30 Agile SCRUM Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Agile SCRUM interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
Table of Contents
General
1. We've talked a lot about the advantages of agile. Can you tell me some of the disadvantages?
How to Answer
By asking this question, the interviewer is interested to see if you can argue against the agile process. This demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of the process, including items that could adversely impact projects. Again, as an expert in this area, you should have no trouble answering this question.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"No process is perfect, including agile. Its drawbacks include that it is difficult to project the amount of effort required for an individual task or sprint. This becomes more problematic as the complexity of the project increases. Another drawback is that it is challenging to focus on the design and complete documentation of the project. Finally, only the leader has full knowledge and decision-making authority over the agile project. The other team members are tasked with individual items. This makes it difficult for agile teams to develop their skills so that they can become term leaders."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"As beneficial as agile is, it does have some drawbacks. These include the possibility of not understanding the client's requirements and developing a product that does not meet their specifications. Another drawback may be the difficulty of incorporating consistent documentation into the project. Also, the amount of effort required for each task and increment is difficult to predict. All of these can be overcome through the use of ceremonies within the agile project."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
General
2. What is the most significant difference between agile development and the historic way software has been written?
How to Answer
This is a rather fundamental question related somewhat to an earlier question asking you to define the agile development process. Interviewers can ask any question at any time during the interview. Even though you may have already addressed this topic, you should maintain your focus and answer the interviewer's questions.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"The primary difference between agile development and traditional software development is that traditional software development used a three-stage process. The stages are design, development, and testing. Agile development uses these same three stages, but each stage is performed within each sprint or iteration of the development process. This enables agile developers to identify issues early before they become major."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Agile development differs from traditional software development in terms of how the development stages are organized. Traditional software development uses a process involving three stages. These included design, development, and testing. Agile development uses these same three stages, but they are combined into each sprint or iteration of the development process. This enables software developers to identify and correct errors before they become large and impact other parts of the software."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
General
3. What are some of the skills a professional agile tester needs to have?
How to Answer
At first glance, this question may seem similar to the previous one. However, it is different in that it asks about the qualities that the tester needs to possess. During an interview that is critically important that you pay attention to the questions, the interviewer is asking you. You need to make sure your answers address their questions and provide them the information they are seeking. It is easy to fall into the trap of preparing your response as soon as the interview starts asking the question. Make sure you wait until they are finished talking and then take a second are two before you begin to respond. This will demonstrate your listening skills and will help to ensure your answer is appropriate for their question.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"The agile tester is the team person responsible for implementing the agile software development methodology. Some of the essential skills they need to have include familiarity with agile, strong communication skills, an understanding of the product owner's requirements, and knowledge of any risks associated with the development process."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"An agile tester is one of the critical members of the agile software development team. They are responsible for ensuring the agile methodology is employed during the entire development process and that the results match the product owner's expectations. Some of the key skills they need to have are a clear understanding of the agile methodology, strong communication skills, empathy with the requirements of the product owner, and the ability to assess the risks associated with the project."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
General
4. What can you tell me about Scrum?
How to Answer
You've probably already recognized this as another general question. General questions can occur at any time during the interview process. Regardless of when they occur, your answer should always be formatted the same. Keep in mind that one of the purposes of a general question is to solicit information the interviewer can use for subsequent questions. Knowing this, you can guide the interviewer towards areas that you are comfortable discussing.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Scrum is the framework within which an agile methodology is executed. It allows developer teams to work together to create software and deliver the results in the shortest amount of time. This development and delivery process is also known as a sprint."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Scrum is the framework used during an agile development process to create and deliver a new piece of software. It provides the context within which the development team operates. The development and delivery of a software product within the Scrum framework is collectively known as a sprint."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
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Operational
5. In the context of an agile methodology, what is the daily stand-up, and what information is discussed?
How to Answer
Yet another technical question. As an agile developer, you can anticipate that most of the interview will involve technical and operational questions. The best way to prepare for these is to review the fundamentals of agile and SCRUM and practice these questions.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"The daily stand-up is a meeting held each day during an agile development project. The meeting usually takes place early in the day and only lasts a few minutes. Topics discussed during the meeting include any progress made during the previous day, plans for the current day, and any issues which need to be addressed."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Any project employing the agile methodology typically has a daily stand-up meeting. This is a brief get-together where the project participants discuss what was done during the previous day, what will be done today, and any roadblocks that need to be addressed. The meeting typically occurs before the day's work begins and only lasts a few minutes. These meetings can occur either in person or virtually."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
