The correct answer is to explain that changes should be added to the product backlog for future sprints after evaluation. This is because the sprint goal is a commitment the team has already made, and introducing new work mid-sprint disrupts focus, undermines velocity, and violates the Scrum principle of protecting the sprint backlog from external interference. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of adaptive planning and change control within an Agile framework, specifically how a project manager balances stakeholder requests with team commitments. A common trap is choosing to add the feature immediately to please the product owner, which ignores the sprint’s integrity. Remember the memory tip: “New scope, new sprint—backlog it, don’t hack it.”
PMP Practice Question: Business Environment: strategy and project benefits
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of business environment: strategy and project benefits. 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 project to develop a mobile app, the product owner wants to add a feature that the team believes will increase user engagement but was not in the approved scope. The sprint is already in progress. What should the project manager do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Explain that changes should be added to the product backlog for future sprints after evaluation
Option B is correct because the PM should uphold the sprint goal and manage changes through the product backlog. Option A violates the sprint commitment, option C is premature, option D bypasses the product owner.
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 do a quick spike to estimate the effort
Why it's wrong here
A spike may be useful for future planning but does not justify mid-sprint changes.
✓
Explain that changes should be added to the product backlog for future sprints after evaluation
Why this is correct
In agile, changes are managed through the backlog and prioritized for upcoming sprints.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ask the sponsor for immediate approval to include the feature
Why it's wrong here
The product owner is responsible for backlog prioritization; the sponsor may not be involved in sprint-level decisions.
✗
Allow the team to add the feature since it improves the product
Why it's wrong here
Adding features mid-sprint disrupts the sprint goal and team's commitment.
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.
Business Environment: strategy and project benefits — This question tests Business Environment: strategy and project benefits — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Explain that changes should be added to the product backlog for future sprints after evaluation — Option B is correct because the PM should uphold the sprint goal and manage changes through the product backlog. Option A violates the sprint commitment, option C is premature, option D bypasses the product owner.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You are the project manager for a hybrid software development project. During a sprint review, a key stakeholder requests a new feature that was not in the original scope. The product owner believes it adds significant value. The team estimates it will take two additional sprints. What should you do first?
medium
✓ A.Submit a change request through the Integrated Change Control process
B.Add the feature to the product backlog and let the team work on it in a future sprint without formal approval
C.Ask the team to start working on the feature immediately to satisfy the stakeholder
D.Inform the stakeholder that no changes are allowed after the project has started
Why A: According to PMI, any change to scope must go through the formal change control process. The project manager should first submit a change request to assess impact on schedule, cost, and resources before any decision is made.
Variation 2. You are the project manager for a software development project using Scrum. During the sprint, the product owner requests a change that would significantly increase the value of the product but also expands scope. Which TWO actions should you take?
medium
A.Add the change to the current sprint immediately to maximize value
✓ B.Work with the product owner to prioritize the change for a future sprint
C.Reject the change because it was not in the original plan
D.Escalate to the project sponsor for approval
✓ E.Assess the impact of the change on the current sprint
Why B: In Scrum, the product owner can change the backlog, but the project manager should first assess the impact on the current sprint and, if accepted, ensure the change is added after the current sprint unless it is an emergency. The correct actions are to assess impact and work with the product owner to prioritize the change for a future sprint.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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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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