The answer is to add the risk to the risk register and develop a response plan. This is correct because, according to the PMBOK Guide’s risk management process, the next step after risk identification in planning is to formally document the risk in the risk register before any analysis or response planning can occur. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this question tests your understanding of the sequential flow within the Plan Risk Management and Identify Risks processes; a common trap is jumping straight to mitigation or avoidance without first recording the risk. Remember the memory tip: “Register before Respond”—you cannot manage what you haven’t logged. Once the risk is in the register, the team can analyze its probability and impact, then develop a response plan, ensuring the project stays on track despite the supplier threat.
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 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?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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.
Option C is correct because 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.
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.
✗
Immediately switch to an alternative supplier.
Why it's wrong here
This is a drastic action without proper analysis of alternatives.
✗
Continue planning and address the risk later.
Why it's wrong here
Delaying risk response increases exposure.
✓
Add the risk to the risk register and develop a response plan.
Why this is correct
Formal risk management begins with documentation and planning.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Escalate the risk to the sponsor for decision.
Why it's wrong here
The project manager can handle this risk without escalation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates 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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In project risk management, the risk register is a living document that captures each risk's description, probability, impact, and planned response. The response plan may include mitigation (e.g., dual-sourcing), transfer (e.g., performance bonds), or acceptance (e.g., contingency reserve). A real-world scenario: if a key cloud service provider faces bankruptcy, the project manager might add a risk response to migrate workloads to a secondary provider, but only after documenting the risk and evaluating alternatives.
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: Add the risk to the risk register and develop a response plan. — Option C is correct because 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.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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