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Operational
6. What, if any, are the disadvantages of utilizing the agile methodology in the software development lifecycle?
How to Answer
An interviewer will ask this type of question to determine if you are self-reflective and can argue on both sides of an issue. Being able to state the disadvantages of agile shows that you have a thorough understanding of the concept and have considered where it may not apply or could negatively affect the software development project.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"As with any concept or idea, there are some negative aspects which could inhibit the application of the methodology. These include that it requires a highly professional and open-minded team. It may cause conflicts with the existing methodology that the organization uses, and during early applications of the principle, it may delay the development project or add costs. These are common when any new methodologies are introduced and can be overcome through a consistent application over time."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Every idea or principle may have some negative aspects, especially early in its adaptation. However, these can be overcome by consistently using the methodology and implementing corrective actions to improve its effectiveness. Some of the possible issues which may occur during the initial application of agile include objections from the development team, impacts on the existing processes, and additional time and cost required to complete the software development project. Powering through these will result in more effective development projects in the future."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
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Operational
7. What are the different roles of the team members within the Scrum framework and what are their responsibilities?
How to Answer
The interviewer is continuing to explore the topic of Scrum by asking this question. Interviewers may ask multiple questions about a specific topic, especially if it is central to the type of work you will be doing. The questions will get progressively more difficult as the interview progresses. You should be prepared for this.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"There are three main roles for participants within the Scrum framework. These include Scrum Master, Product Owner, and the Agile Development Team. The Scrum Master is the team leader and acts as the intermediary between the product owner and the agile development team. The success of the project is the scrum master's responsibility. The Product Owner integrates the business requirements into the development project. The Agile Development Team develops the product and provides technical oversight to the process."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"A Scrum framework defines three different roles for the project participants. The first is the Scrum Master. They are responsible for the overall project and act as a liaison between the development team and the product owner. The Product Owner is the person who is ultimately responsible for delivering the product to the business. They integrate the business requirements into the product development process. Finally, the Agile Development Team develops the software product in collaboration with the other Scrum team members."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Operational
8. Can you provide more details about the responsibilities of the Scrum Master?
How to Answer
This is a follow-up question to the previous one. Interviewers will often ask follow-up questions to solicit more information about a topic or to dig deeper into your qualifications for this role. It is best to assume that every answer you give will generate a follow-up question. This will help you be better prepared during the interview.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"As the project leader, the Scrum Master has multiple responsibilities. These include tracking and monitoring the project's progress, understanding the product owner's requirements, obtaining the resources needed by the development team, keeping the project on track, and communicating the project's progress to all the stakeholders."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"The Scrum Master for an agile development project has multiple responsibilities. All of these combined are meant to keep the project on schedule, within budget, and resolve any issues that may occur. The scrum master is also responsible for communicating with all the project participants and any external stakeholders. They act as the clearinghouse for any information related to the project."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
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Operational
9. Can you discuss agile testing and how it is used in the Scrum process?
How to Answer
The interviewer is asking you about this component of the Scrum process to further explore your knowledge in this area. As an experienced agile developer, you should be able to answer this question easily. Again, take the time to review agile terminology, techniques, and theory before any interview.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Agile testing is the process used to verify the accuracy of the software development within the agile framework. Like the entire agile process, agile testing is iterative and frequently occurs during development. The results generated from agile testing are reviewed by both the development team in the product owner in a collaborative manner."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Agile testing is an iterative process to verify and validate the software development. It is done frequently during an agile project, and the results are reviewed by both the development team and the product owner."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Operational
10. What is the role of the Scrum Master in an agile project?
How to Answer
This can be a follow-up to an earlier question which asked you to define the individual roles within an agile project. Providing additional details demonstrates your knowledge of this role and perhaps qualifies you to be assigned as the scrum master once you obtain the job.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"The scrum master is the leader of the project as well as the coach for the entire team. They have several responsibilities, including motivating the team, monitoring their performance, and removing any roadblocks which would impact the project. The scrum master must have in-depth knowledge about scrum, agile, and any other frameworks used to complete the development project. They are also responsible for process improvements and communication with the product owner."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"The scrum master is only one of the many roles within an agile project, but may be one of the more important roles. The scrum master is the central figure that keeps the project on schedule, communicates with the product owners, removes any roadblocks the project may encounter, and motivates the team members. They are also responsible for continually improving the process."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Operational
