Question 603 of 892

People — Leading Projects →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Implementing Contingency Plans for Identified Risks

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.

A key vendor informs you that due to raw material shortages, they cannot deliver a critical component on time. This component is on the critical path. The risk register included this as a high-probability risk with a contingency plan to use an alternative supplier. 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.

A
Ask the project sponsor to approve the alternative supplier
Why wrong: The contingency plan should have pre-approved actions; the PM can implement it.
B
Replan the project schedule to accommodate the delay
Why wrong: Replanning without using the contingency plan may cause unnecessary delays.
C
Perform a new risk analysis to assess the impact
Why wrong: The risk was already identified and planned; re-assessing may delay response.
D
Activate the contingency plan and engage the alternative supplier
Since the risk was identified and a contingency plan exists, the PM should implement it.

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

✓

Activate the contingency plan and engage the alternative supplier

D is correct because the risk was already identified, assessed as high-probability, and a contingency plan (alternative supplier) was documented in the risk register. When the risk occurs, the first action is to execute the pre-approved contingency plan, not to reanalyze or seek new approvals, as the plan was already vetted during risk planning.

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.

✗
Ask the project sponsor to approve the alternative supplier
Why it's wrong here
The contingency plan should have pre-approved actions; the PM can implement it.
✗
Replan the project schedule to accommodate the delay
Why it's wrong here
Replanning without using the contingency plan may cause unnecessary delays.
✗
Perform a new risk analysis to assess the impact
Why it's wrong here
The risk was already identified and planned; re-assessing may delay response.
✓
Activate the contingency plan and engage the alternative supplier
Why this is correct
Since the risk was identified and a contingency plan exists, the PM should implement it.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates confuse the need for a new risk analysis or approval with the fact that the contingency plan was already approved and documented, leading them to waste time on unnecessary steps instead of executing the pre-planned response.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

In project risk management, a contingency plan is a pre-defined set of actions to be taken when a specific risk event occurs, and it is typically included in the risk register with a trigger condition. Activating the plan immediately upon trigger avoids schedule slippage on the critical path, as the alternative supplier should have been pre-qualified and ready to step in. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's 'Implement Risk Responses' process, which emphasizes executing planned responses without delay.

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.

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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: Activate the contingency plan and engage the alternative supplier — D is correct because the risk was already identified, assessed as high-probability, and a contingency plan (alternative supplier) was documented in the risk register. When the risk occurs, the first action is to execute the pre-approved contingency plan, not to reanalyze or seek new approvals, as the plan was already vetted during risk planning.

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

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Same concept, more angles

1 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. A key vendor informs you that they cannot deliver a critical component on time due to a raw material shortage. This component is on the critical path. The risk was identified and documented in the risk register. What should you do FIRST?

medium

A.Escalate the issue to the project sponsor
✓ B.Implement the contingency plan defined in the risk register
C.Contact the vendor to negotiate a new delivery date
D.Immediately look for an alternative vendor

Why B: Since the risk was already identified and documented in the risk register, the project team should have prepared a contingency plan for this specific scenario. The PMBOK Guide states that when a risk occurs, the first action is to implement the pre-defined contingency plan to minimize impact. This is a proactive, planned response rather than a reactive scramble, and it aligns with the 'Plan Risk Responses' and 'Implement Risk Responses' processes.

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Question Discussion

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