CSM Scrum Master Core Competencies Practice Question
During a Sprint Planning event, the Development Team realizes they cannot complete the forecast without understanding a complex third-party API integration. The Product Owner insists the item must remain in the Sprint Backlog. How should the Scrum Master facilitate this resolution?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often think the Scrum Master should force the Product Owner to remove the item or force the developers to work overtime to complete the unestimated scope.
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
✓
Facilitate a discussion to help the team and Product Owner adjust the Sprint Goal and forecast to include a spike for investigating the API.
The Scrum Master facilitates collaboration to align the Sprint Goal with realistic capacity while protecting the Product Owner's accountability for ordering the Product Backlog. Forcing unwanted items compromises sustainability, whereas removing the item or scaling back the forecast allows the team to commit with confidence. This ensures adherence to empirical process control and realistic delivery expectations without undermining trust between the roles.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Direct the Development Team to work overtime to investigate the third-party API and meet the original commitment without changes.
Why it's wrong here
Overtime undermines sustainable pacing and leads to burnout, which directly violates core agile principles focused on continuous delivery at a sustainable pace. The Scrum Master must protect the team from unrealistic demands rather than encouraging unsustainable work practices during the Sprint.
- ✗
Remove the Product Owner from the Sprint Planning meeting until they agree to reduce the scope of the disputed backlog item.
Why it's wrong here
Excluding the Product Owner damages vital collaboration and strips them of their accountability for backlog management and value optimization. The Scrum Master should foster negotiation rather than enforcing authoritarian measures that disrupt cross-functional partnership.
- ✓
Facilitate a discussion to help the team and Product Owner adjust the Sprint Goal and forecast to include a spike for investigating the API.
Why this is correct
Using a time-boxed spike directly addresses the technical uncertainty while empowering the team to re-forecast based on realistic capacity and knowledge gaps. This collaborative approach respects the Product Owner's backlog ordering rights and the Development Team's autonomy over their plan.
- ✗
unilaterally delete the ambiguous backlog item from the Product Backlog to eliminate technical risk for the upcoming Sprint.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting backlog items without the Product Owner's consent violates their exclusive authority over the content and prioritization of the Product Backlog. The Scrum Master acts as a coach and facilitator, not an authoritative decision-maker over product content.
About these practice questions
This CSM question is part of Courseiva's 312-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. 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.