11. How does Incremental Development differ from Iterative Development?
How to Answer
As with any software development methodology, agile SCRUM can be approached in several different ways. This question refers to two different development techniques used within the agile SCRUM process to create a software application. As an agile SCRUM developer, you should be intimately familiar with both of these techniques, be able to discuss each of them, and if asked, state your preference for one or the other. It would be helpful to know which process the organization you are interviewing uses or their preference. You may discover this in the job description or by contacting one of the current members of the software development team.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Incremental and iterative development are two processes used within the agile SCRUM methodology. While they are both good development processes, their approach differs. The incremental development processes segment the entire software development process into individual tasks. Each of the tasks is delivered incrementally after the code is fully developed and tested. When compiled together, they result in the finished software project. Iterative development focuses on single development cycles, or sprints and releases, repeated until the final software product is completed. Each iteration incorporates feedback from the testing process, end-users, or other project stakeholders. At each iterative stage, additional functionality is added to the software application."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Operational
12. What is the benefit of using automated testing for agile development projects?
How to Answer
By asking this question, the interviewer is determining your knowledge about automated testing but also something else. Sometimes there are questions behind the questions that interviewers ask. In this particular case, not only do they want to know why automated testing is recommended, but some of the tools you would use to do this. Make sure you include this in your answer.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Incorporating automated testing into an agile project will decrease the development cycle and enable you to deliver the product faster. Both Scrum and agile encourage the use of automated testing, which includes both performance and regression testing. Tools you can use to do this include Smartsheet, Kintone, Wrike, and Workfront. There are many more, but these are the most common ones."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Automated testing, which includes both performance and regression testing, is a common practice within an agile development project. Automated testing will reduce the development time for a project and enable you to deliver the product quicker. There are several tools that you can use to accomplish the testing. They include Smartsheet, Monday.com, Functionfox, and Trello, among others."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Operational
13. In what circumstances would you recommend the use of Waterfall instead of Scrum as the framework for an agile development project?
How to Answer
An interviewer will ask this question to explore your knowledge of software development frameworks other than those already discussed. Even if you don't use anything other the agile and scrum, you should be aware of the different frameworks and development methodologies used so you can compare and contrast them. A broad knowledge of techniques used in your industry demonstrates your professionalism, skills, and overall qualifications for the job.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"While scrum is the major framework I prefer when executing agile development projects, waterfall may be appropriate in certain circumstances. These include when the client requirement is simple, the project is small and well-defined, and I'm not anticipating any changes during the software development. Examples of these include upgrade projects and small, internal applications."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"I rarely use waterfall because scrum accommodates the majority of the projects I have worked on. Additionally, my teams have been very familiar with scrum. However, the waterfall is useful when the project is small, the requirements are well defined, the product owner ensures there won't be any changes during the software development, and the outcome is predictable. Waterfall requires less overhead and therefore is more suitable for the type of projects I just described."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Operational
14. Can you provide me some examples of the methodology is you've used while working on agile development projects?
How to Answer
This technical question is digging deeper into your expertise in the area of agile development. Experienced developers will be familiar with the more advanced methodologies employed within agile. This question helps separate the qualified candidates from others who only have a passing knowledge of this subject. Keep in mind technical questions are best answered concisely and directly with little embellishment.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"This is a great question. Typical methodologies I typically use when executing an agile development project include crystal methodologies, lean software development, dynamic development, and feature-driven development. The methodology I choose depends on the nature of the project and the team with which I'm working."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"There are several methodologies associated with agile development. Each of these has its own merits. I am familiar with crystal methodologies, lean software development, dynamic development, and feature-driven development. While I prefer lean software development, I can utilize any of these. My choice depends on the nature of the project and the familiarity of my team has with the individual methodology."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Operational
