What is the best remedy for this situation?

Scenario B: Six Team Nexus with complex dependencies

A six team Nexus is developing a complex product, with different parts of the product that only certain Scrum Teams can work on. In fact, there are some highly specialized individuals outside the Nexus that are required for some of the work. In past Sprints the Nexus encountered challenges dealing with the many dependencies between Scrum Teams.

Some individual Scrum Teams in this Nexus have said that they do not see how the work they are doing is contributing to the product’s progress.

What is the best remedy for this situation?

(choose the best answer)

A. During Nexus Sprint Planning, have all the teams plan the Sprint together in one room, so they can see what other teams are working on.

B. During Nexus Sprint Planning, ensure that all Scrum Teams understand the Nexus Sprint Goal.

C. Ask the Scrum Master to explain to the teams that the Product Owner can choose which features to work on, as she has the final say.

D. During Nexus Sprint Planning, ask each Scrum Team to create a Sprint Goal that describes the purpose of the Sprint.

View Answer

Answer: B

Explanation:

The best remedy for this situation is to ensure that all Scrum Teams understand the Nexus Sprint Goal. The Nexus Sprint Goal is a commitment that describes the purpose that will be achieved by the Nexus during the Sprint. It aligns with the Product Goal and provides coherence and focus for the work of the Scrum Teams. By understanding the Nexus Sprint Goal, the Scrum Teams can see how their work contributes to the product’s progress and value delivery 1234. The other answers are not effective for this situation because:

A. During Nexus Sprint Planning, have all the teams plan the Sprint together in one room, so they can see what other teams are working on. This answer is not sufficient because it does not address the root cause of the problem, which is the lack of a clear and shared purpose for the Sprint. Having all the teams plan the Sprint together may help them coordinate their work and identify dependencies, but it does not necessarily help them understand how their work relates to the product’s progress and value.

C. Ask the Scrum Master to explain to the teams that the Product Owner can choose which features to work on, as she has the final say. This answer is not helpful because it does not foster collaboration and alignment among the Scrum Teams. It also undermines the self-organization and empowerment of the Scrum Teams, and reduces their ownership and accountability for the work. The Product Owner is responsible for managing and ordering the Product Backlog, but the Scrum Teams are responsible for selecting and delivering the work for the Sprint.

D. During Nexus Sprint Planning, ask each Scrum Team to create a Sprint Goal that describes the purpose of the Sprint. This answer is not optimal because it does not ensure that the Scrum Teams have a common objective and direction for the Sprint. Each Scrum Team may have a different Sprint Goal that may or may not align with the Nexus Sprint Goal and the Product Goal. This may lead to confusion, inconsistency, and sub-optimization of the product delivery.