PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
You are managing a project that involves a high-risk activity that was identified in the risk register. A risk response plan was created to mitigate the risk. During execution, a risk event occurs that was not fully mitigated. The risk impact is now threatening the project schedule. What should you do FIRST?
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 contingency plan if one exists, or document the issue and initiate a change request
The first step is to implement the contingency plan if one exists, or else perform a new risk assessment and develop a response. This aligns with the risk management process.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Immediately update the risk register and move on
Why it's wrong here
While updating the risk register is a crucial step in the Monitor Risks process to reflect the current status of a risk event, simply documenting it and moving on is insufficient. A PMP must actively manage the risk by implementing a planned response or developing a new one to mitigate the impact or probability of the high-risk activity. Failing to act would be a dereliction of project management responsibility, potentially leading to unmanaged consequences and project failure.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for guidance
Why it's wrong here
Escalating immediately to the project sponsor is premature and demonstrates a lack of proactive management, bypassing the project manager's primary responsibility. A Project Manager is expected to utilize their delegated authority and available resources to address project issues first, within the bounds of the project management plan. Escalation is a valid strategy only when the required response exceeds the PM's authority, budget, or resources, or when the risk significantly impacts strategic objectives requiring executive intervention.
- ✗
Stop work on the affected activity until the risk is resolved
Why it's wrong here
Indefinitely stopping work on a high-risk activity without a clear resolution plan can introduce significant project delays, cost overruns, and potentially damage stakeholder confidence and project momentum. The PMP's role is to manage and mitigate risks, not to halt progress entirely unless absolutely necessary and after exhausting other options. The preferred approach is to implement a planned risk response or develop an alternative solution to continue progress safely and efficiently.
- ✓
Implement the contingency plan if one exists, or document the issue and initiate a change request
Why this is correct
This option aligns perfectly with the Monitor Risks and Perform Integrated Change Control processes. If a pre-defined contingency plan exists within the risk response plan for this specific high-risk activity, the project manager's immediate action is to execute it to mitigate the impact. If no such plan exists, the PM must document the newly identified issue or risk, analyze its impact, and then initiate a formal change request to develop and implement a new response, ensuring proper governance and stakeholder approval before proceeding.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 800 original PMP practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.