Top Agile and Scrum Interview Questions with Difficulty Levels (Easy, Medium, Hard)

1. What is Agile? How is it different from traditional Waterfall methodology?
   

   Agile is an iterative and incremental approach to software development that emphasizes flexibility, customer collaboration, and rapid delivery of working software. It allows teams to respond quickly to changes and continuously improve through regular feedback loops. Unlike the traditional Waterfall model, where the project follows a linear sequence—requirements, design, development, testing, and deployment—the Agile model breaks the work into smaller sprint cycles. In Agile, requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between cross-functional teams and stakeholders, making the approach more adaptable to change and customer needs.

2. Can you explain the Scrum framework and its key roles?
   

   Scrum is a lightweight Agile framework designed to help teams deliver value iteratively and incrementally. It provides a structured way of working through well-defined roles, events, and artifacts. The three key roles in Scrum are:

   1. Product Owner – Owns the product backlog, defines the product vision, and prioritizes work based on business value. They act as the bridge between stakeholders and the development team.
   2. Scrum Master – Acts as a servant leader who facilitates the Scrum process, removes blockers, and ensures the team follows Agile principles. They also protect the team from external interruptions.
   3. Development Team – A self-organizing, cross-functional group responsible for delivering potentially shippable product increments at the end of each sprint.

   Scrum operates in time-boxed iterations called Sprints, typically lasting 1–4 weeks. Each Sprint includes planning, daily stand-ups, development, reviews, and retrospectives. This framework promotes transparency, inspection, and adaptation to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with customer needs.

3. What are the core values of the Agile Manifesto?
   

   The Agile Manifesto is built on four core values that guide Agile thinking and practices:

   1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools – Emphasizes the importance of collaboration and communication among team members.
   2. Working software over comprehensive documentation – Focuses on delivering functional software that adds value, rather than spending excessive time on documentation.
   3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation – Encourages continuous engagement with customers to ensure the product meets their evolving needs.
   4. Responding to change over following a plan – Promotes adaptability and flexibility, recognizing that requirements may shift during the project.

   These values help teams prioritize people, adaptability, and results over rigid processes, making Agile more effective in dynamic environments.

4. What is a Sprint? How long is a typical Sprint?
   

   A Sprint is a time-boxed iteration in Scrum during which a specific set of work from the product backlog is planned, developed, and potentially delivered. It provides a structured period for the team to focus on delivering a usable product increment.

   The typical length of a Sprint ranges from 1 to 4 weeks, with 2 weeks being the most common in many organizations. The duration is consistent throughout the project to maintain a predictable delivery rhythm and enable continuous improvement through regular feedback.

5. Who are the key members in a Scrum team, and what are their responsibilities?
   

   A Scrum Team consists of three key roles, each with distinct responsibilities:

   1. Product Owner – Responsible for maximizing the value of the product. They manage the product backlog, prioritize features based on business goals, and act as the voice of the customer and stakeholders.

   2. Scrum Master – Acts as a facilitator and servant leader. They help the team follow Scrum principles, remove impediments, and ensure smooth collaboration between all roles. They also coach the team to become self-organizing and high-performing.

   3. Development Team – A cross-functional group of professionals (e.g., developers, designers, QA) who work together to deliver a potentially shippable product increment at the end of each Sprint. They are self-organizing and responsible for deciding how to get the work done.

   Together, these roles promote collaboration, transparency, and iterative delivery within the Scrum framework.

6. What is a Product Backlog, and who owns it?
   

   The Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything that might be needed in the product. It is the single source of work for the Scrum team and evolves as the product and environment change. It includes features, enhancements, bug fixes, technical work, and knowledge acquisition.

   The Product Owner owns the Product Backlog. They are responsible for clearly expressing backlog items, prioritizing them based on business value, and ensuring that they are visible, transparent, and understood by the team. The Product Owner continuously refines and updates the backlog to reflect current needs and priorities.

7. What’s the difference between a Product Backlog and a Sprint Backlog?
   

   The Product Backlog is a prioritized list of all the features, enhancements, bug fixes, and technical work needed for the entire product. It is owned by the Product Owner and continuously refined as new insights and changes arise.

   The Sprint Backlog, on the other hand, is a subset of the Product Backlog — it includes only the items selected for a specific Sprint, along with a plan for delivering them. The Development Team owns the Sprint Backlog and is responsible for updating it throughout the Sprint as they work on tasks.

