CSM Scrum Team Roles and Accountabilities Practice Question
During a Sprint Planning event, the Developers realize they cannot deliver all selected Product Backlog items within the timebox due to a complex technical dependency. What is the most appropriate action for the Developers to take according to Scrum?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume the Scrum Master or Product Owner dictates the capacity changes, forgetting that the Developers alone manage their workload and must proactively renegotiate scope with the Product Owner.
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 Product Owner to renegotiate and adjust the scope of the Sprint Backlog until it fits the realistic capacity.
The Developers own the Sprint Backlog and are solely responsible for estimating their capacity and crafting the Sprint Goal. When they realize capacity is insufficient, they must collaborate with the Product Owner to adjust the scope of the Sprint Backlog before finalizing the plan, ensuring the Sprint Goal remains achievable without lowering quality standards or forcing unauthorized overtime.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Immediately appeal to management to extend the current Sprint duration to accommodate the newly discovered technical dependencies.
Why it's wrong here
Extending the Sprint duration compromises the empirical rhythm of Scrum and violates the timebox rule, which acts as a heartbeat for inspection and adaptation rather than a flexible deadline that shifts whenever unexpected technical complexity arises during the planning phase.
- ✗
Commit to all items anyway, intending to work mandatory overtime hours to ensure complete delivery by the end of the Sprint.
Why it's wrong here
Scrum forbids treating a Sprint Backlog as a fixed commitment delivered through overtime; the Developers should renegotiate scope with the Product Owner during Sprint Planning instead. Committing anyway is tempting because teams often equate Sprint Goals with guaranteed delivery, but Scrum replaces commitment with the Sprint Goal and forecast.
- ✓
Collaborate with the Product Owner to renegotiate and adjust the scope of the Sprint Backlog until it fits the realistic capacity.
Why this is correct
Collaborating with the Product Owner allows the Developers to re-evaluate the selected items and modify the Sprint Backlog so that the remaining work genuinely fits their actual capacity while still protecting the primary Sprint Goal.
- ✗
Ask the Scrum Master to unilaterally remove the problematic Product Backlog items without consulting the Product Owner.
Why it's wrong here
The Scrum Master lacks the authority to alter the Product Backlog or decide which items enter the Sprint, as managing, ordering, and negotiating the value of backlog items remains the exclusive accountability of the Product Owner.
About these practice questions
One of 312 original CSM practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 Scrum Alliance exam blueprint
This CSM practice question is part of Courseiva's free Scrum Alliance 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 CSM exam.