- A
Accept the work as done and update the project documents accordingly
Why wrong: Accepting unauthorized work without formal approval sets a bad precedent.
- B
Report the executive to the project sponsor for violating the change control process
Why wrong: Escalation should follow assessment and communication.
- C
Assess the impact of the new feature on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request retroactively
The PM should document the change and assess impact, then follow change control.
- D
Confront the executive stakeholder and insist they follow the change control process
Why wrong: Confrontation is not the first step; professional communication is better.
Question 586 of 892
Handling Unauthorized Stakeholder Changes: Assess Impact First
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
Your project is in execution phase. An executive stakeholder bypasses you and directly instructs a team member to add a new feature. The team member complies and completes the work. You discover this during a status review. 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
✓
Assess the impact of the new feature on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request retroactively
Option C is correct because, as the project manager, your first responsibility is to assess the impact of the unauthorized change on the project's triple constraints (scope, schedule, cost) before taking any corrective action. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's guidance to evaluate the situation and then follow the formal change control process, even retroactively, to ensure proper documentation and approval. Confronting or reporting without understanding the impact would be premature and could escalate the issue unnecessarily.
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.
- ✗
Accept the work as done and update the project documents accordingly
Why it's wrong here
Accepting unauthorized work without formal approval sets a bad precedent.
- ✗
Report the executive to the project sponsor for violating the change control process
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should follow assessment and communication.
- ✓
Assess the impact of the new feature on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request retroactively
Why this is correct
The PM should document the change and assess impact, then follow change control.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Confront the executive stakeholder and insist they follow the change control process
Why it's wrong here
Confrontation is not the first step; professional communication is better.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose to immediately escalate or confront the stakeholder (options B or D) without first assessing the impact, which is a violation of the PMI's principle of 'first, do no harm' and the logical sequence of the change control process.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In project management, the change control process is governed by the Change Management Plan, which defines how changes to scope, schedule, and cost are evaluated and approved. When an unauthorized change occurs, the project manager must perform an impact analysis using tools like the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and schedule network diagrams to quantify the effect on the project baseline. This analysis is then submitted as a change request to the Change Control Board (CCB) for retroactive approval, ensuring that the project's performance measurement baseline remains valid.
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?
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: Assess the impact of the new feature on scope, schedule, and cost, then submit a change request retroactively — Option C is correct because, as the project manager, your first responsibility is to assess the impact of the unauthorized change on the project's triple constraints (scope, schedule, cost) before taking any corrective action. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's guidance to evaluate the situation and then follow the formal change control process, even retroactively, to ensure proper documentation and approval. Confronting or reporting without understanding the impact would be premature and could escalate the issue unnecessarily.
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
3 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. You are managing a software upgrade project. A senior executive bypasses you and directly instructs a team member to include a new feature in the release. The team member is confused and asks for your direction. What should you do FIRST?
medium- A.Submit a change request on behalf of the executive without assessment.
- B.Advise the team member to follow the executive's instruction.
- C.Escalate the situation to the executive's manager immediately.
- ✓ D.Speak with the executive to explain the change control process and the impact of the request.
Why D: The correct first action is to speak with the executive to explain the change control process and the impact of the request. This directly addresses the bypass, reinforces proper procedures, and allows the PM to discuss the implications without escalating prematurely. Option A is wrong because submitting a change request without assessment circumvents the process. Option B is wrong because following the instruction would bypass change control and could lead to scope creep. Option C is wrong because immediate escalation is not the first step; the PM should first attempt to resolve the issue with the executive directly.
Variation 2. You are the project manager for a large infrastructure project. An executive stakeholder bypasses you and directly instructs a team member to add a feature to the project. The team member is now working on this unapproved change. What should you do first?
hard- A.Escalate the issue to the sponsor and request that the stakeholder be removed from the project
- B.Submit a change request to formalize the feature without consulting the stakeholder
- C.Advise the team member to stop working on the feature and document the issue in the issue log
- ✓ D.Speak with the stakeholder, explain the change control process, and ask them to submit a change request
Why D: Option D is correct: Communication is key. The PM should address the stakeholder to reinforce the change control process. Option A avoids the issue, B escalates unnecessarily, C bypasses the stakeholder.
Variation 3. You are managing a marketing campaign project. Midway, you discover that the team has been working on additional features requested by the sales director without formal approval. The project is now 10% over budget. Which TWO actions should you take FIRST?
medium- A.Accept the changes and update the project baseline accordingly
- B.Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for a decision
- C.Report the budget overrun to the finance department immediately
- ✓ D.Meet with the sales director to explain the change control process and the consequences
- ✓ E.Document the unauthorized changes and assess their impact on budget and schedule
Why D: The correct first actions are to document the unauthorized changes and assess their impact (Option E) and to meet with the sales director to explain the change control process and consequences (Option D). Option E is essential to understand the full effect on budget and schedule before any corrective action. Option D addresses the root cause by educating the stakeholder who initiated the unauthorized changes. Option A is incorrect because accepting changes without proper approval violates project governance and may set a bad precedent. Option B is premature; escalation to sponsor should occur only after internal assessment and discussion with the sales director. Option C is not a primary action; finance should be informed after the impact is assessed and a decision is made.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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