PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
You are managing a project where the sponsor has asked the team to skip testing to save time. The team is against it because they believe it will compromise quality. What should the project manager do?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse stakeholder authority with absolute decision-making power, forgetting that the PM must ethically challenge decisions that threaten project success and propose data-driven compromises rather than passively accepting or secretly circumventing directives.
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
✓
Explain the risks of skipping testing to the sponsor and propose a risk-based testing approach that reduces testing time without sacrificing critical quality
The project manager's primary responsibility is to balance stakeholder expectations with project constraints while protecting the quality of deliverables. By explaining the risks of skipping testing and proposing a risk-based testing approach, the PM demonstrates leadership by negotiating a solution that addresses the sponsor's time concerns without compromising critical quality. This aligns with the PMP's focus on leading the team and managing stakeholder communication effectively.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Instruct the team to test anyway without telling the sponsor
Why it's wrong here
This action is a direct violation of the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, specifically regarding honesty and transparency with stakeholders. A Project Manager must operate with integrity, and deliberately circumventing a sponsor's directive without communication undermines trust and can lead to severe project governance issues and potential project failure if discovered. Such an approach demonstrates a lack of professional accountability and proper stakeholder engagement, which are foundational to successful project delivery.
- ✗
Follow the sponsor's directive to skip testing because the sponsor has authority
Why it's wrong here
While the sponsor holds ultimate authority, a Project Manager has a professional and ethical obligation to advocate for project quality and integrity, as outlined in the PMP's process groups, particularly Planning and Monitoring & Controlling. Blindly following a directive that introduces significant, unmitigated risks to product quality or project success is a dereliction of the PM's duty to protect the project's objectives and deliverables. The PM must prioritize the long-term health of the project over immediate compliance with a potentially detrimental request.
- ✗
Accept the sponsor's request but document the risk in the risk register
Why it's wrong here
Merely documenting a significant risk, such as skipping critical testing, without proposing active mitigation strategies or alternative solutions, represents an insufficient application of proactive risk management. The Project Manager's role extends beyond identification and documentation; it requires developing and implementing risk response plans to minimize threats and maximize opportunities. Accepting the request without further action fails to fulfill the PM's responsibility to protect project value and quality, effectively shifting the burden of potential failure without attempting to prevent it.
- ✓
Explain the risks of skipping testing to the sponsor and propose a risk-based testing approach that reduces testing time without sacrificing critical quality
Why this is correct
This is the most appropriate action as it demonstrates effective stakeholder communication, proactive risk management, and a solution-oriented approach. The Project Manager fulfills their responsibility to inform the sponsor of potential impacts (risks) while simultaneously proposing a pragmatic alternative that addresses the sponsor's concern (time/cost) without compromising critical quality. A risk-based testing approach strategically focuses testing efforts on high-impact areas, optimizing resource utilization and maintaining project integrity, thus balancing competing constraints.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Project Management Plan
A formal, approved document that defines how a project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, serving as the single source of truth for the project team.
Key term
Training and Development
Training and Development is the process of enhancing team members' skills, knowledge, and competencies to improve project performance and achieve career growth.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every PMP question from scratch — 800 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. 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.