PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
You are managing a project to upgrade a company's network infrastructure. The project is on schedule, but you discover that the network cables purchased do not meet the required specifications. The procurement team bought a cheaper alternative without your knowledge. 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
✓
Document the non-conformance and assess the impact on quality and project objectives
The first action should be to document the non-conformance and assess the impact on quality and project objectives (Option B). This allows the project manager to determine the severity and decide on corrective actions. Option A is wrong because escalating to the legal department should come after assessing the impact and determining that it is a contractual breach, not the first step. Option C is wrong because continuing to use non-conforming materials without assessment may compromise quality and project objectives. Option D is wrong because ignoring the issue is not a valid management action.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Report the procurement team to the legal department for breach of contract
Why it's wrong here
Immediately escalating to the legal department for breach of contract is a premature and overly aggressive response without first understanding the root cause or attempting internal resolution. A Project Manager's initial responsibility is to investigate the non-conformance, communicate directly with the procurement team to understand the deviation, and explore potential solutions or mitigation strategies within the project framework. Legal action is typically a last resort, pursued only after internal processes for issue resolution and contractual remedies have been thoroughly exhausted.
- ✓
Document the non-conformance and assess the impact on quality and project objectives
Why this is correct
This action aligns with the 'Perform Quality Control' process, a core component of Project Quality Management. When a non-conformance is identified, the Project Manager's initial responsibility is to formally document the deviation as a quality control measurement. Subsequently, a thorough assessment of its potential impact on project scope, schedule, cost, and especially quality objectives is critical before determining any corrective or preventive actions. This systematic approach ensures informed decision-making and adherence to the established quality management plan.
- ✗
Continue using the cables if they are cheaper and seem to work in tests
Why it's wrong here
Continuing to use non-conforming cables, even if they appear functional in initial tests or offer a cost advantage, directly violates the project's defined quality standards and specifications. 'Seeming to work' does not equate to meeting the required performance, reliability, or safety criteria outlined in the quality management plan and contractual agreements. This decision introduces unacceptable risks, potentially leading to latent defects, system instability, warranty issues, and ultimately compromising the project's deliverables and long-term stakeholder satisfaction.
- ✗
Ignore the issue since the project is on schedule and the cables are already purchased
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring a known non-conformance is a critical failure in project quality management and risk mitigation, directly violating the Project Manager's professional and ethical obligations. Even if the project is currently on schedule, using materials that do not meet specified quality standards introduces significant latent risks, potentially leading to costly rework, system failures, increased operational expenses, and reputational damage later in the project lifecycle or after deployment. Proactive identification and resolution of quality issues are paramount.
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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.