PMI-ACP Practice Questions #2
During sprint planning, the team identified fewer ready and prioritized items than usual, leaving some capacity unallocated. It was hoped that additional work would become visible during the sprint, but this did not happen. A team member expressed dissatisfaction about being underutilized during the sprint.
What should the Agile practitioner do?
A. Ask the team if they can identify additional project work where the team member can contribute.
B. Request human resources to temporarily transfer the team member to a different team for the sprint.
C. Meet with the team member to evaluate their skills and commitment to the project work.
D. Empower the team member to choose their own tasks to make better use of their time.
Analysis
The scenario presents a situation where:
- The team planned with fewer ready and prioritized items, leading to unallocated capacity.
- It was expected that additional work would arise during the sprint, but it did not.
- A team member is dissatisfied with being underutilized.
The Agile practitioner needs to address both the lack of work and the team member’s dissatisfaction in a way that aligns with Agile principles. The best approach is to engage the team in a collaborative discussion to determine additional work that benefits the project and maximizes team efficiency. The goal is to promote collective ownership and empowerment rather than making isolated decisions or transferring team members unnecessarily.
Analysis of Options
A: Ask the team if they can identify additional project work where the team member can contribute.
This is a good option because it encourages team collaboration and ensures that the work is aligned with the project’s needs. Instead of making an individual decision, the Agile practitioner engages the team, fostering a sense of ownership and shared responsibility. It also maintains team stability while making the best use of available capacity.
B: Request human resources to temporarily transfer the team member to a different team for the sprint.
This is not a good option in Agile environments. Moving a team member in and out of a team disrupts team dynamics, collaboration, and efficiency. Agile assumes stable, self-organizing teams, and transferring a team member due to temporary underutilization contradicts this principle. Agile teams should focus on adjusting within themselves rather than seeking external solutions.
C: Meet with the team member to evaluate their skills and commitment to the project work.
While one-on-one discussions can be useful, evaluating skills and commitment is irrelevant in this context. The team member’s dissatisfaction stems from being underutilized, not from a lack of skills or engagement. This approach misdiagnoses the problem and may come across as questioning the team member’s competence rather than addressing the real issue.
D: Empower the team member to choose their own tasks to make better use of their time.
This option promotes individual empowerment, which is beneficial, but it lacks team-level collaboration. Allowing a team member to choose tasks independently might not align with the overall sprint goals. Agile encourages team decision-making rather than individual decisions about workload allocation. While autonomy is important, it should be exercised within a team-driven framework.
Conclusion
The best choice is Option A: Ask the team if they can identify additional project work where the team member can contribute.
This approach ensures that the team collectively decides how to utilize their available capacity, reinforcing teamwork, collaboration, and shared ownership. It also aligns with Agile leadership principles, where the team is empowered as a whole rather than making isolated decisions for individuals.
PMI – ACP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
| Leadership | Empower Teams |
Topics Covered:
- Establish an environment of trust.
- Promote collective ownership of goals.
- Empower teams through collaboration.
- Facilitate workload balancing within the team.
- Encourage self-organization and shared decision-making.
- Maintain team stability and efficiency.
If you’re preparing for the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® Exam, we highly recommend enrolling in our PMI-ACP® Exam Prep Program. Designed to provide a comprehensive Agile learning experience, this program not only helps you ace the PMI-ACP® exam but also enhances your Agile mindset, leadership skills, and ability to deliver value-driven projects. Ensure exam success and career growth with our expert-led, structured preparation program tailored for Agile professionals.
