PMP · Question #991
During a planning session, the development team and the product owner are arguing about the effort needed to deliver a specific feature in a software development project. The product owner says that…
The correct answer is B. Educate the product owner that the project team members are the most appropriate group for. The development team and product owner disagree on effort estimates for a feature, creating an impasse in planning.
Question
During a planning session, the development team and the product owner are arguing about the effort needed to deliver a specific feature in a software development project. The product owner says that the feature can be developed in one week, whereas the team estimates that it will take at least two weeks. After several hours of discussion, they have not reached an agreement. What should the project lead do?
Options
- ADecide what should be the time estimate and proceed with the planning meeting.
- BEducate the product owner that the project team members are the most appropriate group for
- CAsk the project team to accept the shorter estimate as it is important to keep a good relationship
- DCommunicate to the stakeholders that the project has to be delayed for two weeks.
How the community answered
(57 responses)- A14% (8)
- B75% (43)
- C4% (2)
- D7% (4)
Why each option
The development team and product owner disagree on effort estimates for a feature, creating an impasse in planning.
Deciding the estimate without the team's consensus undermines team autonomy and commitment, likely leading to unrealistic expectations and potential project failure.
In agile and team-centric methodologies, the development team is the primary authority for estimating work effort, as they possess the technical expertise and will be executing the tasks. The project lead should educate the product owner on this principle, reinforcing the team's ownership and ensuring realistic, achievable project plans.
Forcing the team to accept an unrealistic estimate demoralizes them, compromises work quality, and sets the project up for failure.
Prematurely communicating a project delay without resolving the estimation disagreement or exploring solutions is reactive and doesn't address the root cause of the conflict.
Concept tested: Team estimation authority in agile
Source: https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-scrum/scrum-team/development-team
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Samuel O.Nov 18, 2025B is correct. In my experience running projects, the team doing the work owns the estimate, and the PM needs to back them on that so the product owner understands the process instead of just pushing for a deadline that will burn everyone out.
Lena V.Nov 18, 2025Agreed on B, but the exam also wants you to catch that the PM facilitates the conversation rather than owns it, so the team estimates and the PO negotiates scope, not time.
Lena V.Nov 23, 2025B is correct. The team owns the estimates, not the PO. Does the PMP always side with the team on effort estimates?
Mateus R.Nov 19, 2025Think of it like asking your mechanic how long a brake job will take, the guy paying the bill might want it in an hour, but the fellow actually under the hood knows the real effort involved. The team doing the work is always the right bunch to size it, which is why B is the correct choice here. The product owner can prioritize what gets built, but they do not get to dictate how long the building takes. Does anyone know if the PMP exam still treats story points and ideal hours differently on these estimation questions?
Viktor S.Nov 12, 2025D. If the team says two weeks, that is the reality, communicate it.
Lena V.Nov 13, 2025B is correct. The exam tests whether you push back and negotiate scope or resources, not whether you just relay an estimate the sponsor will not accept.