The two primary ways a Scrum Master helps a Scrum Team work at its highest level of productivity are by facilitating Scrum Team decisions and by removing impediments that hinder the Scrum Team12. The Scrum Master is a facilitator and a coach, helping the team remove impediments and facilitating team decisions12. This enables the team to focus on their work and maintain their productivity12.

Correct Answer: D) Never. The entire Scrum Team is accountable for creating

According to the Scrum Guide, the Scrum Team consists of one Product Owner, one Scrum Master, and Developers. The Scrum Team is responsible for all product-related activities, including delivering a valuable, usable product increment every Sprint. The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Developers. The Developers are accountable for creating a plan for the Sprint, the Sprint Backlog; instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done; and adapting their plan each day toward the Sprint Goal. The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide, helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, and removing impediments to the Scrum Team's progress.

Therefore, the Developers are not individually accountable for the value of a Product Backlog item selected for the Sprint, but collectively accountable as part of the Scrum Team. The value of a Product Backlog item is determined by the Product Owner, who orders the Product Backlog items based on stakeholder needs and feedback. The Developers collaborate with the Product Owner to understand the value and requirements of each Product Backlog item and deliver a potentially releasable product increment that meets the Definition of Done and the Sprint Goal.

[Scrum Guide], section 2.2: ''The Scrum Team is responsible for all product-related activities from stakeholder collaboration, verification, maintenance, operation, experimentation, research and development, and anything else that might be required.''

Accountabilities in Scrum | Scrum.org: ''Scrum has three accountabilities, each with a different focus : Product Owner (green figure) The 'What'. With a focus on Value, time to market, return on investment and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Developers (red figures) The 'How'. Focus on building something that is Done -- that the increment is useable and potentially releasable.''

What is a Developer in Scrum? | Scrum.org: ''The specific skills needed by the Developers are often broad and will vary based on the type of work they are doing. However, the Developers are always accountable for: Creating a plan for the Sprint, the Sprint Backlog Instilling quality by adhering to a Definition of Done Adapting their plan each day toward the Sprint Goal''

It is not true that the Product Owner must write all of the Product Backlog items (e.g. user stories, requirements, etc.) on the Product Backlog before handing them over to the Scrum Team. This is because:

The Product Backlog is an emergent, ordered list of what is needed to improve the product. It is never complete and constantly changes to reflect the needs and desires of the customers, users, and stakeholders.

The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. They are responsible for identifying and articulating the Product Goal, which is a long-term objective for the product that guides all the activities of the Scrum Team.

The Product Owner is also accountable for managing the Product Backlog items effectively. They must ensure that they are transparent, visible, and understood by everyone who needs to work on them. They must also collaborate with the Developers and stakeholders to refine, order, and prioritize them based on value and impact.

The Product Owner does not need to write all of the Product Backlog items by themselves or before handing them over to the Scrum Team. They can involve others in creating or contributing to them, such as customers, users, stakeholders, or Developers. They can also add or modify them at any time during the product development process, as long as they are clear and ready for selection in Sprint Planning.

[Scrum Guide], page 6, section ''Product Owner''

[Scrum Guide], page 11, section ''Product Backlog''

[Scrum Guide], page 10, section ''Product Goal''

[Scrum Guide], page 12, section ''Product Backlog Refinement''

[Scrum Guide], page 14, section ''Sprint Planning''

The Product Owner wants the Developers to adhere to its Definition of Done to have complete transparency into what has been done at the end of each Sprint. This is because:

The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product. It is a shared understanding among the Scrum Team and the stakeholders of what ''Done'' means for any Product Backlog item that is selected for a Sprint.

The Developers are accountable for creating a ''Done'' Increment in every Sprint. They must ensure that every Product Backlog item they work on meets the Definition of Done before it is considered complete.

The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. They must inspect the Increment at the end of each Sprint and assess how it delivers value and contributes to the Product Goal.

Having a clear and consistent Definition of Done helps the Product Owner have complete transparency into what has been done at the end of each Sprint. It also helps them make informed decisions about releasing, adapting, or continuing the product development.

Other options, such as predicting the team's productivity over time, knowing what the team will deliver over the next three Sprints, or reprimanding the team when they do not meet their velocity goal for the Sprint, are not valid reasons for wanting the Developers to adhere to its Definition of Done. They may reflect a misunderstanding of what a Definition of Done is or how Scrum works.

[Scrum Guide], page 10, section ''Definition of Done''

[Scrum Guide], page 7, section ''Developers''

[Scrum Guide], page 6, section ''Product Owner''

The Definition of Done is a shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete, and ensures transparency of the quality of the work done1.A Product Backlog item is considered complete when it meets the Definition of Done, which means that it is usable and potentially releasable, and that it meets the quality standards set by the Scrum Team and the stakeholders2. The other options are not sufficient to determine the completeness of a Product Backlog item, as they may not reflect the actual value and quality of the product.

1:The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 13

2:The Scrum Guide, November 2020, p. 6