PMI DASM Exam Questions

In the context of the Disciplined Agile (DA) framework, a 'specialist' on a Disciplined Agile Delivery Team is someone with a specific, specialized skill set or domain expertise that contributes to the overall development and delivery process. While the DA framework promotes cross-functional team members, it acknowledges that certain roles require specialized knowledge.

A Business Analyst (BA) is considered a specialist role because they bring specific expertise in requirements gathering, process analysis, stakeholder communication, and translating business needs into actionable tasks for the development team. According to PMI's Disciplined Agile guidelines, BAs provide value by ensuring that the requirements are well-understood and clearly defined, which is crucial in aligning the team's efforts with stakeholder needs.

On the other hand, the roles of Product Owner (B) and Project Manager (C) are more related to leadership, decision-making, and coordination, rather than specialized technical or analytical expertise. Stakeholders (D) are external to the delivery team and are not considered specialists within the team itself.

A long-standing team is best suited for a long-term project with the potential for significant budgeting and tracking overhead. In Disciplined Agile (DA), a long-standing team is a stable, cross-functional team that remains intact over time and works on various projects or continuous delivery of value. This type of team reduces overhead associated with forming and disbanding teams and allows for more consistent tracking, budgeting, and management of resources. Additionally, long-standing teams develop stronger team dynamics and improve performance over time due to their stability.

B . A project team is typically temporary and disbanded once the project ends.

C . A cross-functional team is a characteristic of many Agile teams but does not specifically address the need for long-term stability.

D . A shared services team supports other teams by providing specialized skills but is not focused on long-term projects with budgeting needs.

The Disciplined Agile (DA) principle of being pragmatic is characterized by the focus on 'being as effective as you can and continuously improving.' According to PMI's Disciplined Agile Toolkit, being pragmatic means applying an agile mindset that is not constrained by a rigid set of rules or practices. Instead, it emphasizes being practical and outcome-focused, aiming for the best results in each unique context while continually seeking opportunities for improvement.

Disciplined Agile promotes pragmatic decision-making by suggesting that teams should balance their approach by being both goal-driven and situation-aware. This means that instead of strictly adhering to a single agile framework or methodology, teams should assess their situation, leverage their experience, and apply the most suitable tools and techniques available. Furthermore, continuous improvement (Kaizen) is a fundamental aspect, meaning teams should regularly reflect on their practices and make iterative enhancements to achieve effectiveness.

This principle also aligns with DA's guidance to 'Optimize Flow' and 'Be Awesome,' as it encourages teams to deliver value while recognizing that every situation might require different tools, techniques, and practices. Thus, 'D. Being as effective as you can and continuously improving' best captures the essence of DA's pragmatic approach.

PMI, 'Choose Your WoW! A Disciplined Agile Delivery Handbook for Optimizing Your Way of Working (WoW),' which details the core principles of Disciplined Agile, including being pragmatic by focusing on effectiveness and continuous improvement.

PMI Disciplined Agile (DA) Toolkit, which explains how being pragmatic involves choosing the best approach for your specific context rather than adhering to a strict methodology.

The Disciplined Agile mindset includes principles that guide individuals and teams in making decisions and taking actions that align with Agile values and the specific context of their organization. Three principles of the Disciplined Agile mindset are:

B . Enterprise awareness: Encourages teams to work with an understanding of their organization's goals, strategies, and needs, ensuring alignment and collaboration across teams and departments.

C . Delight customers: Focuses on delivering high value and exceptional service to customers, ensuring that their needs are met or exceeded.

E . Be pragmatic: Involves taking a practical and context-sensitive approach, applying tools and practices that best fit the situation rather than adhering strictly to a particular methodology.

Other options like A. Accelerate delivery and D. Be a servant leader are relevant to Agile practices but are not explicitly stated as Disciplined Agile mindset principles.

Thus, the correct answers are B. Enterprise awareness, C. Delight customers, and E. Be pragmatic.

When a team completes their iteration backlog earlier than expected, the recommended approach in Disciplined Agile is to collaborate with the product owner to pull additional work from the product backlog into the iteration backlog. This approach maintains momentum and ensures that the team continues delivering value without waiting for the next iteration. It promotes agility and maximizes productivity by utilizing any remaining time effectively.

A . Working on non-critical tasks or D. waiting for other groups are not effective uses of the team's time and do not align with agile principles of continuous value delivery.

C . Reporting differences in completion time helps with future planning but does not address the immediate need to continue productive work.

Thus, the correct answer is B. Work with the product owner to pull more work from the product backlog into their iteration backlog.