PMP · Question #669
A key project team member is out on sick leave in the middle of a critical project iteration. The project sponsor learns that any delay with the end-of-iteration release will displease the business st
The correct answer is B. Discuss this with the team so they are able to reprioritize critical tasks and aim for the release. When a critical team member is unavailable and all others are at capacity, the project manager should discuss with the team to reprioritize tasks and ensure the most critical items for the release are still met.
Question
A key project team member is out on sick leave in the middle of a critical project iteration. The project sponsor learns that any delay with the end-of-iteration release will displease the business stakeholders. Although all team members are cross-functional, they are also working close to full capacity. What should the project manager do to address this situation?
Options
- ADiscuss this with the team so they can complete the work of the unavailable team member and
- BDiscuss this with the team so they are able to reprioritize critical tasks and aim for the release
- CDiscuss this with the sponsor and hold a meeting with the stakeholders so all of the team
- DDiscuss the issues with the sponsor to fully convey the problem of the unavailable resource and
How the community answered
(33 responses)- A24% (8)
- B58% (19)
- C6% (2)
- D12% (4)
Why each option
When a critical team member is unavailable and all others are at capacity, the project manager should discuss with the team to reprioritize tasks and ensure the most critical items for the release are still met.
Simply asking the team to complete the unavailable member's work on top of their full capacity without reprioritization or adjustment is likely to lead to burnout, missed deadlines, and reduced quality.
When a key team member is absent during a critical iteration, and the team is at capacity but cross-functional, the project manager's primary action should be to discuss with the team to reprioritize tasks. This collaborative approach allows the team to identify the most critical deliverables for the iteration release and adjust the scope or focus to meet the essential objectives, leveraging their collective expertise and capacity.
Immediately involving the sponsor and stakeholders without first working with the team to explore internal solutions or reprioritization is an premature escalation that bypasses the team's problem-solving capabilities.
While informing the sponsor is important, simply conveying the problem without offering potential solutions or having first engaged the team in problem-solving is insufficient; the project manager should bring potential solutions to the sponsor.
Concept tested: Agile team self-organization and prioritization
Source: https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-scrum
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Wesley A.Feb 6, 2026B is correct, confirmed on my pass this week. I actually went with C on my first attempt and it cost me because escalating to the sponsor before letting the team self-organize is exactly what the exam wants you to avoid in an agile context. The key here is that the team is cross-functional, so the PM should facilitate a discussion where the team reprioritizes the critical work and aims for the release with whatever scope they can realistically deliver. D is the trap I see a lot of people fall into because the sponsor sounds like the authority figure, but the PM should never just throw
Fatima Z.Jan 22, 2026Going with C here. When the sponsor is spooked about stakeholder backlash, you do not just reshuffle tasks behind closed doors - you bring the sponsor and stakeholders together with the team so everyone sees the real capacity picture. My sticky hook: S-O-S, Sponsor Out Sick, means get everyone in a room and be transparent.
Brenda K.Jan 22, 2026B is correct because schedule compression techniques like fast tracking and crashing are the PMBOK answer when you need to shorten the timeline without cutting scope. Fatima is burning the clock on a question that is really just asking you to identify the tool, not facilitate a therapy session.
Brenda K.Jan 26, 2026Leaned A first but team is near full capacity so reprioritize and aim for release, that is B.
Wesley A.Jan 29, 2026B is right but watch the wording, if they swap "near full capacity" for "over capacity" the answer flips to A because you cant reprioritize your way out of a hard constraint, learned that the hard way on my first attempt.