This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Your project is halfway through its timeline and is running 15% over budget due to unexpected vendor price increases. The sponsor is concerned and asks you to cut costs by reducing the number of quality tests. What should you do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Conduct an impact analysis and submit a change request to the change control board
Option D is correct because as a project manager, you must follow the formal change control process when a sponsor requests a change that impacts the project baseline. Reducing quality tests is a change that could affect scope, schedule, and risk; therefore, you should analyze the impact on quality, cost, and schedule, then submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) for approval. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's guidance on managing changes through the integrated change control process, ensuring decisions are made with full awareness of trade-offs.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Increase testing in other areas to compensate for reduced quality risk
Why it's wrong here
This is gold-plating and may not be authorized.
✗
Inform the sponsor that quality cannot be compromised and continue as planned
Why it's wrong here
While quality is important, the PM should evaluate options and communicate trade-offs.
✗
Agree with the sponsor and reduce the number of tests to stay within budget
Why it's wrong here
This bypasses change control and may increase risk.
✓
Conduct an impact analysis and submit a change request to the change control board
Why this is correct
PMI requires formal change control; an impact analysis helps make informed decisions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option C (agreeing to reduce tests) because they think the sponsor's request is a directive, but the PMP exam emphasizes that the project manager must protect the project's value and follow the change control process, not simply comply with stakeholder demands without analysis.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In project management, the change control board (CCB) is a formally chartered group responsible for reviewing, approving, or rejecting changes to any project baseline. The impact analysis should consider not only cost and schedule but also quality metrics, defect rates, and rework probability—reducing tests might save money now but could increase failure costs later, a concept known as the cost of quality (COQ). Real-world scenarios, such as in software or construction projects, show that skipping validation steps often leads to higher total cost of ownership and sponsor dissatisfaction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PMP exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Conduct an impact analysis and submit a change request to the change control board — Option D is correct because as a project manager, you must follow the formal change control process when a sponsor requests a change that impacts the project baseline. Reducing quality tests is a change that could affect scope, schedule, and risk; therefore, you should analyze the impact on quality, cost, and schedule, then submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) for approval. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's guidance on managing changes through the integrated change control process, ensuring decisions are made with full awareness of trade-offs.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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