   Product Backlog = entire product scope, owned by Product Owner

   Sprint Backlog = the current Sprint’s to-do list, owned by the Development Team

8. What happens during a Daily Scrum (Stand-up)?
   

   The Daily Scrum, also known as a Stand-up, is a 15-minute time-boxed event held daily during a Sprint. It’s a quick sync-up where the Development Team inspects progress toward the Sprint Goal and plans the next 24 hours of work.

   Each team member typically answers three questions:

   1. What did I do yesterday?

   2. What will I do today?

   3. Are there any blockers or impediments?

   The Scrum Master may facilitate but the meeting is owned by the Development Team. It promotes transparency and accountability, helping the team stay aligned and focused.

    

1. How do you handle scope changes or new requirements mid-sprint?
   

   When scope changes or new requirements arise mid-sprint, my first approach is to assess the urgency and potential business impact. If it’s not critical, I document it and add it to the Product Backlog for future refinement and prioritization. However, if it’s a high-priority change that cannot be deferred, I collaborate with the development team and stakeholders to evaluate the best course of action—whether it’s feasible to accommodate it without disrupting the Sprint Goal, or if the sprint needs to be restructured or, in rare cases, canceled.

   Ultimately, I aim to strike a balance between agility and team focus, ensuring we remain adaptable to business needs while maintaining consistent delivery and stakeholder alignment.

2. How do you prioritize the product backlog? What frameworks do you use (e.g., MoSCoW, WSJF)?
   

   I prioritize the Product Backlog based on a combination of business value, user needs, technical feasibility, and stakeholder input. My goal is to ensure the team always works on the most impactful items that align with the product vision and business goals.

   I commonly use frameworks like MoSCoW (Must-have, Should-have, Could-have, Won’t-have) to categorize and clearly communicate priorities, especially with stakeholders. For more data-driven decision-making, I’ve also used WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First), which considers the cost of delay and job size to maximize value delivery.

   In addition, I regularly collaborate with stakeholders and review metrics like user feedback, product KPIs, and effort estimates from the development team to continuously refine and reprioritize the backlog.

3. Can you describe the difference between the Definition of Done and Acceptance Criteria?
   

   The Definition of Done (DoD) and Acceptance Criteria are both used to ensure quality and clarity, but they serve different purposes:

   • Definition of Done is a standardized checklist agreed upon by the team that defines the minimum quality requirements a product increment must meet to be considered complete. This might include code review, unit testing, documentation, and deployment readiness. It applies uniformly to all backlog items.

   • Acceptance Criteria, on the other hand, are specific conditions written for each individual user story or backlog item. They define what functionality or behavior must be met for that particular item to be accepted by the Product Owner or stakeholders.

   In short: the Definition of Done ensures overall consistency and quality across all work, while Acceptance Criteria validate that a particular feature meets its specific functional expectations.

4. What’s your approach when the development team cannot finish all committed stories in a sprint?
   

   If the team can’t complete all the committed stories in a sprint, my first step is understanding why. Was it due to unexpected complexity, blockers, or overcommitment? We discuss this during the Sprint Retrospective and treat it as a learning opportunity rather than a failure.

   I don’t focus on blame but help the team inspect and adapt. We might refine our estimation process, break down stories better, or improve how we identify
   dependencies earlier.

   For the unfinished work, we return it to the Product Backlog, re-prioritize it if needed, and bring it into the next sprint only when it’s ready. Transparency with stakeholders is key throughout this process.

5. How do you ensure transparency with stakeholders during a project?
   

   Transparency is key to building trust and keeping everyone aligned – and I take that seriously.

   As a Product Owner, I ensure transparency through regular communication, clear documentation, and consistent stakeholder engagement. I conduct Sprint Reviews, where stakeholders can see exactly what’s been delivered and provide feedback early.

   Depending on the audience, I also share the product roadmap, progress reports, and burn-down charts so everyone knows where we are, what’s coming next, and any risks or blockers.

   If priorities change or issues arise, I proactively communicate it instead of waiting for someone to ask. I aim to create an open, collaborative environment where stakeholders feel informed, heard, and confident in the product’s direction.

6. How do you manage dependencies in a cross-functional Scrum team?
   

   Managing dependencies is about foresight, collaboration, and clear communication.

   I identify potential dependencies early during Backlog Refinement and Sprint Planning — whether internal (between teams or stories) or external (third-party tools, other departments). I make sure these are visible in the backlog and flagged for discussion.

