SCRUM | Interview Questions and Answers
1. What is Scrum?
Answer: Scrum is an Agile framework that provides a structured yet flexible way for teams to collaborate on complex projects. It emphasizes iterative development, continuous feedback, and the delivery of a potentially shippable product at the end of each iteration, known as a Sprint.
2. What are the key roles in Scrum?
Answer: The key roles in Scrum are the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team. The Product Owner is responsible for defining and prioritizing the product backlog, the Scrum Master facilitates the Scrum process, and the Development Team is responsible for delivering the product increment.
3. What is a Sprint in Scrum?
Answer: A Sprint is a time-boxed iteration in Scrum, typically lasting 2 to 4 weeks, during which a potentially shippable product increment is created. Sprints help teams focus on delivering a specific set of features or user stories.
4. Explain the concept of a Product Backlog.
Answer: The Product Backlog is a prioritized list of all features, enhancements, and fixes that need to be addressed in the product. It is maintained by the Product Owner and evolves over time based on feedback and changing priorities.
5. What is the purpose of the Daily Scrum?
Answer: The Daily Scrum is a short, daily meeting where the Development Team discusses progress, challenges, and plans for the day. It ensures everyone is on the same page and promotes collaboration and problem-solving.
6. How does Scrum handle changes in requirements?
Answer: Scrum handles changes through the Product Backlog. The Product Owner can reprioritize items based on changing requirements, and new features or adjustments can be added during Sprint Planning or at any time.
7. What is the role of the Scrum Master?
Answer: The Scrum Master serves as a servant-leader, supporting the Scrum Team and ensuring that Scrum practices are followed. They facilitate meetings, remove impediments, and help the team continuously improve.
8. What is a Sprint Review?
Answer: A Sprint Review is a meeting at the end of each Sprint where the Development Team demonstrates the completed work to stakeholders. It provides an opportunity for feedback and ensures alignment with the product vision.
9. How does Scrum address team collaboration?
Answer: Scrum promotes collaboration through regular ceremonies like Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, and Sprint Review. The emphasis on self-organizing teams fosters open communication, transparency, and collective ownership.
10. Explain the concept of Velocity in Scrum.
Answer: Velocity is a metric used in Scrum to measure the amount of work a team can complete in a Sprint. It helps with future Sprint planning by providing a reference for the team’s capacity.
11. What is a Burndown Chart?
Answer: A Burndown Chart visually represents the amount of work remaining in the Sprint. It helps the team track progress and identify any deviations from the planned trajectory.
12. How does Scrum handle risks?
Answer: Scrum addresses risks through transparency and adaptability. Regular inspections during Sprint Reviews and Retrospectives allow teams to identify and mitigate risks early in the development process.
13. What is the Definition of Done?
Answer: The Definition of Done is a set of criteria that must be met for a product increment to be considered complete. It ensures that the team delivers a high-quality, potentially shippable product at the end of each Sprint.
14. Explain the term “Empirical Process Control” in Scrum.
Answer: Empirical Process Control is a fundamental principle in Scrum. It involves making decisions based on observation, experimentation, and regular feedback. The three pillars supporting empirical process control are transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
15. How does Scrum support continuous improvement?
Answer: Scrum supports continuous improvement through the Sprint Retrospective. The team reflects on the previous Sprint, identifies areas for improvement, and implements changes in the upcoming Sprints.
16. What is a User Story in Scrum?
Answer: A User Story is a simple, concise description of a feature or functionality from an end user’s perspective. It typically follows the format “As a [user], I want [feature] so that [benefit].”
17. What is the role of the Product Owner in Sprint Planning?
Answer: The Product Owner is responsible for presenting the prioritized Product Backlog items during Sprint Planning and answering any questions the Development Team may have. They help the team understand the overall goals and vision.
18. How does Scrum handle dependencies between teams?
Answer: Scrum of Scrums is a technique used to address dependencies between multiple Scrum Teams. Representatives from each team meet regularly to discuss progress, challenges, and coordinate efforts.
19. What is the purpose of the Sprint Retrospective?
Answer: The Sprint Retrospective is a meeting held at the end of each Sprint where the team reflects on the Sprint process, identifies what went well and what could be improved, and plans actions for continuous improvement.
20. How does Scrum support product quality?
Answer: Scrum supports product quality through the Definition of Done and continuous inspection. Each increment must meet the defined quality criteria, and regular inspections during Sprints ensure that any quality issues are addressed promptly.
21. Can Scrum be used for non-software projects?
Answer: Yes, Scrum can be adapted for various types of projects beyond software development, such as marketing, research, and hardware development. The key is to embrace Scrum’s principles and tailor its practices to the specific context.
22. What is the role of the Development Team in Sprint Planning?
Answer: The Development Team in Sprint Planning collaborates with the Product Owner to understand and estimate the effort required for each Product Backlog item. They commit to delivering a specific set of items during the Sprint.
23. Explain the concept of “Shippable Increment” in Scrum.
Answer: A Shippable Increment is the product increment created by the Development Team during a Sprint. It is a potentially releasable version of the product that meets the Definition of Done and can be deployed to production if desired.
24. How does Scrum handle conflicting priorities?
Answer: The Product Owner is responsible for resolving conflicting priorities in the Product Backlog. They must prioritize items based on business value and collaborate with stakeholders to make informed decisions.
25. What is the role of the Scrum Master during the Sprint?
Answer: The Scrum Master supports the team during the Sprint by facilitating Scrum events, removing impediments, and fostering a positive and collaborative team environment. They ensure that Scrum processes are followed.
26. How does Scrum address scope changes during a Sprint?
Answer: Scope changes are generally avoided during a Sprint to maintain focus and stability. If absolutely necessary, the Product Owner and the team may negotiate and, if agreed upon, adjust the Sprint Backlog within the framework of the current Sprint goals.
27. What is the purpose of the Sprint Goal?
Answer: The Sprint Goal is a short statement that provides a clear objective for the Development Team during the Sprint. It helps guide the team’s work and decision-making to ensure a cohesive focus on delivering value.
28. How does Scrum handle unplanned work or issues during a Sprint?
Answer: Unplanned work or issues are addressed through collaboration within the team. The Development Team, along with the Product Owner and Scrum Master, may discuss and reprioritize the Sprint Backlog to accommodate the unexpected work.
29. What is the difference between a Sprint Review and a Sprint Retrospective?
Answer: The Sprint Review focuses on demonstrating the completed work to stakeholders and gathering feedback, while the Sprint Retrospective is a reflection on the Sprint process itself, aiming to identify areas for improvement and planning actions for the next Sprint.
30. How does Scrum promote transparency?
Answer: Scrum promotes transparency through open communication, visibility of work, and the use of artifacts like the Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Burndown Charts. Regular ceremonies and collaboration ensure that information is accessible to all team members and stakeholders.
What Next?
These are just a few examples of SCRUM interview questions. Depending on the level of expertise required, interview questions may vary from basic to advanced topics. Good luck with your interviews!