The correct next step after project charter approval is to develop the project management plan. This is because the charter formally authorizes the project and the project manager, but it does not provide the detailed roadmap for execution; the project management plan defines how the project will be planned, executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, integrating all subsidiary plans like scope, schedule, and cost. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this sequence is a foundational concept—many candidates mistakenly jump to creating a work breakdown structure or determining the budget, but those detailed planning activities occur after the overarching management plan is established. A common trap is confusing the charter’s high-level objectives with the need for a comprehensive plan first. To remember this, think of the charter as the “green light” and the project management plan as the “steering wheel”—you cannot drive the project until you have the steering wheel in place.
PK0-005 Project Management Concepts Practice Question
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of project management concepts. 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 project manager is assigned to a new project. The project charter has been approved. Which of the following 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
✓
Develop the project management plan
After the project charter is approved, the next step is to develop the project management plan. This plan defines how the project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, and it integrates all subsidiary plans (e.g., scope, schedule, cost). The PMBOK Guide and the PK0-005 exam follow the sequence: charter approval → develop project management plan → then detailed planning activities like risk assessment, budget determination, and WBS creation.
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.
✓
Develop the project management plan
Why this is correct
Correct. The project management plan is created after the charter is approved, guiding execution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Perform risk assessment
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Risk assessment is a planning activity that happens after the plan is developed.
✗
Determine the project budget
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Budget determination is part of cost planning, which follows the development of the project management plan.
✗
Create the work breakdown structure
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Creating the WBS is part of scope planning, which occurs after the overall plan is initiated.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that detailed planning activities (like risk assessment or WBS creation) can begin immediately after the charter is approved, but the correct sequence requires the project management plan to be developed first as the overarching guide.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The project management plan is a formal, approved document that defines how the project is planned, executed, monitored, controlled, and closed. It includes baselines for scope, schedule, and cost, and subsidiary plans for risk, quality, communications, etc. In real-world scenarios, skipping directly to risk assessment or WBS creation without an approved plan often leads to misaligned expectations and rework, as the plan provides the governance framework for all subsequent activities.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
Project Management Concepts — This question tests Project Management Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Develop the project management plan — After the project charter is approved, the next step is to develop the project management plan. This plan defines how the project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, and it integrates all subsidiary plans (e.g., scope, schedule, cost). The PMBOK Guide and the PK0-005 exam follow the sequence: charter approval → develop project management plan → then detailed planning activities like risk assessment, budget determination, and WBS creation.
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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