Project Management Professional (PMP) — Question 967

During a planning session, the development team and the product owner are arguing about the effort needed to deliver a specific feature in a software development project. The product owner says that the feature can be developed in one week, whereas the team estimates that it will take at least two weeks. After several hours of discussion, they have not reached an agreement.

What should the project lead do?

Answer options

• A. Decide what should be the time estimate and proceed with the planning meeting.
• B. Educate the product owner that the project team members are the most appropriate group for assessing the effort.
• C. Ask the project team to accept the shorter estimate as it is important to keep a good relationship with the product owner.
• D. Communicate to the stakeholders that the project has to be delayed for two weeks.

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is B because the project team has the expertise to accurately assess the effort required for the feature, and the product owner should be educated on this. Answer A is incorrect as it disregards the team's assessment and may lead to unrealistic expectations. Answer C compromises the team's integrity and could result in project issues later on, while answer D prematurely communicates a delay that might not be necessary if the team’s estimate is validated.