PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
In a daily standup, a developer mentions that a task is taking longer than expected due to an unfamiliar technology. The sprint goal may be at risk. As a Scrum Master, what should you do FIRST?
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
✓
Work with the developer and team to find a solution or pair with an expert
The Scrum Master's first responsibility is to facilitate the team in self-organizing to remove impediments. In this scenario, the developer is blocked due to unfamiliar technology; the Scrum Master should coach the team to collaborate, such as through pair programming or knowledge sharing, to keep the sprint goal on track. Option A is incorrect as it undermines the team's self-organization and imposes a command-and-control approach. Option B is premature; descoping should only be considered after the team has attempted to resolve the issue internally and determined it's not feasible. Option D delays the issue unnecessarily; the Scrum Master should address impediments immediately, not defer them to a risk register.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Assign the task to a more experienced developer
Why it's wrong here
In Scrum, the Development Team is self-organizing and self-managing, meaning they collectively decide how to best accomplish the work. A Scrum Master's role is to facilitate, not dictate. Directly reassigning a task undermines the team's autonomy and their ability to collaboratively solve problems, which is crucial for fostering collective ownership and continuous improvement. This action bypasses the team's problem-solving capacity and the opportunity for internal knowledge transfer.
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Escalate to the product owner to descope the task
Why it's wrong here
Escalating to the Product Owner to descope the task is premature and misaligns with the Scrum Master's primary responsibility. The Scrum Master's role is to facilitate impediment removal, starting by empowering the Development Team to find solutions internally or by directly assisting them. Descoping is a last resort, typically considered after the team and Scrum Master have exhausted internal options, as it directly impacts the sprint goal and product value.
- ✓
Work with the developer and team to find a solution or pair with an expert
Why this is correct
This option directly aligns with the Scrum Master's core responsibility as a servant-leader and impediment remover. By working collaboratively with the developer and the entire Development Team, the Scrum Master facilitates problem-solving and knowledge sharing. Suggesting pairing with an expert within the team is an excellent strategy for immediate skill transfer and resolving the impediment efficiently, empowering the team to overcome challenges collectively.
- ✗
Add the issue to the risk register for future sprints
Why it's wrong here
An issue actively impacting a task in the current sprint is an immediate impediment, not merely a future risk to be documented. The Scrum Guide mandates that the Scrum Master ensures impediments to the Development Team are removed as soon as possible to maintain flow and achieve the Sprint Goal. Adding it to a risk register for future consideration defers resolution and fails to address the current disruption, which is critical in agile frameworks.
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Learn chapter
Leading Teams and Empowering Team Members
Key term
Daily Standup
A short, time-boxed daily meeting where team members share progress, plans, and blockers to stay aligned.
Key term
Sprint Planning
Sprint Planning is a time-boxed meeting at the start of a Scrum sprint where the team decides what work they can deliver and how they will do it.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.