The Scrum Team
Part of the Scrum Guide chapter index. Read the canonical version inline in the app: Scrum Team on app.prettyscrum.org.
Video: Scrum Roles Explained: Product Owner, Scrum Master & Developers
Why this chapter matters for the PSM I exam
The 2020 Scrum Guide changed the structure: there is no longer a “Development Team within a Scrum Team.” There is one Scrum Team with three accountabilities. Maximum size is 10. This consolidation matters on the exam — questions still using the old framing are out of date.
The Scrum Guide text
The fundamental unit of Scrum is a small team of people, a Scrum Team. The Scrum Team consists of one Scrum Master, one Product Owner, and Developers. Within a Scrum Team, there are no sub-teams or hierarchies. It is a cohesive unit of professionals focused on one objective at a time, the Product Goal.
Scrum Teams are cross-functional, meaning the members have all the skills necessary to create value each Sprint. They are also self-managing, meaning they internally decide who does what, when, and how.
The Scrum Team is small enough to remain nimble and large enough to complete significant work within a Sprint, typically 10 or fewer people. In general, we have found that smaller teams communicate better and are more productive. If Scrum Teams become too large, they should consider reorganizing into multiple cohesive Scrum Teams, each focused on the same product. Therefore, they should share the same Product Goal, Product Backlog, and Product Owner.
The Scrum Team is responsible for all product-related activities from stakeholder collaboration, verification, maintenance, operation, experimentation, research and development, and anything else that might be required. They are structured and empowered by the organization to manage their own work. Working in Sprints at a sustainable pace improves the Scrum Team’s focus and consistency.
The entire Scrum Team is accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment every Sprint. Scrum defines three specific accountabilities within the Scrum Team: the Developers, the Product Owner, and the Scrum Master.
Source: 2020 Scrum Guide by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland, © CC BY-SA 4.0. License.
Key points to remember
- One Scrum Team. No sub-teams. Three accountabilities.
- Maximum 10 people, typically smaller.
- The Scrum Team is cross-functional and self-managing.
- The whole Scrum Team is accountable for creating valuable, useful Increments every Sprint.
- Multiple Scrum Teams on one product share Product Goal, Product Backlog, and Product Owner.
Common exam trap
“Roles” became “accountabilities” in the 2020 Guide. If an answer says “the four roles in Scrum,” it’s wrong — there are three accountabilities (PO, SM, Developers) within one team.
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Author: Maurice Heinze (PSM I, certified by Scrum.org). Last updated: 2026-05-04. Scrum Guide content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.