When a Risk Occurs: Implement Accept Response and Inform Stakeholders
A project manager is leading a construction project. The critical path has a total float of zero. A key supplier notifies you that a critical component will be delayed by two weeks, which will push the project beyond its deadline. The risk was identified and a mitigation plan exists. What should the PM do NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to escalation or schedule compression without first executing the planned risk response, confusing the order of actions in the risk management process.
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
✓
Implement the mitigation plan from the risk register
The risk was already identified and a mitigation plan exists in the risk register. The project manager should implement the mitigation plan as the next step, per the PMBOK Guide's risk response process, before escalating or changing the schedule. This ensures a proactive, planned response rather than a reactive or costly one.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Implement the mitigation plan from the risk register
Why this is correct
When a previously identified risk event materializes, the project manager's immediate and primary responsibility is to execute the pre-defined mitigation plan documented in the risk register. This proactive approach ensures that the project team leverages the planning efforts already invested, aiming to reduce the probability or impact of the adverse event. Implementing the planned response is the most efficient and effective way to manage known risks, aligning with best practices in risk management.
- ✗
Immediately escalate the issue to the project sponsor
Why it's wrong here
Immediately escalating the issue to the project sponsor is generally premature. While escalation is a valid risk response strategy for risks exceeding the project manager's authority or impact threshold, it should typically occur only after the pre-defined mitigation plan has been attempted and proven insufficient, or if no plan exists. Bypassing the established risk response process can lead to unnecessary sponsor involvement and may undermine the project manager's accountability.
- ✗
Accept the delay and update the project schedule
Why it's wrong here
Accepting the delay and updating the project schedule without first attempting the existing mitigation plan is a reactive and suboptimal approach. Acceptance, as a risk response strategy, is typically chosen when the cost of other responses outweighs the potential impact, or when no other viable response exists. Since a mitigation plan is already in place, the project manager has a responsibility to execute that plan before resorting to passive acceptance of the negative outcome.
- ✗
Crash the schedule by adding resources to other tasks
Why it's wrong here
Crashing the schedule, which involves adding resources to shorten the project duration, is a schedule compression technique often used as a corrective action for delays. However, it typically incurs additional costs and may introduce new risks. While it could be a viable option, it should be considered as a secondary response or a workaround if the primary, pre-defined mitigation plan proves ineffective or if the risk was unanticipated. The first step for an identified risk is always to implement its planned response.
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on PMP
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. During the execution phase of a construction project, you discover that a key vendor will not deliver steel beams on time, threatening the critical path. The risk was identified and the response plan was to use an approved backup supplier. What should you do NEXT?
easy- A.Ask the team to find a new vendor not on the approved list
- B.Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for a decision
- ✓ C.Contact the backup supplier immediately to activate the contract
- D.Update the risk register and wait for the vendor to confirm the delay
Why C: Because the risk was already identified and a response plan (use the approved backup supplier) was documented during risk planning, the correct next step is to execute that planned response. Contacting the backup supplier immediately activates the contingency and protects the critical path. Escalating or searching for unapproved vendors bypasses the risk management process that was already completed.
Variation 2. Your construction project is in the execution phase. You discover that a critical supplier will be unable to deliver steel beams for another three weeks due to a strike at their factory. This risk was identified and recorded in the risk register with a mitigation plan. What should you do next?
medium- ✓ A.Implement the mitigation plan that was prepared for this risk.
- B.Update the risk register and escalate to the project sponsor.
- C.Meet with the supplier to negotiate an earlier delivery date.
- D.Immediately inform the project sponsor and stakeholders about the delay.
Why A: The next step is to implement the mitigation plan that was prepared for this risk. Since the risk was identified and recorded in the risk register with a mitigation plan, the project manager should execute that plan to address the supplier delay.
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.