PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
During project execution, a project manager discovers that a key stakeholder is dissatisfied with the team's communication. The stakeholder feels left out of decisions and receives information too late. Which THREE actions should the project manager take to address this?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often think waiting for the next feedback cycle (Option C) is a standard process, but in reality, urgent stakeholder concerns require immediate action to prevent escalation.
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
✓
Invite the stakeholder to relevant project meetings and decision points.
Inviting the stakeholder to relevant meetings and decision points directly addresses their feeling of being left out. This action ensures the stakeholder is included in the communication loop and can participate in decisions that affect them, which is a key aspect of stakeholder engagement in project management.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Invite the stakeholder to relevant project meetings and decision points.
Why this is correct
Inviting the stakeholder to relevant project meetings and decision points directly addresses disengagement by fostering a sense of inclusion and ownership. This proactive approach ensures their perspectives are heard and considered in real-time, which is critical for building trust and aligning expectations. By participating in key discussions, the stakeholder gains transparency into project progress and challenges, enhancing their commitment to successful outcomes.
- ✓
Update the communications management plan to include the stakeholder's preferred frequency and channels.
Why this is correct
Updating the communications management plan to reflect the stakeholder's preferred frequency and channels is a formal and adaptive response to their specific needs. This action ensures that information is delivered in a manner most effective for them, preventing miscommunication and information overload. Tailoring communication strategies, as outlined in the plan, is essential for maintaining effective information flow and managing stakeholder expectations throughout the project lifecycle.
- ✗
Wait until the next stakeholder feedback cycle to address concerns.
Why it's wrong here
Waiting until the next scheduled stakeholder feedback cycle to address immediate concerns is a reactive and potentially detrimental approach. This delay can allow minor issues to escalate into significant problems, erode stakeholder trust, and increase the risk of negative engagement. Effective stakeholder management requires timely intervention and proactive communication to resolve issues as they arise, preventing further disengagement or opposition.
- ✗
Reduce the number of status meetings to avoid information overload.
Why it's wrong here
Reducing the number of status meetings, under the assumption of avoiding information overload, is a misdiagnosis that could further alienate a disengaged stakeholder. This action might inadvertently decrease transparency and limit opportunities for direct interaction, making the stakeholder feel even more excluded or uninformed. Instead of reducing communication, the project manager should tailor the content and format to be more relevant and digestible, ensuring effective information exchange.
- ✓
Provide the stakeholder with early access to project dashboards and reports.
Why this is correct
Providing the stakeholder with early and direct access to project dashboards and reports empowers them with self-service information, fostering transparency and autonomy. This approach allows the stakeholder to independently monitor progress and key metrics at their convenience, reducing the need for constant updates and ad-hoc requests. Such timely and accessible information builds confidence and trust, enabling more informed decision-making on their part.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Training and Development
Training and Development is the process of enhancing team members' skills, knowledge, and competencies to improve project performance and achieve career growth.
Key term
Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder engagement is the process of identifying people or groups who have an interest in a project and actively involving them through communication and collaboration to meet their needs and expectations.
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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.