The correct practice is to set a strict WIP limit for the 'In Progress' column. This directly addresses the bottleneck by capping the number of items the team can work on simultaneously, forcing them to finish existing work before pulling new tasks. In Kanban, WIP limits are the primary mechanism to expose flow inefficiencies and reduce cycle time; without them, multitasking hides delays and inflates lead time. On the Certified Associate in Project Management CAPM exam, this concept tests your understanding of Kanban’s pull system and how limiting work in progress prevents bottlenecks from forming. A common trap is choosing to add more team members or increase the backlog, but those actions ignore the root cause of overloading. Remember the memory tip: “WIP limits force finish before start—cap the column to clear the bottleneck.”
CAPM Agile Frameworks and Methodologies Practice Question
This CAPM practice question tests your understanding of agile frameworks and methodologies. 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.
In a Kanban system, the team notices that work items are spending too much time in the 'In Progress' column. Which practice should the team adopt to improve flow?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set a strict WIP limit for the 'In Progress' column.
Setting a strict Work In Progress (WIP) limit for the 'In Progress' column directly addresses the bottleneck by capping the number of items the team can work on simultaneously. This forces the team to finish existing work before pulling new items, reducing multitasking and cycle time. In Kanban, WIP limits are the primary mechanism to expose flow inefficiencies and improve throughput.
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.
✗
Use longer development cycles.
Why it's wrong here
Kanban focuses on continuous flow, not fixed iterations.
✗
Increase the number of items allowed in the 'In Progress' column.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing WIP worsens flow and increases cycle time.
✗
Remove the 'In Progress' column to simplify the board.
Why it's wrong here
Removing columns reduces visibility of workflow stages.
✓
Set a strict WIP limit for the 'In Progress' column.
Why this is correct
WIP limits prevent overloading and help identify bottlenecks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PMI often tests the misconception that increasing WIP limits or removing columns will 'simplify' the process, when in fact the correct Kanban response to a bottleneck is to enforce stricter limits to expose and resolve the constraint.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Kanban relies on the concept of 'pull' rather than 'push' scheduling; a strict WIP limit enforces a pull system where new work is only started when capacity is available. This aligns with Little's Law (L = λW), where reducing work in progress (L) directly reduces cycle time (W) for a given arrival rate (λ). In practice, teams often start with a WIP limit equal to the number of team members, then adjust based on observed cycle times and flow efficiency metrics.
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 CAPM 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.
Agile Frameworks and Methodologies — This question tests Agile Frameworks and Methodologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set a strict WIP limit for the 'In Progress' column. — Setting a strict Work In Progress (WIP) limit for the 'In Progress' column directly addresses the bottleneck by capping the number of items the team can work on simultaneously. This forces the team to finish existing work before pulling new items, reducing multitasking and cycle time. In Kanban, WIP limits are the primary mechanism to expose flow inefficiencies and improve throughput.
What should I do if I get this CAPM question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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