Answering: “What happens if the Scrum Team cannot complete its work by the end of the Sprint?” (PSM I)

The Sprint length stays the same, and the Scrum Team learns from the shortfall and adapts. A Sprint never gets extended to fit unfinished work.

Exam Question

What happens if the Scrum Team cannot complete its work by the end of the Sprint? (choose the best answer)

• A. The Sprint is extended temporarily. Lessons are taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
• B. The Sprint is extended and future Sprints use this new duration.
• C. The Sprint length is unchanged and the Scrum Team continuously learns and adapts.

Correct Answer

C. The Sprint length is unchanged and the Scrum Team continuously learns and adapts.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

The Scrum Guide says Sprints are “fixed length events of one month or less to create consistency.” A fixed timebox forces regular inspection and keeps the empirical cycle predictable. If the team does not finish everything, the unfinished Product Backlog items go back to the Product Backlog for the Product Owner to reconsider. At the Sprint Review the team shows what was done, and at the Sprint Retrospective it looks at why the forecast was off and what to change. Extending the Sprint would hide the problem and delay feedback, which is exactly what the timebox is meant to prevent.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. The Sprint is extended temporarily, with lessons learned. Extending even once breaks the timebox and delays inspection. Lessons should come from the Retrospective, not from moving the end date.

B. The Sprint is extended and future Sprints use the new length. Changing length because of unfinished work treats a symptom. Sprint length should be chosen for learning and risk, not to absorb overruns.

Exam Tip

Timeboxes in Scrum are maximums that do not stretch. When an option says “extend the Sprint”, rule it out.

Key Takeaways

• Sprint length is fixed and is not extended for unfinished work.
• Unfinished items return to the Product Backlog.
• The Retrospective is where the team learns from the shortfall.