PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Practice Question
A project manager has just received formal sign-off on the project charter from the sponsor. The project involves a new CRM system for a mid-sized company. What is the most appropriate immediate next step in the project life cycle?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that charter approval immediately triggers execution, when in fact planning must occur first to create the project management plan.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Develop the project management plan.
Once the project charter is approved, the project moves into the Planning process group. The project management plan is the primary output that integrates all subsidiary plans and baselines. It guides execution, monitoring, and control. Beginning execution or closing the project without planning would be premature and would violate the standard project life cycle sequence.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Close the project and archive the charter.
Why it's wrong here
Closing the project at this point is incorrect because no work has been performed. The charter is a foundational document that authorizes the project and should be retained, not archived as a closed record. Closing processes occur after deliverables are completed and accepted. The project is just beginning, so termination would waste the approved investment and contradict the sponsor's intent.
- ✗
Begin executing the project work according to the charter.
Why it's wrong here
Executing before planning is premature because the project management plan, scope baseline, and schedule have not been created. The charter authorizes the project but does not provide enough detail to direct and manage work. Starting execution without approved planning artifacts risks scope creep, misaligned expectations, and rework. The correct next step is to develop the project management plan.
- ✗
Identify stakeholders and create a stakeholder register.
Why it's wrong here
Identifying stakeholders is part of the Initiating process group and typically occurs before or alongside charter development. While stakeholder identification may continue iteratively, it is not the immediate next step after charter sign-off. The Planning process group begins with developing the project management plan, which then informs detailed stakeholder management planning. Choosing this option overlooks the broader planning phase.
- ✓
Develop the project management plan.
Why this is correct
After the charter is approved, the project enters the Planning process group, where the project management plan is created. This plan integrates scope, schedule, cost, quality, resource, communications, risk, procurement, and stakeholder management plans. It provides the baseline and guidance needed before execution begins. Developing the plan is the logical next step to translate the charter's high-level authorization into actionable details.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.