PMP lesson · Closing & Integration · Case studies (2026 exam format) · lesson 2 of 2 · about 12 minutes
Case study 2: the MES software product (agile)
Agile and hybridFree preview
Goal: After this case you can combine agile metrics, flow, product ownership and leadership concepts across several exhibits.
1The situation
The situation
You support an agile team building the MES dashboard for the robot cell customer. A release must be ready for the customer's plant-wide rollout.
Four exhibits have landed on your desk: sprint data, a note about the flow diagram, an email from the sales director and a proposal from an executive.
Answer the four exam questions below. Again: read the questions first.
2Agile case studies
Agile case questions often combine numbers (velocity, WIP, points) with role questions (whose decision is it?) and mindset questions (servant leadership, sustainable pace).
Ask yourself for each question: is it about forecasting, flow, product ownership or leadership? That tells you which concept to apply.
3The exhibits
Exhibit A · Sprint data
Sprint
1
2
3
4
5
Velocity
34
38
36
31
28
Remaining release backlog: 150 points. Two developers were replaced after sprint 3. Developers report growing technical debt.
Exhibit B · Kanban/flow note
The cumulative flow diagram shows the “In test” band widening for six weeks. “In development” is stable. “Done” rises slowly. Developers say they are “always busy”.
Exhibit C · Email from the sales director
A competitor just launched mobile alarm notifications. Stop current work and build this immediately. Customers are calling it game-changing.
(The product owner has not yet assessed it.)
Exhibit D · Executive proposal
“Velocity has dropped from 38 to 28. Starting next sprint, the target is 40 points, with a team bonus if it is reached.”
Use these four exhibits to answer the exam questions below.
4How it looks on the exam
Exam-style question 1. Using Exhibit A, how many sprints should the team forecast to complete the remaining release backlog?
A. Exactly 4 sprints
B. About 4 to 6 sprints, refined as velocity stabilises
C. Exactly 5 sprints
D. 8 sprints
Show the answer and the decode
Answer: B.
In simple English
150 points; velocities 28–38.
What is the question really asking?
A realistic forecast.
Key words / trigger
“Remaining release backlog: 150 points”
PMP logic
150 ÷ 38 ≈ 4; 150 ÷ 28 ≈ 5.4 → about 4–6 sprints, as a range.
Why the wrong answer looks attractive
A single number hides real uncertainty, especially with velocity falling.
5Remember this
Your memory card
Identify the concept per question: forecasting, flow, ownership, leadership