PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
Your construction project is in the execution phase. You discover that a critical supplier will be unable to deliver steel beams for another three weeks due to a strike at their factory. This risk was identified and recorded in the risk register with a mitigation plan. What should you do next?
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
✓
Implement the mitigation plan that was prepared for this risk.
Since the risk has occurred and a mitigation plan existed, the PM should implement the planned response. If it is insufficient, then additional responses should be developed. Communicating to stakeholders is also important but the immediate action is to implement the response.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Implement the mitigation plan that was prepared for this risk.
Why this is correct
When a known risk materializes, the project manager's primary responsibility is to execute the pre-defined risk response strategy documented in the risk register. This proactive approach ensures that the project team is prepared to address the impact efficiently, minimizing disruption and adhering to the project management plan. Implementing the mitigation plan is the most effective and immediate way to control the situation.
- ✗
Update the risk register and escalate to the project sponsor.
Why it's wrong here
While updating the risk register is a crucial step in the Monitor Risks process, it is not the *initial* action when a known risk event occurs. The immediate priority is to execute the pre-planned response to contain the impact. Escalation to the project sponsor is typically reserved for situations where the existing mitigation plan proves ineffective, the risk impact exceeds thresholds, or new, unplanned risks emerge that require higher-level intervention.
- ✗
Meet with the supplier to negotiate an earlier delivery date.
Why it's wrong here
Meeting with the supplier to negotiate an earlier delivery date could indeed be a viable strategy to address a delay. However, this specific action should only be pursued if it is explicitly part of the pre-defined mitigation plan for this particular risk, or if the existing plan has failed. The project manager's first responsibility is to execute the established risk response, rather than immediately devising a new, ad-hoc solution.
- ✗
Immediately inform the project sponsor and stakeholders about the delay.
Why it's wrong here
While timely communication with the project sponsor and stakeholders is vital for transparency and managing expectations, it is not the *absolute first* action when a risk materializes. The project manager's initial priority is to take immediate corrective action by implementing the pre-approved mitigation plan. Once the response is underway and the situation is being managed, then communicating the status, impact, and response actions becomes the next critical step.
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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.