Scrum PSK-I Professional Scrum with Kanban Exam Practice Test

Answer : B

Kanban is:

* A strategy for optimizing the flow of value through a process (Option B): Kanban focuses on improving flow and efficiency by using a visual pull system with limited WIP. This strategy helps teams balance demand against throughput and enhance productivity by limiting the number of work items in progress.

Options A (methodology for visualizing workflow) and C (set of practices additive to Scrum) are partially correct but do not fully capture Kanban's purpose. Kanban is not just a visualization tool (A), and while it can be additive to Scrum (C), it is fundamentally a flow-based strategy

Answer : A, B, D

Lagging indicator metrics are metrics that provide information about past performance:

1. Velocity (Option A): This is a measure of the amount of work a Scrum Team completes in a Sprint. It is a lagging indicator because it reflects what has been done rather than predicting future performance.

2. Cycle Time (Option B): This metric measures the time taken to complete a work item from start to finish. It is a lagging indicator because it provides data on how long work items took to complete in the past.

3. Throughput (Option D): This refers to the number of work items completed in a given period. Like Velocity, it reflects past performance and is considered a lagging indicator.

Work in Progress (Option C) and Work Item Aging (Option E) are not lagging indicators:

* Work in Progress (C): is a current state metric that indicates how much work is currently in progress.

* Work Item Aging (E): is a leading indicator, providing insights into how long a work item has been in progress, helping predict delays or bottlenecks

Answer : B, D

1. WIP Limits provide a boundary/container in which the Scrum Team self-manages (Option B):

WIP Limits establish clear boundaries within which the Scrum Team can make decisions about how much work they take on. This framework allows the team to self-manage their workflow more effectively, as they must decide collectively how to stay within these limits while delivering value.

2. As part of self-managing, Scrum Teams figure out their own WIP Limits (Option D):

A fundamental principle of Scrum is self-management. The team collectively decides its WIP limits, adjusting them based on empirical evidence and ongoing learning about their capacity, flow, and delivery capabilities. This decision-making process is a key aspect of the team's autonomy and self-management(

Options A and C are incorrect because WIP limits do not inhibit self-management (A); instead, they enable it. Additionally, a Scrum Master does not define WIP limits (C); the Scrum Team decides them.

Answer : E

During the Sprint Retrospective, once a team decides to supplement their Scrum with Kanban, all the mentioned elements might be considered:

* Workflow: To ensure it aligns with Kanban practices.

* Current policies: To review and adapt any team policies that may need to change.

* WIP Limit: To set appropriate limits to enhance flow.

* Metrics and charts (e.g., Cumulative Flow Diagram, Cycle Time Scatterplot, Work Item Aging): To visualize flow, identify bottlenecks, and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.

Considering all these elements helps the Scrum Team integrate Kanban practices effectively into their existing Scrum framework

Answer : A, B

During a flow-based Daily Scrum, the team is likely to review metrics such as Work Item Age and Work in Progress (WIP):

* Work Item Age: Helps to identify items that have been in progress for a longer time than expected, signaling possible impediments or the need for swarming to complete those items.

* Work in Progress (WIP): Indicates the number of items currently being worked on, ensuring that the team is not exceeding the agreed WIP limits, which is crucial for maintaining a steady flow

Answer : C

You always need a Scrum Master when applying Kanban practices in the Scrum framework. The role of the Scrum Master remains crucial, even when Kanban practices are incorporated, as they are responsible for ensuring that the Scrum framework is followed, including all the new practices introduced by Kanban. The Scrum Master helps facilitate the team's understanding and use of flow-based metrics and practices while maintaining the integrity of Scrum events, roles, and artifacts

Answer : A

Work Item Age is the amount of time a work item has been in progress. It acts as a leading indicator for the length of the Scrum Team's feedback loop for that item. If a work item stays in progress for too long, it indicates that feedback is delayed, potentially impacting the team's ability to adapt and respond effectively. Tracking Work Item Age helps the team monitor flow and take timely actions to ensure that feedback loops remain short and effective