Atlassian Agile Project Management Professional Certification Practice Exam

What is the effect of limiting the number of work in progress issues in a project?

1. The team achieves higher workloads

2. The project delivery time increases

3. The team finishes started projects, improving flow

4. The number of issues decreases significantly

The correct answer is: The team finishes started projects, improving flow

Limiting the number of work in progress (WIP) issues is a key principle of Agile methodologies, particularly in Kanban systems. This practice encourages teams to focus on completing tasks that are already in progress, which directly improves the flow of work through the system. When a team limits WIP, it creates a sense of urgency to finish existing tasks before starting new ones. This helps to minimize multitasking and ensures that resources are utilized more effectively. As a result, the team is able to deliver completed work more consistently and efficiently, leading to shorter cycle times and improved overall productivity. This focus on finishing projects not only aids in maintaining a smooth workflow but also leverages the concept of continuous delivery, which is vital in Agile frameworks. While limiting WIP can have various effects, such as reducing overcommitment and promoting team cohesion, the primary improvement comes from the team’s ability to finish started projects — thereby enhancing flow and minimizing waste in the process.