- A
Politely interrupt the executive and explain that changes must go through the formal change control process, then schedule a meeting to discuss the request
This upholds project governance and demonstrates leadership by addressing the issue respectfully and immediately.
- B
Note the request and discuss it with the executive after the meeting
Why wrong: Addressing it immediately is important to prevent unauthorized work.
- C
Send an email to the executive after the meeting explaining the change control process
Why wrong: Delayed response may result in the team member starting work on the change.
- D
Allow the team member to follow the executive's instruction to maintain stakeholder satisfaction
Why wrong: Bypassing change control can lead to scope creep and project failure.
Quick Answer
The correct choice is to politely interrupt the executive and explain that changes must go through the formal change control process, then schedule a meeting to discuss the request. This is correct because the project manager’s primary duty is to protect the project’s scope, schedule, and budget by upholding the integrated change control process as defined in the PMBOK Guide; allowing an executive to bypass change control introduces unauthorized changes that lead directly to scope creep and loss of control. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your ability to handle executive bypassing change control with professional assertiveness—a common trap is to avoid confronting the executive out of deference, but the exam rewards proactive leadership that respects the process over hierarchy. A useful memory tip is “Politely Pivot and Plan”: Politely interrupt, explain the process, then schedule a formal review.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
During a project status meeting, an executive stakeholder interrupts and instructs a team member to change a deliverable without going through change control. The team member looks to you for guidance. What should you do?
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
Politely interrupt the executive and explain that changes must go through the formal change control process, then schedule a meeting to discuss the request
Option A is correct because the project manager must uphold the change control process to protect the project's scope, schedule, and budget. By politely interrupting the executive and explaining the need for formal change control, you demonstrate leadership and adherence to the PMBOK Guide's principles. Scheduling a follow-up meeting ensures the request is properly evaluated through the integrated change control process, preventing unauthorized changes that could lead to scope creep.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Politely interrupt the executive and explain that changes must go through the formal change control process, then schedule a meeting to discuss the request
Why this is correct
This upholds project governance and demonstrates leadership by addressing the issue respectfully and immediately.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Note the request and discuss it with the executive after the meeting
Why it's wrong here
Addressing it immediately is important to prevent unauthorized work.
- ✗
Send an email to the executive after the meeting explaining the change control process
Why it's wrong here
Delayed response may result in the team member starting work on the change.
- ✗
Allow the team member to follow the executive's instruction to maintain stakeholder satisfaction
Why it's wrong here
Bypassing change control can lead to scope creep and project failure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option B or C, thinking it is more diplomatic to avoid confrontation, but the PMP exam tests your ability to enforce the change control process in real time to protect project integrity and provide clear guidance to the team.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The integrated change control process, as defined in the PMBOK Guide, requires that all change requests be documented, reviewed, and approved or rejected by the change control board (CCB) or authorized stakeholder. This process ensures that changes are evaluated for their impact on the project's triple constraint (scope, time, cost) and that baseline documents are updated accordingly. In a real-world scenario, bypassing this process could lead to a deliverable that does not meet acceptance criteria, causing rework and stakeholder dissatisfaction later.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PMP exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
People — Leading Projects — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Politely interrupt the executive and explain that changes must go through the formal change control process, then schedule a meeting to discuss the request — Option A is correct because the project manager must uphold the change control process to protect the project's scope, schedule, and budget. By politely interrupting the executive and explaining the need for formal change control, you demonstrate leadership and adherence to the PMBOK Guide's principles. Scheduling a follow-up meeting ensures the request is properly evaluated through the integrated change control process, preventing unauthorized changes that could lead to scope creep.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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