PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
An executive stakeholder bypasses the project manager and directly instructs a team member to work on a new feature not in the project scope. The team member is confused. What should the project manager do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently choose Option D (submit a change request) because it seems proactive, but the PM must first address the communication process violation before formalizing any scope change.
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
✓
Tell the executive stakeholder that they must go through the PM for all requests
The project manager must first address the governance breach by directly communicating with the executive stakeholder to reinforce the established communication management plan. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's principle that all formal requests should flow through the project manager to maintain scope control and prevent unauthorized work. The immediate action is to clarify the process, not to escalate or submit a change request without understanding the stakeholder's intent.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reprimand the team member for following instructions without consulting the PM
Why it's wrong here
Reprimanding the team member is counterproductive and damages team morale. The team member was placed in an untenable position, caught between an executive's direct instruction and established project protocols. A project manager's responsibility includes protecting the team from such conflicts and addressing the root cause of the communication breakdown, which lies with the executive's bypass, not the team member's compliance. This action would erode trust and psychological safety within the team.
- ✗
Instruct the team member to ignore the executive's request
Why it's wrong here
Instructing the team member to ignore an executive's request is an inappropriate and confrontational approach that escalates conflict rather than resolving it. Such an action directly challenges executive authority through a subordinate, potentially creating significant political issues for the project and the team member. The project manager's role is to manage stakeholder expectations and communication directly and professionally, reinforcing governance without creating unnecessary friction or putting team members in further difficult positions.
- ✓
Tell the executive stakeholder that they must go through the PM for all requests
Why this is correct
This is the most appropriate action because it directly addresses the breach in project governance and communication protocols. By privately and professionally reminding the executive stakeholder of the established communication channels, the project manager reasserts their authority and control over project scope, resources, and schedule. This approach reinforces the project's operating framework, preventing future unauthorized directives and ensuring all changes are processed through the formal change control system.
- ✗
Submit a change request for the new feature
Why it's wrong here
Submitting a change request immediately, without first addressing the executive's bypass, implicitly validates the executive's direct instruction and fails to correct the underlying governance issue. While a change request would eventually be necessary if the feature is to be implemented, the primary concern here is the breakdown in communication channels. The project manager must first re-establish proper project authority and communication protocols before proceeding with formal change management processes.
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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.