- A
Meet with the executive stakeholder to explain the project's change control process and the importance of proper communication channels
This proactive communication reinforces governance and prevents future bypassing.
- B
Ignore the issue and allow the feature to be added to maintain stakeholder satisfaction
Why wrong: Ignoring process violations can lead to scope creep and loss of control.
- C
Reprimand the team member for accepting instructions without your approval
Why wrong: The team member was following a stakeholder's instruction; the PM should address the stakeholder.
- D
Add the feature to the backlog and treat it as a priority
Why wrong: Adding the feature without going through change control sets a bad precedent.
Question 120 of 892
Handling Executive Stakeholder Bypassing the Project Manager
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 hybrid project, an executive stakeholder bypasses you and directly instructs a team member to add a new feature. The team member is now confused about priorities. What should you 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.
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
✓
Meet with the executive stakeholder to explain the project's change control process and the importance of proper communication channels
Option A is correct because, as the project manager, you must first address the root cause of the confusion—the executive stakeholder's bypass of the formal change control process. By meeting with the executive, you reinforce the importance of proper communication channels and the change control board (CCB) process, which protects the project from scope creep and ensures all changes are evaluated for impact on cost, schedule, and quality. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's principle of managing stakeholder engagement and maintaining a single point of accountability for project decisions.
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.
- ✓
Meet with the executive stakeholder to explain the project's change control process and the importance of proper communication channels
Why this is correct
This proactive communication reinforces governance and prevents future bypassing.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ignore the issue and allow the feature to be added to maintain stakeholder satisfaction
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring process violations can lead to scope creep and loss of control.
- ✗
Reprimand the team member for accepting instructions without your approval
Why it's wrong here
The team member was following a stakeholder's instruction; the PM should address the stakeholder.
- ✗
Add the feature to the backlog and treat it as a priority
Why it's wrong here
Adding the feature without going through change control sets a bad precedent.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option D (adding the feature to the backlog) because it seems like a quick, agile-friendly fix, but this ignores the need to first address the process violation and the stakeholder's behavior, which is the root cause of the confusion.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a hybrid project, the change control process typically involves a formal change request submitted to a change control board (CCB) for impact analysis on the triple constraint (scope, time, cost). The executive stakeholder's direct instruction bypasses this process, creating a 'rogue change' that can cause misalignment with the project's baseline. The project manager must act as the single point of integration, using techniques like the 'escalation path' defined in the communications management plan to address such breaches without alienating the stakeholder, often by scheduling a private meeting to discuss the impact on the project's key performance indicators (KPIs) and the risk of rework.
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
- →
People — Leading Projects practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PMP questions
892 questions across all exam domains
- →
Project Management Professional PMP study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PMP practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PMP practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
People — Leading Projects practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to People — Leading Projects.
Process — Managing Technical Aspects practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to Process — Managing Technical Aspects.
Business Environment — Strategy and Value practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to Business Environment — Strategy and Value.
Business Environment: strategy and project benefits practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to Business Environment: strategy and project benefits.
PMP fundamentals practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to PMP fundamentals.
PMP scenario practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to PMP scenario.
PMP troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to PMP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PMP practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Meet with the executive stakeholder to explain the project's change control process and the importance of proper communication channels — Option A is correct because, as the project manager, you must first address the root cause of the confusion—the executive stakeholder's bypass of the formal change control process. By meeting with the executive, you reinforce the importance of proper communication channels and the change control board (CCB) process, which protects the project from scope creep and ensures all changes are evaluated for impact on cost, schedule, and quality. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's principle of managing stakeholder engagement and maintaining a single point of accountability for project decisions.
