- A
Contact the vendor and negotiate a new delivery date
Why wrong: This is reactive and may not be the planned response; the risk register should guide actions.
- B
Immediately place an order with a backup vendor
Why wrong: Without assessing the planned response, this could bypass the risk management process.
- C
Implement the risk response that was documented in the risk register
The risk response plan exists for this situation; executing it is the correct first step.
- D
Inform the sponsor and ask for instructions
Why wrong: The PM should take action based on the plan, not escalate without attempting the planned response first.
Question 485 of 892
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
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.
Midway through a construction project, a key vendor notifies you that they cannot deliver critical steel beams on time due to a factory fire. This risk was identified and included in the risk register. What should the PM 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
✓
Implement the risk response that was documented in the risk register
Since the risk was already identified and documented in the risk register, the project manager must first follow the pre-planned risk response. This ensures a structured, timely reaction without unnecessary escalation or ad-hoc decisions. Option C is correct because the risk response plan is the authoritative source for the first action when a known risk occurs.
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.
- ✗
Contact the vendor and negotiate a new delivery date
Why it's wrong here
This is reactive and may not be the planned response; the risk register should guide actions.
- ✗
Immediately place an order with a backup vendor
Why it's wrong here
Without assessing the planned response, this could bypass the risk management process.
- ✓
Implement the risk response that was documented in the risk register
Why this is correct
The risk response plan exists for this situation; executing it is the correct first step.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Inform the sponsor and ask for instructions
Why it's wrong here
The PM should take action based on the plan, not escalate without attempting the planned response first.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the need for immediate action (options A or B) with the correct process of first consulting the risk register, or they escalate prematurely (option D) instead of executing the pre-planned response.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In risk management, the risk register contains the risk response plan for each identified risk, which may include contingency plans, fallback plans, or workarounds. The PM must first execute the documented response (e.g., activating a pre-qualified backup vendor) to maintain control and avoid scope creep or schedule delays. Real-world example: a construction PM who immediately calls the backup vendor without checking the risk register might duplicate orders or violate contractual terms.
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
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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: Implement the risk response that was documented in the risk register — Since the risk was already identified and documented in the risk register, the project manager must first follow the pre-planned risk response. This ensures a structured, timely reaction without unnecessary escalation or ad-hoc decisions. Option C is correct because the risk response plan is the authoritative source for the first action when a known risk occurs.
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.
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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.
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