PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
You are managing a project with a fixed-price contract. Midway, a new regulation requires additional compliance testing that was not in the original scope. The cost of this testing is significant. The project has no contingency reserve left. What is the best course of action?
⚠ Common exam trap
PMP often tests the importance of following the change control process, especially in fixed-price contracts, where candidates might mistakenly think the seller must absorb costs or that stopping work is acceptable without approval.
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
✓
Submit a change request to the customer to secure additional funding for the required testing
Submitting a change request to the customer to secure additional funding for the required testing is the best course of action because the new regulation introduces a scope change that was not included in the original fixed-price contract. The change request allows for formal evaluation and approval of the additional work and associated costs, ensuring proper contract management and avoiding unilateral actions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Proceed with the testing and absorb the cost to ensure compliance, as it is mandatory
Why it's wrong here
Under a fixed-price contract, the performing organization is responsible for managing costs within the agreed-upon price. Absorbing additional, unplanned costs for mandatory testing without formal approval directly impacts the project's profitability and violates established change control processes. This approach bypasses the formal mechanism for adjusting scope and budget, potentially leading to financial losses for the performing organization and setting a precedent for informal scope creep.
- ✗
Stop work until the customer agrees to pay for the additional testing
Why it's wrong here
Unilaterally stopping work on a project, especially under a fixed-price contract, constitutes a breach of contract and can lead to severe penalties, liquidated damages, or contract termination. The project manager must adhere to the contract's terms and conditions, which typically include provisions for dispute resolution or change management, rather than taking actions that could jeopardize the entire agreement. This approach escalates the situation unnecessarily and undermines the collaborative relationship.
- ✗
Ask the team to find ways to reduce costs elsewhere to fund the testing
Why it's wrong here
Instructing the team to reduce costs elsewhere to fund new mandatory testing bypasses the formal change control process and risks compromising other agreed-upon project scope or quality requirements without customer consent. This approach could lead to unauthorized scope reduction, impacting deliverables or performance, and potentially creating new risks or quality issues. Any significant adjustment to the project budget or scope requires formal approval to maintain transparency and contractual integrity.
- ✓
Submit a change request to the customer to secure additional funding for the required testing
Why this is correct
Submitting a formal change request is the correct and professional approach when new, mandatory requirements arise that impact the project's scope, cost, or schedule, especially under a fixed-price contract. This process ensures that all stakeholders, particularly the customer, are informed of the necessary adjustment and have the opportunity to formally approve the additional funding and scope modification. Adhering to the integrated change control process maintains contractual integrity and transparency.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every PMP question from scratch — 820 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 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.