- A
Add the blocker to the risk register as a new risk
Why wrong: While documentation is important, the immediate action is to remove the impediment.
- B
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor
Why wrong: Escalation should come after attempting to resolve the blocker at the team level.
- C
Ask the team member to work on something else and ignore the blocker
Why wrong: Ignoring a blocker does not resolve it and can delay the sprint goal.
- D
Help remove the impediment by coordinating with the other team
The Scrum Master is responsible for removing impediments to the team's progress.
Question 593 of 892
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 daily standup meeting, a team member mentions that they are blocked because a dependency on another team's work is not yet complete. The Scrum Master is present. What should the Scrum Master do FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
✓
Help remove the impediment by coordinating with the other team
In Scrum, the Scrum Master is responsible for removing impediments that hinder the team's progress. When a team member is blocked due to an incomplete dependency from another team, the Scrum Master's first action should be to help remove that impediment by coordinating with the other team. This aligns with the Scrum Guide's directive that the Scrum Master facilitates the resolution of blockers to ensure the Development Team can meet the Sprint Goal.
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.
- ✗
Add the blocker to the risk register as a new risk
Why it's wrong here
While documentation is important, the immediate action is to remove the impediment.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should come after attempting to resolve the blocker at the team level.
- ✗
Ask the team member to work on something else and ignore the blocker
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring a blocker does not resolve it and can delay the sprint goal.
- ✓
Help remove the impediment by coordinating with the other team
Why this is correct
The Scrum Master is responsible for removing impediments to the team's progress.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" 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 may confuse the Scrum Master's role with that of a project manager, leading them to choose risk management or escalation options instead of recognizing the Scrum Master's immediate duty to remove impediments.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Scrum Master's role as an impediment remover is defined in the Scrum Guide, where they are expected to 'help everyone change these interactions to maximize the value created by the Scrum Team.' In practice, this involves cross-team coordination, such as setting up a meeting with the other team's Scrum Master or product owner to prioritize the dependency. A real-world scenario might involve a software team blocked by a delayed API from another team; the Scrum Master would facilitate a joint backlog refinement to align sprint goals, ensuring the dependency is addressed in the next iteration.
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.
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.
- →
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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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: Help remove the impediment by coordinating with the other team — In Scrum, the Scrum Master is responsible for removing impediments that hinder the team's progress. When a team member is blocked due to an incomplete dependency from another team, the Scrum Master's first action should be to help remove that impediment by coordinating with the other team. This aligns with the Scrum Guide's directive that the Scrum Master facilitates the resolution of blockers to ensure the Development Team can meet the Sprint Goal.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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