- A
Assess the impact of the new feature on scope, schedule, and cost in preparation for a formal change request
Even if bypassed, the PM should be prepared to handle the change properly.
- B
Immediately escalate the issue to the project sponsor
Why wrong: Escalation should be a last resort after direct communication fails.
- C
Tell the team to ignore the executive's request
Why wrong: The team should not ignore a senior stakeholder; the PM should handle the situation directly.
- D
Meet privately with the executive to explain the impact of bypassing the change control process and request that all changes go through you
This addresses the root cause and reinforces proper channels.
- E
Ask the team to implement the feature as requested by the executive
Why wrong: This violates change control and undermines the project manager's authority.
PMP Practice Question: Business Environment: strategy and project benefits
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of business environment: strategy and project benefits. 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.
Your project is in the execution phase when an executive stakeholder bypasses you and gives direct orders to the team to add a new feature. This feature is not in the scope. Which TWO actions should you take?
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
Assess the impact of the new feature on scope, schedule, and cost in preparation for a formal change request
Options A and D are correct. The PM should first meet privately with the executive to explain the importance of following the change control process and to prevent future bypasses, then formally assess the impact of the requested feature on scope, schedule, and cost via a change request. Option B is premature escalation without attempting direct communication. Option C is confrontational and may damage stakeholder relationships. Option E violates change control and 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.
- ✓
Assess the impact of the new feature on scope, schedule, and cost in preparation for a formal change request
Why this is correct
Even if bypassed, the PM should be prepared to handle the change properly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Immediately escalate the issue to the project sponsor
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should be a last resort after direct communication fails.
- ✗
Tell the team to ignore the executive's request
Why it's wrong here
The team should not ignore a senior stakeholder; the PM should handle the situation directly.
- ✓
Meet privately with the executive to explain the impact of bypassing the change control process and request that all changes go through you
Why this is correct
This addresses the root cause and reinforces proper channels.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ask the team to implement the feature as requested by the executive
Why it's wrong here
This violates change control and undermines the project manager's authority.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
The team should not ignore a senior stakeholder; the PM should handle the situation directly.
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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Business Environment: strategy and project benefits — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
Business Environment: strategy and project benefits — This question tests Business Environment: strategy and project benefits — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Assess the impact of the new feature on scope, schedule, and cost in preparation for a formal change request — Options A and D are correct. The PM should first meet privately with the executive to explain the importance of following the change control process and to prevent future bypasses, then formally assess the impact of the requested feature on scope, schedule, and cost via a change request. Option B is premature escalation without attempting direct communication. Option C is confrontational and may damage stakeholder relationships. Option E violates change control and could lead to scope creep.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 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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