PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
During a sprint review, a key stakeholder expresses dissatisfaction with the product increment, stating that it does not meet their expectations. The team followed the acceptance criteria defined in the user stories. What should the project manager do NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates choose Option C, thinking the product owner alone handles backlog changes, but the PM must actively facilitate the meeting to ensure the stakeholder's concerns are fully understood and addressed, not just delegated.
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
✓
Schedule a meeting with the stakeholder and product owner to clarify expectations and refine the backlog
The project manager must facilitate a meeting between the stakeholder and the product owner to clarify expectations and refine the backlog. This aligns with the agile principle of continuous stakeholder engagement and ensures that acceptance criteria are updated to reflect true needs, preventing future mismatches.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Explain that the team delivered exactly what was agreed upon and the stakeholder should have raised concerns earlier
Why it's wrong here
This approach is confrontational and violates the PMP emphasis on collaborative stakeholder engagement. Blaming the stakeholder for not raising concerns earlier fails to acknowledge potential communication gaps or evolving needs, which are common in agile environments. A project manager should seek to understand the root cause of dissatisfaction and facilitate a solution, not deflect responsibility.
- ✓
Schedule a meeting with the stakeholder and product owner to clarify expectations and refine the backlog
Why this is correct
This is the most appropriate response as it demonstrates proactive communication and collaborative problem-solving, core tenets of effective project management. By facilitating a direct meeting between the stakeholder and the Product Owner, the project manager ensures that expectations are clarified, feedback is directly incorporated, and the product backlog can be refined to reflect current needs and prevent future misalignment. This approach fosters trust and ensures value delivery.
- ✗
Refer the stakeholder to the product owner to discuss changes for future sprints
Why it's wrong here
While the Product Owner is responsible for the product backlog, simply referring the stakeholder abdicates the Project Manager's responsibility for stakeholder engagement and issue resolution. The PM should actively facilitate communication, understand the nature of the dissatisfaction, and ensure a structured approach to addressing concerns, rather than delegating the entire interaction. This passive approach can lead to unresolved issues and further stakeholder disengagement.
- ✗
Ask the team to redo the work to meet the stakeholder's unspoken needs
Why it's wrong here
Asking the team to redo work based on unspoken needs constitutes gold-plating, which is adding features or work beyond the agreed-upon scope and acceptance criteria. This wastes resources, extends timelines, and undermines the established definition of "done." A project manager must adhere to the agreed scope and facilitate a process to formally capture and prioritize new requirements, rather than making ad-hoc demands on the team.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Scrum Methodology
Scrum is a lightweight process framework that helps teams deliver complex projects in small, iterative chunks called sprints.
Key term
Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder engagement is the process of identifying people or groups who have an interest in a project and actively involving them through communication and collaboration to meet their needs and expectations.
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