This scenario highlights a common challenge in Agile organizations:balancing unplanned work (interruptions) with planned development work. Agile leaders should focus onremoving impedimentsthat disrupt the Scrum Team’s ability to deliver value while ensuring business-critical operations are still supported.

Analysis of Each Answer Option:

❌Option A: Send someone from the team to work with the Operations Group to avoid interruptions.

This doesnot solve the root causeof the interruptions; it merely shifts the problem to another team member.

Itreduces development capacity, impacting the team’s ability to meet Sprint Goals.

Agile leaders should seeksystemic solutionsrather than temporary fixes.

❌Option B: Explain that the Operations work is important and ask them to find a way to accommodate the work.

While Operations work may be important, simply asking the team to accommodate the interruptionsignoresthe core Agile principle offocus.

Scrum Teams should be protectedfrom excessive outside distractions to maintain productivity and deliver high-quality work.

Agile leaders shouldactively remove obstacles, not just ask teams to adapt.

✅Option C: Work with the Scrum Team to help transfer the knowledge to another individual outside the Scrum Team for future occurrences.(Best Answer)

This approachaddresses the root causeof the interruptions by ensuring the Operations Group has alternative resources for support.

Knowledge transferprevents future disruptions, allowing the Scrum Team to focus on delivering value.

Agile leadersenable sustainable solutionsrather than quick fixes.

This aligns withAgile principles of cross-functional collaboration and decentralized knowledge, reducing dependencies on a single individual.

❌Option D: Talk to the Product Owner and let them deal with the situation.

TheProduct Owner is responsible for managing the Product Backlog, not operational interruptions.

While the Product Owner may help prioritize work, this isa leadership and organizational issue, not a backlog prioritization issue.

Passing responsibility to the Product Ownerdoes not help remove the impediment effectively.

References from Professional Agile Leadership (PAL) Documents:

Scrum Guide (2020)– Scrum Teams should beself-managingand protected from unnecessary external distractions.

Professional Agile Leadership Essentials (PAL-E) Guide– Agile leaders shouldremove impedimentsand enable teams to focus on delivering value.

Lean and DevOps Practices– Promotesknowledge sharingto eliminate single points of failure and reduce operational dependencies.

The Agile Manifesto – Principles Behind the Agile Manifesto– Encourages sustainable work practices and cross-team collaboration.

By applying these Agile leadership principles,Option C is the best answer, as iteliminates future interruptionsandenables sustainable knowledge sharingacross the organization.