Deciding Whether to Accept Unplanned Work into a Sprint

Handling urgent, unplanned items during a Sprint is a common challenge faced by Scrum Teams. Effective facilitation techniques can help teams make informed decisions in such scenarios.

Exam Question

There is an urgent unplanned item that the Scrum Team is being pressured to pull into their current Sprint. What facilitation technique could be used for the Scrum Team to decide whether to accept the item into the Sprint or not?
(choose the best answer)
A. The most important consideration for the Scrum Team is whether or not accepting the work would endanger the current Sprint Goal or Increment.
B. Planning Poker should be used to size the item, and then the Scrum Team can drop an item of equal size to accommodate the new item.
C. Fist of Five – so that everyone feels like they have provided input on accepting the item into the current Sprint.
D. No facilitation is needed – adding unplanned work to the Sprint is against the rules of Scrum so the item should simply not be accepted into the Sprint.

Correct Answer

A. The most important consideration for the Scrum Team is whether or not accepting the work would endanger the current Sprint Goal or Increment.

Explanation

Correct Answer

A. The most important consideration for the Scrum Team is whether or not accepting the work would endanger the current Sprint Goal or Increment:
This approach aligns with Scrum principles, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the Sprint Goal and the integrity of the Sprint Increment. The Scrum Team must carefully consider whether the unplanned work will jeopardize their ability to meet their Sprint commitments. This decision involves evaluating the urgency and importance of the unplanned item against the current Sprint Goal and capacity.

Why the Other Options Are Less Relevant

B. Planning Poker should be used to size the item, and then the Scrum Team can drop an item of equal size to accommodate the new item:
While Planning Poker can help estimate the effort required for the new item, it does not address the primary concern of whether the new work will disrupt the Sprint Goal. Simply swapping items of equal size does not consider the potential impact on achieving the Sprint Goal.

C. Fist of Five – so that everyone feels like they have provided input on accepting the item into the current Sprint:
Fist of Five is a valuable technique for gauging consensus, but it is more important to focus on whether the new item aligns with the Sprint Goal and capacity. Team input is crucial, but it should be directed toward the impact on the Sprint Goal.

D. No facilitation is needed – adding unplanned work to the Sprint is against the rules of Scrum so the item should simply not be accepted into the Sprint:
This option overlooks the flexibility of Scrum. While minimizing unplanned work is a goal, Scrum Teams must adapt to urgent, high-priority items. The key is to make a well-considered decision that balances urgency with the Sprint commitments.

Practical Application in Scrum

When faced with unplanned work, the Scrum Team should:

• Assess the Urgency and Importance: Determine if the new item is truly urgent and critical.
• Evaluate the Impact: Consider how adding the item will affect the Sprint Goal and Increment.
• Team Discussion: Use facilitation techniques to ensure all team members provide input and reach a consensus.
• Make an Informed Decision: Based on the assessment, decide whether to include the item, adjust the Sprint Backlog, or defer the item.

Relevance to the PSF Skills Exam

Understanding how to handle unplanned work within a Sprint is crucial for the PSF Skills exam. This knowledge demonstrates the ability to maintain focus on the Sprint Goal while being adaptable to urgent needs.

Key Takeaways

• The primary consideration for adding unplanned work is its impact on the Sprint Goal and Increment.
• Facilitation techniques like Planning Poker and Fist of Five are useful but must be applied with the Sprint Goal in mind.
• Effective decision-making involves assessing urgency, evaluating impact, and achieving team consensus.

Conclusion

Facilitating decisions about unplanned work requires a balance between flexibility and commitment to the Sprint Goal. By focusing on the impact on the Sprint Goal and engaging the team in thoughtful discussion, Scrum Teams can navigate urgent requests effectively. For more information on preparing for the PSF Skills exam, visit our Professional Scrum Facilitation Skills PSF Skills™ Exam Prep.