What should a Scrum Master do when one team member falls behind in their tasks?

The correct answer is B – Ask the team for suggestions. Agile teams are self-organizing. The Scrum Master should facilitate problem-solving by enabling the team to collaboratively decide how to handle bottlenecks. This approach respects the team's autonomy and encourages shared ownership.

From the PMI Agile Practice Guide:

“Scrum Masters facilitate team collaboration and self-organization. When problems arise, they engage the team in identifying and implementing solutions, rather than solving issues unilaterally.”

(PMI Agile Practice Guide, Section 4.3 – Servant Leadership and Team Empowerment)

Mike Griffiths explains:

“The Scrum Master’s role is to facilitate rather than direct. If a team member falls behind, the team should collectively explore options for support, ensuring accountability and transparency.”

(Mike Griffiths, PMI-ACP Exam Prep, Chapter 4 – Team Performance)

Incorrect options:

A undermines team autonomy and assigns tasks, which the Scrum Master should not do.

C may help, but addressing issues privately doesn’t promote transparency.

D involves the Product Owner unnecessarily in team internal issues.

Answer: B