PMP · Question #361
A product owner presented the backlog to the team, and the team raised concerns over implementing some of the features due to various impediments. What should the project manager suggest that the prod
The correct answer is A. Ensure that the impediments are captured and prioritized based upon the highest valued features. The project manager should advise the product owner to capture impediments and prioritize their resolution based on the value of the features they are blocking, ensuring focus on high-priority items.
Question
A product owner presented the backlog to the team, and the team raised concerns over implementing some of the features due to various impediments. What should the project manager suggest that the product owner do next?
Options
- AEnsure that the impediments are captured and prioritized based upon the highest valued features
- BEstimate the financial impact of the impediments and request additional funding
- CBegin to remove the impediments, starting with the easiest ones first, to foster team
- DCapture the impediments and inform management that their assistance is needed in resolving the
How the community answered
(33 responses)- A73% (24)
- B3% (1)
- C15% (5)
- D9% (3)
Why each option
The project manager should advise the product owner to capture impediments and prioritize their resolution based on the value of the features they are blocking, ensuring focus on high-priority items.
When a team encounters impediments, the product owner (often with PM support) should ensure these obstacles are captured and then prioritize their removal based on which impediments are blocking the highest-value features or user stories. This aligns with agile principles of delivering value and unblocking the team's progress on critical items.
While financial impact might be part of a broader analysis, the immediate next step isn't solely to estimate cost and request funding, especially if the impediments can be resolved through other means.
Starting with the easiest impediments first, regardless of the value of the features they block, might not align with delivering the most important value to the customer in an agile context.
Inform ing management is a possible step for significant impediments, but the immediate action should involve understanding and prioritizing the impediments within the team's and product owner's purview first, before escalating.
Concept tested: Impediment management and prioritization in agile
Source: https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-scrum
Topics
Community Discussion
4
Orla P.Feb 24, 2026A is the right call here. The product owner owns backlog value, so the move is to capture the impediments and prioritize around the highest-valued features so the team knows what matters most. B is wrong because impediments are not a funding problem, and D just punts the issue to management when the PO should be driving. C is the scrum master's job, not the product owner's, since impediment removal is a servant-leadership task.
Brenda K.Mar 16, 2026Leaned C first but PO owns value, so capture and prioritize by highest value.
Toby R.Mar 10, 2026B is the move here. If the impediments are serious enough to block features, you need hard numbers on the financial exposure before going to leadership for funding, and the product owner is the right person to drive that conversation.
Brenda K.Mar 12, 2026A is correct, and its a quick win you should bank in under 20 seconds. The PO owns backlog priority, so when impediments threaten features, clearing the path for the team is squarely their responsibility, no financial study required.