The correct answer is to facilitate a discussion between the product owner and developer to clarify the acceptance criteria. This is because the product owner holds the authority to define and validate acceptance criteria, and the scrum master’s role is to serve as a neutral facilitator, ensuring objective communication rather than taking sides or overriding the product owner’s decision. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Agile framework within the broader project management context, specifically the servant-leader responsibilities of a scrum master and the importance of stakeholder alignment. A common trap is choosing to let the developer override the product owner or to skip the review entirely, both of which violate the principle that the product owner’s acceptance is final. Remember the memory tip: “Facilitate, don’t arbitrate”—the scrum master guides the conversation, not the outcome.
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
During a sprint review, the product owner rejects a completed user story because it does not meet the acceptance criteria. The developer argues that the story is functionally complete and the product owner is being too strict. What should the scrum master do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Facilitate a discussion between the product owner and developer to clarify the acceptance criteria
Option B is correct. The product owner is the authority on acceptance criteria. The scrum master should facilitate an objective discussion. Option A is wrong because the product owner's decision is final. Option C is wrong because the scrum master should not take sides. Option D is wrong because skipping the review undermines the process.
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.
✗
Ask the team to accept the product owner's decision and move on
Why it's wrong here
While the PO has authority, the scrum master should facilitate understanding.
✗
Remove the story from the sprint backlog and skip it in the review
Why it's wrong here
The review is the place to address such issues.
✓
Facilitate a discussion between the product owner and developer to clarify the acceptance criteria
Why this is correct
The scrum master should ensure the criteria are understood and agreed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Support the developer by telling the product owner the story is complete
Why it's wrong here
The scrum master should remain neutral.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
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.
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: Facilitate a discussion between the product owner and developer to clarify the acceptance criteria — Option B is correct. The product owner is the authority on acceptance criteria. The scrum master should facilitate an objective discussion. Option A is wrong because the product owner's decision is final. Option C is wrong because the scrum master should not take sides. Option D is wrong because skipping the review undermines the process.
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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Question Discussion
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