Stakeholder Engagement

Correct Answer: Approach the stakeholder directly to determine any issues and adjust scheduling if necessary

The best action for the project manager in this scenario would be to approach the stakeholder directly in an attempt to resolve any issues and adjust meeting schedules if necessary. This way, any barriers to the stakeholder's participation can be addressed and resolved, ensuring better collaboration and communication in the future. Ignoring the stakeholder's absence doesn't address any underlying issues and can lead to further miscommunication. Excluding the stakeholder from further meetings does not make sense because every stakeholder has a direct or indirect influence on the project’s outcomes and needs to be informed about the project status. Reporting the stakeholder to higher management isn't the best first approach – it might escalate the situation unnecessarily, when a direct talk could potentially resolve the issue.

Correct Answer: Schedule a follow-up meeting with the stakeholder to discuss the specific details of the scope change and its implications on the project timeline.

The best course of action is to schedule a follow-up meeting with the stakeholder to discuss the specific details of the scope change and its implications on the project timeline. This approach allows for a focused and thorough discussion of the stakeholder's concerns, enabling the project team to gather more information and assess the potential impact on the project timeline. Informing the stakeholder that the project team will address the concerns independently does not provide the stakeholder with the opportunity to provide input and may lead to misunderstandings or unmet expectations. Holding a general discussion during the meeting without diving into specific details may not adequately address the stakeholder's concerns and could result in a lack of clarity regarding the scope change and its impact on the project timeline. Revising the project schedule to accommodate the scope change without consulting the stakeholder is not advisable, as it may lead to further issues and misalignment between the project team and the stakeholder.

Correct Answer: Provide transparent and frequent updates on project progress and potential challenges

Providing transparent and frequent updates on project progress and potential challenges is the most effective way for a ScrumMaster to manage stakeholder expectations throughout the project. By keeping stakeholders informed regularly, the ScrumMaster can ensure that they have a clear understanding of the project's status, any risks or issues that may impact the timeline or deliverables, and how the team is working to address them. This proactive communication helps to build trust and alignment between the stakeholders and the development team. Shielding the development team from all stakeholder interactions or communicating with stakeholders only when absolutely necessary can lead to misaligned expectations and a lack of transparency. The ScrumMaster should facilitate healthy communication between the team and stakeholders, not restrict it. Making promises to stakeholders about specific feature deliveries and timelines is not a recommended approach, as it goes against the principles of Scrum, which emphasize flexibility and adaptability based on feedback and changing requirements. The ScrumMaster should help stakeholders understand the iterative nature of Scrum and set realistic expectations based on the team's capacity and progress.