The answer is frequent changes to project scope without formal approval and lack of clear communication channels. These are two critical project failure risk indicators because, under ISACA’s project governance framework, uncontrolled scope creep erodes baseline controls and budget predictability, while undefined communication paths prevent effective status escalation and task coordination, directly increasing misalignment and failure probability. On the CISA exam, this concept tests your understanding of governance-level risk monitoring rather than technical project management; a common trap is confusing “frequent changes” with agile adaptability, but remember that ISACA emphasizes formal approval as a gate for any scope deviation. To recall these two indicators, use the mnemonic “Scope and Speak” — scope creep without approval and poor speaking (communication) channels signal imminent failure.
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems acquisition, development and implementation. 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.
Which TWO of the following are indicators that a project is at risk of failure according to ISACA's project governance framework?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Lack of clear communication channels among team members.
Option B is correct because ISACA's project governance framework identifies lack of clear communication channels as a key risk indicator. Without defined communication paths, team members cannot effectively share status updates, escalate issues, or coordinate tasks, leading to misalignment and increased failure probability.
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.
✗
Regular status meetings with stakeholders.
Why it's wrong here
Regular meetings are a positive practice.
✓
Lack of clear communication channels among team members.
Why this is correct
Poor communication causes misunderstandings and delays.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Adoption of iterative development.
Why it's wrong here
Iterative development is a methodology, not a risk indicator.
✓
Frequent changes to project scope without formal approval.
Why this is correct
Uncontrolled scope changes lead to cost and schedule overruns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use of a project management office (PMO).
Why it's wrong here
PMO provides oversight and is beneficial.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse a lack of communication channels with other common risk factors like scope creep, but ISACA specifically lists communication breakdowns as a distinct risk indicator separate from scope change management.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ISACA's project governance framework emphasizes that communication channels must be formally defined in the project communication plan, including escalation paths and frequency of updates. In practice, a lack of clear channels often manifests as missed milestone notifications, unresolved technical dependencies, or stakeholders receiving conflicting information, which can cascade into scope creep or budget overruns. The framework aligns with PMBOK's communication management knowledge area, where a communication matrix specifies who receives what information and when.
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.
Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — This question tests Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Lack of clear communication channels among team members. — Option B is correct because ISACA's project governance framework identifies lack of clear communication channels as a key risk indicator. Without defined communication paths, team members cannot effectively share status updates, escalate issues, or coordinate tasks, leading to misalignment and increased failure probability.
What should I do if I get this CISA 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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This CISA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA 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 CISA exam.
Question Discussion
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