Scrum Master Interview Questions

Here are some of the frequently asked Scrum Master Interview Questions.

1. How does agile testing (development) methodology differ from other testing (development) methodologies?

The testers (developers) ensure that the whole process of testing (development) is broken into small steps as possible, and just a small      unit of code is tested (developed) in each of these steps. The team of testers (developers) consistently communicates the results of their   work, and changes the short term strategy and even the development plan on the go, based on the results of agile testing. Agile       methodology encourages flexible and rapid response to change, which should lead to better end results.

2. What do daily stand up meetings entail?

Each day, at same time and same place (in front of the task board), the team meets to give updates about their tasks and tickets resolved for the day. This meeting addresses SCRUM’s three questions listed below.
– What have you completed since the last meeting?
– What do you plan to complete by the next meeting?
– What is getting in your way?

3. What is a Release candidate?

A Release candidate is a build or version of software that can be released to production. Further, testing such as UAT may be performed on this version of the product.

4. What are the most important components of Agile?

The key feature of agile are:

Daily stand-up meetings.

CRC (Class Responsibilities and Collaborators) cards

timeboxed task boards.

TDD (Test Driven Development), Continuous Integration, regular code reviews, pair programming, automated builds, continuous deployment and delivery, etc.

You have iteration planning meetings and carry out iterative development.

5. What project management tools are used in agile?

Agile has a new breed of PM tools including Rally Software, Version One and Xplanner ,Easybacklog, Icescrum, Agilefant, Agilo.These tools bear no resemblance to the waterfall PM tools like MS-Project or Clarity.

6. How study Board can be defined in agile?

A Story Board is a visual representation of a software project’s progress. There are generally four columns ‘To do’, In Progress’, ‘Test’, and ‘Done’. Different colored post, its notes are placed in each column indicating the progress of individual development items. A story board is typically used in agile development.

7. How much time should a person expect to spend on ScrumMaster activities?

A ScrumMaster should make this role their top priority to focus on benefits of the overall team. Their load will vary from sprint to sprint depending on what impediments and issues the team is dealing with. Newly formed teams typically take more ScrumMaster time; 50%-100%, while experienced ScrumMasters with established well functioning teams might spend 50% or less time on the ScrumMaster role.

8. What qualities should a good Agile tester have?

• Agile tester should be able to understand the requirements quickly.
• They should know Agile concepts and principals.
• As requirements keep changing, testers should understand the risk involved in it.
• Agile tester should be able to prioritize the work based on the requirements.
• Communication is must for an agile tester as it requires constant communication with developers and business associates.

9. What is difference between Epic, User stories & Tasks?

Epic is a group of related user stories.
User Stories define the actual business requirement. Generally created by the business owner.
Task: To accomplish the business requirements, development team create tasks.

10.How the velocity of sprint is measured?

If capacity is measured as a percentage of 40 hours weeks then completed
= story points * team capacity
If capacity is measured in man hours then completed story points / team capacity.

11.Explain what is a product backlog in Scrum?

Before the scrum sprint initiates, product owner reviews the list of all new features, change requests, enhancements and bug reports and determines the priority. If the project is new, it includes new features that the new system must provide- this list of item is referred as Product Backlog. The items that are kept on sprint are referred as Sprint Backlog.

12.Explain Velocity in Agile?

Velocity is a metric that is calculated by addition of all efforts estimates associated with user stories completed in one iteration. It predicts how much work Agile can complete in a sprint and how much time will it require to complete a project.

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13.How tracer bullet can be used?

• Tracer bullet can be used as spike with the current architecture or the current set of best practices. The purpose of a tracer bullet is to examine how an end-to-end process will work and examine feasibility.
• Tracer ammunition, which is a part of bullet built with a small pyrotechnic charge in their base
• It is a fictional detective, alter ego of Calvin in the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes
• It is used in Scrum (software development)to describe a proof-of-concept deliverable
• Pathfinder (library science) – a term for those pathfinders produced by the Library of Congress.

 

14. How QA can add value to an agile team?

• QA can provide value addition by thinking differently about the various scenarios to test a story. They can provide quick feedback to the developers whether new functionality is working fine or not.
• QA is not a separate silo but is part of a cross-functional project team. It is included in the project from the beginning, and the whole team works together on user stories using the same tracking tools. The Director of the QA team works closely with the executive management team to identify technology and staffing needs in relation to project pipelines.
• Quality Assurance is empowered to support projects and add value in whatever way the situation requires. Examples include: design reviews, requirements assessments, browser and device support, process, tools, risk assessments, and helping to determine “Definition of Ready” and “Definition of Done.”
• QA sits with the project team whenever possible, allowing for increased conversation and problem solving in real time. The QA team attends and contributes to all relevant planning meetings and sprint ceremonies and also work directly with clients on quality and testing processes.
• Members of QA teams always learn as individuals, as project team members, and as representatives of a skilled discipline within the organization. Our process and approach to testing evolves to keep up with advances in technology and the changing needs of clients. What works for one client or project might differ radically from another. Flexibility is the key.

