PSM I™ Assessment Competencies

PSM I Meta Patterns

The meta-patterns serve to understand the big picture concepts within the assessment. They describe the recurring situations, misunderstandings, and organizational dynamics that Scrum Masters routinely encounter in practice. Assessment questions are intentionally grounded in these patterns to reflect real-world decision making rather than theoretical scenarios. While the meta-patterns explain the context behind the questions, the competency model defines the competencies being measured by the responses.

• Activity vs Outcome

• Control vs Self-Management

• Prediction vs Learning

• Output vs Done Increment

• Efficiency vs Adaptation

• Process Ritual vs Empirical Purpose

The competency model provides the foundation for interpreting and applying the results of this assessment. Rather than measuring memorization of Scrum terminology or isolated knowledge of events and artifacts, the assessment evaluates how well a practitioner understands the practical application of Scrum in realistic situations. The competency model defines the specific capabilities being evaluated, allowing results to be viewed as indicators of professional readiness rather than simple test performance. It helps identify strengths, highlight developmental gaps, and guide focused improvement aligned with the expectations of an effective Professional Scrum Master.

Competencies

Empiricism and Learning Cycles.  Focuses on transparency, inspection, and adaptation. Tests understanding that learning—not prediction—drives success in complex work.

Self-Management and Team Autonomy.  Evaluates whether teams are empowered to decide how work is done while remaining accountable for outcomes.

Value Delivery Through Done Increments.  Emphasizes usable increments, Definition of Done, and integration as the true indicators of progress.

Scrum Accountabilities and Role Boundaries.  Tests clarity of Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developer responsibilities and avoidance of role confusion.

Continuous Improvement and Adaptation.  Focuses on retrospectives, experimentation, and adjusting based on learning rather than stability metrics.

Transparency and Quality Discipline.  Ensures work visibility, shared quality standards, and avoidance of false progress.

Flow, Focus, and Risk Reduction.  Uses short cycles, limited work-in-progress, and frequent delivery to reduce uncertainty early.