Scrum Glossary: Key Terms to Know for the PSM I Exam

Introduction

A significant part of the PSM I assessment is mastering the Scrum Guide terminology. This glossary summarizes the essentials clearly, with exam notes on the most commonly confused ideas. 💡

Pillars and values

Empiricism: transparency, inspection, adaptation.
Scrum Values: commitment, courage, focus, openness, respect.

Scrum Team and accountabilities

Scrum Team: cross-functional, self-managing team that delivers value each Sprint.
Product Owner (PO): maximizes product value; manages the Product Backlog.
Scrum Master (SM): enables Scrum, coaching and impediment removal; a servant leader.
Developers: professionals who create the Increment.

Scrum events

Sprint: container for all events; fixed time-box.
Sprint Planning: defines why (Sprint Goal), what, and how.
Daily Scrum: Developers inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal.
Sprint Review: inspect the Increment with stakeholders and adapt the Product Backlog.
Sprint Retrospective: improve the process and teamwork.

Artifacts and commitments

Product Backlog → commitment: Product Goal.
Sprint Backlog → commitment: Sprint Goal.
Increment → commitment: Definition of Done (DoD).

Frequently confused terms in the exam

Accountability vs Responsibility: the Scrum Guide uses accountabilities (PO, SM, Developers).
Self-management: the team decides who does what, when, and how.
Cross-functionality: skills to deliver value without external handoffs.
Definition of Done: completeness criteria for the Increment; applies to all work.
Sprint Goal: decision constraint guiding the Sprint.
Product Goal: long-term direction for the product.
Refinement: ongoing activity to clarify and break down PBIs; not a formal event.
Velocity: not a Scrum Guide concept; a commonly used metric but not normative.

Pairs you must not mix up

DoD vs DoR: DoD is in the Scrum Guide; DoR is not.
Output vs Outcome: Scrum emphasizes value (outcome), not sheer output.
Forecast vs Commitment: the Sprint Backlog is a forecast; the commitment is the Sprint Goal.

How to memorize the glossary faster

🃏 Use flashcards for terms and definitions.
📝 Rephrase artifacts and commitments in your own words.
⏱️ Short, frequent reviews boost retention.

Where to find quick answers (FAQ)

🔍 Got a specific doubt? Check our FAQ section as well.

Conclusions

Knowing exact terms and the Scrum Guide's intent cuts mistakes and speeds you up during the assessment. Keep the glossary at the center of your review. 🚀

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The Professional Scrum Master’s Journey – Over 400 questions with detailed explanations + 2 final tests

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