Issue Management and Impediment Removal
2
Types
Issue = current problem, Risk = uncertain future
1
Log
Every issue goes in the issue log with owner and due date
SM
Removes Impediments
Scrum Master clears the path in agile
solve it low · escalate only when you must
Escalation Ladder
Executive Sponsor
Strategy or funding at risk · org-level impact
Steering Committee
Cross-department conflict · policy change needed
Functional Manager
Resource or priority conflict between teams
Project Manager
Cross-team impediment · needs PM authority
Team / Scrum Master
Day-to-day impediments · most issues stop here
how to read this
- › Start at the bottom. Most impediments should be resolved by the team or Scrum Master within hours.
- › Only escalate when the issue genuinely exceeds the lower level's authority. Skipping a rung is almost always wrong.
- › Each level needs full context when you escalate — not a 2-line email. Attach the issue log entry.
- › "Escalate to the sponsor first" is the classic exam trap. PMI expects you to exhaust your authority before going higher.
Issue Log · Required Fields
| ID | Description | Owner | Priority | Due | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #014 | API latency > 2s on checkout | Dev Lead | H | Apr 18 | In progress |
| #015 | Vendor unresponsive for 5 days | PM | H | Apr 17 | Escalated |
| #016 | QA env broken intermittently | DevOps | M | Apr 21 | Open |
Exam Traps
Issue is present, risk is future
A risk becomes an issue when the uncertain event actually happens. They live in different logs and require different actions.
The Scrum Master removes impediments, not managers
In agile, impediment removal is an explicit SM responsibility. Answers that route impediments to the manager are wrong.
Escalate impediments that exceed authority
An impediment that cannot be resolved at the team level gets escalated through proper channels with full context.
Every issue has an owner
Unowned issues rot in the log. Assign a name and a due date.
Do not wait and see
Small impediments compound. Clear them daily, not weekly.
The oven MIGHT break before Thanksgiving. That is a risk. You monitor and plan.
The oven broke this morning. That is an issue. You act now.
Someone must own fixing it. Without an owner, nothing happens.
If the repair tech is booked solid, escalate to the facility manager.
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