The correct answer is C – Agile leader (e.g., Scrum Master). One of the key responsibilities of an agile leader is to protect the development team from external interruptions so that the team can maintain focus and maximize productivity.
From PMI Agile Practice Guide:
“The agile leader shields the team from outside disruptions to allow them to remain focused on their commitments. They work to establish working agreements, communication protocols, and help manage stakeholder access to the team.”
(PMI Agile Practice Guide, Section 6.1 – Responsibilities of the Agile Leader)
From PMBOK® Guide – 7th Edition (tailoring for agile environments):
“Leaders in agile environments facilitate communication, clear obstacles, and protect teams from disruptions and distractions that can compromise the team’s ability to deliver value.”
From Mike Griffiths’ PMI-ACP Exam Prep Book:
“Scrum Masters and agile leaders act as gatekeepers to the team, ensuring that stakeholder interactions are managed and that the team can focus on iteration goals.”
(Mike Griffiths, Chapter 4 – Team Performance)
Option A (Product owner) is responsible for backlog clarity, not for shielding the team from distractions.
Option B (Project manager) is not a standard agile role; agile uses roles such as Scrum Master or Agile Coach.
Option D (Developers) may address distractions, but it is the agile leader ' s role to proactively prevent them.
Answer: C
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