PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✓

  Remove the impediment by helping the team member find a solution or escalating if necessary

  Why this is correct

  As a Scrum Master, the primary responsibility is to facilitate the team's progress by actively removing impediments. This involves collaborating with the team member to brainstorm potential solutions, leveraging organizational resources, or, if the issue is beyond the team's immediate control or influence, escalating it appropriately to management or relevant stakeholders. This proactive approach ensures the team can maintain focus and deliver value without unnecessary delays, embodying the servant leadership aspect of the role.

• ✗

  Ask the team member to work overtime to make up for the delay

  Why it's wrong here

  Asking a team member to work overtime is a reactive measure that fails to address the root cause of the impediment and can lead to burnout, decreased morale, and reduced quality over time. While sometimes necessary in extreme circumstances, it should never be the first response to an impediment. The Scrum Master's role is to remove obstacles and optimize the team's workflow, not to compensate for systemic issues with unsustainable practices.

• ✗

  Report the issue to the project sponsor

  Why it's wrong here

  Reporting the issue directly to the project sponsor is premature and bypasses the Scrum Master's immediate responsibility to resolve impediments at the team level first. Escalation to higher management or the sponsor should only occur after the Scrum Master has exhausted all reasonable avenues for resolution within their sphere of influence or if the impediment requires significant organizational change or resources beyond the team's capacity. Premature escalation can undermine team autonomy and the Scrum Master's problem-solving credibility.

• ✗

  Update the project schedule to reflect the two-day delay

  Why it's wrong here

  Updating the project schedule to reflect a two-day delay is a reactive administrative task that documents the impact of the impediment rather than addressing it. While schedule adjustments may eventually be necessary, the immediate priority for a Scrum Master is to mitigate or eliminate the impediment to prevent further delays and minimize its overall impact. Focusing on scheduling before problem-solving shifts attention from proactive resolution to merely recording consequences, which is not the most effective first action.

Go deeper

Related to this question