PMP · Question #577
A project is starting its sixth iteration out seven. During the daily meeting, a team member explains that a key function will take longer to complete than originally anticipated. What should the…
The correct answer is D. Review the options and possible solutions with the project team. When a key project function is delayed late in an iteration, the project manager should immediately collaborate with the team to explore solutions.
Question
A project is starting its sixth iteration out seven. During the daily meeting, a team member explains that a key function will take longer to complete than originally anticipated. What should the project manager do?
Options
- AAsk for help to increase the team capacity to deliver on time.
- BAsk for a project extension to deliver the committed scope.
- CUpdate the issue log and escalate the problem to the project sponsor.
- DReview the options and possible solutions with the project team.
How the community answered
(61 responses)- A3% (2)
- B7% (4)
- C16% (10)
- D74% (45)
Why each option
When a key project function is delayed late in an iteration, the project manager should immediately collaborate with the team to explore solutions.
Asking for help to increase capacity might be a solution, but it's premature before understanding all options with the existing team.
Asking for a project extension is a drastic measure and should only be considered after exploring internal solutions and understanding the full impact.
Updating the issue log is necessary, but escalating to the sponsor immediately without first attempting to resolve it with the team bypasses the team's problem-solving capabilities.
The project manager's role is to facilitate problem-solving within the team, especially when a significant delay is identified; reviewing options and possible solutions with the team leverages their expertise and fosters collective ownership of the outcome before escalating or seeking external help.
Concept tested: Agile problem-solving and team empowerment
Topics
Community Discussion
8
Prof. SaraMar 4, 2026D is correct because in an Agile environment the PM empowers the self-organizing team to collaborate on solutions rather than escalating or throwing resources at the problem. Think of the mnemonic SOS: Servant leader, Options first, Self-organizing team, which maps to the PMP Agile mindset in Domain III.
Carlos M.Mar 5, 2026Agreed on D but honestly you can skip the mnemonic, the giveaway is just recognizing that servant leadership and self-organizing teams are the Agile default for anything in Domain III.
Carlos M.Feb 23, 2026D is the right call here. In agile you dont immediately run to the sponsor or ask for an extension when a story takes longer, you collaborate with the team to figure out the best path forward. C is tempting because it sounds like proper PM procedure but escalating at iteration five of seven without first exploring options with the team is premature and not how agile works. The team owns the solution here, so review alternatives with them first.
Ingrid P.Feb 26, 2026Agreed on D, and the keyword that should trigger this card is escalate - if you see it in an agile stem before team collaboration has happened, cross it off.
Olusegun A.Mar 26, 2026D. Saw this on my exam in March, almost jumped to C because the word escalate sounds decisive, but in an adaptive environment you take the problem back to the team first and collaborate on a solution.
Ingrid P.Mar 10, 2026D is correct because in an agile environment the team owns the solution and the project manager facilitates rather than directs. At iteration six of seven you are deep in delivery territory, so the right move is collaborative problem solving with the people doing the work. Options A and B jump to scope or capacity changes without first exploring whether the team can replan, reprioritize, or negotiate scope with the product owner. C is premature escalation because an anticipated delay discussed at the daily meeting is a planning input, not yet a formal issue requiring sponsor involvement. Worth a flashcard on this one. Front: key
Hiroshi T.Mar 11, 2026Agree on D, but worth noting the PMBOK Guide 7th Edition frames this as the team adapting its approach within the iteration boundary first, and only escalating to the sponsor if the committed iteration goal itself is at risk, which is the distinction that keeps C wrong rather than just premature.
Hiroshi T.Feb 18, 2026D is correct per the Agile Practice Guide, section on servant leadership: the project manager facilitates the team in finding solutions rather than dictating scope or timeline changes unilaterally. Iteration six of seven leaves limited room, but would the answer change if this were a predictive lifecycle instead of adaptive?