POPM PI Execution Practice Question
Midway through a Program Increment, a Product Manager observes that the ART is consistently missing iteration goals due to unplanned work. The teams are spending significant time on production support and unanticipated defects. Which approach best addresses this systemic issue during PI Execution?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that unplanned work should be eliminated entirely, when SAFe advises planning for it by allocating capacity.
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
✓
Allocate a percentage of each iteration's capacity to unplanned work and adjust PI Objectives accordingly.
Unplanned work, such as production support and defects, erodes predictability. SAFe recommends that teams allocate a percentage of each iteration's capacity to handle it. By doing so and adjusting PI Objectives, the ART can maintain a sustainable pace, improve forecast reliability, and still deliver planned value. This systemic approach addresses the root cause rather than applying temporary fixes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Instruct the teams to work overtime to catch up on planned features.
Why it's wrong here
Overtime is not a sustainable solution and can lead to burnout and more defects. The Product Manager should address the root cause of unplanned work, such as technical debt or insufficient capacity allocation, rather than pushing teams harder. This approach does not improve predictability or quality in the long term.
- ✗
Direct the teams to ignore production support until the end of the PI.
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring production support can harm customers and lead to larger issues. SAFe emphasizes continuous delivery and addressing customer needs promptly. Deferring support work is unrealistic and can damage trust. The Product Manager should instead plan for unplanned work by allocating capacity and adjusting objectives.
- ✗
Ask the Release Train Engineer to reprioritize the program backlog to focus only on defects.
Why it's wrong here
Focusing solely on defects would neglect feature delivery and may not address the root cause of unplanned work. The Product Manager should balance planned features with unplanned work by adjusting capacity, not by abandoning the program backlog. This approach could also disrupt the ART's alignment with business goals.
- ✓
Allocate a percentage of each iteration's capacity to unplanned work and adjust PI Objectives accordingly.
Why this is correct
Unplanned work is inevitable, and SAFe recommends allocating capacity for it. By reserving a portion of each iteration's capacity, teams can handle production support and defects without derailing planned work. Adjusting PI Objectives to reflect this reality improves predictability and allows the ART to deliver value more reliably. This is a proactive, systemic fix.
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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.