15. What was the length of a typical sprint in the software development projects on which you have worked?
How to Answer
This is an interesting question because it is using the term sprint, which has not been discussed up to this point. The interviewer is assuming that you understand this term due to your background in agile development. As a quick review, a sprint is one of the iterations which occurs during software development. You can define the term sprint when answering the question and then talk about the legs of a typical sprint. You may also assume that the interviewer is already familiar with the term and answer the question about the length of the sprint.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"As you're probably aware, a sprint within the context of agile is one of the iterations of the software development project. The length of a sprint depends on the complexity of the software development project and the product owner's expectations. Sprints can last as little as a few hours or as long as a week. It is important to keep the length of the sprints appropriate to the nature of the project so that agile principles are adhered to."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"A sprint can be as short as a few hours or as long as a week or more. The length depends on several factors, including the complexity of the software development project, the development schedule, and the product owner's expectations. I always try to keep the sprints as short as possible to adhere to the principles of agile development and minimize the need for patches, bug fixes, or other corrections to the software."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
16. Can you discuss the concepts of zero sprint and spike within the agile framework?
How to Answer
Another technical question asking you to define some terminology common to agile. As a reminder, the proper way to respond to this type of question is to define the term and give an example of its use within the context of agile. The interviewer will ask a follow-up question if they need more detail.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Zero sprint is the preparation stage of an agile project. This is where the planning occurs, and the activities required by the project are defined. Spike are activities that occur between the project sprints. Examples of a spike are research, design, prototyping, and exploration."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Zero sprint and Spike refer to items within an agile project that are not part of a sprint or the increments with a sprint. Zero sprint is the initial planning phase in which the product is outlined, activities are defined, and resources are gathered. Spike activities occur between the sprints and can include research, design, prototyping, and exploration. These two items are just as important of the sprints required to complete the software development."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
17. Can you discuss sprint backlog and product backlog and the differences between these two agile terms?
How to Answer
It is not uncommon for two technical terms to sound similar but have very different meanings. This question illustrates this concept. An interviewer will ask you a question about two similar but different terms to test your technical knowledge and ensure that you know how these terms differ. Your answer also gives them an example of your communication skills and how you can present technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences. As with any technical question, your response should be direct and to the point, with little embellishment, jargon, or acronyms.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"While both of these terms are a type of backlog which occurs during a software development project, they have very different meanings. A sprint backlog is an agile term referring to items within a specific sprint that are behind schedule and need a SCRUM Master's attention. The agile development team owns a sprint backlog. A product backlog encompasses the entire development project, including all the sprints, product features, development requirements, and required testing. The project manager owns the product backlog. It is their responsibility to address the items and get the project back on schedule."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
18. What is meant by re-factoring, and how is it used within the agile methodology?
How to Answer
During an interview for an agile SCRUM role, you'll be asked many technical questions. A technical question asks you about either the technology used or terms related to the job for which you are interviewing. These questions can cover a wide range of topics, including processes, techniques, terminology, tools, and technology. Regardless of the topic, the best way to respond to a technical question is to define the term and then discuss some information about it. You may want to provide an example of how you use the item to do your work.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"The term re-factoring, as used within the context of agile, means changing the internal structure or code for a piece of software or an application without changing how the application performs or functions. A developer will use re-factoring to improve the structure of the code and make it easier to manage. A commonly used re-factoring technique is Red-Green. This process helps to make the code easier to read, easier to understand, and easier to manage. I encourage all of my developers to continuously refactor their code."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
19. What are some of the tools you use to manage your agile development projects?
How to Answer
An interviewer will ask you about the software development tools you use to see if they are similar to their current software development team uses. They want to assure that you will integrate into the team quickly and immediately adapt to the processes, procedures, and tools the team uses. Researching the organization and its processes before the interview will help you become familiar with the tools they use and enable you to answer this question. It is okay if your current tools do not match those of the software development team as long as you can either support your tools or describe how your experience with them will easily transfer to the tools used by the organization's software development team.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"While at each of the organizations I've worked for, I used a different set of tools to manage my agile software development projects. Even though the tools differed, they had many similarities, and transitioning between them was fairly easy. Some of the tools I am currently using and prefer include X-planner, Icescrum, Version One, Excel, Agilent, and Agilo."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
20. What does the term velocity mean in the context of agile?
How to Answer
Often common terms can have different meanings depending on their context. Typically, velocity means speed. However, in the context of agile, it has a completely different meaning. The interviewer will ask you a question like this to confirm that you know the terms used within the agile scrum development process and are familiar with their meanings. If you're unfamiliar with the term or don't know its meaning, admit this, and then describe to the interviewer how you would go about locating the information.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Velocity, when used in the context of the agile SCRUM, is a unit of measurement that indicates the amount of work an agile development team can complete within a single sprint and how much time it will take to finish the project. Agile development teams use velocity to create project timelines and identify problems that may impede the project. Velocity is also used to measure the improvements in the project timeline."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
