(Select 4) What are legitimate examples of management as an enabling function, rather than as top-down control?

Question

Options

• AAssigning backlog items to team members.
• BCommunicating the Solution Vision with the teams.
• CWorking with other departments to establish better communication among teams.
• DCreating work breakdown structures.
• EAssigning team members to handle external dependencies.
• FDeveloping skills and career paths for team members.
• GCreating an environment of mutual influence.

• A
  5% (3)
• B
  4% (2)
• C
  80% (45)
• E
  11% (6)

Explanation

Management "enables" when it removes obstacles, develops people, and creates conditions for teams to succeed - rather than dictating who does what. Options C, F, and G are clear examples: working across departments to unblock teams (C), investing in people's growth (F), and building a collaborative culture of shared influence (G) all empower teams without controlling them. D (creating WBS) qualifies because providing a work breakdown structure gives teams clarity on scope and structure - enabling informed self-organization - unlike assigning specific tasks to specific people.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A (assigning backlog items) is micromanagement - in agile, teams pull their own work; management directing who does what is classic top-down control.
• B (communicating Solution Vision) is more of a directive/informational act than an enabling one; it's also typically the role of Product Management, not line managers enabling teams.
• E (assigning members to handle dependencies) is the same pattern as A - dictating individual responsibilities rather than letting the team self-organize around dependencies.

Memory tip: Think "CDFG = Create Conditions, Don't Force Grip." Management enables by creating conditions (communication channels, skill development, empowering culture, work clarity) rather than forcing a grip on who does what specific task. If the answer involves assigning a person to a task, it's control - not enabling.

No community discussion yet for this question.