Asoftware development team is working on a new reporting application for a client. During iteration planning, the team agrees the functionality requirements of a key feature are unclear. The product owner tells the project manager that delays and quality issues are a major concern for the client. What should the project manager do?

In Agile frameworks, the project manager (acting as a servant leader or Scrum Master) is responsible for facilitating collaboration and removing impediments. When requirements are unclear during iteration planning, the most effective approach is to facilitate a collaborative session between the development team and the Product Owner. The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product and representing the client's needs. By fostering direct communication and shared understanding between the team and the Product Owner, the project manager actively resolves the ambiguity. This collaborative approach directly mitigates the client's concerns regarding quality and delays without disrupting established Agile roles or workflows.

A. Postponing the feature directly exacerbates the client's concern regarding project delays and avoids actively resolving the requirement ambiguity.
B. Assigning the task to a single experienced team member violates the Agile principle of collective team ownership and collaborative problem-solving.
D. The Product Owner is responsible for representing the client's needs; bringing the client directly into internal iteration meetings bypasses the Product Owner's role and disrupts Agile ceremonies.

1. Project Management Institute (PMI). Agile Practice Guide (2017). Section 4.3.2 (Servant Leadership Responsibilities), p. 35. (Supports the project manager's role as a facilitator of collaboration).

2. Project Management Institute (PMI). Agile Practice Guide (2017). Section 5.2.1 (Agile Roles: Product Owner), p. 41. (Defines the Product Owner's role in clarifying requirements and representing the client).

3. Project Management Institute (PMI). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition (2021). Section 2.2 (Team Performance Domain - Shared Ownership), p. 17. (Supports why assigning tasks to a single individual violates collective ownership).