PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
During a sprint review, the product owner rejects a user story because it does not meet the acceptance criteria. The developer who completed the story argues that the functionality is sufficient and that the criteria were too strict. Both parties escalate to you. What should you do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
PMP often tests whether you jump to a solution (redo, accept, relax) versus first facilitating a conversation to understand the root cause; the 'FIRST' keyword demands the collaborative step.
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 both parties to review the acceptance criteria and discuss expectations
When a sprint review surfaces a disagreement about acceptance criteria, the first step is to bring the parties together to review the criteria and align on expectations. This addresses the root cause—misalignment on what 'done' means—rather than forcing a resolution. It respects the product owner's authority over acceptance while giving the developer a chance to clarify.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ask the team to redo the story to strictly meet the criteria without further discussion
Why it's wrong here
This approach is counterproductive in an Agile environment as it bypasses critical communication and collaboration between the Product Owner and the development team. It fails to address potential misunderstandings in the acceptance criteria or unforeseen technical challenges encountered by the development team. Such a directive leadership style can significantly demotivate the team and prevent a shared understanding of the product increment, leading to recurring issues rather than sustainable resolution.
- ✗
Accept the story as is and move on to avoid delaying the sprint
Why it's wrong here
Accepting a user story that does not meet the Product Owner's acceptance criteria directly compromises the quality of the product increment and violates the team's Definition of Done. This action introduces technical debt and risks delivering a product that does not meet stakeholder expectations, potentially leading to costly rework in subsequent sprints. A PMP must uphold quality standards and ensure that delivered work provides genuine value, rather than merely expediting the sprint's conclusion.
- ✓
Schedule a meeting with both parties to review the acceptance criteria and discuss expectations
Why this is correct
This is the most appropriate action as it embodies the servant leadership and facilitative principles central to Agile project management. By bringing the Product Owner and the development team together, the Project Manager can facilitate a constructive dialogue to clarify the acceptance criteria, understand the developer's perspective, and identify any ambiguities or new information. This collaborative approach ensures a shared understanding, fosters team alignment, and leads to a mutually agreeable resolution that upholds quality and stakeholder expectations.
- ✗
Support the developer and ask the product owner to relax the criteria
Why it's wrong here
Taking sides and asking the Product Owner to relax the criteria undermines their authority as the sole voice of the customer and product value. The Product Owner is ultimately responsible for defining and prioritizing the product backlog, including the acceptance criteria that determine a story's completeness. A Project Manager's role is to facilitate communication and conflict resolution impartially, not to advocate for one party over another, which can damage team dynamics and trust.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PMI exam blueprint
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