PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
In a hybrid project, the team is experiencing frequent interruptions from support requests that are not part of the project scope. The project manager wants to protect the team's focus. Which THREE actions should the project manager 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
✓
Update the risk register to reflect the ongoing risk of interruptions
Options C, D, and E are correct. Updating the risk register (C) captures the ongoing risk of interruptions, making it visible and manageable. Working with the product owner to rebase the schedule (D) adjusts the plan to account for the time lost and communicates impact transparently. Documenting and escalating support requests (E) ensures they are handled by the appropriate team, freeing the project team. Option A is incorrect because reassigning a team member full-time may not be efficient and does not solve the root cause. Option B is incorrect because ignoring interruptions will continue to impact focus and productivity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reassign a team member to handle all support requests full-time
Why it's wrong here
Reassigning a dedicated team member to full-time support is a significant resource reallocation that directly impacts the project's capacity to deliver planned features. This action would likely reduce the team's velocity and could jeopardize project schedule and scope objectives, requiring a thorough impact analysis and stakeholder consultation before implementation. It shifts the problem rather than resolving the root cause of interruptions.
- ✗
Ask the team to continue handling support requests as they come
Why it's wrong here
Asking the team to continue handling support requests ad hoc fails to address the core problem of frequent interruptions and fragmented focus. This approach will perpetuate reduced productivity, increase context-switching overhead, and inevitably lead to delays in project deliverables and potential burnout, directly contradicting effective project management principles. It offers no mitigation strategy.
- ✓
Update the risk register to reflect the ongoing risk of interruptions
Why this is correct
Updating the risk register is a fundamental project management process for formally acknowledging and tracking potential issues. By documenting "frequent interruptions" as an ongoing risk, the project manager can then systematically analyze its probability and impact, develop appropriate risk response strategies, and monitor its status, enabling proactive management rather than reactive problem-solving.
- ✓
Work with the product owner to rebase the schedule and communicate the impact to stakeholders
Why this is correct
Collaborating with the Product Owner to rebase the schedule acknowledges the reality of reduced team capacity due to interruptions and adjusts expectations accordingly. This proactive communication with stakeholders about the revised timeline demonstrates transparency and allows for informed decision-making, aligning project plans with current operational realities and managing expectations effectively.
- ✓
Document the support requests and escalate to the appropriate support team or manager
Why this is correct
Documenting support requests and escalating them to a dedicated support team or manager is an effective strategy to shield the project team from external distractions. This approach ensures that critical support issues are still addressed by the appropriate personnel, preventing the project team's focus from being derailed and allowing them to maintain progress on their primary deliverables.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.