CAPM Practice Exam Question

During the middle of an Agile project, the Product Owner realizes that a key feature, initially deemed low priority, needs to be delivered much sooner due to a sudden change in market conditions. The feature is complex and requires significant effort from the development team. The team is already halfway through the current sprint, working on other prioritized items. What is the best course of action for the Product Owner to take?

A) Immediately stop the current sprint and start a new sprint focused on the key feature

B) Add the key feature to the current sprint backlog and ask the team to reprioritize their work

C) Continue with the current sprint and reprioritize the key feature for the next sprint

D) Discuss the situation with the Scrum Master and Development Team to assess the impact and possibly re-negotiate the sprint goals

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Best Answer: D) Discuss the situation with the Scrum Master and Development Team to assess the impact and possibly re-negotiate the sprint goals

Detailed Explanation:

• D) Discuss the situation with the Scrum Master and Development Team to assess the impact and possibly re-negotiate the sprint goals is the correct answer because Agile emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and responsiveness to change. The Product Owner should first discuss the change with the Scrum Master and Development Team to fully understand the impact of introducing the key feature mid-sprint. The team can then assess whether it's feasible to re-negotiate the sprint goals or if the feature should be prioritized for the next sprint. This approach ensures that all stakeholders are aligned and that the impact on the current sprint’s delivery is fully understood.
• A) Immediately stop the current sprint and start a new sprint focused on the key feature is incorrect because stopping a sprint prematurely is generally discouraged in Agile. Sprints are time-boxed iterations designed to deliver a potentially shippable product increment. Abruptly stopping a sprint can disrupt the team’s flow and undermine the rhythm and discipline of the Agile process. Instead, the team should assess the situation and determine if the feature can be incorporated without stopping the sprint.
• B) Add the key feature to the current sprint backlog and ask the team to reprioritize their work is incorrect because adding new work to an ongoing sprint without proper assessment can overburden the team and jeopardize the completion of the originally committed sprint backlog items. The team may not have the capacity to accommodate the new feature, and this could lead to incomplete work or a lower-quality product increment. Any changes to the sprint backlog should be carefully considered and agreed upon by the team.
• C) Continue with the current sprint and reprioritize the key feature for the next sprint is incorrect because while it’s essential to avoid disruption, this option doesn’t fully address the urgency of the situation. If the key feature is critical due to a sudden market change, waiting until the next sprint might not be the best course of action. However, this could be a valid option if the team determines that adding the feature mid-sprint would be too disruptive.

In summary, discussing the situation with the Scrum Master and Development Team to assess the impact and possibly re-negotiate the sprint goals is the best approach. It aligns with Agile principles of collaboration and flexibility, ensuring that the decision is made with full awareness of its impact on the sprint and the project’s overall goals. The other options either prematurely disrupt the sprint or fail to fully consider the implications of introducing a new, high-priority feature mid-sprint.