Which outcome is expected as a Scrum Team matures? (choose the best answer)

As a Scrum Team matures, it embodies the principle of continuous improvement. The Definition of Done (DoD) is a living artifact that represents the team's shared understanding of the quality required for a Product Increment to be releasable. A mature team continuously seeks to improve its processes and the quality of its output. Therefore, it is expected that they will refine and expand their DoD to include more stringent criteria, such as more comprehensive testing, higher performance standards, or improved documentation. This evolution reflects the team's growing capability and commitment to delivering a high-quality product, which is a hallmark of maturity in Scrum.

A. The Sprint Retrospectives will grow to be longer than 4 hours. The Scrum Guide timeboxes this event (max 3 hours for a one-month Sprint). A mature team should become more efficient, not require longer meetings.
C. A Scrum Master is no longer needed since they are a mature team now. The Scrum Master's role evolves to focus on larger organizational impediments, but the accountability remains crucial for fostering the Scrum environment and continuous improvement.
D. There will be no need for a timeboxed Sprint. The timeboxed Sprint is the core of Scrum, providing a consistent cadence for inspection and adaptation. Removing it would dismantle the framework.
E. Sprint Reviews will no longer be needed. The Sprint Review is a critical feedback event with stakeholders. A mature team would aim to make this event more valuable, not eliminate it.

1. Schwaber, K., & Sutherland, J. (2020). The Scrum Guide. Scrum.org. In the section "Commitment: Definition of Done," it is explicitly stated: "As Scrum Teams mature, it is expected that their Definitions of Done will expand to include more stringent criteria for higher quality."

2. Hohl, P., et al. (2018). The Professional Product Owner: Leveraging Scrum as a Competitive Advantage. Addison-Wesley Professional. Chapter 7, "Quality," discusses how the Definition of Done is a key lever for quality and that mature teams continuously raise the bar by strengthening it.

3. Birkman, L., & Walker, A. (2019). Maturing Your Scrum Practice. In 2019 IEEE International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ICE/ITMC) (pp. 1-8). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICE.2019.8792631. This paper discusses the evolution of Scrum practices in mature teams, noting that refining artifacts like the Definition of Done is a key indicator of maturity.