PMP · Question #1196
An organization is undergoing an agile transformation. The executive leadership team is concerned that they will lose control over the scope of the project. What should the project manager, who is res
The correct answer is D. Propose a governance model that empowers the teams while providing the necessary oversight. To address executive concerns about losing scope control during an agile transformation, the project manager should propose a new governance model that balances team empowerment with appropriate oversight.
Question
An organization is undergoing an agile transformation. The executive leadership team is concerned that they will lose control over the scope of the project. What should the project manager, who is responsible for this project, do to mitigate this risk?
Options
- APropose a multilayered gate system based on risks and financial expenditures, involving the
- BAssure the executive leadership team that the current governance model will not be affected by
- CEnsure that the executive leadership team approves all scope that is being proposed by the
- DPropose a governance model that empowers the teams while providing the necessary oversight
How the community answered
(55 responses)- A15% (8)
- B5% (3)
- C4% (2)
- D76% (42)
Why each option
To address executive concerns about losing scope control during an agile transformation, the project manager should propose a new governance model that balances team empowerment with appropriate oversight.
While a gate system can provide oversight, focusing solely on risks and financial expenditures might be too rigid for an agile environment and doesn't fully address the scope control concern comprehensively.
Assuring them the current governance model won't be affected is misleading and likely false in a true agile transformation, as agile principles require shifts in governance.
Requiring executive approval for all proposed scope undermines agile principles of rapid iteration and team autonomy in managing the product backlog, leading to bottlenecks and slowing down delivery.
Agile transformations often shift control from centralized management to empowered, self-organizing teams, which can alarm traditional leadership. The project manager should propose a new governance model that clearly defines how strategic alignment, value delivery, and significant scope changes will be overseen by leadership without micromanaging the team's day-to-day work, balancing autonomy and control.
Concept tested: Agile governance and organizational change management
Source: https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/agile-governance/
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Wesley A.Dec 6, 2025D is the answer. First time around I picked C because it sounded like it would reassure leadership, but that just kills the whole point of agile. The trick is balancing team empowerment with the oversight executives need, which is exactly what D does.
Yusuf A.Nov 21, 2025D is the answer here. One of the senior PMs at my org showed me that agile transformations are really about finding that balance between team empowerment and leadership oversight, not replacing one with the other. Does anyone know if the exam tends to frame governance models as something the PM proposes upfront or something that evolves iteratively with the team?
Bao N.Nov 23, 2025D is right but the exam frames governance as proposed by the PM upfront in the initiating phase, not evolved iteratively, even though real agile would do it the other way.
Bao N.Dec 20, 2025D is the right call here. The agile shift means leadership needs visibility without micromanaging every scope decision, so a governance model that balances team empowerment with executive oversight is exactly what they are looking for.
Grace U.Dec 13, 2025D balances team empowerment with the oversight leadership needs. How do you see governance shifting in agile versus traditional projects?
Yusuf A.Dec 14, 2025Agreed on D, and to your question, my team lead showed me that agile governance shifts from gate reviews to built in guardrails like Definition of Done and automated compliance checks, though I have noticed the risk is that without someone owning the governance view across sprints, things still slip through.