- A
Tell the developer to escalate to the project manager
Why wrong: In Scrum, the Scrum Master handles impediments, not a separate PM.
- B
Ask the team to stay after the standup to solve the problem immediately
Why wrong: This would derail the standup's purpose and waste other team members' time.
- C
Assign the issue to the product owner for prioritization
Why wrong: The product owner focuses on value; technical impediments are the Scrum Master's responsibility.
- D
Record the impediment and work with the developer after the standup to resolve it
The Scrum Master is responsible for removing impediments. Addressing it after the standup is appropriate.
Question 7 of 892
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 daily standup, a developer mentions a technical issue that will likely delay a user story by three days. What is the BEST action for the Scrum Master to take?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Record the impediment and work with the developer after the standup to resolve it
The correct answer is D because the Scrum Master's primary role is to remove impediments for the team. Recording the impediment and working with the developer after the standup ensures the daily standup remains a time-boxed synchronization event (15 minutes) and does not derail into a problem-solving session, which violates the Scrum Guide. The technical issue causing a three-day delay is an impediment that the Scrum Master must help resolve, not a task to delegate or escalate immediately.
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.
- ✗
Tell the developer to escalate to the project manager
Why it's wrong here
In Scrum, the Scrum Master handles impediments, not a separate PM.
- ✗
Ask the team to stay after the standup to solve the problem immediately
Why it's wrong here
This would derail the standup's purpose and waste other team members' time.
- ✗
Assign the issue to the product owner for prioritization
Why it's wrong here
The product owner focuses on value; technical impediments are the Scrum Master's responsibility.
- ✓
Record the impediment and work with the developer after the standup to resolve it
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master is responsible for removing impediments. Addressing it after the standup is appropriate.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
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 confuse the Scrum Master's role with a project manager or technical lead, leading them to choose escalation (A) or immediate problem-solving (B) instead of the correct impediment-removal action (D).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the Scrum Master acts as a servant-leader who facilitates impediment removal without dictating solutions. In a real-world scenario, a developer might face a dependency on a third-party API that requires a configuration change; the Scrum Master would coordinate with the operations team or external vendor while the team continues other work. This subtle behavior prevents the standup from becoming a troubleshooting session and maintains the team's focus on the sprint goal.
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.
Visual reference
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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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
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: Record the impediment and work with the developer after the standup to resolve it — The correct answer is D because the Scrum Master's primary role is to remove impediments for the team. Recording the impediment and working with the developer after the standup ensures the daily standup remains a time-boxed synchronization event (15 minutes) and does not derail into a problem-solving session, which violates the Scrum Guide. The technical issue causing a three-day delay is an impediment that the Scrum Master must help resolve, not a task to delegate or escalate immediately.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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