Are you looking for a job that requires knowledge of Scrum methodology? If so, then you should be prepared to answer some tough questions during your interview. After all, employers want to know that you understand the basics of this popular project management method and can apply them in an effective manner. To help you prepare for such interviews, we’ve put together a list of common Scrum methodology interview questions and possible responses. Read on to find out what you’ll need to know before the big day arrives.
What is Scrum?
Scrum is a popular Agile methodology for software development. It is characterized by short iterations or sprints, intense collaboration between cross-functional teams, and frequent stakeholder feedback.
The Scrum framework is designed to help teams deliver high-quality products in a timely and cost-effective manner. Scrum is founded on the following principles:
- Empiricism: Decisions are based on experience and observations, rather than on predefined rules or models.
- Self-organization: Team members should be self-organized and able to work independently.
- Transparency: All stakeholders should have visibility into the product development process.
- Inspection: The product development process should be regularly inspected so that any necessary changes can be made.
- Adaptation: The product development process should be adapted as needed to ensure that the final product meets the customer’s needs.
What are the benefits of using Scrum?
The Scrum framework is designed to help teams work together more effectively and efficiently. When used correctly, Scrum can help teams rapidly deliver high-quality products and services.
Some of the benefits of using Scrum include:
- Increased transparency and communication among team members
- More flexibility to adapt to changes or unexpected challenges
- Greater accountability for individual team members
- Faster delivery of working product increments
What are the three pillars of Scrum?
Scrum is a framework that helps teams work together to deliver projects in a timely and efficient manner. It is based on three pillars: transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
Transparency means that all members of the team have a clear understanding of the project’s goals, scope, and progress. Inspection refers to regular check-ins or stand-ups where team members share what they’ve accomplished and identify any impediments to progress. Adaptation means that the team is able to quickly adapt to changes in the project or environment.
The three pillars of Scrum work together to create a flexible and responsive process that helps teams get the most out of their time and resources.
What is the difference between a Scrum Master and a Project Manager?
The Scrum Master is the facilitator for the team, helping them to keep to the process and ensuring that the sprints are completed on time. The Project Manager is responsible for the successful delivery of the project as a whole, including all aspects of scope, time, quality and cost.
What is a Sprint?
Sprints are time-boxed periods of development in Scrum methodology, during which specific tasks must be completed and made ready for review. A sprint typically lasts two weeks, but can be shorter or longer depending on the needs of the team. During a sprint, all team members work together to complete the tasks assigned to them. At the end of the sprint, the team reviews their work and decides what to do next.
Sprints are an essential part of Scrum methodology because they allow for efficient and effective progress towards a goal. By working in short bursts, teams can stay focused and avoid burnout. Additionally, by reviewing their work at the end of each sprint, teams can keep track of their progress and ensure that they are making the most impactful changes.
What is a User Story?
A user story is a short, simple description of a feature from the perspective of the person who desires the new functionality. User stories are written throughout the development process, typically by product managers or business analysts. They are commonly used in agile software development methodologies as part of planning sessions to ensure developments align with customer desires.
User stories typically follow a simple template: As a < type of user >, I want < some goal > so that < some reason >. For example, “As a power user, I want to be able to search for multiple terms at once so that I can quickly find the information I need.”
User stories are meant to be lightweight and easy to write so that they can be quickly turned into tasks and completed by developers. They should also be small enough that they can be implemented in a single sprint (a time-boxed period of development usually lasting two weeks).
What are Acceptance Criteria?
In Scrum, acceptance criteria are used to determine whether a given product backlog item is “done.” They are written by the product owner and agreed upon by the development team. Each acceptance criterion must be verifiable, meaning that it can be tested or observed.
Acceptance criteria should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. An example of an acceptance criterion for a user story might be “As a customer, I should be able to create an account on the website.” This criterion is specific (it spells out exactly what the user should be able to do), measurable (we can test whether or not the user can actually create an account), achievable (it’s something that can realistically be implemented within the timeframe of the sprint), relevant (it’s directly related to the user story), and time-bound (it has to be completed within the sprint).
Another important thing to keep in mind when writing acceptance criteria is that they should be independent of each other. This means that each criterion should stand on its own and not depend on any other criterion in order to make sense. This can sometimes be tricky to achieve, but it’s important because it helps ensure that thecriteria are testable and that no single failure will invalidate the entire set.
Finally, it’s worth noting that acceptance criteria are always subject to change. As more is learned about the product or as circumstances change, it may become necessary to modify or add acceptance criteria. In such cases, it’s important to make sure that all stakeholders are informed and on board with any changes.
What is a Product Backlog?
In Scrum, the product backlog is a prioritized list of all expected work on the product. This may include new features, bugfixes, technical work, and other types of tasks. The product backlog is maintained by the product owner and is used to plan sprints.
The product backlog is constantly evolving as the product evolves. The product owner is responsible for maintaining the backlog and ensuring that it accurately reflects the current state of the product. The backlog should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that it remains accurate.
Who creates the Product Backlog?
The Product Backlog is a list of all the work that needs to be done in order to complete a project. It is typically maintained by the product owner, but can also be maintained by the scrum master or other members of the development team. TheProduct Backlog is constantly evolving as new information is gathered and priorities change.
How do you estimate?
There are a few different ways that you can estimate when working with the Scrum methodology. One way is to use something called planning poker. This is where everyone involved in the project gets together and agrees on an estimation for each task. Another way to estimate is by using story points. This is where you take the most difficult task and assign it a value of 10 points. Then, you base the other tasks off of that one and give them a values based on how difficult they are in comparison. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to be as accurate as possible so that you can properly plan your project.