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Scrum artifacts aren't just documentation—they're the transparency mechanisms that make Agile work. When exam questions ask about Scrum, they're testing whether you understand how these artifacts create visibility, inspection, and adaptation across the development process. Each artifact exists to answer a specific question: What should we build? What are we building now? What have we actually delivered?
You're being tested on how artifacts connect to Scrum's empirical process control. The Product Backlog isn't just "a list"—it's the single source of truth for product direction. The Increment isn't just "finished work"—it's the measurable output that proves value delivery. Don't just memorize what each artifact contains—know what problem it solves and how it enables the inspect-adapt cycle that defines Agile.
Every Scrum artifact has an associated commitment that provides focus and measures progress. These commitments turn static documents into actionable guides—they answer "how do we know if we're succeeding?"
Compare: Product Goal vs. Sprint Goal—both provide focus and direction, but Product Goal is strategic (months/quarters) while Sprint Goal is tactical (2-4 weeks). FRQs often ask how these align: the Sprint Goal should always move the team toward the Product Goal.
These artifacts manage the flow of work from idea to execution. They're ordered by scope—from everything possible to what's happening right now.
Compare: Product Backlog vs. Sprint Backlog—both are ordered lists of work, but Product Backlog is what could be built (Product Owner owns) while Sprint Backlog is what will be built this Sprint (Developers own). Exam tip: ownership questions are common—remember who controls what.
The Increment is where theory meets reality—it's the tangible output that stakeholders can inspect and that drives the feedback loop.
Compare: Increment vs. Definition of Done—the Increment is what gets delivered; the Definition of Done is how we know it's truly done. Without a rigorous Definition of Done, Increments accumulate hidden technical debt that undermines future velocity.
| Concept | Best Examples |
|---|---|
| Strategic Direction | Product Goal, Product Backlog |
| Tactical Planning | Sprint Goal, Sprint Backlog |
| Quality Assurance | Definition of Done, Increment |
| Product Owner Ownership | Product Backlog, Product Goal |
| Developer Ownership | Sprint Backlog, Increment |
| Transparency Mechanism | All six artifacts |
| Inspect-Adapt Enablers | Increment, Definition of Done |
| Living Documents | Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Definition of Done |
Which two artifacts share the characteristic of being "living documents" that update throughout their lifecycle, and how does their update frequency differ?
If a stakeholder asks "what will the product ultimately achieve?" which artifact answers this, and which artifact proves progress toward that answer?
Compare the ownership model: which artifacts does the Product Owner control versus the Developers? Why does this separation matter for Scrum's checks and balances?
An FRQ describes a team that keeps marking items "done" but releases are full of bugs. Which artifact has likely failed, and how would you fix it?
How do the three commitments (Product Goal, Sprint Goal, Definition of Done) work together to ensure that completed Increments actually deliver meaningful value?