When a Risk Occurs: Implement Accept Response and Inform Stakeholders
During a construction project, you discover that a critical supplier will not be able to deliver steel beams on time due to a labor strike. This risk was identified and listed in the risk register with a planned response of 'accept.' However, the delay will cause a 2-week slip in the critical path. What should you do?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to inform stakeholders of the delay and implement the risk response plan of acceptance while monitoring for secondary risks. This is correct because when a risk occurs, the project manager must execute the pre-planned response from the risk register—in this case, acceptance—but acceptance does not mean inaction; it requires communicating the impact to stakeholders, as the risk has materialized and affects the critical path. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding that the “accept” strategy still demands proactive stakeholder communication and ongoing monitoring for secondary risks, a common trap where candidates mistakenly think acceptance means doing nothing or escalating unnecessarily. Remember the memory tip: “Accept and inform, don’t just conform”—implement the planned response, then notify stakeholders of the delay and watch for new risks.
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
✓
Inform stakeholders of the delay and implement the risk response plan of acceptance while monitoring for secondary risks
When a risk occurs, the project manager must implement the planned risk response. Since the response was 'accept,' the team accepts the consequences, but this does not mean doing nothing. The PM must communicate the impact to stakeholders and monitor for secondary risks that may arise from the accepted risk. Therefore, informing stakeholders and continuing to monitor is the appropriate action. Option A (activating fallback plan) is incorrect because there is no fallback plan; the response was acceptance. Option B (doing nothing) is wrong because even with acceptance, communication and monitoring are required. Option C (escalating) is not necessary as the risk response plan already addressed acceptance, and escalation is not automatically required.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Activate the fallback plan to mitigate the delay by fast-tracking subsequent activities
Why it's wrong here
The risk was accepted, so there is no fallback plan unless specified. If there were a fallback, it would have been part of the response. The correct action is to implement the planned response.
- ✗
Do nothing since the risk was accepted, and proceed with the current plan
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance means acknowledging the risk, but you still need to communicate the impact and update the plan accordingly.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor immediately to request additional resources
Why it's wrong here
Escalation is not appropriate because the risk was accepted and a response was planned. The PM should execute the plan.
- ✓
Inform stakeholders of the delay and implement the risk response plan of acceptance while monitoring for secondary risks
Why this is correct
The correct action is to implement the planned response (accept) and communicate. The PM should also update the schedule and monitor secondary risks.
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Same concept, more angles
3 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. 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: Since the risk has occurred and a mitigation plan existed, the PM should implement the planned response. If it is insufficient, then additional responses should be developed. Communicating to stakeholders is also important but the immediate action is to implement the response.
Variation 2. 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?
hard- ✓ A.Implement the mitigation plan from the risk register
- B.Immediately escalate the issue to the project sponsor
- C.Accept the delay and update the project schedule
- D.Crash the schedule by adding resources to other tasks
Why A: 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.
Variation 3. 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: Since the risk response plan already identified the backup supplier, the PM should implement the planned response. Activating the contingency plan is the correct proactive step. Communicating with stakeholders is important but secondary to executing the response.
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.