POPM Iteration Execution Practice Question
Exhibit
Team Velocity (Last 4 iterations): I1: 30 I2: 28 I3: 32 I4: 15 Notes: Team had significant turnover in I4.
Refer to the exhibit. How should the PO interpret this drop in velocity for future planning?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often suggest blindly applying the new lower velocity to future PI planning without discussing the root cause or potential for recovery with the team members.
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 with the team and adjust the capacity plan accordingly.
The drop in velocity is clearly correlated with a systemic change (team turnover). The PO should not treat this as a permanent reduction but as a period of adjustment. Planning for the next PI should factor in the historical trend while acknowledging the new team composition. The PO should facilitate a discussion with the team to understand the impact of the turnover before making assumptions about future capacity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Permanently lower the team's capacity for all future iterations.
Why it's wrong here
Permanently adjusting for a temporary disruption like turnover is an overreaction. The team will likely regain productivity as new members onboard. The PO should analyze trends over a longer period and collaborate with the team to determine their true sustainable velocity after the stabilization of the new team.
- ✗
Ignore the I4 data as an anomaly and use the average of I1-I3.
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring data points is dangerous in Agile planning. The turnover represents a real constraint that impacts the team's immediate capacity. While it may not reflect the long-term potential, failing to account for the impact of team changes leads to over-committing, which can cause significant stress and failure.
- ✓
Discuss the impact with the team and adjust the capacity plan accordingly.
Why this is correct
The PO must involve the team in understanding the root cause of the velocity dip. This collaborative approach allows for an informed decision on capacity planning for the next PI, acknowledging the transition while preparing for a return to higher productivity as the team integrates new members.
- ✗
Request the Scrum Master to force the team to return to a velocity of 30.
Why it's wrong here
Forcing velocity is a major anti-pattern that creates artificial, unreliable metrics. Agile teams should be allowed to stabilize their velocity organically through continuous improvement and collaboration. Dictating velocity destroys trust and encourages teams to inflate estimates, which ultimately masks real issues rather than solving the underlying team dynamics.
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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.