The correct answer is to initiate a change request to formally document the defects, assess the impact on schedule, and seek approval from the change control board. This is because the change control process during execution requires that any deviation from the baseline—such as fixing critical defects that delay go-live—must be formally evaluated and approved, not decided unilaterally by the sponsor. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that the project manager’s role is to follow the established change management framework, even when pressured by stakeholders, and that bypassing the change control board introduces unacceptable risk. A common trap is assuming the sponsor’s authority overrides the process, but the correct path is always to document, assess, and seek formal approval. Remember the memory tip: “Document, Assess, Approve”—never skip the board when scope, schedule, or quality is affected.
PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Phases Practice Question
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of project life cycle phases. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is implementing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The project is in the execution phase. The project manager receives a report that during user acceptance testing (UAT), 15 critical defects were found. The defects are related to incorrect calculation logic in the financial module. The testing team estimates that fixing these defects will require two additional weeks of work by the development team. The project sponsor is concerned about the schedule delay and asks the project manager to proceed with the go-live as planned and fix the defects after go-live. The project manager must decide the best course of action. What should the project manager do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Initiate a change request to formally document the defects, assess the impact on schedule, and seek approval from the change control board.
Option C is correct because the project manager should follow the change control process to formally evaluate the impact of the defects and the proposed delay. The sponsor's request to go live with critical defects is risky and should be assessed. Option A is wrong because ignoring the sponsor's request could damage the relationship; the project manager should engage the change control board. Option B is wrong because implementing a workaround without proper testing may introduce new issues. Option D is wrong because critical defects should not be deferred without formal risk assessment and approval.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Delay the go-live without formal approval and instruct the team to fix the defects immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Delaying without approval violates the change control process.
✓
Initiate a change request to formally document the defects, assess the impact on schedule, and seek approval from the change control board.
Why this is correct
Following the change control process is the correct procedure.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Direct the development team to implement a temporary workaround to allow go-live on time.
Why it's wrong here
Workarounds may not be reliable and should be tested.
✗
Proceed with go-live as scheduled and address defects post-implementation, as requested by the sponsor.
Why it's wrong here
Critical defects should not be deferred without formal change control.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PK0-005 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PK0-005 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Project Life Cycle Phases — This question tests Project Life Cycle Phases — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Initiate a change request to formally document the defects, assess the impact on schedule, and seek approval from the change control board. — Option C is correct because the project manager should follow the change control process to formally evaluate the impact of the defects and the proposed delay. The sponsor's request to go live with critical defects is risky and should be assessed. Option A is wrong because ignoring the sponsor's request could damage the relationship; the project manager should engage the change control board. Option B is wrong because implementing a workaround without proper testing may introduce new issues. Option D is wrong because critical defects should not be deferred without formal risk assessment and approval.
What should I do if I get this PK0-005 question wrong?
Identify which PK0-005 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A project is in execution when a critical vendor fails to deliver a key component. The project manager determines this will push the project past the deadline. After submitting a change request, what should the project manager do next?
hard
A.Fast track the remaining tasks
✓ B.Communicate the impact to stakeholders
C.Request additional resources
D.Update the risk register
Why B: After submitting a change request, the project manager should communicate the potential impact to stakeholders to manage expectations. Updating the risk register is important but not the immediate next step; fast tracking and requesting resources may be considered after approval.
Last reviewed: Jun 7, 2026
Question Discussion
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This PK0-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PK0-005 exam.
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