- A
Update the stakeholder engagement plan to include a communication protocol and ask the sponsor to review it
Why wrong: Updating the plan is passive; the PM needs to directly address the behavior first.
- B
Schedule a private meeting with the sponsor to discuss the issue and agree on a proper communication channel
Direct, respectful communication with the sponsor to realign expectations is the best first step.
- C
Send an email to the sponsor and the team clarifying that all instructions must go through you
Why wrong: A public email may embarrass the sponsor and escalate conflict.
- D
Advise the team to ignore the sponsor's instructions and follow the project plan
Why wrong: This could create a conflict between the team and the sponsor; the PM should handle it diplomatically.
What to Do When an Executive Stakeholder Bypasses You as Project Manager
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.
In a large-scale digital transformation project, the executive sponsor has been bypassing you and giving direct instructions to the development team. The team is confused about priorities and feels caught between the sponsor's requests and the project plan. What should the project manager 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
Schedule a private meeting with the sponsor to discuss the issue and agree on a proper communication channel
Option B is correct because the first step in resolving a conflict with a powerful stakeholder like an executive sponsor is to address the issue privately and collaboratively. By scheduling a private meeting, the project manager can discuss the impact of the bypassing behavior, clarify the confusion it causes, and agree on a proper communication channel that respects both the sponsor's authority and the project's governance. This aligns with PMI's principle of engaging stakeholders proactively and using conflict resolution techniques like 'confronting' or 'collaborating' to find a mutually acceptable solution.
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.
- ✗
Update the stakeholder engagement plan to include a communication protocol and ask the sponsor to review it
Why it's wrong here
Updating the plan is passive; the PM needs to directly address the behavior first.
- ✓
Schedule a private meeting with the sponsor to discuss the issue and agree on a proper communication channel
Why this is correct
Direct, respectful communication with the sponsor to realign expectations is the best 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.
- ✗
Send an email to the sponsor and the team clarifying that all instructions must go through you
Why it's wrong here
A public email may embarrass the sponsor and escalate conflict.
- ✗
Advise the team to ignore the sponsor's instructions and follow the project plan
Why it's wrong here
This could create a conflict between the team and the sponsor; the PM should handle it diplomatically.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option C (sending a clarifying email) because it seems direct and authoritative, but PMI emphasizes that the first step in stakeholder conflict is always a private, respectful conversation to avoid public confrontation and preserve relationships.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In large-scale digital transformations, the executive sponsor often has a strategic vision that may not align with the detailed project plan, leading to 'scope creep' or 'priority drift.' The project manager must use 'management by walking around' and 'stakeholder analysis' to identify such misalignments early. A private meeting allows the PM to apply 'active listening' and 'negotiation' techniques to reframe the sponsor's requests as potential changes that must go through the formal change control process, thereby protecting the project baseline while maintaining sponsor buy-in.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Schedule a private meeting with the sponsor to discuss the issue and agree on a proper communication channel — Option B is correct because the first step in resolving a conflict with a powerful stakeholder like an executive sponsor is to address the issue privately and collaboratively. By scheduling a private meeting, the project manager can discuss the impact of the bypassing behavior, clarify the confusion it causes, and agree on a proper communication channel that respects both the sponsor's authority and the project's governance. This aligns with PMI's principle of engaging stakeholders proactively and using conflict resolution techniques like 'confronting' or 'collaborating' to find a mutually acceptable solution.
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
2 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 has been directly contacting your team members and assigning them work that is not in the sprint backlog. The team is feeling pressured and confused about priorities. What should the project manager do?
hard- A.Inform the project sponsor about the executive's behavior and ask them to intervene.
- B.Tell the team to prioritize the executive's requests to maintain a good relationship.
- ✓ C.Speak privately with the executive to explain the impact on the project and ask them to route requests through the proper channels.
- D.Update the risk register to document this as a future risk.
Why C: Option C is correct because the project manager must address scope creep and priority conflicts directly with the stakeholder who is causing the disruption. By speaking privately with the executive, the PM can explain how unauthorized work impacts the sprint goal, team velocity, and project deliverables, and request that all work be routed through the proper change control or product owner process. This aligns with the PM's responsibility to manage stakeholder expectations and protect the team from conflicting priorities.
Variation 2. An executive stakeholder has been giving direct instructions to your team members, bypassing you as the project manager. This has caused confusion and conflicting priorities. What is the BEST action to take?
medium- A.Ask the team to ignore any instructions not coming from you
- B.Send a memo to all stakeholders restating the project's communication plan
- ✓ C.Schedule a private meeting with the executive to discuss the importance of following the project's communication protocols
- D.Ignore the situation to avoid conflict with the executive
Why C: Option C is correct because it directly addresses the root cause of the conflict—the executive stakeholder's bypassing behavior—through a private, respectful conversation. This aligns with the PMP's focus on stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution, as it seeks to reinforce the project's communication protocols without escalating the issue publicly. By discussing the importance of following the plan, you maintain the authority of the project manager while preserving the stakeholder relationship.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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