The correct next step is to analyze the situation, implement a workaround, and communicate the impact to stakeholders. This is because when a planned risk response proves insufficient to fully mitigate the impact, the project manager must immediately assess the residual effects, deploy an unplanned workaround to address the emerging issue, and keep stakeholders informed to maintain transparency. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the risk response process and the distinction between a planned response and a workaround—a common trap is choosing to update the risk register first, but action and communication take priority. A helpful memory tip is the “A-W-C” sequence: Analyze the gap, Workaround the problem, Communicate the impact.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 risk review meeting, a risk that was identified and registered occurs. The risk response plan is implemented, but it does not fully mitigate the impact, and the project is now behind schedule. What should the project manager do NEXT?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Analyze the situation, implement a workaround, and communicate the impact to stakeholders.
Option A is correct because when a risk response plan fails to fully mitigate the impact, the project manager must immediately analyze the situation to understand the residual effect, implement a workaround (an unplanned response to an emerging issue), and communicate the impact to stakeholders. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's guidance on managing risks and issues: after a risk occurs and the planned response is insufficient, the PM must take corrective action and keep stakeholders informed to maintain transparency and support decision-making.
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.
✓
Analyze the situation, implement a workaround, and communicate the impact to stakeholders.
Why this is correct
This is the proactive response: analyze, implement workaround, and communicate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Blame the risk owner for inadequate response planning.
Why it's wrong here
Blaming is not constructive; focus on resolving the issue.
✗
Update the risk register and continue with the project as planned.
Why it's wrong here
The PM should address the residual impact, not just update the register.
✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for guidance.
Why it's wrong here
Escalation may be needed, but first the PM should analyze and attempt a workaround.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'update the risk register' (Option C) as the immediate next step, but the PM must first address the schedule impact with a workaround before updating documentation, as the project is already behind schedule and requires action, not just record-keeping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In risk management, a workaround is an unplanned response to a risk that has occurred, used when the planned risk response is insufficient or when no response was planned. The PMBOK Guide distinguishes between workarounds (for risks) and corrective actions (for issues), but in practice, when a risk materializes and its response fails, the PM must treat it as an issue and apply a workaround to minimize impact. The key subtlety is that the risk register should be updated after the workaround is implemented, not before, to reflect the actual outcome and lessons learned.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
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: Analyze the situation, implement a workaround, and communicate the impact to stakeholders. — Option A is correct because when a risk response plan fails to fully mitigate the impact, the project manager must immediately analyze the situation to understand the residual effect, implement a workaround (an unplanned response to an emerging issue), and communicate the impact to stakeholders. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's guidance on managing risks and issues: after a risk occurs and the planned response is insufficient, the PM must take corrective action and keep stakeholders informed to maintain transparency and support decision-making.
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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Question Discussion
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