Stakeholder Engagement

Correct Answer: Enhance the frequency of reporting and provide the stakeholder with a dashboard for real-time visibility into project status.

The best response is to enhance the frequency of reporting and provide the stakeholder with a dashboard for real-time visibility into project status. This addresses the root cause of the stakeholder's impatience, which is the lack of visibility into project progress. Asking the stakeholder not to interfere with development activities fails to address their concerns and could further strain the relationship. Assuming the stakeholder will eventually adapt to the development timeline risks further damaging the relationship and project buy-in. Escalating the matter to senior management should be a last resort, as it is the project manager's responsibility to manage stakeholder expectations and communication.

Correct Answer: Acknowledge the stakeholder's concerns, but firmly explain that a separate meeting will be scheduled to discuss the issues in detail to ensure a productive kickoff meeting.

The most effective way to handle this situation is to acknowledge the stakeholder's concerns but firmly explain that a separate meeting will be scheduled to discuss the issues in detail. This approach ensures that the project kickoff meeting remains productive and focused on its intended agenda. Attempting to address all of the stakeholder's concerns during the kickoff meeting would significantly extend the meeting duration and divert focus from other critical agenda items, potentially compromising the effectiveness of the kickoff. Proceeding with the kickoff meeting as planned and informing the stakeholder that their concerns will be noted and addressed later in the project lifecycle may lead to the stakeholder feeling dismissed and could negatively impact their engagement and trust in the project manager. Rescheduling the entire kickoff meeting to accommodate the stakeholder's concerns may cause unnecessary delays and inconvenience other participants. It is more efficient to address the concerns in a separate, dedicated meeting.

Correct Answer: Guide the discussion back on track by acknowledging the stakeholder's concern and offering to address it outside of the meeting, ensuring the sprint review focuses on its intended purpose.

The correct answer maintains the focus and efficiency of the sprint review while also respecting the stakeholder's input by suggesting it be addressed separately. The first wrong answer diverts from the sprint review's objective by eventually welcoming unrelated discussions, potentially extending the meeting unnecessarily. The second wrong answer misunderstands the purpose of sprint planning and the review, incorrectly suggesting product backlog prioritization as a solution to an issue raised in a sprint review. The third wrong answer disrupts the meeting's structure by encouraging ad hoc changes to the agenda, potentially undermining the meeting's effectiveness and the Scrum Master's role in facilitating focused discussions.