Top Agile Scrum Master Interview Questions and Answers
Here are the top 12 frequently asked Agile Scrum Master interview questions and their answers. These sample questions are framed by experts from Omni Academy who provide Agile Training, giving you an idea of the types of questions asked in interviews. We have taken full care to make this list of questions all-inclusive. Do share your thoughts in the comments section below. Happy job hunting!
Answers to Top Agile Interview Questions
1. How does the Agile testing (development) methodology differ from other testing (development) methodologies?
Testers (developers) ensure that the whole process of testing (development) is broken down into as 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 the agile testing. The agile methodology encourages a flexible and rapid response to change, which leads to better end results.
2. What do daily stand-up meetings entail?
Each day, at a specific time and at a specific place (in front of the task board), the team meets to share 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 features of agile are:
- Daily stand-up meetings
- CRC (Class Responsibility Collaborator) cards
- Timeboxed task boards
- TDD (test-driven development), continuous integration, regular code reviews, pair programming, continuous deployment and delivery, automated builds, etc.
- Iteration planning meetings and iterative development
5. What are the project management tools used in Agile?
Agile has a new breed of PM tools including Rally Software, VersionOne, XPlanner, EasyBacklog, IceScrum, Agilefant, and Agilo. These tools bear no resemblance to the waterfall PM tools like MS Project or Clarity.
6. How can storyboard be defined in Agile?
A storyboard is a visual representation of a software project’s progress. There are generally four columns, namely, ‘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 storyboard is typically used in Agile development.
7. How much time should a person expect to spend on Scrum Master activities?
A Scrum Master should make this role their top priority to focus on the 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 Scrum Master time, 50–100 percent; while experienced Scrum Masters with established well-functioning teams might spend 50 percent or less time on the Scrum Master role.
8. What qualities should a good Agile Tester have?
- Agile Testers should be able to understand the requirements quickly.
- They should know Agile concepts and principles.
- As requirements keep changing, Agile Testers should understand the risk involved in it.
- Agile Testers should be able to prioritize the work based on the requirements.
- Communication skills are a must for Agile Testers as they are required to constantly communicate with developers and business associates.
9. What is difference between Epic, User Stories, and Tasks?
- An Epic is a group of related user stories.
- User Stories define the actual business requirements. They are generally created by the business owner.
- Task: To accomplish the business requirements, the development team creates tasks.
10. How is the velocity of sprint 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 the product backlog in Scrum.
Before the Scrum sprint initiates, the 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 items is referred to as a product backlog. The items that are kept on the sprint are referred to as sprint backlog.
12. Explain velocity in Agile.
Velocity is a metric that is calculated by the addition of all effort estimates associated with user stories completed in one iteration. It predicts how much work Agile can complete in a sprint and how much time it will require to complete a project.
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