easyMultiple Choice
CISA Practice Question: In an Agile software development project, who is…
In an Agile software development project, who is primarily responsible for prioritizing the product backlog?
⚠ Common exam trap
CISA often tests the confusion between the Product Owner (backlog prioritization) and the Scrum Master (process facilitation), so candidates who associate 'leadership' with 'prioritization' pick the Scrum Master.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Product Owner
In Scrum, the Product Owner is the single person accountable for maximizing product value and is solely responsible for ordering the Product Backlog. The Product Owner prioritizes items based on business value, stakeholder input, and strategic goals, and is the only role authorized to change backlog order.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Scrum Master
Why it's wrong here
The Scrum Master facilitates Scrum events and removes impediments, but does not order backlog items; the Product Owner owns and prioritises the backlog. It is tempting because the Scrum Master appears to coordinate team activity, which looks like prioritisation. Product backlog ordering by value remains the Product Owner's accountability.
- ✗
Development Team
Why it's wrong here
The Development Team self-organises to deliver increments but does not own backlog ordering; the Product Owner sets priority by business value. It is tempting because developers estimate and sequence their own sprint tasks, which feels like prioritisation. Backlog priority across the product, however, sits with the Product Owner.
- ✗
Project Manager
Why it's wrong here
Agile teams have no Project Manager role owning backlog order; the Product Owner prioritises by value, while a Project Manager coordinates scope, schedule and budget in predictive delivery. It is tempting because Project Managers traditionally assign work. In Scrum, backlog ordering is the Product Owner's responsibility, not the Project Manager's.
- ✓
Product Owner
Why this is correct
The Product Owner owns backlog prioritisation, sequencing items by business value to satisfy the Agile constraint that a single accountable voice orders work. This role bridges stakeholders and the development team, ensuring each iteration delivers maximum value. Scrum assigns this explicitly to the Product Owner, not the Scrum Master or team.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This CISA question is part of Courseiva's 934-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISACA exam blueprint
This CISA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CISA exam.