PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
You are managing a project to deploy a new customer relationship management (CRM) system. During user acceptance testing, the quality assurance team identifies several critical defects that must be fixed before go-live. The project is already behind schedule. What should the project manager do NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is choosing escalation or overtime as the first step; PMP emphasizes that the PM should first analyze and plan before escalating or taking drastic measures.
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
✓
Prioritize fixing the critical defects and update the project schedule and stakeholders on the new timeline
When critical defects are found during UAT and the project is behind schedule, the project manager should prioritize fixing the defects and then update the schedule and stakeholders on the new timeline. This addresses the quality issue while keeping stakeholders informed, which is essential for managing expectations and obtaining necessary approvals.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Prioritize fixing the critical defects and update the project schedule and stakeholders on the new timeline
Why this is correct
When critical defects are identified, the Project Manager's primary responsibility is to ensure product quality and integrity. Prioritizing their immediate resolution is crucial to prevent significant operational issues or customer dissatisfaction post-deployment. Subsequently, the PM must formally update the project schedule to reflect the necessary rework and communicate the revised timeline and its implications transparently to all relevant stakeholders, ensuring alignment and managing expectations.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for a decision on whether to delay
Why it's wrong here
A Project Manager is expected to be a proactive problem-solver, not merely a reporter of issues. Escalating a critical issue directly to the project sponsor for a decision without first analyzing the situation, evaluating potential solutions, and recommending a course of action demonstrates a lack of accountability and strategic thinking. The PM should present well-vetted options and a recommendation, empowering the sponsor to make an informed decision rather than burdening them with the initial problem-solving.
- ✗
Proceed with go-live and fix defects in a later release
Why it's wrong here
Proceeding with a go-live despite critical defects is a high-risk strategy that severely compromises product quality and can lead to significant negative consequences. Releasing a flawed product can damage the organization's reputation, erode customer trust, and result in substantial post-release support costs and emergency fixes. This approach prioritizes an arbitrary deadline over delivering a functional, reliable solution, creating technical debt and potential long-term operational instability.
- ✗
Ask the team to work overtime to fix defects without changing the go-live date
Why it's wrong here
While increasing team overtime might seem like a viable option, it is generally not the best first step for resolving critical defects. Sustained overtime often leads to team burnout, decreased morale, reduced productivity, and an increased likelihood of introducing new errors due to fatigue. A Project Manager should first conduct a thorough assessment of the defect's scope and impact, explore alternative solutions, and then plan a realistic approach that considers team well-being and sustainable project execution, rather than immediately resorting to unsustainable demands.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PMI exam blueprint
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.