20 Scrum Master and Agile Scrum Interview Questions
Agile Scrum is the best stratagem that can be currently used in meeting the demand for accurate projects. Most organizations use agile in their activities, which has made the agile and scrum team pertinent in any organization. So, this content will be essential to prepare you for some common and frequently asked agile and scrum interview questions.
Below are some of the too twenty agile scrum interview questions with answers which we expect will help you in preparing for the agile scrum interview, thereby obtaining the agile scrum certification.
Basic Agile Scrum Interview Questions
- What's the duration of a scrum sprint?
The duration of a scrum sprint or cycle is determined by the size of the project and the team working on it. The number in a team varies, ranging from 3-9 members. Generally, a scrum script needed to be completed within 3-4 weeks. Which on average, makes the duration of a scrum sprint to be approximately four weeks.
- What is Velocity?
Velocity means the rate at which a team progresses by sprint. Velocity is a question that is asked to ascertain if you have done some real work and familiar with the term. You can also add to the above definition by giving an important feature of velocity. That velocity can't be compared with two different scrum teams.
- What do you understand about impediments in Scrum? Provide some examples of impediments.
Impediments refer to issues or obstacles which is faced by a scrum team, which slows down their work speed. Anything which tries to stop a scrum team from doing their job is an impediment. Examples of impediments which can obstruct a team in their work are as follows;
- Missing resource or an ill team member
- Organizational, operational or technical problems
- No supportive management system
- External issues like wars and the weather can also impede a scrum team
- The scrum team lacking skill or knowledge in their work
It is worthy to note when answering this question that you maybe ask how to solve the problems of the impediments you mentioned.
- What are the differences and similarities between Agile and Scrum?
The difference between agile and scrum is that although Agile is a broad spectrum, its methodology used in project management while scrum is a part of agile, which describes clearly its steps. In order words, agile is a practice, while scrum can be regarded as the method to be used in practice. The similarity between the two is that agile involves the method of completing projects using a laid down step. Being a form of agile, scrum also using laid down steps in its projects.
- What is the increment? Explain the concept.
A quick answer can be given to this commonly asked agile question. Thus, an increment is referred to as the total of all product backlog items completed in a sprint. Each increment is cumulative, which means that it will include all previous sprint increment values.
- What is "build-breaker"?
A build-breaker situation arises when there are bugs in the software. Due to this unexpected bug, the compilation process stops, execution fails, or a warning is generated. The tester is responsible for getting the software back to its normal working stage by removing the bug.
- What do you understand by Daily Stand-Up?
The daily stand up is referred to the everyday meeting in which the team meet for 15 minutes to find solutions to the following questions;
- Previous work is done
- The current plan for the day
- Impediments which are restricting team members from doing their work
- Daily stand up is an effective and efficient way to motivate the team as well as a set goal for the team.
- What do you know about the Scrum ban?
The scrum ban is a model specifically used in projects to enable, which needs continuous maintenance coupled with programming errors or have sudden changes.
- What are some of the Agile quality strategies?
Some agile strategy include the following;
- Refactoring
- Dynamic code analysis
- Short feedback cycle
- Iteration
- Milestone review
- Why do you know about the Agile Manifesto and Principles?
The agile manifesto values four with twelve principles. This theory is one that most agile or scrum aspirants should be on tips for.
- Is there any drawback to the Agile model? If yes, explain.
Yes some drawbacks exist in the agile method, and they include;
- Predicting the effort required to complete a task is not easy. This will constitute problems in a large project where it will be difficult to know the total number of effort needed.
- Sometimes, it is difficult to focus properly on the design and documentation of projects
- If the client's requirement is not clearly understood, the outcome of the project will not satisfy the customer's requirements
- What are the uses of burn-up and burn-down charts?
Burn-up charts show the amount of work which is completed in a project while the burn-down chart gives the amount of work remaining in a project.
- Define Zero Sprint and Spike in Agile.
Zero sprints are the preparatory steps of the first sprint in agile. Examples of activities to be considered here are the preparation of the backlogs, setting an environment for development, etc.
Spike is the type of story which can be taken between the sprints. It is commonly used in activities related to design and technical problems such as prototyping, design, research, etc. Spikes are of two types - technical and functional spike.
- What is the role of a Scrum Master?
The scrum master is the leader and also the leader of a scrum team. He is responsible for serving and protecting his team from any form of distractions that could affect their performance. His main role is to motivate his team to achieve their sprint goals effectively.
- What do you understand about story point in Scrum?
To answer this question in a single line, a story point in scrum is a unit used for the estimation of the total efforts required to perform or complete s task.
- What's the role of Sashimi in the Scrum methodology?
The role of Sashimi in a scrum as it is very important in the scrum methodology. It is a technique in scrum used in checking the completion of all functions set up by the developers.
- What are the different roles in Scrum?
There are three scrum roles to include; scrum master, product owner, and the scrum team. This question would be asked to you, depending on the job position you placed. Having an agile scrum certification will also be an added advantage.
- What are the responsibilities of a Scrum Master?
Answer: The core responsibilities of a scrum master who is having an agile scrum certification would be an added advantage include the following ;
- He is the process checker, the master, and a quality master
- He is in charge of tracking and monitoring
- Protects team from distraction
- Improves the performance of the team
- Lead team meetings and resolves issues; and
- Work to reach the project goals
- What are the various ceremonies in Scrum and their importance?
The various ceremonies which are important in scrum are the scrum review and scrum retrospective ceremonies.
- What do you understand by "Agile testing"?
It's a software testing practice that is fully based on the principles of agile software development.
Conclusively, having an agile scrum certification will go in a way to ensure that you will be widely recognized and accepted in the world of agile. The agile scrum certification and training are courses and exams which provide instruction and certify an individual's aptitude in scrum and agile methodology and framework for managing tough projects.