21. Can you define what Agile or an Agile Methodology is?
How to Answer
This is an example of an opening or general question. An interviewer will ask this type of question early in the interview to get you talking, learn more about you, and discover the information they can utilize for additional questions.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Agile is an approach to software development that is done in stages. After each stage, the developers share their work with other program stakeholders to ensure they are proceeding in the correct direction and that the development aligns with the user's requirements. This enables developers to identify errors or items which need correction early before their implications become greater."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"The agile methodology for software development is an iterative process in which developers share their progress with program managers in stages. The main tenant of the agile development methodology is to identify errors and issues before they become large or have a greater impact on the project's progress. The key to success in an agile development project is frequent reviews and constructive feedback."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
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Technical
22. Can you define the term increment as it is used within agile scrum?
How to Answer
The interviewer is asking for a technical definition of a term within the agile scrum process. By now, you recognize this and know how to answer it and a concise and straightforward manner.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"An increment is a common term with agile scrum and refers to the total of all items which were accomplished during the current sprint. These items can be part of the current sprint or leftovers from the previous sprints. It is important that increments or completed before moving on to the next sprint."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Increments are the total of all milestones accomplished with the most current sprint. Increments are usually items scheduled for the current sprint but can be leftover from previous sprints. Agile developers should strive to accomplish all increments before moving on to subsequent sprints."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
23. Can you discuss some of the impediments to using agile which may delay a project?
How to Answer
As with any project, there are always impediments or roadblocks, which will delay or sometimes even require the project's cancellation. You should be aware of these and should be able to discuss them with the interviewer. Again, don't give too much detail, but do expect a follow-up question when you provide your answer.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"As with any endeavor, events will likely occur which will delay the project. Anticipating these and having contingency plans in place will help mitigate their impacts. Typical impediments include missing resources, team members that for one reason or another become unavailable, unrelated business issues, and lack of commitment to the project on the part of the company."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Every project, whether it's an agile project or some other framework, will have impediments that impact its progress. These can include missing resources, team members who get pulled away for another project, technical issues that cannot be overcome, and external issues beyond the team's control. These can be managed if they are anticipated and contingency plans are drawn up. The team can also develop ad-hoc solutions when problems occur if necessary."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
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Technical
24. Can you discuss what you know about Scrumban and what advantages it provides to an agile project?
How to Answer
While this is another technical question, it is much more complicated than some of the other questions the interviewer has asked. As the interview progresses, the questions will become more difficult. This is a sign that the interviewer is gaining confidence in your abilities and is willing to challenge you a little bit more. You should feel good about this and continue to answer the questions just as you have before.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Scrumban is a combination or mash-up of Scrum and Kanban. Scrum is the framework that makes it easier for project participants to collaborate, and Kanban is a visualization system used to manage the project. Agile projects and incorporate both of these practices. Scrumban takes the structure of scrum, which supports the agile framework, and incorporates the process improvement element that is key to Kanban. This enables agile project teams to optimize their processes continually."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Scrumban is a hybrid between Scrum and Kanban. When applied to agile, it uses the best features of both of these. Scrumban borrows the prescriptive nature of scrum and the framework it applies to the agile process and integrates the visualization and controls of Kanban. This enables agile developers to incorporate continuous improvement into their development project."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
25. Can you name the four different ceremonies and discuss their importance in Scrum?
How to Answer
There's nothing tricky about this question. It's a technical question in which the interviewer asks you to define four characteristics of Scrum and discuss their importance within the practice. As a seasoned agile developer, you should have no trouble answering this. Keep your answers short. The interviewer will ask a follow-up question if they need more information.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Ceremonies is another name for meetings with and Scrum. The four ceremonies are planning, daily stand-up, sprint review, and sprint retrospective. Planning occurs early in the process, and sprint retrospective occurs at the end of each sprint. The other two keep the team on track and report their progress."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Scrum has a total of four ceremonies. Ceremonies are another name for Scrum meetings. The four ceremonies include sprint planning, daily Scrum, sprint review, and sprint retrospective. Sprint planning discusses what needs to be done, daily Scrum and sprint review discuss what has been done, and sprint retrospective reviews the sprint and determines what could have been done better."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
