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?
⚠ Common exam trap
PMP often tests the 'FIRST' action in quality or risk scenarios — candidates are tempted to escalate or ignore, but the correct first step is always to document and assess the impact before taking corrective action or escalating.
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 step in quality management when a non-conformance is discovered is to document it and assess its impact on quality and project objectives. This aligns with the PMBOK principle of 'Manage Quality' and 'Control Quality' — you must understand the scope of the problem before deciding on corrective action. Documenting the non-conformance creates a record for change control and ensures the project team can evaluate options such as rework, replacement, or acceptance with a waiver.
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 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.