PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
An executive stakeholder has been bypassing you and giving direct instructions to your team, causing confusion and scope creep. What should you do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often choose to escalate immediately (Option D) or take a confrontational approach (Option A), failing to recognize that the PM should first attempt to resolve the issue through direct communication as outlined in the communication management plan.
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 stakeholder to discuss the issue and reinforce the project's communication management plan
The first step in resolving stakeholder interference is to address the issue directly with the stakeholder through a meeting, reinforcing the communication management plan. This plan defines how information flows, including who can give instructions to the team, and is a key tool in managing stakeholder expectations and preventing scope creep. By discussing the issue, you can clarify roles, re-establish agreed-upon channels, and avoid further confusion 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.
- ✗
Instruct the team to ignore any instructions from the stakeholder
Why it's wrong here
Instructing the team to ignore a stakeholder's directives is a confrontational and unprofessional approach that directly violates principles of collaborative stakeholder management. This action would severely damage the project manager's relationship with the executive stakeholder, creating unnecessary conflict and potentially undermining team morale by placing them in an awkward position between conflicting authorities. Such a unilateral decision bypasses proper communication channels and issue resolution protocols.
- ✓
Meet with the stakeholder to discuss the issue and reinforce the project's communication management plan
Why this is correct
Meeting directly with the executive stakeholder to discuss their communication approach and reinforce the established communication management plan is the most appropriate and professional first step. This proactive engagement allows for respectful clarification of roles, expectations, and agreed-upon communication channels, ensuring project control and preventing further miscommunications. It demonstrates the project manager's commitment to collaborative problem-solving and adherence to project governance.
- ✗
Update the stakeholder engagement plan without informing the stakeholder
Why it's wrong here
Updating the stakeholder engagement plan without informing the affected stakeholder is a non-transparent and potentially counterproductive action. While the plan is a living document, making changes related to a specific stakeholder's behavior without their knowledge undermines trust and the collaborative spirit essential for effective stakeholder management. This approach fails to address the root cause of the communication breakdown directly and could lead to further misunderstandings or resentment.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor immediately
Why it's wrong here
Escalating the issue immediately to the project sponsor without first attempting to resolve it directly with the executive stakeholder is premature and bypasses the project manager's primary responsibility for issue resolution. Project managers are expected to utilize their communication and negotiation skills to manage stakeholder conflicts at their level before involving higher authority. Immediate escalation can be perceived as an inability to manage issues and may strain relationships with both the stakeholder and the sponsor.
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