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.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
5 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. An executive stakeholder bypasses you and gives direct instructions to a team member to add a new feature immediately. The team member is confused and asks you what to do. What should you do FIRST?
hard- A.Tell the team member to follow the executive's instructions to avoid conflict
- ✓ B.Speak privately with the executive to explain the change control process and request they route requests through you
- C.Ask the team member to ignore the executive's instructions
- D.Submit a change request for the new feature without further discussion
Why B: Option B is correct because as the project manager, you are responsible for maintaining the change control process and protecting the team from scope creep. Speaking privately with the executive allows you to professionally reinforce the proper escalation path and ensure all changes are evaluated for impact on cost, schedule, and quality before implementation.
Variation 2. You are managing a project where a key executive stakeholder bypasses you and gives direct orders to the development team. The team is confused about priorities. What should you do first?
easy- A.Tell the team to follow the executive's orders to avoid conflict
- B.Report the executive's behavior to the project sponsor
- ✓ C.Schedule a meeting with the executive to discuss the impact of bypassing the PM and reinforce the communication plan
- D.Update the communication plan to include the executive's approach
Why C: Option C is correct because the first action should be to address the root cause of the confusion—the executive's bypassing behavior—by scheduling a private meeting to discuss its impact on project priorities and team morale, and to reinforce the established communication plan. This aligns with the PMP's focus on proactive stakeholder management and conflict resolution, ensuring the project manager maintains authority and clarity without escalating prematurely.
Variation 3. During a project status meeting, an executive stakeholder bypasses you and directly instructs a team member to add a new feature to the current sprint. The team member looks confused. What should you do FIRST?
medium- ✓ A.After the meeting, privately remind the executive about the change control process and offer to submit a change request
- B.Ignore the situation and continue the meeting
- C.Tell the team member to add the feature as requested to satisfy the stakeholder
- D.Immediately interrupt the executive and explain that all changes must go through you
Why A: Option A is correct because the PM must protect the team from scope creep while maintaining stakeholder relationships. Privately reminding the executive about the change control process and offering to submit a change request addresses the issue diplomatically, enforces the formal change management system, and ensures the team member is not put in a conflicting position. This aligns with the PMP's focus on leading through influence rather than confrontation.
Variation 4. An executive stakeholder bypasses the project manager and directly instructs a team member to work on a new feature not in the project scope. The team member is confused. What should the project manager do FIRST?
hard- A.Reprimand the team member for following instructions without consulting the PM
- B.Instruct the team member to ignore the executive's request
- ✓ C.Tell the executive stakeholder that they must go through the PM for all requests
- D.Submit a change request for the new feature
Why C: Option C is correct because the project manager must first address the governance breach by directly communicating with the executive stakeholder to reinforce the established communication management plan. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's principle that all formal requests should flow through the project manager to maintain scope control and prevent unauthorized work. The immediate action is to clarify the process, not to escalate or submit a change request without understanding the stakeholder's intent.
Variation 5. During a hybrid project, the product owner frequently bypasses you and gives direct instructions to the development team. The team is confused about priorities, and scope creep is occurring. What should you do FIRST?
medium- ✓ A.Speak privately with the product owner to explain the impact on the team and request that instructions go through you
- B.Tell the team to ignore instructions from the product owner
- C.Escalate to the project sponsor for resolution
- D.Update the team charter to include a communication protocol
Why A: Option A is correct because the first step in resolving a conflict between the product owner and the development team is to have a private, respectful conversation with the product owner. This allows you to explain the negative impact of bypassing you—such as team confusion, priority misalignment, and scope creep—and request that all instructions be routed through you to maintain the agreed-upon workflow and protect the team's focus.
Keep practising
More PMP practice questions
- During a sprint review, the product owner rejects a completed user story because it does not meet the acceptance criteri…
- During a daily standup, a developer mentions she is blocked by a dependency from another team. The issue was not previou…
- A project manager is leading a digital transformation initiative. Midway through the project, a new regulation is introd…
- Your project is a large infrastructure build. You have completed the planning phase, but the sponsor has put pressure on…
- You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner reque…
- Your agile project has been experiencing declining velocity over the last three sprints. During the retrospective, the t…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.