Project Management Professional (PMP)® Examination Content OutlineProcessMedium
A project manager is overseeing a software development project using an agile approach. The product owner frequently adds new features to the product backlog based on evolving market demands, leading to a continuously growing backlog. The development team is becoming demotivated due to the perceived endless work. What should the project manager do to address this situation?
- AInstruct the product owner to stop adding new features to the backlog until the current sprint is completed.
- BEscalate the issue to senior management, highlighting the product owner's inability to manage the backlog.
- CPrioritize the existing backlog with the product owner and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with project goals.
- DIncrease the team's velocity by assigning more tasks to each team member to handle the expanding backlog.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Prioritize the existing backlog with the product owner and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with project goals.
In an agile environment, the product backlog is dynamic. The project manager, in collaboration with the product owner and stakeholders, should prioritize the backlog to ensure the most valuable features are developed, managing expectations and preventing team burnout.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is overly restrictive and contradicts the agile principle of responding to change. It may also lead to stakeholder dissatisfaction.
- B. Escalation should be a last resort. The project manager should first attempt to resolve the issue through collaboration and process improvement within the project team.
- D. Increasing individual workload is likely to decrease quality, increase stress, and further demotivate the team, rather than solve the root cause.
Product Backlog Prioritization
The process of ordering items in the product backlog based on value, risk, dependencies, and urgency to ensure the most important work is done first.
- A continuous activity in agile projects.
- Involves the Product Owner, development team, and stakeholders.
- Helps manage scope, expectations, and team focus.
Memory trick: Backlog grows tall, prioritize it all, or the team will fall.