PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
A project is using a predictive approach. The project manager discovers that a team member has been gold-plating by adding extra features to a deliverable without authorization. What should the project manager do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse 'going above and beyond' with good performance, but the PMP exam strictly penalizes any unauthorized scope additions, regardless of intent, because they violate the predictive methodology's core principle of controlled scope.
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
✓
Meet with the team member to discuss the issue and explain that only approved scope should be worked on.
In a predictive (waterfall) project, scope is strictly controlled through a formal change control process. Gold-plating—adding unauthorized features—violates this control and introduces risks like scope creep, budget overruns, and schedule delays. The project manager's first action must be to address the behavior directly with the team member, reinforcing that only approved scope should be worked on, before any further steps like change requests are considered.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Meet with the team member to discuss the issue and explain that only approved scope should be worked on.
Why this is correct
In a predictive project, unauthorized work constitutes scope creep and directly violates the approved scope baseline. The project manager's immediate responsibility is to address this deviation directly with the team member, explaining the critical importance of adhering strictly to the defined and approved scope. This action ensures scope integrity, prevents gold-plating, and reinforces proper project governance.
- ✗
Praise the team member for going above and beyond to satisfy the customer.
Why it's wrong here
Praising a team member for gold-plating, which is adding features beyond the approved scope, is detrimental to project success in a predictive environment. This action introduces unnecessary costs, extends schedules, and increases project risk without formal approval or a clear business justification. It undermines scope control and sets a precedent for unauthorized work, potentially leading to project failure.
- ✗
Submit a change request to formally approve the extra features.
Why it's wrong here
While a change request is the formal mechanism for modifying approved scope, submitting one for already completed or ongoing unauthorized work is premature and inappropriate as an immediate first step. The project manager must first stop the unapproved work and address the team member's actions directly. Only after halting the deviation and understanding the implications should the team evaluate if the proposed features have merit for a formal change request.
- ✗
Ignore it because it might improve customer satisfaction.
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring unauthorized work, even if it appears to enhance customer satisfaction, is a critical lapse in project management oversight within a predictive framework. This inaction directly leads to uncontrolled scope creep, budget overruns, and schedule delays, as resources are diverted from approved tasks. Furthermore, it establishes a dangerous precedent that undermines project governance and the authority of the approved scope baseline.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Change Control Process
A formal, structured procedure used to manage any changes to a project's scope, schedule, budget, or requirements, ensuring every modification is reviewed, approved, tested, and documented before implementation.
About these practice questions
This PMP question is part of Courseiva's 800-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.