- A
Escalate the request to the steering committee to force the change
Why wrong: Escalation is not the first step; the product owner and team should negotiate.
- B
Allow the team to swap the new feature for an equivalent amount of existing work
Why wrong: Swapping should be done only if the team agrees and the product owner accepts the trade-off, but the PM should facilitate rather than decide.
- C
Ask the team to add the feature to the current sprint and work overtime
Why wrong: This violates the sprint commitment and can lead to burnout.
- D
Explain to the product owner that the current sprint is committed and the feature can be added to the product backlog for the next sprint
Protecting the sprint commitment is key to agile; the feature can be prioritized for the next sprint.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to explain to the product owner that the current sprint is committed and the feature can be added to the product backlog for the next sprint. This is correct because in a hybrid project, the sprint backlog represents a fixed commitment by the team for the iteration, and changing it mid-sprint undermines velocity and predictability. The project manager’s role is to protect that commitment, ensuring the team can deliver on its agreed scope while deferring new requests to the product backlog for future prioritization. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of hybrid frameworks where agile ceremonies like sprint planning coexist with predictive controls; a common trap is to negotiate a compromise that breaks the sprint boundary. Remember the memory tip: “Sprint is sacred, backlog is backlog”—once the sprint starts, no new work enters, only the product backlog absorbs changes for the next iteration.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
In a hybrid project, the product owner wants to add a high-priority feature to the current sprint, but the team has already committed to the sprint backlog. The product owner insists it is critical for the upcoming release. What should the project manager do?
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
Explain to the product owner that the current sprint is committed and the feature can be added to the product backlog for the next sprint
In a hybrid project, the sprint backlog is a commitment made by the team for the current iteration. The project manager should protect the team from scope changes mid-sprint to maintain velocity and predictability. Option D is correct because it respects the sprint commitment and follows the agile principle of not changing the sprint backlog once it is set; the new feature is deferred to the product backlog for prioritization in the next sprint.
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 the request to the steering committee to force the change
Why it's wrong here
Escalation is not the first step; the product owner and team should negotiate.
- ✗
Allow the team to swap the new feature for an equivalent amount of existing work
Why it's wrong here
Swapping should be done only if the team agrees and the product owner accepts the trade-off, but the PM should facilitate rather than decide.
- ✗
Ask the team to add the feature to the current sprint and work overtime
Why it's wrong here
This violates the sprint commitment and can lead to burnout.
- ✓
Explain to the product owner that the current sprint is committed and the feature can be added to the product backlog for the next sprint
Why this is correct
Protecting the sprint commitment is key to agile; the feature can be prioritized for the next sprint.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think swapping work (Option B) is a valid compromise, but the PMP exam emphasizes that the sprint backlog is a commitment and should not be altered mid-sprint, even by swapping equivalent work, because it disrupts the team's plan and can introduce unaccounted dependencies or risks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In hybrid projects, the sprint backlog is a forecast of work the team commits to complete, and changing it mid-sprint undermines the empirical process control of Scrum. The product backlog is the single source of truth for all work, and the product owner is responsible for prioritizing it; however, the sprint backlog is owned by the development team and should only be changed in exceptional circumstances, typically by mutual agreement. Real-world scenarios often involve a product owner who misunderstands the sprint commitment, and the project manager must coach them on the importance of sprint integrity to avoid scope creep and maintain team morale.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Explain to the product owner that the current sprint is committed and the feature can be added to the product backlog for the next sprint — In a hybrid project, the sprint backlog is a commitment made by the team for the current iteration. The project manager should protect the team from scope changes mid-sprint to maintain velocity and predictability. Option D is correct because it respects the sprint commitment and follows the agile principle of not changing the sprint backlog once it is set; the new feature is deferred to the product backlog for prioritization in the next sprint.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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