Impact on Velocity When Adding a New Scrum Team
When a new Scrum Team is added to work on the same product as an existing team, it’s important to consider how this change might impact the velocity of the original team. This article explores a specific exam question about the likely impact on the velocity of the original team when a second team is introduced, providing detailed explanations and insights relevant to the PSM II exam.
Exam Question
One Scrum Team is developing a product. They track how much software they produce as velocity. Their current velocity is 18 units of done work. A second team will be added to work on the same product. What is the most likely impact on the velocity of the original team? (choose the best answer)
- A. Their velocity is likely to be not affected and stay at 18.
- B. Their velocity is likely to decrease and be lower than 18.
- C. Their velocity is likely to increase and be higher than 18.
Correct Answer
B. Their velocity is likely to decrease and be lower than 18.
Explanation
Correct Answer
B. Their velocity is likely to decrease and be lower than 18: Introducing a new team to work on the same product often requires a period of adjustment and integration. The original team’s velocity is likely to be affected as they spend time coordinating with the new team, aligning on processes, and managing dependencies. This adjustment period can temporarily reduce the team’s efficiency, resulting in a lower velocity.
Detailed Explanation
Coordination Efforts: Adding a new team necessitates additional coordination to ensure that both teams are aligned on the product vision, goals, and working agreements. This includes synchronizing Sprint Planning, Daily Scrums, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives.
Dependency Management: The presence of multiple teams working on the same product can introduce new dependencies that need to be managed. This can create additional overhead for the original team as they navigate these dependencies and ensure smooth integration of work.
Communication Overhead: Effective communication between teams is essential to avoid duplication of effort and ensure that all work is properly integrated. The time spent on communication and collaboration can impact the original team’s velocity.
Learning Curve: The new team will need time to ramp up and understand the product, existing codebase, and team dynamics. The original team may need to spend time supporting and mentoring the new team, which can impact their own productivity.
Incorrect Answers
A. Their velocity is likely to be not affected and stay at 18: It is unrealistic to expect the original team’s velocity to remain completely unaffected when a new team is introduced. The need for additional coordination, communication, and dependency management typically impacts the team’s efficiency.
C. Their velocity is likely to increase and be higher than 18: While the overall capacity of the organization to deliver work may increase with the addition of a new team, the original team’s velocity is unlikely to increase immediately. The initial impact is usually a decrease due to the reasons mentioned above.
Responsibilities in Scrum
- Product Owner: The Product Owner ensures that both teams are aligned on the product vision and goals. They manage the Product Backlog to reflect the priorities and dependencies across teams.
- Scrum Master: The Scrum Master facilitates coordination and communication between the teams. They help manage dependencies and support both teams in maintaining their focus on delivering value.
- Developers: Developers from both teams collaborate to ensure that their work is integrated and that dependencies are managed effectively. They communicate regularly to align their efforts and avoid duplication of work.
Relevance to the PSM II Exam
Understanding the impact of adding a new team on the original team’s velocity is crucial for the PSM II exam. It demonstrates advanced knowledge of Scrum principles and the challenges of scaling Scrum. Mastering this concept ensures that Scrum Masters can effectively guide their teams and organizations in managing the integration of new teams.
Key Takeaways
- Adding a new team to work on the same product is likely to decrease the original team’s velocity initially.
- Effective coordination, communication, and dependency management are essential to mitigate the impact on velocity.
- The initial decrease in velocity is temporary, and efficiency can improve as teams adjust to the new dynamics.
Conclusion
Introducing a new Scrum Team to work on the same product as an existing team is likely to decrease the original team’s velocity initially due to the need for additional coordination, communication, and dependency management. Understanding this impact is essential for effective Scrum implementation and success in the PSM II exam. For comprehensive preparation and practice exams, check out PSM II Exam Prep to enhance your understanding and application of Scrum principles.
