PMP · Question #167
During the sprint planning of a project, the team members have a disagreement about the comparative size of the backlog items and if they would fit into the next sprint. Considering a hybrid approach,
The correct answer is C. Facilitate the discussion so that the team members can reach a consensus.. As a facilitator in an agile or hybrid environment, the project manager should guide the team members through a discussion to help them achieve consensus on sizing backlog items and their fit for the sprint.
Question
During the sprint planning of a project, the team members have a disagreement about the comparative size of the backlog items and if they would fit into the next sprint. Considering a hybrid approach, what should the project manager do?
Options
- AAsk an external technical leader to provide input and plan the sprint.
- BRemove the items from the product backlog since the size couldn't be estimated.
- CFacilitate the discussion so that the team members can reach a consensus.
- DMake the decision about the backlog items based on what makes more sense.
How the community answered
(47 responses)- A4% (2)
- B2% (1)
- C85% (40)
- D9% (4)
Why each option
As a facilitator in an agile or hybrid environment, the project manager should guide the team members through a discussion to help them achieve consensus on sizing backlog items and their fit for the sprint.
Bringing in an external technical leader without first allowing the team to attempt to resolve the disagreement internally undermines the team's self-organization and problem-solving abilities.
Removing items from the backlog without team consensus or a thorough understanding of the reasons for disagreement is a premature and disruptive action that bypasses the planning process.
In agile sprint planning, the project manager acts as a facilitator, empowering the self-organizing team to collaboratively discuss, estimate, and reach consensus on backlog item sizing and sprint commitments, fostering ownership and shared understanding.
Making the decision independently as the project manager, rather than facilitating the team to reach consensus, goes against agile principles of team self-organization and shared commitment.
Concept tested: Agile facilitation and team self-organization
Topics
Community Discussion
8
Fatima Z.Jun 23, 2026C is your winner. Think F.A.C.E.: Facilitate, Agree, Consensus, Empower. The PM in agile or hybrid is a servant-leader who guides the team to consensus, not a dictator who decides for them.
Brenda K.Jun 26, 2026F.A.C.E. is a solid recall hook but watch your clock here because the servant-leader keyword in the stem makes this a 20-second pick, so bank the time for the earned value math questions later.
Brenda K.Jul 5, 2026C is the quick win, the PM facilitates not decides. Does planning poker ring a bell here?
Yuki V.Jul 8, 2026Yeah C is right, but planning poker is more of a sprint planning or estimating technique, not really the same as general facilitation where the PM just guides the discussion and lets the team own the decision.
Yusuf A.Jun 6, 2026Going with C. A is tempting because pulling in a senior tech lead sounds reasonable in a hybrid setup, but the PM's job is to facilitate, not hand off the decision, and D is wrong because the PM shouldn't be making the call for the team.
Fatima Z.Jun 9, 2026Spot on with C, Yusuf, and remember the handy filter PM-FACILITATES-NOT-DELEGATES to keep A from luring you in on exam day.
Samuel O.Jun 27, 2026I first leaned toward D because in my experience someone has to break the stalemate and keep things moving. But the key word is facilitate, not decide - the PM clears the path so the team owns the sizing and the consensus, which is exactly what the exam wants.
Yuki V.Jun 18, 2026Picked C on my exam last week. D is tempting because in a hybrid setup it feels like the PM should step in, but the PM facilitates the conversation rather than making the call for the team.