PMP Definition of Done Practice Question
You are managing a software upgrade project. The team has identified a critical defect that requires immediate fixing, but the fix will delay the next release by one week. The product owner wants to release on time with the defect. Which THREE factors should you consider when advising the product owner?
⚠ Common exam trap
Beware of confusing cost considerations with quality and risk factors; the question emphasizes adherence to quality standards and user impact.
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
✓
Whether the defect violates the agreed definition of done
The definition of done includes quality criteria; releasing with a critical defect violates that agreement. Option B is correct because releasing with a known defect introduces risk of rework and negative impact on users. Option E is correct because the severity and user impact are primary factors in prioritizing the fix. Option C is incorrect: while cost of delay is relevant, the question focuses on quality and risk, not purely cost trade-offs. Option D is incorrect: the team's ability to fix without affecting other features is a technical consideration but not among the top three factors for this decision.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Whether the defect violates the agreed definition of done
Why this is correct
The Definition of Done (DoD) establishes the quality criteria and standards that a product increment must meet to be considered complete, acceptable, and releasable. Releasing with a known defect that contravenes the agreed-upon DoD indicates a failure to meet established quality gates, undermining team accountability, eroding stakeholder trust, and compromising the integrity of the project's quality assurance processes.
- ✓
The risk of releasing with the defect and potential rework
Why this is correct
Releasing a product with a known defect introduces significant project risk, including potential reputational damage, increased support costs, and the high probability of post-release emergency fixes or patches. This rework often incurs substantially higher costs than addressing the defect pre-release, aligning with the principles of the cost of quality and proactive risk mitigation.
- ✗
The cost of delaying the release versus the cost of fixing later
Why it's wrong here
While economic considerations like the cost of delaying a release versus the cost of fixing a defect later are relevant for business decision-making, they are typically secondary to fundamental quality and risk assessments when deciding whether to release a known defect. The primary focus for a PMP in such a scenario is often on mitigating immediate risks to product quality, user satisfaction, and project integrity, rather than purely financial trade-offs, especially when a critical defect is present.
- ✗
The team's ability to fix the defect without affecting other features
Why it's wrong here
While the technical feasibility and potential for regression are important considerations for *how* a defect might be fixed, they are secondary to the fundamental decision of *whether* to release with the defect. This factor primarily influences the effort and complexity involved in the repair, rather than serving as a primary advisory factor for the release decision itself, which focuses on the defect's inherent impact.
- ✓
The severity of the defect and its impact on end users
Why this is correct
The severity of a defect and its direct impact on end users are paramount considerations, as they directly measure the consequence of the quality issue. A high-severity defect that significantly impairs critical user functionality, causes data loss, or compromises security demands immediate attention, as it directly undermines the product's utility, user experience, and stakeholder satisfaction.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.