The project is starting its second of six iterations. During the daily standup a team member requests help because finishing a deliverable requires approval from the design department. What should the project manager do?

The project manager's role includes removing impediments for the team. In an agile environment, addressing blockers promptly is crucial to maintaining flow and achieving iteration goals. Meeting with the design manager directly to secure the necessary approval is the most efficient and practical way to resolve the team member's issue and unblock progress. Inviting a design representative might be a good long-term strategy for collaboration but doesn't immediately resolve the current blocker. Escalating to the sponsor is premature; the project manager should first attempt to resolve the issue at their level. Replacing the deliverable avoids the problem rather than solving it, potentially delaying important work and impacting the project's scope or value.