Top 33 Scrum Master Interview Questions and Answers

Here is a run-down of the most popular 33 scrum master interview questions and answers that may be asked in a scrum master interview.

Scrum is an Agile framework that allows a team to self-organize and make changes quickly, in accordance with agile principles. A Scrum Master is the facilitator for an agile development team and manages the process for how information is exchanged. Being a certified Scrum Master can help you to get into the top IT companies in the industry.

Here is a run-down of some of the top Scrum Master interview questions and answers that may be asked in a Scrum Master interview:

Top Scrum Master Interview Questions and Answers

Q1. Name the phases of risk management.

Ans. There are 5 phases of risk management –

• Risk identification
• Risk categorization
• Risk response
• Risk review
• Risk closure

Q2. What are the primary tools used in a Scrum project?

Ans. The primary tools used in a Scrum project are –

• JIRA
• Rally
• Version One
• nTask
• Targetprocess
• VivifyScrum
• QuickScrum
• Yodiz
• ScrumDo
• Pivotal Tracker

Q3. What is Scrumban?

Ans. A Scrumban is a management framework and Kanban-based model for software development. It is used in software projects that require continuous maintenance, problem-solving, error fixation, etc. This model is chosen to complete a project within minimum time.

Q4. What is API?

Ans. API or Application Programming Interface is a communication protocol between clients and servers. This contract is created to ensure smooth functioning and building of client-side software. The client describes its requirements, and the server is responsible for delivering the product as agreed.

Q5. What is a product roadmap?

Ans. It is a product vision that offers a holistic view of product features. A product roadmap helps the product teams to communicate the strategy with cross-functional teams as well as key stakeholders.

Q6. How is estimation done in a Scrum project?

Ans. The entire team does estimation in a Scrum project during the sprint planning meeting. This is achieved by using relative Agile estimation techniques.

Q7. Which techniques are used for estimation?

Ans. Techniques used in estimation include –

• T-shirt Estimation Technique
• Planning Poker Estimation Technique
• Estimation by Analogy Technique
• Disaggregation Estimation Technique

Q8. What are the most common risks in a Scrum project?

Ans. The most commonly encountered risks in a Scrum project are –

• A scope creep
• Timeline issues
• Budget issues

Must check: Free Agile & Scrum Courses Online

Q9. What is Scope Creep? How will you avoid Scope Creep?

Ans. Also known as requirement creep, Scope Creep refers to damages or deviations in any project’s scope within the same resource range, and these are beyond human control. It indicates poor project management and is a potential risk to a project.

Q10. What are the common reasons behind Scope Creep?

Ans. It can be because of any uncontrolled issue, but the primary reasons behind Scope Creep are –

• Poor or miscommunication between the stakeholders of a project
• Improper documentation of project requirements

Q11. What is the Gap Analysis?

Ans. It is a method to assess differences in performance between the existing system and functionalities of a business. It is a performance level comparison that checks whether business requirements are being met and devises the ways that can help to get the required results.

Q12. Can you differentiate between a Risk and an Issue?

Ans. Yes, a Risk is a problem that has been predicted earlier, and improvement plans are devised for them, while an Issue is a problem that has already occurred.

Also, Read– Agile Interview Questions and Answers.

Q13. What is the role of Sashimi in Scrum?

Ans. Sashimi is used in Scrum to check if all the functions are completed after a product is displayed. It involves different methodologies like analysis, designing, coding, testing, and documentation. Try elaborating these concepts, as this is one of the commonly asked scrum master interview questions. 

Q14. What is Product Backlog & Sprint Backlog?

Ans. For this scrum master interview question, you should explain how a product backlog contains the features and requirements of a product.

A sprint backlog is a subset of the product backlog. It has features and requirements only related to a particular sprint.

Q15. What is Project Scope Management?

Ans. Project Scope Management is a set of processes followed in Agile projects to ensure that a project’s scope is accurately defined and mapped. The process involves steps like –

• Planning scope management
• Collecting requirements
• Defining scope
• Creating a Work Breakdown Structure
• Validating Scope
• Controlling Scope

Q16. Name different types of metrics used to measure the work done by Scrum teams.

Ans. Metrics that help to measure the work done by scrum teams include –

• Sprint Goal Success
• Escaped Defects and Defect Density
• Team Velocity
• Sprint Burn-down
• Time to Market
• ROI
• Capital Redeployment
• Customer Satisfaction

Also Read– Agile vs Scrum

Q17. What is a burn-down chart?

