Question 338 of 892

Process — Managing Technical Aspects →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Executing a Risk Response That Delays the Schedule

This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.

You are managing a project where a risk identified in the risk register has occurred. The risk response plan calls for mitigation, but the mitigation action will delay the critical path by 2 weeks. The project has no schedule reserve. What should the project manager do FIRST?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.

A
Avoid implementing the risk response to protect the schedule
Why wrong: Avoiding implementation is wrong because the risk response must be executed to address the risk; the schedule impact should be managed through change control.
B
Use schedule compression techniques to offset the delay before implementing the response
Why wrong: Schedule compression may be an option to mitigate the delay, but it should be considered after implementing the response and understanding the full impact; it is not the first action.
C
Implement the risk response as planned and then submit a change request for the schedule delay
Correct: Implement the risk response as planned, then assess the schedule impact and submit a change request to formally adjust the schedule.
D
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for a decision
Why wrong: Escalation to sponsor is premature; the PM should first implement the response and assess the impact before seeking a decision.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Implement the risk response as planned and then submit a change request for the schedule delay

Option C is correct because the risk response should be implemented as planned to address the risk; then the PM should assess the impact and submit a change request for the schedule delay (since no reserve). Option A is wrong because ignoring the risk response could have negative consequences; the response must be implemented. Option B is wrong because schedule compression techniques may be considered after the impact is known and after implementing the response, not before. Option D is wrong because the PM should first implement the response and assess impact before escalating; escalation is premature at this point.

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.

✗
Avoid implementing the risk response to protect the schedule
Why it's wrong here
Avoiding implementation is wrong because the risk response must be executed to address the risk; the schedule impact should be managed through change control.
✗
Use schedule compression techniques to offset the delay before implementing the response
Why it's wrong here
Schedule compression may be an option to mitigate the delay, but it should be considered after implementing the response and understanding the full impact; it is not the first action.
✓
Implement the risk response as planned and then submit a change request for the schedule delay
Why this is correct
Correct: Implement the risk response as planned, then assess the schedule impact and submit a change request to formally adjust the schedule.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for a decision
Why it's wrong here
Escalation to sponsor is premature; the PM should first implement the response and assess the impact before seeking a decision.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

Underline the problem statement mentally.
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 PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PMP question test?

Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Implement the risk response as planned and then submit a change request for the schedule delay — Option C is correct because the risk response should be implemented as planned to address the risk; then the PM should assess the impact and submit a change request for the schedule delay (since no reserve). Option A is wrong because ignoring the risk response could have negative consequences; the response must be implemented. Option B is wrong because schedule compression techniques may be considered after the impact is known and after implementing the response, not before. Option D is wrong because the PM should first implement the response and assess impact before escalating; escalation is premature at this point.

What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

About these practice questions

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Same concept, more angles

2 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. Midway through your project, a key vendor informs you that they cannot deliver a critical component on time, which will impact the critical path. The risk was identified in the risk register with a 'mitigate' response. What should you do FIRST?

medium

A.Inform the sponsor of the delay and request additional budget
B.Issue a change request to update the project schedule
✓ C.Implement the contingency plan that was developed for this risk
D.Meet with the vendor to negotiate an expedited delivery

Why C: Since the risk was already identified and a 'mitigate' response was planned, the correct first action is to implement the contingency plan that was developed for this risk. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's risk response execution process, where pre-planned actions are taken immediately when the risk trigger occurs, without waiting for additional approvals or negotiations.

Variation 2. You are the project manager for a large infrastructure upgrade project. The project involves deploying new servers across multiple data centers. During the execution phase, you receive a report that one of the critical servers has failed a security compliance test. The security team states that the server must be reconfigured and retested, which will take two days. However, this server is on the critical path and any delay will push the project completion date. Your sponsor is pressing you to meet the original deadline. The project has a contingency reserve for schedule risks. What is the best course of action?

hard

A.Instruct the team to skip the retest and proceed with deployment to meet the deadline.
B.Request additional funds from the management reserve to hire external consultants to resolve the issue faster.
✓ C.Use the contingency reserve to cover the two-day delay and inform the sponsor that the schedule will be extended accordingly.
D.Implement schedule compression techniques such as fast tracking to recover the two days.

Why C: Option C is correct because the project has a contingency reserve specifically allocated for schedule risks, and the two-day delay caused by the security compliance failure is a known risk that the reserve is designed to cover. Using the contingency reserve allows the team to properly reconfigure and retest the server, ensuring security compliance without compromising project quality, while formally extending the schedule with sponsor awareness.

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