PMP · Question #346
The product owner decides to launch a product after a couple of releases, knowing that the minimum viable product (MVP) lacks some features. One of the key stakeholders, the marketing vice president,
The correct answer is A. Support the product owner's decision and seek better alignment with this stakeholder in order to. The project manager should support the product owner's decision to launch the MVP and work to achieve better alignment with the dissatisfied stakeholder.
Question
The product owner decides to launch a product after a couple of releases, knowing that the minimum viable product (MVP) lacks some features. One of the key stakeholders, the marketing vice president, is not happy with the results and questioned the release decision. What should the project manager do?
Options
- ASupport the product owner's decision and seek better alignment with this stakeholder in order to
- BCoach the team on the decision-making process, assuming a risk-averse strategy towards
- CAssume the responsibility for product releases, making the final call on when something is ready
- DEscalate the issue to the sponsor, questioning the authority of the key stakeholder regarding the
How the community answered
(25 responses)- A72% (18)
- B4% (1)
- C8% (2)
- D16% (4)
Why each option
The project manager should support the product owner's decision to launch the MVP and work to achieve better alignment with the dissatisfied stakeholder.
Supporting the product owner's decision reinforces their authority and accountability, while actively seeking better alignment with the marketing vice president helps manage stakeholder expectations and resolve conflict through improved communication and understanding.
Coaching the team on a risk-averse strategy contradicts the agile principle of incremental delivery and MVP, which often involves calculated risks and learning from early releases to gather feedback.
Assuming responsibility for product releases undermines the product owner's role and authority, which is essential for effective agile product management and team empowerment.
Escalating the issue to the sponsor questions the key stakeholder's authority, which can worsen the conflict and is not a constructive first step for a project manager in a supportive role.
Concept tested: Stakeholder management, product owner authority, conflict resolution
Source: https://www.pmi.org/disciplined-agile/agile-glossary/product-owner
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Wei W.Jul 4, 2026A is correct here. The product owner owns product decisions, including when an MVP is viable enough to release, so the PM's job is to support that authority while helping bridge the gap with the marketing VP. In agile environments we handle stakeholder concerns through collaboration and alignment, not by overriding the PO or escalating every disagreement. B undercuts the PO's authority by pushing risk aversion onto the team, C wrongly centralizes release authority in the PM role, and D turns a routine alignment issue into an unnecessary escalation.
Fatima Z.Jul 5, 2026Co-sign A, and to lock in who owns what, remember PARROT: Product owner owns Acceptance and Release, PM owns Routing stakeholder concerns and Team alignment, so when the marketing VP squawks, the PM builds the bridge without stealing the PO's perch.
Imani T.Jun 23, 2026A is right but that wording got chopped off. C is tempting but PM doesnt own releases.
Fatima Z.Jun 25, 2026C also trips people up because PM sounds like the boss of everything, but think PMO as the R in RACI for releases: Responsible for delivery, Accountable goes elsewhere.
Fatima Z.Jul 5, 2026Going with B here. Think C-O-A-C-H: Cultivate Ownership And Champion Health, meaning the PM builds the team's decision-making muscles instead of grabbing the steering wheel or running to the sponsor every time a VP grumbles.
Wei W.Jul 7, 2026A is the right call here. The stem is really pointing at servant leadership, where the PM clears obstacles and lets the team self-organize, rather than the PM building their own coaching muscles or owning the direction.