PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
During a daily standup, a developer mentions that they have started working on an additional feature requested by the product owner, which was not in the sprint backlog. What should the scrum master do?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse 'adding value' with 'following process,' and mistakenly choose Option B because they think Agile encourages flexibility, but Scrum specifically protects the sprint from scope changes to ensure reliable delivery.
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
✓
Remind the team that work should only be added to the sprint through the product owner and should be deferred to the backlog for prioritization
In Scrum, the sprint backlog is frozen during the sprint to protect the team's focus and commitment. The scrum master's role is to enforce this boundary by reminding the team that any new work must first be vetted by the product owner and added to the product backlog for future prioritization. Allowing unplanned work undermines the sprint goal and velocity tracking.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the project manager after the standup
Why it's wrong here
In a Scrum framework, the Scrum Master is primarily responsible for facilitating the team and protecting the sprint from external interference or process deviations. Escalating a sprint-level process issue, such as unauthorized work, to a 'project manager' is an unnecessary step that bypasses the Scrum Master's direct accountability to address such matters within the team. The Scrum Master should first attempt to resolve the issue by coaching the team on Scrum principles.
- ✗
Allow the work to continue since it adds value to the product
Why it's wrong here
While the work might appear to add value, allowing unapproved work to continue mid-sprint directly violates the principle of sprint commitment and scope stability. The Sprint Backlog is a carefully selected forecast of work for the sprint, and adding items without Product Owner approval and Development Team consensus disrupts the sprint goal. This undermines predictability, can lead to scope creep, and jeopardizes the team's ability to complete their committed items, ultimately hindering effective value delivery.
- ✓
Remind the team that work should only be added to the sprint through the product owner and should be deferred to the backlog for prioritization
Why this is correct
This is the correct action for a Scrum Master, aligning with their responsibility to protect the Development Team and ensure adherence to Scrum principles. Any new work, regardless of its perceived value, must be channeled through the Product Owner, who is solely responsible for managing and prioritizing the Product Backlog based on value and strategic alignment. This approach maintains the integrity of the Sprint Backlog and the sprint goal, preventing unauthorized scope changes and ensuring a focused effort.
- ✗
Praise the developer for being proactive and customer-focused
Why it's wrong here
Praising a developer for unilaterally adding work, even if well-intentioned and customer-focused, reinforces a detrimental practice known as 'gold-plating' or unauthorized scope expansion. This undermines the Product Owner's authority over the Product Backlog and the Development Team's commitment to the Sprint Backlog. Such actions can lead to unfocused sprints, missed sprint goals, and a lack of transparency regarding what work is truly prioritized and delivered, ultimately hindering overall project success and team predictability.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Leading Teams and Empowering Team Members
Key term
Daily Standup
A short, time-boxed daily meeting where team members share progress, plans, and blockers to stay aligned.
Key term
Scrum Methodology
Scrum is a lightweight process framework that helps teams deliver complex projects in small, iterative chunks called sprints.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.