Answering: “The Developers find out during the Sprint that they are not likely to build everything they forecast. What would you expect a Product Owner to do?”

The Product Owner should work with the Developers to rework the selected Product Backlog items so the Sprint Goal can still be met. Cancelling the Sprint or changing the Sprint Goal is not the expected response.

Exam Question

The Developers find out during the Sprint that they are not likely to build everything they forecast. What would you expect a Product Owner to do? (choose the best answer)

• A. Cancel the Sprint.
• B. Change the Sprint Goal.
• C. Re-work the selected Product Backlog items with the Developers to meet the Sprint Goal.
• D. Skip Product Backlog refinement activities.
• E. Inform management that more Developers are needed.

Correct Answer

C. Re-work the selected Product Backlog items with the Developers to meet the Sprint Goal.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

The Sprint Backlog is a forecast, and forecasts can be wrong. The Scrum Guide says that if the work turns out different than expected, the Developers collaborate with the Product Owner to negotiate the scope of the Sprint Backlog without affecting the Sprint Goal. In practice, the Product Owner helps decide which items or parts of items matter most for the goal and which can wait. The Guide also says no changes are made during the Sprint that would endanger the Sprint Goal. Because the Sprint Goal is the commitment, the scope around it can flex while the purpose of the Sprint holds.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. Cancel the Sprint. A Sprint is cancelled only if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete. Falling short on the forecast is not a reason.

B. Change the Sprint Goal. The Sprint Goal is the commitment for the Sprint. Scope changes to protect it, not the other way around.

D. Skip Product Backlog refinement. Skipping refinement creates problems for future Sprints and does not help the current one.

E. Tell management more Developers are needed. Adding people rarely helps mid-Sprint and does not address the forecast. The team adapts scope instead.

Exam Tip

When the forecast is at risk, the Sprint Goal stays fixed and the scope flexes. Pick the option where the Product Owner and Developers renegotiate scope together.

Key Takeaways

• The Sprint Goal stays fixed; the scope flexes.
• The Product Owner and Developers renegotiate scope together.
• Missing the forecast is not a reason to cancel.