Pearson PMI-ACP New Attempt

The correct answer is B — Two-way communication.

Agile thrives on collaboration and transparency. In sprint planning, the product owner presents the business needs (via user stories), and the team responds with estimates and commitments. This mutual communication fosters alignment, shared understanding, and trust, which is characteristic of two-way communication.

PMI Agile Practice Guide:

“Agile projects rely on high levels of communication and collaboration, especially between the product owner and development team.”

(PMI Agile Practice Guide, Section 4.2 – Communications and Collaboration)

Mike Griffiths:

“Two-way communication allows feedback and clarification. Sprint planning is a prime example where the PO and team interact to shape and commit to sprint goals.”

(PMI-ACP Exam Prep, Chapter 4 – Team Performance)

Incorrect options:

A refers to managing emotions, not communication style.

C is unrelated to agile practice.

D (reciprocal communication) is a less common term and not directly aligned with the scenario.

Answer: B

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In this scenario, the development team is working closely with different business units to deliver value early and often. This aligns with the agile value of delivering working software frequently, with a preference for shorter timescales. By collaborating with business units, the team is enabling early feedback and adapting to changing requirements, which is a core principle of agile methodologies like Scrum.

The Scrum Master’s role as a servant leader is to support the team, not to resolve conflicts for them. It is important for the team to work through their disagreements themselves, as this fosters collaboration and improves their problem-solving skills. The Scrum Master should encourage open communication and guide the team toward healthy conflict resolution, ensuring that the disagreements are addressed constructively. This approach helps the team build trust, improves their cohesion, and strengthens their ability to handle challenges in the future.

According to thePMI Agile Practice Guide (Section 7.1 Communication)andPMBOK® Guide (6th Edition, Section 13.3 Manage Stakeholder Engagement),transparency with stakeholdersis fundamental in agile environments. Delays or deviations from expected outcomes must bepromptly communicatedto affected stakeholders to adjust expectations and plans.

Mike Griffiths in thePMI-ACP Exam Prep Book (Chapter 4: Stakeholder Engagement)emphasizes that one of the key values in agile isresponding to change over following a plan, and that includes openly discussing risks and delays with impacted parties.

Thus,Option Dis correct: the agile coach shouldproactively engage marketing stakeholdersto inform them about the delay and support revised planning.