hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
Stakeholder Alignment During Initiation
A large government project is in the initiation phase. The project charter has been drafted, but there is disagreement among key stakeholders about the project's objectives. Some stakeholders want to maximize functionality, while others want to minimize cost. The project manager must lead the effort to resolve this. Which of the following is the BEST approach?
Quick Answer
The answer is to facilitate a meeting to prioritize requirements and reach consensus. This is correct because stakeholder alignment during project initiation is the project manager’s primary responsibility, and the core technical concept here is that conflicting objectives—like maximizing functionality versus minimizing cost—must be resolved through facilitated negotiation before the charter is finalized. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the initiation phase’s key deliverable: a charter that reflects agreed-upon goals, not just a draft. A common trap is choosing to escalate to the sponsor or simply document the disagreement, but the best approach is proactive facilitation to achieve consensus, as the project manager acts as a neutral bridge. Remember the memory tip: “Facilitate first, escalate last”—always guide stakeholders to prioritize requirements together before seeking higher authority.
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that a signed charter is final and cannot be revisited, but the trap here is that stakeholder alignment is a prerequisite for a valid charter, not a post-signature assumption.
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
✓
Facilitate a meeting to prioritize requirements and reach consensus.
The project manager's role during the initiation phase is to align stakeholders on project objectives. Facilitating a meeting to prioritize requirements and reach consensus directly addresses the disagreement between maximizing functionality and minimizing cost, ensuring the project charter reflects agreed-upon goals before proceeding.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Proceed with the charter as written, as it has been signed by the sponsor.
Why it's wrong here
The charter is drafted but not finalized if there is disagreement.
- ✓
Facilitate a meeting to prioritize requirements and reach consensus.
Why this is correct
Facilitation helps stakeholders find common ground.
- ✗
Conduct a cost-benefit analysis and present the results to stakeholders.
Why it's wrong here
This provides information but does not directly resolve the disagreement.
- ✗
Divide the project into phases, starting with a small pilot to gather data.
Why it's wrong here
Phasing is a strategy but does not resolve the initial conflict.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PK0-005
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You are a project manager for a marketing campaign project. The project has just been initiated, and you are working with the sponsor to identify key stakeholders. The project involves multiple departments: marketing, sales, IT, and legal. One of the stakeholders from sales has expressed strong opposition to the project, claiming it will redirect resources away from ongoing sales initiatives. The project sponsor is concerned this stakeholder might try to block the project. What is the first step you should take to manage this situation?
easy- ✓ A.Meet with the sales stakeholder to understand their concerns and address them.
- B.Update the stakeholder register and issue log, then proceed with the project.
- C.Ask the sales department manager to replace the stakeholder.
- D.Inform the sponsor that the stakeholder will be removed from the project.
Why A: The first step in managing stakeholder opposition is to engage directly with the stakeholder to understand their concerns. This aligns with the PMI's stakeholder engagement best practices, which emphasize early communication and issue identification before escalating or documenting. By meeting with the sales stakeholder, the project manager can gather specific details about resource conflicts and work collaboratively to find a resolution, which is critical in the initiation phase of a marketing campaign project.
JA
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.