PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
A key stakeholder has been bypassing the project manager and giving direct instructions to team members, causing confusion about priorities. What should the project manager do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates choose to escalate (Option C) or document (Option B) first, when PMI expects direct, respectful communication with the stakeholder as the initial corrective action, not bypassing the issue through formal channels.
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
✓
Schedule a meeting with the stakeholder to discuss the importance of following the communication plan.
The first step in resolving stakeholder interference is to address the issue directly with the stakeholder through a meeting, reinforcing the communication plan established during project planning. This aligns with PMI's principle of proactive stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution at the lowest appropriate level, ensuring clarity on roles and reporting structures without escalating prematurely.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Schedule a meeting with the stakeholder to discuss the importance of following the communication plan.
Why this is correct
This is the most appropriate first step as it demonstrates proactive stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution at the lowest possible level. By scheduling a direct meeting, the Project Manager can clarify the established communication protocols outlined in the communication management plan, reinforce the importance of adhering to these channels, and understand the stakeholder's motivation for bypassing the PM. This direct approach helps manage expectations, maintain project control, and preserve the working relationship.
- ✗
Update the stakeholder management plan to include this stakeholder.
Why it's wrong here
Updating the stakeholder management plan is an administrative action that does not directly address the immediate behavioral issue of a stakeholder bypassing established communication channels. The problem is not that this stakeholder is missing from the plan, but rather that they are not adhering to the existing processes. While plans are iterative, a documentation update alone will not resolve the current non-compliance or prevent future occurrences of this disruptive behavior.
- ✗
Report the stakeholder's behavior to the project sponsor.
Why it's wrong here
Reporting the stakeholder's behavior directly to the project sponsor without first attempting to resolve the issue personally is an premature escalation. The Project Manager is primarily responsible for managing stakeholder relationships and resolving conflicts at their level. Escalating immediately undermines the PM's authority, can damage the relationship with the stakeholder, and should only be considered if direct intervention proves ineffective or if the behavior poses a significant, unresolvable threat to the project.
- ✗
Instruct the team to ignore any instructions from the stakeholder.
Why it's wrong here
Instructing the team to ignore a key stakeholder's instructions is a highly confrontational and unprofessional response that is detrimental to project success. This action would create confusion and potential insubordination within the team, damage the relationship with the stakeholder, and could lead to significant project delays or rework if critical information or legitimate requests are missed. The PM's role is to facilitate communication and resolve issues, not to create further conflict.
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution is the process of addressing and resolving disagreements between team members or stakeholders to maintain a productive and collaborative project environment.
Key term
Project Management Plan
A formal, approved document that defines how a project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, serving as the single source of truth for the project team.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PMP practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 PMP exam.