Ans. A burn-down chart is a graphical representation of work left to do versus time.

Q18. What is RC?

Ans. RC is the abbreviation of the Release Candidate. It is an internally released build to check for any undetected critical issues left during the previous development period. RC is only used for testing purposes.

Q19.  Name the most important tools used in Agile projects.

Ans. The most important tools used in Agile projects are –

• Active Collab
• Agile Bench
• Bonfire
• BugDigger
• BugShooting
• JIRA Agile
• LeanKit
• Pivotal Tracker
• Planbox
• qTrace
• Snagit
• Telerik TeamPulse
• Usersnap
• VersionOne

Also, Read- Scrum Master Certification: An overview & process to accomplish the same!

Q20. Name some Agile project management tools.

Ans. Some popular Agile project management tools are –

• Active Collab
• Agilo for Scrum
• Atlassian Jira
• Gravity
• Icescrum
• Kanbanize
• com
• Nifty
• Pivotal Tracker
• SpiraTeam
• SpiraTeam
• SprintGround
• VSTS
• Wrike

Q21. Mention the responsibilities of a Scrum Master?

Ans. Following are the key responsibilities of a Scrum Master involves:

• Tracking and monitoring
• Work to reach the project goal
• Communication and reporting
• Protect the team from detachments
• Understanding requirements properly
• Improving the performance of the team
• Lead the meetings and resolve issues
• Process checking master and quality master
• Resolution of conflicts and impediments

Q22. Mention Some major principles of Agile testing.

Ans.  For this Scrum Master interview question, do explain the following major principles of Agile testing with examples as well. 

• Focus on essence
• Self-organized
• Collective work
• Customer satisfaction
• Continuous feedback
• Successive improvement
• Sustainable development
• Quick respond to changes
• Error-free clean node

Q23. Mention some methodologies and development where we can use the Agile model.

Ans. Some methodologies and development where we can use the Agile model:–

• Crystal methodologies
• Dynamic development
• Feature-driven development
• Lean software development

Q24. What benefits do you get by holding any agile certification? Mention the reason to choose this certification?

Ans. Agile and Scrum certifications are trending in the market, candidates decided to hold one or more. Below is a list of popular Agile and Scrum certifications:

• ASM (Agile Scrum Master)
• CSM (Certified Scrum Master)
• ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner)
• PSM (Professional Scrum Master)
• Safe Agilist

Q25. What is the procedure to do estimation in a Scrum project? Name the techniques used for estimation?

Ans. Estimation can be processed by using relative Agile estimation techniques. It is a Scrum project. Following are the technique used in the Scrum project-

• Planning poker estimation
• T-shirt estimation technique
• Estimation by analogy technique
• Disaggregation estimation technique

Q26. When can we use Waterfall over Scrum?

Ans. We can use waterfall over Scrum if the requirements are basic, fully defined, predictable, and understood.

Q27. Mention the roles included in the Scrum framework?

Ans. Scrum framework includes three roles-

• Product Owner
• Scrum Master
• Development team

Q28. Mention the most common risks in a Scrum project?

Ans. Following are the most common risks in a Scrum project:

• Budget issues
• A scope creep
• Timeline issues

Q29. Mention how many Scrum teams we can manage at one time?

Ans. We can manage more than one team at a time. It will be great if an experienced leader will manage all these with his achievements.

Q30. Mention the five phases of Risk Management?

Ans. Following are the five phases of Risk Management:

• Risk identification
• Risk categorization
• Risk response
• Risk review
• Risk closure

Q31. Explain Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in Scrum?

Ans. An MVP is defined as the product with the minimum available features to be viewed to the stakeholders and be required to ship for production.

Q32. What are the main advantages of using Scrum?

Ans. The main advantages of using Scrum are:

• Early feedback 
• Production of the MVPs (Minimal Viable Product) to the stakeholders

Q33. Mention the disadvantages of Scrum?

Ans. Following are the disadvantages of Scrum:

• A strong and acknowledged project depends on the maturity and dedication of the entire team.
• Regular Scrum meetings need frequent reviews and substantial resources.

Conclusion

So these are the top Scrum Master interview questions. Prepare these well and impress your recruiter. If you liked this article please like and share it.