   To reduce delays, I coordinate with other teams and stakeholders ahead of time and ensure a shared understanding of timelines and responsibilities. I often use dependency boards, roadmaps, or simple integration checklists to track and manage these touchpoints.

   In Scrum, cross-functional teams are designed to be self-sufficient, but that doesn’t eliminate dependencies — it just means we manage them better. I work closely with the Scrum Master to remove blockers and adjust the sprint scope if critical dependencies cannot be resolved in time.

   The key is transparency, proactive alignment, and continuous communication — I keep the team focused and the delivery on track.

What are some key metrics you track in Agile?

In Agile, I focus on metrics that provide real insight into the team’s performance, product progress, and delivery predictability. Some of the key metrics I track include:

• Velocity – To understand how much work the team completes each sprint and to improve future sprint planning.
• Burndown/Burnup Charts – To visualize progress toward sprint or release goals and spot scope creep or blockers early.
• Sprint Goal Completion – To evaluate how effectively we’re meeting the outcomes we committed to, not just task completion.
• Cycle Time & Lead Time – To monitor how long it takes for a story to move from start to finish and identify bottlenecks.
• Defect Rate – To ensure quality by tracking the number of bugs or issues found post-release.
• Team Happiness or Satisfaction Score – Because a healthy team mindset directly impacts delivery and collaboration.

Ultimately, I use metrics not to police the team, but to facilitate continuous improvement, ensure transparency with stakeholders, and deliver consistent business value.

1. How do you handle a situation where developers push back on your backlog priorities?
   

   When developers push back on backlog priorities, I see it as a valuable opportunity for collaboration — not conflict.

   First, I listen to understand why they’re pushing back. Is it due to technical complexity, dependencies, capacity, or concerns about long-term maintainability? I respect their expertise and encourage open dialogue during backlog refinement or sprint planning.

   I then explain the business value and urgency behind my prioritization — aligning it with customer impact, stakeholder needs, or strategic goals. If needed, I revisit the priorities and work with the team to find a middle ground — maybe splitting a story, adjusting scope, or reordering items without losing focus on delivering value.

   The goal isn’t to “win” the argument but to build trust and ensure alignment. When both the product and tech sides feel heard and understood, it leads to better outcomes, more substantial ownership, and smoother delivery.

1. How do you scale Agile in a large organization with multiple Scrum teams (e.g., SAFe, LeSS)?
   

   Scaling Agile in a large organization requires structure, alignment, and strong communication across teams. I’ve explored frameworks like SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) and LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum) to manage multiple Scrum teams working toward a shared product vision.

   In SAFe, I’ve seen value in roles like the Release Train Engineer and ceremonies like PI Planning, which align all teams on goals, dependencies, and timelines. It provides structure at the portfolio, program, and team levels — helping balance agility with governance.

   On the other hand, LeSS focuses on keeping Scrum simple while scaling. It emphasizes having one Product Owner for multiple teams and encourages cross-team coordination through joint Sprint Planning and Reviews.

   Regardless of the framework, my key focus is ensuring transparency, dependency management, and shared product goals across all teams. I also foster a culture of continuous improvement, where feedback loops remain fast and leadership supports empowerment and autonomy.”

   In the end, the framework is just a guide — successful scaling comes from adapting it to fit the organization’s culture, communication flow, and business goals.

   Interview Answer (No direct experience, but shows readiness):

   In my current role, I’ve been working closely with a single Scrum team, so I haven’t directly handled multiple Scrum teams yet.

   However, I’m very familiar with scaling frameworks like SAFe and LeSS through my learning and interest in Agile practices. I understand the importance of alignment across teams, managing cross-team dependencies, and synchronizing delivery through shared planning events like PI Planning in SAFe or Joint Sprint Planning in LeSS.

   I’m confident that my strong communication, stakeholder management, and backlog prioritization skills will translate well in a scaled environment. I’m also actively learning more about Agile at scale because I’m excited to grow into that kind of role.

2. How do you ensure business and technical alignment in cross-functional product development?

3. Tell us about a time when there was a conflict between a stakeholder’s request and the team’s capacity—how did you resolve it?

4. What would you do if your team consistently fails to meet sprint commitments?

5. How do you measure the success of a product developed using Agile methodologies?

6. How do you incorporate customer feedback into your sprint planning process?

7. What are the anti-patterns you’ve seen in Scrum and how have you addressed them?

8. How do you lead Agile transformation in a traditionally non-Agile company?