Improving the Ability to Produce an Increment in a Nexus
When Scrum Teams in a Nexus find that they have too much work each Sprint to deliver a valuable and useful Increment, it is crucial to consider strategies to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. The following exam question addresses this challenge.
Exam Question
The Scrum Teams in a Nexus find they have simply too much work each Sprint to do to deliver a valuable and useful Increment. What could they try to improve their ability to produce an Increment in the next Sprint?
(choose the best answer)
A. Reduce the amount of work that the teams pull into the Sprint.
B. Add another Scrum Team to the Nexus to increase capacity.
C. Reduce the number of Scrum Teams to reduce complexity.
D. Ask the Nexus Integration Team to extend the Sprint to allow more time for integration.
Correct Answer
A. Reduce the amount of work that the teams pull into the Sprint.
Explanation
Correct Answer
A. Reduce the amount of work that the teams pull into the Sprint:
This option is the most viable because it directly addresses the root cause of the problem: too much work in the Sprint. By pulling less work into the Sprint, the teams can focus on completing fewer tasks to a high standard, ensuring that they deliver a valuable and useful Increment. This approach aligns with the principle of working within sustainable limits and maintaining a manageable workload.
Why the Other Options Are Less Effective
B. Add another Scrum Team to the Nexus to increase capacity:
While adding another Scrum Team might seem like a solution to increase capacity, it can introduce more complexity and dependencies, which can ultimately slow down the process. The added coordination and integration work might offset any potential gains in capacity.
C. Reduce the number of Scrum Teams to reduce complexity:
Reducing the number of Scrum Teams is not a practical solution because it decreases overall capacity. The remaining teams would still face the same workload, and the Nexus might lose valuable skills and perspectives from the teams that were removed.
D. Ask the Nexus Integration Team to extend the Sprint to allow more time for integration:
Extending the Sprint contradicts the Scrum framework’s principles, which emphasize time-boxed Sprints for predictability and consistency. Extending the Sprint to accommodate more work can lead to a slippery slope of continuously adjusting Sprint lengths, which undermines the rhythm and discipline of Scrum.
Benefits of Reducing Work in the Sprint
- Increased Focus: Teams can concentrate on fewer tasks, leading to higher quality outputs.
- Better Integration: With less work to integrate, the Nexus Integration Team can ensure that the Integrated Increment is valuable and useful.
- Sustainable Pace: Reducing the workload helps maintain a sustainable pace, preventing burnout and promoting continuous improvement.
Relevance to the SPS Exam
Understanding how to manage workload and improve efficiency in a Nexus is essential for the SPS exam. This knowledge demonstrates the ability to apply scaled Scrum practices to real-world scenarios, ensuring that large-scale projects are managed effectively.
Key Takeaways
- Reducing the amount of work in the Sprint helps teams deliver a valuable and useful Increment.
- Adding more teams or extending Sprints can introduce complexity and undermine Scrum principles.
- Maintaining a sustainable workload is crucial for the long-term success of the Nexus.
Conclusion
Effectively managing the workload in a Nexus is vital for delivering high-quality products. By focusing on pulling an appropriate amount of work into each Sprint, Scrum Teams can ensure they meet their commitments and deliver valuable Increments. For more information on preparing for the SPS exam, visit our Scaled Professional Scrum SPS™ Exam Prep.
