POPM PI Execution Practice Question
During the third iteration of a Program Increment, a Product Owner notices that a critical enabler planned to support an upcoming feature has not been started because the team focused on delivering committed user stories. The enabler is now at risk of delaying the feature by two iterations. What is the most effective action for the Product Owner to take?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that enablers are not part of the team backlog or that they can only be addressed during PI Planning.
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
✓
Reprioritize the team backlog to schedule the enabler in the next iteration by deferring lower-value user stories.
The correct action is to reprioritize the team backlog to include the enabler, because enablers are essential to sustain velocity and deliver future features. By deferring lower-value items, the Product Owner ensures the architectural runway is extended without waiting for the next PI. This maintains alignment with PI objectives and minimizes delivery risk.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ask the System Architect to implement the enabler directly, bypassing the team backlog.
Why it's wrong here
Bypassing the team backlog undermines the team's ownership and flow. The System Architect may provide guidance, but implementation should be planned and prioritized like any other work. This action creates confusion and may disrupt the team's cadence and capacity planning.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the Release Train Engineer and request that the enabler be reassigned to another team.
Why it's wrong here
Escalation may be necessary if the enabler requires skills outside the team, but reassigning work without first adjusting the team's own backlog abdicates the PO's responsibility for prioritization. The RTE facilitates flow but does not own team backlog decisions. This action bypasses a simpler, effective solution.
- ✓
Reprioritize the team backlog to schedule the enabler in the next iteration by deferring lower-value user stories.
Why this is correct
Enablers are backlog items that extend the architectural runway and must be prioritized like any other work. Deferring lower-value stories to pull in the enabler protects the feature's delivery and maintains the PI objectives. This is a proactive backlog management action within the PO's authority.
- ✗
Wait until the next PI Planning to include the enabler in the team's PI objectives.
Why it's wrong here
Waiting until the next PI Planning would likely cause the feature to miss its planned delivery, as the enabler would not be addressed in the current PI. PI Planning is not the only time to adjust priorities; the PO can and should reprioritize during execution to address emerging risks.
About these practice questions
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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.