The correct first step when a risk occurs is to update the risk register and assess the impact. This is because the departure of a key developer is a known risk that should have been documented during planning; by immediately logging the event and evaluating its effect on the schedule, the project manager ensures that risk response planning follows a clear, data-driven assessment rather than a reactive decision. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this tests your understanding of the PMBOK risk management process, where the first action is always to capture the occurrence in the risk register before moving to mitigation or communication. A common trap is choosing to directly replace the developer or notify stakeholders first, but the register update must come before any response. Remember the mnemonic: “Register before React”—document the risk event before taking action.
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.
During project execution, the team lead reports that a key developer is leaving the company. The project sponsor is concerned about the impact on the project schedule. What should the project manager do FIRST?
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
✓
Update the risk register and assess the impact.
The correct first step is to update the risk register and assess the impact because the departure of a key developer is a known risk that should have been identified during planning. By documenting the event and evaluating its effect on the schedule, the project manager can make informed decisions about mitigation strategies. This aligns with the PMBOK risk management process, where risk response planning follows risk assessment.
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.
✓
Update the risk register and assess the impact.
Why this is correct
Correct. This is the immediate next step to document and evaluate the risk.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Immediately hire a replacement developer.
Why it's wrong here
Hiring without analysis may not address the specific needs and could be premature.
✗
Reassign tasks to remaining team members.
Why it's wrong here
Task reassignment may overload resources and is not a first step without analysis.
✗
Inform stakeholders of the schedule delay.
Why it's wrong here
Informing stakeholders is important but should follow impact assessment and response planning.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may jump to a corrective action (like hiring or reassigning) without first performing the required risk assessment, which is the foundational step in the risk management process.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In project management, the risk register is a living document that tracks identified risks, their probability, impact, and response plans. When a risk materializes (e.g., key developer leaving), the project manager must first update the register with the actual event and then perform a qualitative or quantitative impact analysis to determine schedule variance. This analysis often involves reviewing the critical path and resource dependencies, which may reveal that the delay can be offset by fast-tracking or crashing 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 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.
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: Update the risk register and assess the impact. — The correct first step is to update the risk register and assess the impact because the departure of a key developer is a known risk that should have been identified during planning. By documenting the event and evaluating its effect on the schedule, the project manager can make informed decisions about mitigation strategies. This aligns with the PMBOK risk management process, where risk response planning follows risk assessment.
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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