Definition
An impediment is any obstacle that hinders a team's progress towards its goals. It is something that prevents the team from completing its work efficiently or effectively. In practice, impediments are identified, discussed, and actively removed by the team or by a facilitator like a Scrum Master. Addressing impediments is crucial because they directly impact delivery speed, team morale, and the overall success of a project. For instance, a lack of necessary testing environments can be an impediment to a development team's ability to deploy code. Impediments are distinct from risks, which are potential future problems, as impediments are current blockers. You will encounter the concept of impediments on the PMP, CAPM, and PMI-ACP exams.