POPM PI Execution Practice Question
During the final iteration of a PI, a Product Owner discovers that a critical dependency with another team will not be resolved in time, jeopardizing a PI Objective. What is the most effective immediate action for the Product Owner to take?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that the PO should either wait for a formal event or unilaterally redirect the team, rather than engaging in immediate cross-team collaboration.
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
✓
Collaborate with the other team's Product Owner and the Release Train Engineer to find a resolution.
When a critical dependency threatens a PI Objective, the Product Owner should immediately collaborate with the other team's PO and the Release Train Engineer. This leverages program-level coordination to find solutions such as re-sequencing, swarming, or scope adjustment. Waiting, unilateral action, or premature objective updates are less effective and can exacerbate the problem.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Update the PI Objective to reflect that it will not be met.
Why it's wrong here
Updating the PI Objective to reflect failure is a last resort after all avenues have been explored. It does not resolve the dependency and may prematurely signal failure. The PO should first attempt to resolve the issue with the other team and the RTE. Only if resolution is impossible should the objective be adjusted, and that should be done transparently with stakeholders.
- ✗
Wait until the Inspect and Adapt event to raise the issue.
Why it's wrong here
Waiting until Inspect and Adapt (I&A) is too late; the PI is ending, and the objective may be missed. The I&A is for problem-solving and retrospective analysis, not for real-time issue resolution. The PO should address the dependency immediately to try to salvage the objective or adjust expectations with stakeholders, rather than deferring to a later event.
- ✗
Instruct the team to drop all other work and focus solely on the dependency.
Why it's wrong here
Unilaterally redirecting the team ignores other commitments and may cause additional risks. The PO should not make such a decision without consulting the team and other stakeholders. This could also violate the team's self-organization and lead to further dependencies being missed. A more balanced, collaborative approach is needed.
- ✓
Collaborate with the other team's Product Owner and the Release Train Engineer to find a resolution.
Why this is correct
The most effective immediate action is to engage the other team's PO and the RTE. The RTE facilitates cross-team coordination and can help remove impediments. Working together, they can explore options such as re-sequencing work, swarming, or adjusting scope. This collaborative approach aligns with SAFe's emphasis on relentless improvement and program-level problem-solving during PI execution.
Visual reference
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Scaled Agile exam blueprint
This POPM practice question is part of Courseiva's free Scaled Agile 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 POPM exam.