easyMultiple Choice
PK0-005 Practice Question: A project manager is assigned to a project that…
A project manager is assigned to a project that has already been chartered. The project sponsor has provided the project charter and initial budget. The project manager is now in the planning phase. During the first planning meeting, the team identifies a major risk: a key supplier may go out of business before the project ends. The project manager needs to proceed. Which of the following is the NEXT step?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse immediate action (Option A) with proper risk management, or they think escalation (Option D) is always required for major risks, when in fact the risk register is the correct first step per PMI methodology.
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
✓
Add the risk to the risk register and develop a response plan.
The project manager is in the planning phase, and the first step when a risk is identified is to formally document it in the risk register. After adding the risk, the team should analyze it and develop a response plan. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's risk management process, which requires recording risks before taking action.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Immediately switch to an alternative supplier.
Why it's wrong here
Switching supplier commits budget and contract before the risk is analysed, logged or prioritised, skipping the risk-management process entirely. Selecting a supplier is correct later, once responses have been planned and approved through change control.
- ✗
Continue planning and address the risk later.
Why it's wrong here
Deferring leaves the risk unlogged and unowned, so no response or contingency is planned before execution begins. Parking items is acceptable for low-probability, low-impact risks already recorded in the risk register with agreed review dates.
- ✓
Add the risk to the risk register and develop a response plan.
Why this is correct
Once a risk is identified during planning, it must be documented in the risk register with a planned response before further action. Capturing the supplier risk and defining a response is the immediate next step, enabling later analysis and monitoring.
- ✗
Escalate the risk to the sponsor for decision.
Why it's wrong here
Escalating to the sponsor bypasses the risk management process the project manager owns during planning; the sponsor supplies charter and budget, not risk responses. It tempts because escalation suits risks exceeding the project manager's authority or tolerance thresholds, such as budget-breaking issues or cross-organisational conflicts requiring executive decisions.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.