PSPO 1 Preparation: Strategy, Practice Tests, Resources

Product Owners must have a deep grasp of their product's value drivers and a clear understanding of how to effectively leverage agile processes like Scrum to optimize that value. The PSPO exams allow people to validate and certify their grasp of the Product Owner position and how they would behave in real-world circumstances. This could be done by KnowledgeHut Agile Management certification.   

What is PSPO?

Anyone who wants to show an advanced understanding of Professional Scrum Product Ownership, the Scrum framework, and delivering meaningful products should take the Professional Scrum Product OwnerTM level II (PSPO II) assessment. The PSPO II Certification is awarded to those who pass the test and demonstrate that they have mastered the content. 

It takes numerous hours of hard work and most importantly PSPO 2 preparation to pass the Professional Scrum Product Owner II PSPO-II exam. 

Why Having the Professional Scrum Product Owner Certification is Important

Before we look at how to prepare for the PSPO certification exam, let us look at why it is worthwhile to take it in the first place. The Scrum process can help you navigate getting products and projects completed more effectively if your organization uses the Scrum framework within their IT department. Scrum is an excellent framework for keeping development around your product going if you "own" a product (such as a website, app, physical goods, etc.) having a certified background in product ownership inside Scrum is a greatly beneficial thing. 

Having the Scrum Product Owner certification might also help you get a better job. I looked on many employment sites and discovered that the average compensation for a Certified Product Owner is Rs 106,000 per year, with the top PSPO certification holders earning just under Rs150,000 per year. 

A Scrum Product Owner certification may be extremely useful if you are a Product Manager or want to enter product management. 

What Does a Scrum Product Owner Do?

A Scrum Product Owner is in charge of maximizing the value of the product that the Scrum Team has generated and is responsible for managing the Product Backlog. This may be done in a multitude of methods depending on the company, Scrum Team, and person. 

The Product Backlog includes: 

• Creating and expressing a clear and concise Product Goal;
• Creating and delivering a clear and concise Product Backlog; 
• Make sure that the Product Backlog is visible, comprehensible, and transparent;
• Ordering items from the Product Backlog. 

The Product Owner has the option of performing the duties himself or delegating them to others. In any case, the Product Owner remains in charge. 

Product Owners must have the respect of the whole organization to be successful. The content and order of the Product Backlog, as well as the inspectable Increment during the Sprint Review, reflect these decisions. 

The Product Owner is a single person, not a team. The Product Owner may represent the demands of a range of stakeholders in the Product Backlog. Those wishing to change the Product Backlog should make every effort to persuade the Product Owner. 

If you are interested in exploring PSPO in-depth, we encourage you to sign up for KnowledgeHut’s PSPO course and upskill yourself. 

How to Prepare for Professional Scrum Product Owner II (PSPO II)?

Any test needs rigorous planning and instruction. Furthermore, it is difficult to pass any exam without a firm basis. On the other side, the Professional Scrum Product Owner II (PSPO II) test is nothing to be concerned about. We have compiled a comprehensive list of all the tips and tactics you will need to ace the exam.

1. Start with the basics 

It is critical to have a solid foundation while studying for any exam. It is necessary to master the principles of important areas. On the official Scrum website, you will discover all the information you need, along with the list of PSPO study material. There is also a PSPO study guide for the Professional Scrum Product Owner II (PSPO II) exam. 

• Understanding and Using the Scrum Framework. 
• Managing Products with Agility
• Evolving the Agile Organization are just a few of the topics covered. 

2. Learning Resources 

It is critical to be well-prepared and equipped with the necessary resources. To pass any exam, you must work carefully, effectively, and wisely. We have produced some learning materials to assist you in finding out more about Professional Scrum Product Owner II (PSPO II). 

3. Keep calm and read on 

Despite the fact that books are a key part of the PSPO preparation, selecting the appropriate study material has always been a tough and time-consuming task. Materials for Professional Scrum Product Owner II are available in a number of forms. 

Don McGreal and Ralph Jocham's The Professional Scrum Product Owner is an excellent book to read not only to pass the test but also if you merely want to improve your understanding and skills in Product Ownership. More books and guides may be found in the list below: 

• Gunther Verheyen's Scrum – A Pocket Guide: A Smart Travel Companion. 
• Kurt Bittner's Nexus Framework for Scaling Scrum. 

4. Get your hands-on training 

Scrum.org recently introduced the PSPO-A class. The description of the two-day event may be read here. They have had a lot of positive responses from the audience. It is worth mentioning that, as indicated on the description page, this event is not sufficient in and of itself to pass the PSPO II test. 

