Scrum Values Quiz Explanations

1. Why are values important in Agile and Scrum?

• Agile and Scrum expect people to use a lot of initiative to do the right thing in a given situation
rather than being told prescriptively exactly what to do with a rigid set of rules. That is the
essence of an adaptive process and a clear sense of principles and values are critical to guide
people in the right direction.

• A team that has a clearly-defined set of values is likely to be much stronger and much more
cohesive

• Values give people a higher level purpose in their work and that should result in higher morale
and employee satisfaction

• If employees are trained in a set of values, it becomes much easier to assemble teams who
can come "hit the ground running"

• All of the Above

Explanation:
The first answer is correct, having a clear set of principles and values is particularly important to
guide people's direction in an adaptive process
The second answer is correct. Teams that have a well-defined set of values that everyone on the
team is committed to upholding are much more likely to be strong and cohesive teams
The third answer is correct. Values provide a higher-level sense of purpose in people's lives which
leads to more satisfying work
The fourth answer is correct. One of the biggest impediments to developing high-performance
teams is getting through the stages of conflict that teams normally go through to become high-
performing. Teams that are committed to a common set of values are much more likely to go
through that process very quickly and easily
“All of the above” is the correct answer because all of the above answers are correct

1
 Scrum Values Quiz Explanations

2. A team has repeatedly failed to deliver what was planned in sprint planning at the end of the sprint.
Which Scrum value would most likely play the biggest role in causing this to happen?

• Respect

• Courage

• Commitment and Focus

• Openness and Transparency

Explanation:
Commitment and Focus is the correct answer. The most likely cause of this problem is either not
taking commitments seriously and/or losing focus on completing deliverables during the sprint
The other values are probably only indirectly related to this result if they are related at all

3. A team has frequent conflict and has trouble coming to agreement on anything. Which Scrum value
would most likely play the biggest role in causing this to happen?

• Commitment and Focus

• Respect

• Openness and Transparency

• Courage

Explanation:
Respect is the correct answer. Lack of showing respect for others is probably the greatest cause
of conflict in teams
The other values are probably only indirectly related to this result if they are related at all

2
 Scrum Values Quiz Explanations

4. The Project Business Sponsor has lost confidence in the team's ability to deliver a project on time.
He no longer believes any projections and estimates that he is given by the team on when the
project will be completed. Which Scrum value would most likely play the biggest role in causing this
to happen?

• Courage

• Openness and Transparency

• Commitment and Focus

• Openness and Transparency

Explanation:
Openness and Transparency is the correct answer. Openness and transparency is the most likely
cause of this problem. If the team doesn't share information (both good and bad) with outside
business sponsors, they will lose credibility and trust.
The other values are probably only indirectly related to this result if they are related at all

5. A project has gone on for over two years and the end of the project is still off in the future. The team
is demoralized and losing interest in the project. Which Scrum value would most likely play the
biggest role in causing this to happen?

• Courage

• Openness and Transparency

• Respect

• Commitment and Focus

Explanation:
Courage is the correct answer. "Courage means that we have the daring to do the best that we
can and the endurance not to give up"
The other values are probably only indirectly related to this result if they are related at all

3
 Scrum Values Quiz Explanations

6. The overall performance of the team is mediocre and retrospectives at the end of each sprint have
not been effective in improving performance. Which Scrum value would most likely play the biggest
role in causing this to happen?

• Respect

• Commitment and Focus

• Openness and Transparency

• Courage

Explanation:
Commitment and Focus is the correct answer. Two of the specific values associated with
commitment and focus are:
(1) When we make errors or omissions, we take ownership and make corrections promptly and
(2) We accept accountability for any issues resulting from our errors or omissions and any
resulting consequences. If the team is not taking accountability for their poor performance,
retrospectives are not likely to be effective and performance will likely continue to be mediocre.
The other values are probably only indirectly related to this result if they are related at all