- A
Replace underperforming team members with new resources
Why wrong: Replacing team members is disruptive and may not address root causes.
- B
Facilitate a retrospective to identify root causes of low velocity
A retrospective allows the team to inspect and adapt.
- C
Work with the team to remove impediments that are slowing them down
Removing impediments is a primary responsibility of the Scrum Master/project manager.
- D
Reduce the sprint backlog to match current velocity without analysis
Why wrong: Reducing backlog without understanding the cause is a band-aid solution.
- E
Encourage the team to maintain a sustainable pace and avoid overtime
Sustainable pace prevents burnout and supports consistent velocity.
Question 822 of 892
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
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 team is struggling with consistently low velocity. The team is demotivated. Which THREE actions should the project manager take to address this?
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 retrospective to identify root causes of low velocity
Option B is correct because facilitating a retrospective directly addresses the root cause of low velocity by enabling the team to collaboratively identify and analyze underlying issues, such as process inefficiencies or technical debt, which is a core agile practice for continuous improvement. This action empowers the team to own their solutions, which can also help restore motivation by giving them agency over their workflow.
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.
- ✗
Replace underperforming team members with new resources
Why it's wrong here
Replacing team members is disruptive and may not address root causes.
- ✓
Facilitate a retrospective to identify root causes of low velocity
Why this is correct
A retrospective allows the team to inspect and adapt.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Work with the team to remove impediments that are slowing them down
Why this is correct
Removing impediments is a primary responsibility of the Scrum Master/project manager.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Reduce the sprint backlog to match current velocity without analysis
Why it's wrong here
Reducing backlog without understanding the cause is a band-aid solution.
- ✓
Encourage the team to maintain a sustainable pace and avoid overtime
Why this is correct
Sustainable pace prevents burnout and supports consistent velocity.
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 confuse 'reducing scope' (Option D) with legitimate backlog refinement, but the PMP exam tests that any change to the sprint backlog must be based on empirical data and team consensus, not arbitrary cuts to hide performance issues.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In agile frameworks like Scrum, velocity is a relative measure of work completed per sprint, and low velocity often stems from factors such as unmanaged technical debt, unclear requirements, or external dependencies. A retrospective uses techniques like the '5 Whys' or fishbone diagrams to systematically trace low velocity to its source, enabling targeted actions such as refactoring code or improving definition of done. Sustainable pace (Option E) is critical because overwork leads to burnout and further velocity decline, as supported by the Agile Manifesto's principle of maintaining a constant pace indefinitely.
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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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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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: Facilitate a retrospective to identify root causes of low velocity — Option B is correct because facilitating a retrospective directly addresses the root cause of low velocity by enabling the team to collaboratively identify and analyze underlying issues, such as process inefficiencies or technical debt, which is a core agile practice for continuous improvement. This action empowers the team to own their solutions, which can also help restore motivation by giving them agency over their workflow.
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
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