5. Join Online Forums 

A lively debate is always beneficial, no matter where it takes place. When a huge number of people become involved in a problem, the chances of finding a solution increase considerably. The research becomes more comprehensive as a result of these discussions. Forums are great for building the kind of community that is required to comprehend others. Interacting with others who have similar goals to you will help you achieve them. 

6. Online Tutorial 

When it comes to test preparation, online courses and guidelines are usually beneficial. It is recommended that you use a tutorial to assist you prepare for the Professional Scrum Product Owner II (PSPO II) test. 

7. Evaluate yourself with Practice Test 

It is vital to put what you have learned into practice in order to measure your progress. By practicing, you may improve your answering abilities and save a lot of time. After you have finished one topic, it is also a good idea to start taking practice examinations. Additionally, the optimum time to start practice exams is after you have finished one full topic because it will function as a revision tool.

8. Measure your progress

We strongly suggest that you start with the Practice Tests. Without looking at the answers, write down your results for each Practice Test. Then go over the study materials once again and take the Practice Tests. By putting down your scores again, compare them to the first set of results. After that, go back to studying and taking Practice Tests. I feel that using this strategy will help you better grasp what to look for throughout your study session. 

Scrum Product Owner Books - Reading Materials

• Scrum is a project management framework described in Ken Schwaber and Mike Beedle's "Agile Software Development with Scrum" and "The Scrum Guide," as well as Gunther Verheyen's "Scrum - A Pocket Guide." 
• Hirotaka Takeuchi and Ikujiro Nonaka's "The New Product Development Game" explains Scrum Theory and Principles. 
• Cross-functional self-organizing teams. 

1. Daniel H. Pink's book "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us." 
2. Tom DeMarco and Tim Lister co-wrote "Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams." 

•  Maximizing Profits 

1. Ken Schwaber's "Software in 30 Days: How Agile Managers Beat the Odds, Delight Customers, and Leave Competitors in the Dust" is a book about how agile managers beat the odds, delight customers, and leave competitors in the dust. 
2. Eric Ries' book "The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Build Radically Successful Businesses" is on how today's entrepreneurs use continuous innovation to build radically successful businesses. 

• "User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development" by Mike Cohn described Management of the Product Backlog. 

Study Tips to Pass the PSPO I Assessment

Before the Assessment

• Prior to taking the assessment, read the Scrum Guide once a day, every day for seven days. 
• Scrum in 9 is a video that you may watch. In less than 10 minutes, it explains all the fundamental aspects of Scrum. 
• Take the open exams below. Take them again and again until you get a perfect score every time in 5 minutes or less. Keep in mind that the questions are drawn from a pool, so keep going for the most exposure: 

1. Scrum 
2. Scaled by the Product Owner Scrum 
3. Leadership that is flexible 

• Recall how I defined a burndown chart: A burndown chart is used to demonstrate how much work is left at any particular moment in time. If you remember this, you should be able to answer any question about burndown charts, but for further detail, visit the linked page. 
• Read Don McGreal and Ralph Jocham's book "The Professional Product Owner." 

During the Assessment 

RTFQ! Read the entire question (along with the solutions) 

After the Assessment 

Stop if you flunk your evaluation on the first try! Pause. Before reviewing, rewriting, and re-sitting, give yourself at least one day, ideally, three, to ponder. 

Acquire the expertise to steer triumphant projects and teams with our PMP certification program. Elevate your career with the ultimate benchmark in project management and become a certified project management expert!

10 Tips for Passing the New PSPO I & II Certification Exam

Tip 1: Begin with the fundamentals: familiarize yourself with the certification criteria 

If you want to take the PSPO II test, you must have already passed the PSPO I exam and are familiar with Scrum.org and the exam criteria. All you need to know now is the PSPO II exam's details. 

Similar to the PSPO I, a minimum score of 85 percent is required to pass. The difference is that PSPO II only allows you to answer 40 questions in one hour. That is about 1.5 minutes for each question, which is more than twice as long as the PSPO I test. If you have little or no experience working as a Product Owner, do not get so happy about all that free time. The questions are complex and challenging. So take advantage of the time you have to read the questions attentively and choose the proper answer. If one of the questions appears to be too tough to answer right now, note down the question number and come back to it later. Make sure you do not leave any questions unanswered before the timer runs out and pay special attention to the ‘select all that apply questions, which might be tough. 

Tip 2: The Scrum Guide is not the only thing to consider 

Scrum.org provides a number of valuable tools and tips to assist you in preparing for the PSPO II certification. You have undoubtedly previously studied the Scrum Guide as part of your PSPO I test preparation. Reread them thoroughly.

The Evidence-Based Management Guide is another excellent resource for learning how a Product Owner assesses company value and makes choices based on evidence. 

