- A
Reduce testing scope without informing the sponsor
Why wrong: Withholding information is unethical and violates transparency.
- B
Explain the risks of skipping testing and propose alternatives
The PM should communicate risks and seek a collaborative solution.
- C
Agree to skip testing to meet the deadline
Why wrong: Compromising quality against PMI principles is not acceptable.
- D
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor's manager
Why wrong: Escalation should come after direct communication.
Question 26 of 892
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
You are managing a construction project. The sponsor has requested that you skip the testing phase to save time and meet an aggressive deadline. 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
✓
Explain the risks of skipping testing and propose alternatives
Option B is correct because, as the project manager, your first responsibility is to assess and communicate the impact of skipping the testing phase. Testing is a critical technical process that validates system functionality, performance, and security. By explaining the risks (e.g., undetected defects, integration failures, or non-compliance with quality standards) and proposing alternatives (e.g., risk-based testing or parallel testing), you fulfill your duty to manage the project's technical aspects and make an informed decision with the sponsor.
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.
- ✗
Reduce testing scope without informing the sponsor
Why it's wrong here
Withholding information is unethical and violates transparency.
- ✓
Explain the risks of skipping testing and propose alternatives
Why this is correct
The PM should communicate risks and seek a collaborative solution.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Agree to skip testing to meet the deadline
Why it's wrong here
Compromising quality against PMI principles is not acceptable.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor's manager
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should come after direct communication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'first action' with 'escalation' (Option D) or 'compliance' (Option C), failing to recognize that the PM must first analyze and communicate technical risks before any decision to skip or modify a process.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In software or construction projects, testing phases like unit, integration, system, and user acceptance testing (UAT) are designed to catch defects at different levels of the system. Skipping testing can lead to latent defects that manifest only in production, causing costly rework or safety hazards. A real-world example is the 1999 Mars Climate Orbiter failure, where insufficient testing of unit conversion logic led to a $327 million loss—underscoring that testing is not optional but a risk mitigation necessity.
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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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Explain the risks of skipping testing and propose alternatives — Option B is correct because, as the project manager, your first responsibility is to assess and communicate the impact of skipping the testing phase. Testing is a critical technical process that validates system functionality, performance, and security. By explaining the risks (e.g., undetected defects, integration failures, or non-compliance with quality standards) and proposing alternatives (e.g., risk-based testing or parallel testing), you fulfill your duty to manage the project's technical aspects and make an informed decision with the sponsor.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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