At a daily standup on the second day of the sprint, the product owner asks one of the developers to add more functionality to a product backlog item that was committed to in the sprint planning. The product owner explains that the change is based on a discussion they had with a user, is critical, and should be delivered in the next release.
What should the project manager do?
When a product owner requests additional functionality during a sprint, the first step should be to assess the impact of the change on the current sprint's commitments. Organizing a workshop after the standup allows the team to discuss the proposed functionality and evaluate its impact on the current sprint's goals and overall project. This collaborative discussion ensures informed decision-making, promotes transparency, and respects the agile framework's emphasis on maintaining focus and stability during a sprint.
TBH, the question was phrased is an ambiguous way. I think the trick here is the word: "Next Release". As this is only required in the next release (not the current release), Product owner have time to add new items in the product back-log, re-prioritise, and include in the "Next Iteration Planning"
By convening a workshop, the team can discuss the implications of accommodating the requested change in the ongoing sprint versus scheduling it for a subsequent sprint.
Should be B. Assess the impact is the first thing to do.
Why not B? Asses the impact and then decide if its really required in this sprint or can get moved to next?
B. Organize a workshop after the standup to assess the impact Organizing a workshop after the standup to assess the impact allows the team to understand the implications of the requested change on the current sprint and overall project, ensuring informed decision-making.
You do not just immediately dive into adding and or changing the backlog with the product owner. You first before adding or modifying any item in the product backlog, you need to understand where the change or request is coming from and why it is needed. Is it a feedback from the users, a new requirement from the client, a technical debt, a regulatory change, or a market opportunity? What is the problem or the goal that the change or request is trying to solve or achieve? How does it relate to the product vision and the business value? By asking these questions, you can assess the relevance and the urgency of the change or request, and communicate with the stakeholders and the customers effectively.
D. Create a new product backlog item for the next sprint planning. Explanation: Changes to the product backlog should generally be considered for the next sprint planning rather than altering the commitment of the current sprint. Adding new functionality or changes during a sprint can disrupt the team's focus and commitment to the items selected during sprint planning. Creating a new product backlog item for the next sprint planning allows the team to prioritize and plan for the additional work in a controlled manner. Sprint commitments are intended to be stable during the sprint to promote a consistent and focused effort.
B. Impact analysis first and rest next
Both B and D can be correct. Since it's not an immediate impediment and there' no urgency to it no need to include it in the current sprint. it can wait.
Tricky .... it relates to the urgency. "Next Release" means for me "not super urgent", so it can wait. D should be correct.
In agile once a sprint has begun you do not modify the current sprint. You add it to the backlog to be reprioritized for the next sprint. This is the basis of Agile.
In this situation, it's important to assess the impact of the requested change to understand how it affects the sprint commitment and the overall project. Organizing a workshop after the standup allows the team to discuss the proposed functionality, evaluate its impact on the current sprint, and collaboratively decide on the best course of action. This approach promotes transparency, collaboration, and informed decision-making within the agile framework. It also provides an opportunity to address the change in a structured manner without disrupting the ongoing sprint.
B. organizing a workshop after the standup offers the most balanced approach: Gather key stakeholders: Include the product owner, developers, and any other relevant individuals to discuss the proposed change comprehensively. Assess the impact: Analyze the effort required, impact on the sprint goals and workload, and feasibility of integrating the change within the current sprint. Consider alternatives: Explore alternative solutions like prioritizing existing backlog items, adjusting deadlines, or potentially deferring the change to a later release if deemed not critical for the next one. Align on a decision: Make a collaborative decision on how to proceed, ensuring everyone is informed and aligned with the chosen approach.
need to follow basic process ...new feature--product backlog---next iteration
This is a critical item, we need to do it as soon as we can. So the best answer should be "B". If this is not a critical item, "D" should be the best answer.
As it is "critical", we need a unplanned workshop to determine if this feature needs to be developed in this sprint or the next.