What should the team do if the Sprint Goal cannot be met?

If the Sprint Goal cannot be met, the team should assess and possibly reduce the scope or abandon the Sprint Goal. This approach aligns well with the principles of the Scrum framework, which emphasizes flexibility and adaptability. It is crucial for the Scrum Team to regularly inspect progress and adapt plans accordingly.

When the team realizes that the Sprint Goal is unattainable, it can either adjust the scope of work to make the goal achievable or decide to abandon the goal altogether. This allows for a more realistic focus on delivering value within the remaining time of the Sprint, ensuring that the team doesn't overcommit or forcefully try to complete work that is no longer feasible. Such decisions should be grounded in collaboration among team members and stakeholders to maintain transparency and alignment with project objectives.

The other options may not serve the best interest of the team or the project. Increasing work hours could lead to burnout and does not address the root issue of scope management. Continuing without changes may lead to a disconnect between expectations and actual deliverables, ultimately harming stakeholder trust. Seeking external assistance could be useful in certain contexts but relies heavily on the nature of the challenges faced and may not always be practical or timely. Overall, reassessing and adjusting the scope is the most pragmatic and in accordance with Agile