PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
You are the project manager for a software development project using Scrum. During the daily standup, a developer mentions that they are blocked by a dependency on another team's API that is delayed. The developer has already tried contacting the other team but received no response. What should the scrum master do?
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
✓
Escalate the issue to the other team's manager or the project sponsor to resolve the dependency.
The scrum master is responsible for removing impediments. Option B is correct because the scrum master should escalate the issue to remove the blocker for the team.
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 issue to the risk register and monitor it.
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect because the unavailability of the API is a current, active impediment, not a potential future risk. Risks are uncertain events that *may* occur, whereas this is a definite blocker requiring immediate resolution. Adding it to a risk register for monitoring defers necessary action and prolongs the team's inability to progress, violating the principle of actively removing impediments.
- ✓
Escalate the issue to the other team's manager or the project sponsor to resolve the dependency.
Why this is correct
This is the correct action because the Scrum Master's primary responsibility is to remove impediments that block the development team's progress. When an external dependency, like an API from another team, becomes a blocker that the team cannot resolve independently, escalating to the other team's manager or the project sponsor is an appropriate and effective strategy to leverage organizational influence and unblock the team quickly. This proactive escalation ensures the impediment is addressed at the proper organizational level.
- ✗
Ask the team to work on other tasks until the API is available.
Why it's wrong here
While finding alternative tasks might seem like a temporary solution, it does not address the root cause of the impediment and can lead to context switching, reduced focus, and a false sense of progress. The Scrum Master's role is to actively remove blockers to maintain the team's flow and commitment to sprint goals, not merely to find ways around them. Prioritizing resolution over workarounds ensures long-term efficiency and predictability.
- ✗
Advise the developer to keep trying to contact the other team.
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect because it delegates the responsibility of impediment removal back to the developer, which is contrary to the Scrum Master's accountability for protecting the team from external distractions and resolving blockers. The developer's focus should remain on delivering product increments, not on chasing external dependencies. The Scrum Master should actively take ownership of resolving such organizational impediments.
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JA
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.