need to be fully defined during the Sprint Planning, but only enough so the Developers can create a realistic forecast of what they can do during the Sprint. References: 1: Sprint Backlog, 2: The Scrum Guide, 3: Commitment vs. Forecast

The Product Backlog is an ordered list of what is needed to improve the product, and it is the single source of work undertaken by the Scrum Team. The Product Owner is responsible for ordering the Product Backlog items by value, risk, priority, and dependencies. The Product Backlog should be transparent and accessible to the Scrum Team and the stakeholders, so that everyone can understand the scope and progress of the product development. Therefore, options A and B are true statements about the Product Backlog.

Option C is not true because the Product Backlog items can be expressed in various formats, such as user stories, use cases, scenarios, or any other way that clearly conveys the intent and value of the item. User stories are a common and useful technique, but not a mandatory one.

Option D is not true because the Product Backlog is not a fixed and complete specification of the product, but rather an emergent and dynamic artifact that evolves over time. The Product Backlog items are refined and clarified by the Product Owner and the Developers throughout the product development process, and new items can be added or removed as needed. The Product Backlog does not need to be fully defined before the first Sprint begins, but only enough to support the first Sprint Planning.

Option E is not true because the Product Owner is not the only source of ideas and requirements for the product. The Product Owner collaborates with the Developers and the stakeholders to discover, validate, and prioritize the Product Backlog items. The Product Owner may delegate the authority to add items to the Product Backlog to others, but remains accountable for the ordering and the value of the Product Backlog.

Option F is not true because the Product Backlog does not replace the communication and collaboration between the Developers and the stakeholders. The Product Backlog represents the input of all stakeholders, but it is not a substitute for direct feedback and interaction. The Developers need to engage with the stakeholders to understand their needs, expectations, and feedback, and to deliver a valuable product increment that meets the Sprint Goal and the Definition of Done. References:

Professional Scrum Product Owner II Assessment

Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework

Managing Products with Agility

[What is a Product Backlog?]

[Product Backlog Explained]

The value of a product is not determined by how many features it has, how much it costs, or how fast it is delivered, but by how well it meets the needs and expectations of the customers and stakeholders. Therefore, the best measure of value is how often and how effectively the customers use the product to achieve their goals and solve their problems. This can be assessed by using metrics such as customer satisfaction, retention, engagement, loyalty, referrals, revenue, or any other indicators that reflect the desired outcomes and benefits of the product.

The other options are not the best measures of value, because they either focus on the output rather than the outcome, or they do not reflect the customer perspective. The number of “must-do” Product Backlog items delivered in a release may indicate the scope or the quality of the product, but not necessarily the value. The average cost of the product release may indicate the efficiency or the profitability of the product, but not necessarily the value. The on-schedule performance of the Scrum Team may indicate the predictability or the agility of the product development process, but not necessarily the value. References := Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II Certification, Managing Products with Agility, Evidence-Based Management