HomeSAFe SSMPractice questionsDefining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role
SAFe SSM · Scaled Agile · Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role · Bank updated 2026-09-12

SAFe SSM practice questions: Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role

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These 5 questions come from the Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role section of our SAFe SSM bank (30 questions on this area, which carries 28% of the real exam). Every question is original, with the correct answer explained and linked to the source it is drawn from.

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1/5 · Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role · easy
Which of the following is explicitly listed among the core responsibilities of the Scrum Master/Team Coach in SAFe 6.0?
AFormally approving the ART's PI Objectives before PI Planning begins.
BAssigning developers to specific stories based on their individual skill sets.
CWriting all user stories in the Team Backlog on behalf of the Product Owner.
DFacilitating team events such as Iteration Planning, the Daily Stand-up, the Iteration Review, and the Iteration Retrospective.
Show answer & explanation
D is correct. SAFe lists facilitating the team's key events among the Scrum Master/Team Coach's core responsibilities, alongside coaching, removing impediments, and fostering relentless improvement. The team itself, guided by the Product Owner, owns the backlog and self-organizes around the work.
↗ the SAFe 6.0 framework (framework.scaledagile.com) + the official SAFe Scrum Master course content - Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role
2/5 · Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role
During the Daily Stand-up, the Scrum Master/Team Coach notices the team is unsure which stories to pick up next and begins assigning specific tasks to specific developers to keep things moving. What is the concern with this behavior?
AIt undermines the team's self-organization and self-management, which SAFe expects the team itself to drive rather than the Scrum Master/Team Coach.
BIt is only a concern if the Product Owner disagrees with the specific task assignments made.
CThere is no concern; assigning tasks to individuals is a core Scrum Master/Team Coach responsibility during the Daily Stand-up.
DIt is a concern only because task assignment should instead be performed by the Release Train Engineer.
Show answer & explanation
A is correct. SAFe expects teams to be self-organizing and self-managing, deciding among themselves how to divide and sequence work. A Scrum Master/Team Coach who steps in to assign tasks, even with good intentions, is exhibiting a directing anti-pattern that erodes the team's ownership and problem-solving muscle.
↗ the SAFe 6.0 framework (framework.scaledagile.com) + the official SAFe Scrum Master course content - Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role
3/5 · Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role · hard
A team member has been consistently missing commitments and seems disengaged during Iteration events. The team's line manager asks the Scrum Master/Team Coach to document this individual's performance issues for an upcoming review. How should the Scrum Master/Team Coach respond, consistent with the SAFe Scrum Master/Team Coach role?
ARemove the team member from the team without consulting the Product Owner or the team itself.
BImmediately comply and produce a detailed written performance evaluation for the manager, since tracking individual performance is a core Scrum Master/Team Coach duty.
CUse a coaching approach with the individual and the team to understand and address the underlying issue, while clarifying that formal performance management is not part of the Scrum Master/Team Coach role.
DPublicly call out the team member's missed commitments during the next Daily Stand-up to pressure improvement.
Show answer & explanation
C is correct. SAFe distinguishes the Scrum Master/Team Coach role from a traditional project manager or line manager by excluding individual performance management from its scope. The Scrum Master/Team Coach instead applies a coaching mindset, working with the individual and team to surface and address underlying causes of disengagement, leaving formal performance management to line management.
↗ the SAFe 6.0 framework (framework.scaledagile.com) + the official SAFe Scrum Master course content - Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role
4/5 · Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role
During Iteration Planning, a team gets stuck arguing over how to split a large story. The Scrum Master/Team Coach has a strong personal opinion about the best way to split it. What is the most appropriate action?
AEscalate the disagreement to the Product Owner to make the final technical call
BFacilitate the discussion with guiding questions and story-splitting techniques so the team reaches its own decision
CAssign the story-splitting task to the most senior developer and move on to the next agenda item
DTell the team the exact way to split the story since time is limited and the Scrum Master/Team Coach's opinion is likely correct
Show answer & explanation
B is correct. SAFe emphasizes that the Scrum Master/Team Coach facilitates events rather than directs outcomes; when a team is stuck, the SM/TC uses questions and techniques (e.g., story-splitting patterns) to help the team reach its own decision, reinforcing self-organization.
↗ the SAFe 6.0 framework (framework.scaledagile.com) + the official SAFe Scrum Master course content — Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role
5/5 · Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role
During an Inspect and Adapt event, a team's Scrum Master/Team Coach notices repeated estimation misses across recent Iterations. Which action best aligns with growing team capability in SAFe 6.0?
AReduce the team's Iteration length so smaller mistakes are less visible
BAsk the Release Train Engineer to set fixed estimates for the team's backlog items
CFacilitate a retrospective problem-solving workshop so the team identifies root causes and commits to specific improvement actions
DPersonally re-estimate all stories going forward so future Iteration Plans are accurate
Show answer & explanation
C is correct. Growing team capability is a core SM/TC responsibility, exercised heavily through the Inspect and Adapt event, where the SM/TC facilitates root-cause analysis and helps the team define concrete, owned improvement actions rather than solving the problem for them.
↗ the SAFe 6.0 framework (framework.scaledagile.com) + the official SAFe Scrum Master course content — Defining the Scrum Master/Team Coach Role
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Introducing Scrum in SAFe28 qSupporting Team Events21 qSupporting ART Events30 q

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