Atlassian Agile Project Management Professional Certification Practice Exam

How do team norms contribute to the Scrum process?

1. By defining roles and responsibilities

2. By improving communication and conflict resolution

3. By increasing costs within the team

4. By shortening project timelines

The correct answer is: By improving communication and conflict resolution

Team norms play a critical role in the Scrum process by establishing the behavioral expectations and guidelines for how team members interact with one another. This foundational aspect fosters an environment where open communication is encouraged, allowing team members to express their ideas, concerns, and feedback freely. By enhancing communication, team norms help clarify misunderstandings and streamline decision-making processes, which is vital in a fast-paced Agile framework like Scrum. Furthermore, when norms are in place, they provide a framework for resolving conflicts when they arise. This structured approach to conflict resolution ensures that disputes do not derail team dynamics or project progress, ultimately contributing to a more harmonious and effective team environment. In direct relation to other choices, defining roles and responsibilities is important, but it is typically outlined in the Scrum framework through specific roles such as the Product Owner and Scrum Master rather than enforced through team norms. While norms do impact project timelines by fostering a more efficient and communicative team, they do not inherently decrease costs; in fact, emphasizing communication can sometimes require investment in tools and resources. Thus, the choice that accurately captures the essence of how team norms strengthen the Scrum process is their role in improving communication and conflict resolution.