- A
Escalate to the project sponsor and request the team to work overtime
Why wrong: Escalating to the sponsor and requesting overtime does not address the underlying problem and may increase burnout.
- B
Immediately reduce the scope of the current release to meet the deadline
Why wrong: Reducing scope without analysis may not solve the issue and could reduce business value.
- C
Analyze the product backlog for signs of scope creep or unclear requirements
Analyzing the product backlog helps identify if scope creep or unclear requirements are causing velocity drops, allowing the team to address these issues.
- D
Add more team members to the current sprint to increase output
Why wrong: Adding team members mid-sprint often disrupts the team and does not address root causes; it may actually lower velocity further.
- E
Facilitate a retrospective to identify root causes of the velocity drop
Facilitating a retrospective enables the team to inspect their process collaboratively and identify root causes of the velocity drop, leading to actionable improvements.
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
As a project manager in a hybrid project, you notice that the team's sprint velocity has dropped for three consecutive sprints. The team is demotivated, and stakeholders are becoming concerned about the delivery date. Which TWO actions should you take to address this situation?
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
Analyze the product backlog for signs of scope creep or unclear requirements
Option C is correct because analyzing the product backlog helps identify if scope creep or unclear requirements are causing velocity drops, allowing the team to address these issues. Option E is correct because facilitating a retrospective enables the team to inspect their process collaboratively and identify root causes of the velocity drop, leading to actionable improvements. Option A is incorrect because escalating to the sponsor and requesting overtime does not address the underlying problem and may increase burnout. Option B is incorrect because reducing scope without analysis may not solve the issue and could reduce business value. Option D is incorrect because adding team members mid-sprint often disrupts the team and does not address root causes; it may actually lower velocity further.
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.
- ✗
Escalate to the project sponsor and request the team to work overtime
Why it's wrong here
Escalating to the sponsor and requesting overtime does not address the underlying problem and may increase burnout.
- ✗
Immediately reduce the scope of the current release to meet the deadline
Why it's wrong here
Reducing scope without analysis may not solve the issue and could reduce business value.
- ✓
Analyze the product backlog for signs of scope creep or unclear requirements
Why this is correct
Analyzing the product backlog helps identify if scope creep or unclear requirements are causing velocity drops, allowing the team to address these issues.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add more team members to the current sprint to increase output
Why it's wrong here
Adding team members mid-sprint often disrupts the team and does not address root causes; it may actually lower velocity further.
- ✓
Facilitate a retrospective to identify root causes of the velocity drop
Why this is correct
Facilitating a retrospective enables the team to inspect their process collaboratively and identify root causes of the velocity drop, leading to actionable improvements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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: Analyze the product backlog for signs of scope creep or unclear requirements — Option C is correct because analyzing the product backlog helps identify if scope creep or unclear requirements are causing velocity drops, allowing the team to address these issues. Option E is correct because facilitating a retrospective enables the team to inspect their process collaboratively and identify root causes of the velocity drop, leading to actionable improvements. Option A is incorrect because escalating to the sponsor and requesting overtime does not address the underlying problem and may increase burnout. Option B is incorrect because reducing scope without analysis may not solve the issue and could reduce business value. Option D is incorrect because adding team members mid-sprint often disrupts the team and does not address root causes; it may actually lower velocity further.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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.
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