- A
Ask the product owner to reduce the scope of the next sprint
Why wrong: Asking the product owner to reduce scope does not address the root cause of technical debt and unplanned work; it only reduces the amount of work per sprint without fixing the underlying issues.
- B
Allocate a portion of each sprint to address technical debt
Allocating a portion of each sprint to address technical debt directly reduces the accumulated debt, which can improve velocity over time by reducing unplanned rework.
- C
Implement a policy to shield the team from external interruptions during sprints
Implementing a policy to shield the team from external interruptions allows the team to focus on planned work, reducing the amount of unplanned work that drags down velocity.
- D
Add more developers to the team to increase capacity
Why wrong: Adding more developers can increase coordination overhead and may not address the root causes of declining velocity, such as technical debt and process issues.
- E
Work with the product owner to improve the 'definition of ready' for user stories
Working with the product owner to improve the 'definition of ready' ensures that user stories are clear and complete before a sprint starts, reducing ambiguity and unplanned work.
Addressing Declining Agile Velocity Due to Technical Debt
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
Your agile project has been experiencing declining velocity over the last three sprints. During the retrospective, the team identifies that they are spending too much time on unplanned work and technical debt. The product owner wants to maintain the current scope. Which THREE actions should the project manager take? (Choose three.)
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
Allocate a portion of each sprint to address technical debt
Options B, C, and E are correct. B: Allocating a portion of each sprint to address technical debt directly reduces the accumulation of unplanned work and improves velocity. C: Shielding the team from external interruptions minimizes distractions, allowing more focus on planned work. E: Improving the 'definition of ready' ensures that user stories are sufficiently refined before a sprint begins, reducing ambiguity and rework. Option A is incorrect because reducing scope does not address the root cause of declining velocity (technical debt and unplanned work). Option D is incorrect because adding more developers can increase coordination overhead and may not solve the underlying issues.
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.
- ✗
Ask the product owner to reduce the scope of the next sprint
Why it's wrong here
Asking the product owner to reduce scope does not address the root cause of technical debt and unplanned work; it only reduces the amount of work per sprint without fixing the underlying issues.
- ✓
Allocate a portion of each sprint to address technical debt
Why this is correct
Allocating a portion of each sprint to address technical debt directly reduces the accumulated debt, which can improve velocity over time by reducing unplanned rework.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Implement a policy to shield the team from external interruptions during sprints
Why this is correct
Implementing a policy to shield the team from external interruptions allows the team to focus on planned work, reducing the amount of unplanned work that drags down velocity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add more developers to the team to increase capacity
Why it's wrong here
Adding more developers can increase coordination overhead and may not address the root causes of declining velocity, such as technical debt and process issues.
- ✓
Work with the product owner to improve the 'definition of ready' for user stories
Why this is correct
Working with the product owner to improve the 'definition of ready' ensures that user stories are clear and complete before a sprint starts, reducing ambiguity and unplanned work.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 PMP 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 PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Allocate a portion of each sprint to address technical debt — Options B, C, and E are correct. B: Allocating a portion of each sprint to address technical debt directly reduces the accumulation of unplanned work and improves velocity. C: Shielding the team from external interruptions minimizes distractions, allowing more focus on planned work. E: Improving the 'definition of ready' ensures that user stories are sufficiently refined before a sprint begins, reducing ambiguity and rework. Option A is incorrect because reducing scope does not address the root cause of declining velocity (technical debt and unplanned work). Option D is incorrect because adding more developers can increase coordination overhead and may not solve the underlying issues.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This PMP 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 PMP exam.
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