The answer is to coach the product owner on the importance of not changing scope during a sprint. This is correct because the Scrum framework strictly prohibits adding scope once a sprint has begun; the product backlog is the single source of truth for upcoming work, and any new requests must be deferred to the next sprint planning session. The Scrum Master’s primary role is to protect the development team from disruption and enforce the process, so coaching the product owner on this boundary is the appropriate action. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Scrum Master’s servant-leader responsibilities versus the product owner’s authority over the backlog, often appearing as a trap where you might mistakenly escalate or change the sprint goal. A common memory tip is “Sprint scope is frozen—coach, don’t change.”
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.
In your Scrum project, the development team has been consistently missing sprint commitments. During the retrospective, the team identifies that scope is often added during the sprint by the product owner without consulting the team. What should you do as the Scrum Master?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Coach the product owner on the importance of not changing scope during a sprint.
The Scrum Master is responsible for protecting the team and ensuring the Scrum process is followed. The product owner should not add scope during a sprint; changes should be deferred to the next sprint. The Scrum Master should coach 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 product owner to stop attending daily standups to prevent scope changes.
Why it's wrong here
Exclusion is not the solution; coaching and process enforcement are better.
✗
Update the sprint backlog to reflect the changes and extend the sprint duration.
Why it's wrong here
Changing the sprint backlog mid-sprint violates the sprint commitment and is not recommended.
✗
Allow the product owner to add scope if the team agrees.
Why it's wrong here
While team agreement is important, the Scrum Guide discourages changes during a sprint to ensure focus.
✓
Coach the product owner on the importance of not changing scope during a sprint.
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master should educate the product owner about Scrum principles and the impact of mid-sprint changes.
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.
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: Coach the product owner on the importance of not changing scope during a sprint. — The Scrum Master is responsible for protecting the team and ensuring the Scrum process is followed. The product owner should not add scope during a sprint; changes should be deferred to the next sprint. The Scrum Master should coach 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.
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Question Discussion
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