POPM Iteration Execution Practice Question
How should a Product Owner handle a situation where a team member is constantly pulling in work that was not part of the iteration plan?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often choose options where the Product Owner tries to handle the disruptive team member alone or tells them to stop, forgetting that process and plan adherence must involve the Scrum Master and the entire team.
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
✓
Discuss the impact on the iteration goal with the team and Scrum Master.
This behavior disrupts the team's focus and undermines the commitment made during Iteration Planning. The PO must address this with the team and the Scrum Master, as it indicates a lack of discipline or an misunderstanding of the team's goals. By enforcing the iteration plan, the PO ensures that the team completes their committed work and protects the integrity of the team's sprint cycle.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Let them continue if it adds value to the product.
Why it's wrong here
Even if individual tasks add value, they disrupt the system-wide flow and the team's commitment. Agile focuses on the team's goals, not individual output. Allowing this behavior undermines the collaborative nature of the team and makes it impossible to predict the team's capacity or finish the committed work.
- ✓
Discuss the impact on the iteration goal with the team and Scrum Master.
Why this is correct
Addressing the behavior as a team issue is the most effective approach. It highlights the impact on the group's success and holds the individual accountable to the team's agreement. The Scrum Master can then facilitate the necessary change in behavior to ensure everyone stays focused on the goal.
- ✗
Document the additional work to show they are a high-performing employee.
Why it's wrong here
Encouraging rogue work rewards individual effort over team success. High performance in SAFe is measured by the team's ability to achieve the Iteration Goal and provide consistent value. Rewarding individual behavior that violates the team's plan creates silos and discourages the collaborative mindset required for successful Agile delivery.
- ✗
Reward the team member for their initiative and proactive behavior.
Why it's wrong here
Initiative is good, but when it ignores the team's plan, it causes chaos. The PO should redirect this energy into the existing backlog. Rewarding behavior that undermines the plan sends the wrong message to the rest of the team and erodes the team's ability to operate as a unit.
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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.