- A
Add all ad-hoc requests to the product backlog for prioritization
All new requests should be added to the backlog and prioritized by the product owner.
- B
Allow the team to accept some ad-hoc requests to keep stakeholders happy
Why wrong: Accepting ad-hoc requests during a sprint disrupts focus and velocity.
- C
Increase the sprint length to accommodate more work
Why wrong: Longer sprints may reduce feedback frequency and not address root cause.
- D
Reduce the team size to minimize communication overhead
Why wrong: Reducing team size is not a standard solution to interruptions.
- E
Ask the product owner to enforce a strict 'no changes during sprint' policy
The product owner should shield the team from scope changes during a sprint.
Question 855 of 892
Agile Velocity Drop from Stakeholder Ad-Hoc Requests: PMP Solutions
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 is experiencing declining velocity, and the team is frustrated with frequent interruptions from stakeholders requesting ad-hoc features. Which TWO actions should you take to address this situation?
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
✓
Add all ad-hoc requests to the product backlog for prioritization
Adding all ad-hoc requests to the product backlog for prioritization (Option A) is correct because it respects the agile principle of maintaining a single, prioritized backlog. The product owner can then evaluate each request against the sprint goal and overall product value, ensuring the team’s velocity is not disrupted by unplanned work. This approach preserves the team’s focus and allows for transparent stakeholder negotiation.
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.
- ✓
Add all ad-hoc requests to the product backlog for prioritization
Why this is correct
All new requests should be added to the backlog and prioritized by the product owner.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Allow the team to accept some ad-hoc requests to keep stakeholders happy
Why it's wrong here
Accepting ad-hoc requests during a sprint disrupts focus and velocity.
- ✗
Increase the sprint length to accommodate more work
Why it's wrong here
Longer sprints may reduce feedback frequency and not address root cause.
- ✗
Reduce the team size to minimize communication overhead
Why it's wrong here
Reducing team size is not a standard solution to interruptions.
- ✓
Ask the product owner to enforce a strict 'no changes during sprint' policy
Why this is correct
The product owner should shield the team from scope changes during a sprint.
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 accommodating stakeholders (Option B) is a sign of good customer service, but the PMP exam emphasizes protecting the team’s sprint commitment and using the product backlog as the single gate for all changes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Scrum, the sprint backlog is a commitment by the development team to deliver a specific set of product backlog items. Introducing unplanned work mid-sprint violates this commitment and triggers re-estimation and reprioritization, which disrupts flow and increases cognitive load. The product owner’s role as the single point of contact for stakeholder requests is critical; enforcing a 'no changes during sprint' policy (Option E) protects the team’s focus and allows the product owner to manage stakeholder expectations through the backlog prioritization process.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Add all ad-hoc requests to the product backlog for prioritization — Adding all ad-hoc requests to the product backlog for prioritization (Option A) is correct because it respects the agile principle of maintaining a single, prioritized backlog. The product owner can then evaluate each request against the sprint goal and overall product value, ensuring the team’s velocity is not disrupted by unplanned work. This approach preserves the team’s focus and allows for transparent stakeholder negotiation.
What should I do if I get this PMP 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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