 

15. What does a scrum burn down chart comprise?

A scrum burn down chart should consist of

• X-axis that displays working days
• Y-axis that displays remaining effort
• Ideal effort as guideline
• Real progress of effort

 

16. What is Scrum Sprint?

A Scrum Sprint is a regular, repeated work cycle in scrum methodology during which work is completed and made ready for review. Scrum sprints are basic units of development in the scrum methodology. Generally, scrum sprints are less than 30 days long.
Sprints contain and consist of the Sprint Planning, Daily Scrums, the development work, the Sprint Review, and the Sprint Retrospective.
During the Sprint:

• No changes are made that would endanger the Sprint Goal
• Quality goals do not decrease, and
• Scope may be clarified and re-negotiated between the Product Owner and Development Team as more is learned.

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17. What are the artifacts of Scrum process?

Scrum process artifacts include

• Sprint backlog – 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 Goal. The Sprint Backlog is a forecast by the Development Team about what functionality will be in the next Increment and the work needed to deliver that functionality into a “Done” Increment.
• Product backlog –The Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything that might be needed in the product and is the single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product. The Product Owner is responsible for the Product Backlog, including its content, availability, and ordering.
• Velocity chart-A velocity chart shows the sum of estimates of the work delivered across all iterations. Typically, velocity will stabilize through the life of a project unless the project team make-up varies widely or the length of the iteration changes.
• Burn-down chart –It is a chart that shows how quickly you and your team are burning through your customer’s user stories. It shows the total effort against the amount of work we deliver on each iteration.

 

18. Does maximum velocity mean maximum productivity?

No, in an attempt to maximize velocity, a team may in fact achieve the opposite. If asked to maximize velocity, a team may skimp on unit or acceptance testing, reduce customer collaboration, skip fixing bugs, minimize re-factoring. While potentially offering short-term improvement (if you can call it that), there will be a negative long-term impact. The goal is not to maximize velocity instead the optimal velocity over time, which takes into account many factors including quality of the end product.

19. How to measure velocity if our iteration lengths change?

You can’t measure it easily. Velocity’s value comes from its inherent consistency. A fixed iteration length helps drive the reliable rhythm of a project. Without this rhythm, you are constantly revising, re-estimating, and reconciling, and the ability to predict out in the future is minimized due to inconsistent results.
If, on the other hand, almost everyone is going to be out a week for the holidays or a couple days for company-wide meetings then by all means adapt iteration dates or velocity accordingly. Like most agile practices, these are guidelines, not strict rules.

20. Explain Agile in 30 seconds.

Agile is a framework of approaches and behaviors that encourage “just-in-time” production that enables customers to receive quality software sooner.

21. What are the differences between Agile and traditional project management (Waterfall)?

Agile encourages that a little of everything, including design, development, and testing is done at the same time. Conversely, the traditional approach to projects closes and completes one phase before the next begins. Agile encourages short, frequent feedback loops and embraces changes to requirements. In Waterfall, feedback is usually not collected until the very end of the project, and changes are discouraged.

 

22. Are you a Certified Scrum Master?

Don’t be surprised if you don’t have a certification and they ask you this question! The job description may or not may have required a certification—and the interviewer may or may not believe that certification is enough to have the expertise to be a good candidate for the role for which you are applying. If you don’t yet have an Agile Scrum Master certification, let them know if you plan on investing in the certification in the near future. Make sure you mention the years of experience you have in the field.

23. What are the roles in Scrum?

Scrum prescribes only three roles: the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and the Delivery Team. These roles should ideally be cross-functional and not shared among other projects. Many Scrum Masters have not had the opportunity to work with a team that was cross-functional or dedicated due to the organization’s resistance or inability to allow for what some refer to as a “luxury.” This question may lead the interviewer to ask how you would handle working with a team that did not have a designer or tester within the team or how you would handle a team that was not dedicated. Be ready!