Finally, the Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams should be read. It explains how to apply Kanban principles in conjunction with the Scrum Framework to improve product development results. 

Tip 3: Take a look at Scrum.org's Product Owner learning path 

Reread the resources listed in the Product Owner Learning Path, which you have read as part of your PSPO I test preparation. This time, be sure you concentrate on the PSPO II competencies: Managing Products with Agility and Evolving the Agile Organization. 

Tip 4: Stay cool and keep reading 

As previously stated, the PSPO II exam questions are more challenging than the PSPO I exam, and passing it will need thorough study. The Professional Scrum Product Owner by Don McGreal and Ralph Jocham is a wonderful book not just for those who want to pass the test but also for those who want to develop their understanding and practice abilities in Product Ownership. 

Tip 5: Invest in some education 

The PSPO-A class was just introduced on Scrum.org. The two-day event's description may be found here. I saw that the event received rave reviews from those who did. It is worth noting that, as stated on the description page, this event is not enough to pass the PSPO II test on its own. Sorry to disappoint you, but you must continue to study. 

Tip 6: Recognize a Product Owner's viewpoints: favored or misunderstood 

Contributors to Scrum.org wrote a series of blog postings detailing the many Product Owner perspectives, with an emphasis on the favored and misunderstood ones. In short, they interviewed a large number of Product Owners and identified a set of characteristics that they all shared. The whole list may be seen below. 

Preferred Product Owner Positions 

• The Imaginative 
• Customer Service Representative 
• The Person Who Makes the Decision 
• The Contributor 
• The Powerful Influencer 
• The Person Who Experiments 

Misunderstood Product Ownership Positions 

• The Project Manager is in charge of the project 
• The Author of the Story 
• The Expert on the Subject 
• The Keeper of the Gate 
• The Registrar
• The Managing Director 

The PSPO II exam will assess your knowledge of how a Product Owner with a certain viewpoint thinks and makes choices. It will not ask direct questions about particular behaviors connected to one attitude or the other but will instead provide some background before asking how you (as a Product Owner who adopted one stance) will respond to a certain circumstance. Instead of memorizing the positions, attempt to comprehend the thought underlying each one. 

Tip 7: More Tips 

Another wonderful set of articles providing advice for a great Product Owner from Scrum.org contributors. These articles were written to assist you in becoming a better Product Owner and passing the test. It is a brief read, and my advice is to take the time to grasp the "why" behind each of the suggestions: 

• Scrum Framework Tips for Product Backlog Management 
• Tips for Release Planning
• Tips for Agile Product Roadmaps
• Tips for Agile Product Management
• Tips for (Product) Vision
• Tips for Value Tips for Stakeholder Management

Tip 8: Perfection comes with practice 

What is the best approach to practice? Through the use of practice tests. The following is a list of exams you may take to confirm your knowledge before taking the actual exam: 

Scrum.org's Open Assessments are a good place to start: 

• Open Scrum 
• Open to Product Owners 

TheScrumMaster.co.uk offers the PSPO II Practice Assessment. Simon has put up a list of ten challenging questions to help you prepare for the exam. You will not receive explanations for the correct/incorrect answers at the conclusion of the exam. My advice to you is to look through the information supplied and try to figure out the answers for yourself. This is the most effective method of learning. 

Tip 9: Be aware of terms 

I came across a post which I feel would be really useful during the planning process. When reading the test questions, especially if you are not a native English speaker, there are a lot of subtleties that you could overlook. 

This tip is not only for non-native speakers; the examples in the article may assist anybody figures out what to look for in a query. Some of the questions may be answered simply by knowing what those terms represent and what the distinctions are between each pair of two. 

Tip 10: Keep track of how far you have come 

I strongly suggest that you start with the Practice Tests. Without looking at the answers, write down your results for each Practice Test. After that, go over the study materials once again and take the Practice Tests. 

By writing down your scores again, compare them to the first set of results. After that, go back to studying and taking Practice Tests. 

I feel that using this strategy will help you better grasp what to look for during your study session. If you missed any questions on the Agile Measurement Open Assessment the first time around, I promise that as you read the Evidence-Based Management Guide, the correct answers/information that can lead to the correct answer will attract your attention. 

Conclusion

PSPO course is one of the more demanding Product Owner certification tests. Make sure you have allowed yourself enough time to prepare, perhaps 4-6 weeks. Remember that the PSPO certification is extremely important in the Product Owner profession, with only 97,208 PSPO 1, 1906 PSPO II, and 347 PSPO III certified holders worldwide as of now. This qualification might help you catch the attention of potential employers. This is also an excellent approach to demonstrate your expertise to your company by validating your abilities and understanding of Product Owner duties. You can do this PSPO course from knowledgeHut to improve your career.