The correct answer is to immediately notify the project sponsor and key stakeholders about the delay and its impact. This is because risk response implementation during the execution phase requires proactive communication and activation of pre-planned contingency measures; the risk register should already contain a plan for identified threats like a vendor labor strike, and executing that plan—starting with stakeholder notification—is the mandated first step per the PMBOK Guide. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding that risk response is not just about choosing a strategy but about executing it and communicating transparently, a common trap being to delay notification while seeking alternatives. A helpful memory tip is "Notify first, then act"—stakeholders must be informed immediately before any mitigation steps are taken, ensuring alignment with the project’s communication management plan.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
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 in the execution phase and a key vendor has notified you that they will be unable to deliver a critical component on time due to a labor strike. Which TWO actions should the project manager take? (Choose two)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement the contingency plan that was documented in the risk register
Option B is correct because the risk register should contain a contingency plan for identified risks, such as a vendor labor strike. Implementing that plan is the appropriate proactive response to mitigate the delay's impact. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's guidance on executing risk responses during the execution phase.
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.
✗
Travel to the vendor's site to negotiate directly with the labor union
Why it's wrong here
This is outside the PM's role and may not be effective.
✓
Implement the contingency plan that was documented in the risk register
Why this is correct
If this risk was identified, the planned response should be executed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Wait for the strike to end before taking any action
Why it's wrong here
Waiting is passive and could worsen the impact.
✗
Ask the vendor to find an alternative supplier without additional cost
Why it's wrong here
This may not be feasible and delays proactive response.
✓
Immediately notify the project sponsor and key stakeholders about the delay and its impact
Why this is correct
Stakeholders need to be informed of the situation.
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 confuse direct intervention (Option A) or passive waiting (Option C) with proper risk management, instead of recognizing that the contingency plan in the risk register is the correct, pre-authorized response.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The risk register documents both the risk (e.g., vendor strike) and the agreed-upon response strategy (e.g., contingency plan). In the PMBOK Guide, risk responses are executed when the risk trigger occurs, and the project manager must follow the documented plan rather than improvising. A real-world scenario might involve a contingency plan that includes activating a secondary supplier or using buffer stock, which requires immediate notification to stakeholders to manage expectations.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: Implement the contingency plan that was documented in the risk register — Option B is correct because the risk register should contain a contingency plan for identified risks, such as a vendor labor strike. Implementing that plan is the appropriate proactive response to mitigate the delay's impact. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's guidance on executing risk responses during the execution phase.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Your project is in the execution phase when a new regulation is passed that affects the project's deliverables. The team is already working at full capacity. What should the project manager do FIRST?
hard
A.Instruct the team to incorporate the regulation into current work immediately.
B.Stop all work until the regulation is fully understood.
C.Update the risk register and continue as planned.
✓ D.Analyze the impact of the regulation on scope, schedule, and cost.
Why D: D is correct because the PMBOK Guide requires the project manager to first analyze the impact of a change on the triple constraint (scope, schedule, cost) before taking any action. Since the team is at full capacity, immediate incorporation (A) or stopping work (B) would be premature without understanding the regulation's effect. Updating the risk register (C) without analysis skips the necessary impact assessment step.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
Question Discussion
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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.
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