CAPM Agile Frameworks and Methodologies Practice Question
During a Scrum sprint, the development team discovers that a critical dependency on another team's API cannot be resolved until the next sprint. The product owner insists on delivering the current sprint goal without adjusting scope. The team is struggling to meet the definition of done. What should the Scrum Master do first?
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
✓
Facilitate a discussion between the product owner and team to renegotiate the sprint goal
The Scrum Master should facilitate a discussion with the product owner and team to explore options, such as removing the blocked work or adjusting the sprint goal. The Scrum Master is a servant leader who helps the team and product owner negotiate scope. Ordering the team to work overtime violates Scrum principles. Escalating to management bypasses the Scrum framework. Ignoring the impediment would lead to failure.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Order the team to work overtime to complete the remaining work
Why it's wrong here
Mandating overtime is not agile; it reduces quality and morale.
- ✗
Ignore the dependency and ask the team to do their best
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring impediments is not proactive; the Scrum Master should address them.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the program manager for resolution
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should be a last resort; the Scrum Master should first facilitate a discussion within the team.
- ✓
Facilitate a discussion between the product owner and team to renegotiate the sprint goal
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master coaches the team and product owner to collaborate on scope adjustments when dependencies block work.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on CAPM
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. During a sprint, the team identifies a critical defect that requires immediate attention. What should the Scrum Master do?
hard- A.Report to management.
- B.Add the defect to the product backlog.
- ✓ C.Allow the team to fix the defect within the sprint if possible.
- D.Stop the sprint and restart.
Why C: The Scrum Master should facilitate the team to self-organize and address the critical defect within the current sprint if it does not compromise the sprint goal. Option A is wrong because reporting to management is not the Scrum Master's immediate action; the team handles the work. Option B is wrong because adding the defect to the product backlog would delay the fix, and urgent defects are best handled within the sprint. Option D is wrong because stopping the sprint is a drastic measure that should be reserved for extreme situations, not a typical response to a defect.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAPM practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 CAPM exam.