The correct approach is to incorporate a risk identification task in each sprint backlog and review risks during sprint retrospectives. This aligns with Agile principles because it treats risk management as an iterative, continuous activity rather than a one-time event, allowing the team to capture emerging risks from changing requirements, technical debt, or integration issues as the project evolves. On the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) exam, this question tests your understanding of how to embed risk identification into Agile frameworks without disrupting velocity—a common trap is choosing a separate risk sprint, which violates Agile’s emphasis on continuous delivery. The key distinction is that risk identification must be a recurring, team-driven activity that leverages the inspect-and-adapt cycle of retrospectives. Memory tip: think “sprint-by-sprint, risk won’t sprint away”—by making risk a regular backlog item, you ensure it’s never an afterthought.
CRISC IT Risk Identification Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk identification. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A software development team is adopting Agile methodology and wants to integrate risk identification into their sprints. Which approach BEST aligns with Agile principles while ensuring effective risk identification?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Incorporate a risk identification task in each sprint backlog and review risks during sprint retrospectives
Option D is correct because Agile emphasizes iterative, continuous improvement, and integrating risk identification into each sprint backlog ensures risks are identified and addressed as the project evolves. Reviewing risks during sprint retrospectives aligns with the Agile principle of inspecting and adapting, making risk management a recurring, team-driven activity rather than a one-time event. This approach is effective because it captures risks that emerge from changing requirements, technical debt, or integration issues during development.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Conduct a risk workshop at the start of the project only
Why it's wrong here
One-time workshops miss evolving risks.
✗
Assign risk identification solely to the product owner
Why it's wrong here
The product owner may lack technical visibility.
✗
Perform an annual risk assessment
Why it's wrong here
Annual reviews are too infrequent for Agile.
✓
Incorporate a risk identification task in each sprint backlog and review risks during sprint retrospectives
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think risk identification is a one-time planning activity (Option A) or a single role's responsibility (Option B), but CRISC emphasizes that risk identification must be continuous and collaborative in Agile environments to be effective.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Agile frameworks like Scrum, the sprint backlog is a dynamic artifact that includes tasks for delivering product increments, and adding risk identification tasks ensures that risk analysis is treated as a first-class activity with defined effort and acceptance criteria. Sprint retrospectives provide a structured opportunity to inspect the process and identify risks related to team velocity, technical debt, or integration conflicts, which can then be added to the product backlog for future sprints. This iterative risk identification model mirrors the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, enabling real-time risk mitigation rather than relying on static, point-in-time assessments.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CRISC exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
IT Risk Identification — This question tests IT Risk Identification — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Incorporate a risk identification task in each sprint backlog and review risks during sprint retrospectives — Option D is correct because Agile emphasizes iterative, continuous improvement, and integrating risk identification into each sprint backlog ensures risks are identified and addressed as the project evolves. Reviewing risks during sprint retrospectives aligns with the Agile principle of inspecting and adapting, making risk management a recurring, team-driven activity rather than a one-time event. This approach is effective because it captures risks that emerge from changing requirements, technical debt, or integration issues during development.
What should I do if I get this CRISC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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