26. Can you name some other frameworks associated with the agile?
How to Answer
As an agile developer, you're aware that agile is a methodology executed within a broader framework. The frameworks define the structure of the development process and some of the steps that occur along the way. Different organizations use different frameworks. Hopefully, your pre-interview research has told you which framework this organization uses. Knowing this will enable you to answer the question in a format which addresses their requirements.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"There are several different frameworks associated with the agile methodology. These include Scrum, Kanban, Feature-Driven Development, and Test-Driven Development. The choice of the framework is up to the organization and is based on their other operational processes."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"There are multiple frameworks an organization can choose when implementing the agile methodology. The choice of a framework depends on the organization, its objectives, and operational principles. The two most popular frameworks include Scrum and Kanban. Other frameworks include feature-driven development and test-driven development."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
27. What are some of the significant principals of agile testing?
How to Answer
This is another example of a follow-up question. You already told the interviewer what agile testing involves. Now they're digging into more details of the process. As previously discussed, you should always be prepared for follow-up questions during an interview. This is why it's best to keep your answers short and allow the interviewer to ask follow-up questions if they are interested or need more information.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"For agile testing to be effective, the team used to follow some of the basic principles. These include driving customer satisfaction, open and accurate communication, sustainable development, frequent feedback, and rapid responses to change requests."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"Several fundamental principles contribute to the success of agile testing. These include collaboration, error-free work, a focus on excellence, organization, successive improvements, and continuous feedback. The agile testing process results in a quality product and clean code."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Technical
28. What are a burn-up chart and a burn-down chart, and how are they used in the agile SCRUM process?
How to Answer
This is a technical question. It asks you to define a specific element of the agile methodology and discuss how you would use it. Keep in mind that technical questions are best answered succinctly and straightforwardly with little embellishment. You should also be prepared for follow-up questions.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"The burn-up chart depicts the amount of work already done on a project, whereas the burn-down chart shows the amount of work still required to do. These charts are used to communicate the status of a project. They also enable the developers to negotiate with the project owner for additional resources, time, or funding needed to complete the project."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"A burn-up and burn-down chart are very similar, but opposite. The burn-up chart depicts the amount of work already done on a software development project. The burn-down chart illustrates the tasks which still need to be done. These are useful in communicating the project status to the stakeholders and making adjustments in the project plan when needed."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
Marcie's Feedback
Technical
29. Can you discuss the agile manifesto and its fundamental principles?
How to Answer
While this appears to be a general question, it is more technical in nature. Technical questions typically involve definitions or clarification of the components of a topical issue. The best way to respond to a technical question is directly and concisely, focusing on answering the question. The interviewer will ask a follow-up question if they need additional information or explore the topic in more detail.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"The agile manifesto addresses creating better ways to develop software utilizing specific steps and actions. There are four key features and twelve fundamental principles involved in the manifesto. The manifesto features include self-motivation and organization, frequent review of the code and documentation, collaboration in place of negotiation, and frequent updates of the development plan. Some of the principles are customer satisfaction, openness to change, and delivery of a product that complies with the design specifications."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"The agile manifesto refers to a policy used to manage the software development process effectively and efficiently. The four fundamentals of the manifesto include self-motivation, frequent reviews and corrections, collaboration, and flexibility in the plan. Some key principles supporting the manifesto are openness to change, on-time delivery, feedback, and iteration. All of these contribute to a successful development project which is executed on time and within budget."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
Individuals and Interactions Over Processes and Tools. ...
Working Software Over Comprehensive Documentation. ...
Customer Collaboration Over Contract Negotiation. ...
Responding to Change Over Following a Plan."
Stephanie's Feedback
Technical
30. What are some of the essential aspects of the agile process?
How to Answer
This is another general question; however, it is a little more specific, asking for details. It can also be considered a follow-up question to the previous one. As the interview progresses, the questions will become more detailed and may address more complex topics. The best way to prepare for an interview is to review questions like this and practice the answers.
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Answer Example
"Some other keys or important components of the agile process include iteration, adjustments and redirection, frequent reviews and inspection, short feedback cycles, and milestones. All of these contribute to keeping the project aligned with the objectives and on schedule."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Experienced
"There are several key tenants to a successful agile project. These include iterative development steps, re-factoring, dynamic code analysis, frequent feedback, standards and guidelines, and milestone reviews. All of these contribute to keeping the development project on schedule, aligned with the project objectives, and the development efforts economical."
Written by William Swansen on September 6th, 2021
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
Stephanie's Feedback