The answer is to assign an owner and a target resolution date immediately after adding the issue to the log. This step is critical because an issue without a responsible party lacks accountability, and without a deadline, it risks indefinite deferral, which can compound schedule delays. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this tests your understanding of the issue management lifecycle, specifically that logging is merely documentation—the next operational action must drive resolution. A common trap is thinking the next step is to analyze the root cause or escalate, but the exam emphasizes that ownership and a due date must come first to establish clear responsibility and urgency. Remember the mnemonic “ALO” for After Logging, Own it: Assign an Owner, then set a target date to close the loop.
PK0-005 Tools and Documentation Practice Question
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of tools and documentation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 project manager is using an issue log to track problems. During a weekly status meeting, a team member reports a new issue that has already caused a one-day delay. The project manager adds it to the issue log. What is the NEXT step?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Assign an owner and a target resolution date
Once an issue is added to the issue log, the next step is to assign an owner and a target resolution date. This ensures accountability and provides a clear deadline for resolving the problem, which is essential for tracking progress and minimizing further impact on the project schedule.
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.
✗
Close the issue since it has already occurred
Why it's wrong here
The issue needs to be resolved before it can be closed.
✓
Assign an owner and a target resolution date
Why this is correct
Assigning ownership and a deadline ensures the issue is addressed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Communicate the delay to stakeholders immediately
Why it's wrong here
Communication is important, but first the project manager needs a plan to resolve the issue.
✗
Update the risk register with the issue
Why it's wrong here
Issues are different from risks; the risk register is for uncertain events.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse the issue log with the risk register, thinking that a realized risk should be updated in the risk register, when in fact it must be moved to the issue log and managed as an active problem.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In project management, the issue log is a living document that captures problems as they arise. Assigning an owner and target resolution date triggers the issue resolution process, which includes analysis, action planning, and monitoring. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's 'Manage Issues' process, where each issue is assigned to a responsible party to ensure timely closure and to prevent scope creep or schedule overruns.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Tools and Documentation — This question tests Tools and Documentation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Assign an owner and a target resolution date — Once an issue is added to the issue log, the next step is to assign an owner and a target resolution date. This ensures accountability and provides a clear deadline for resolving the problem, which is essential for tracking progress and minimizing further impact on the project schedule.
What should I do if I get this PK0-005 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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