24. What is the Daily Stand-Up?

One of the interview questions on Agile is sure to be about the Daily Stand-Up. The answer? Every day, preferably in the morning, the team meets for no more than 15 minutes to answer three questions:

What did you do yesterday?
What do you plan on doing today?
Are there any blocks or impediments that keep you from doing your work?

This Scrum ceremony is not meant to be a status meeting for stakeholders, but a way to energize the team and get them to set focus for the day.

25. Describe what happens in the Sprint planning meeting?

In Sprint planning, the Product Owner presents the goal of the sprint and discusses the high priority product backlog items. The Delivery team then chooses the amount of work for the next sprint.

26. What is the role of the Scrum Master?

Here’s how to handle a Scrum Master interview question like this: The Scrum Master serves the team and shields them from any distractions that could prevent them from completing a sprint goal. They also remove blocks, teach the team to become self-organized and serve as a coach who teaches Agile and Scrum values and principles.

27. Is there a difference between Agile and Scrum?

Yes! Agile is the broader umbrella which Scrum falls under. Agile has four main values and twelve principles. Scrum has its own set of values and principles and provides a lightweight “framework” to help teams become Agile.

28. Describe what happens in the Sprint planning meeting.

In Sprint planning, the Product Owner presents the goal of the sprint and discusses the high priority product backlog items. The Delivery team then chooses the amount of work for the next sprint.

29. What is the role of the Scrum Master?

Here’s how to handle a Scrum Master interview question like this: The Scrum Master serves the team and shields them from any distractions that could prevent them from completing a sprint goal. They also remove blocks, teach the team to become self-organized and serve as a coach who teaches Agile and Scrum values and principles.

30. Is there a difference between Agile and Scrum?

Yes! Agile is the broader umbrella which Scrum falls under. Agile has four main values and twelve principles. Scrum has its own set of values and principles and provides a lightweight “framework” to help teams become Agile.

Continue reading Scrum Master Interview Questions…

31. Name some other Agile frameworks.

There are other frameworks in addition to Scrum, such as Kanban, Test Driven Development, and Feature Driven Development. Mention frameworks you have followed and provide scenarios.

32. When should you use Waterfall over Scrum?

Use waterfall if the requirements are simple, predictable, fully defined and understood, and will not change.

 

33. Would you recommend automated testing for your project?

Scrum encourages the use of automated performance or regression testing so that you can continuously deliver software as quickly as possible. Offer examples of any automated testing tools that your team may have used.

34. How long were your sprints?

An ideal sprint length is between one and four weeks, with a two-week sprint being the most widely used.

35. What is velocity?

Velocity is the average number of points from that past 3 – 4 sprints. It is used to help predict when backlog items will be delivered.

36. Is it okay if someone wants to change a requirement?

Yes. Agile encourages frequent feedback from customers and stakeholders so that the product can be improved. We need to be able to embrace change.

37. What type of metrics or reports have you used?

Sprint, release burn-down and burn-up charts are standard reports. Most companies also want to understand how many stories were committed versus completed per sprint and the number of defects identified post-release to production.

38. What is a burn-down chart?

A burn-down chart displays the amount of work a team has burned through—such as hours during the sprint. Discuss how you have used these in the past.

39. What is a retrospective?

A retrospective is a meeting to inspect and adapt the process. This Agile methodology interview question is looking for the many ways to conduct a retrospective—so be ready to explain one or two formats.

40. How many Scrum teams have you managed at one time?

This is a popular question. Don’t offer that Scrum guidelines state only one Scrum Master per team as your answer! In this new role, you may be required to lead more than one team. Notice the use of the word “managed” versus “led.”  Scrum Masters do not manage, they lead teams—so be sure to use this word in your response. Your interviewer is likely to be listening very closely!

41. What type of requirements did you use for your teams?

Requirements in Scrum are written as user stories using a standard, “As a ___, I want___ so that I can ___.” As a Scrum Master, you don’t necessarily write user stories, but you would assist the Product Owner to ensure that user stories are written, prioritized, and ready for the sprint.

42. Describe a time when your Delivery team members didn’t seem to be getting along. How did you handle this?

A little bit of conflict is always good, but your interviewer is looking for your ability to be an effective leader. Reflect on a time where you had a few team members that just never seemed to be able to work things out. How did you encourage those team members to work together? Was it a team building exercise? Did you make sure they had a common goal? State the problem you had, how you addressed it, and the outcome.

As with any interview prep, you’ll want to customize your answers to cater to the company for which you’re interviewing. Consider how companies like Cognizant, Phillips, Apple, etc. are using Agile Scrum methodology in their day-to-day practices.