Which statement best describes the role of the Scrum Master in estimating work?

The role of the Scrum Master in relation to estimation is primarily to foster an environment where the Development Team can effectively communicate and collaborate. The Development Team is tasked with estimating the work involved in completing user stories or product backlog items. This responsibility is crucial because the team members are the ones who possess the technical knowledge and context needed to assess the complexity and effort required for the tasks at hand.

The Scrum Master plays a supportive role by facilitating the estimation process and ensuring that it is conducted in a constructive and efficient manner. By doing so, the Scrum Master empowers the Development Team to take ownership of the estimates, helping them build confidence in their skills and knowledge. This approach aligns with Scrum principles, which emphasize a self-managing team where responsibility for output lies with the team itself rather than any individual.

In this context, the estimate serves not only as a measure for planning and prioritization but also as a means of fostering team collaboration and learning. The Scrum Master's role is to help create an environment conducive to this collaborative effort, rather than to take over the responsibility of estimating work.