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 running 15% over budget at the midpoint. The sponsor asks you to skip the testing phase in the next sprint to save costs. The project follows a hybrid approach with both predictive and agile elements. 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
✓
Perform a cost-benefit analysis and present alternative cost-saving measures to the sponsor
Option C is correct because, as a project manager, you must balance cost constraints with quality and risk. Skipping testing entirely introduces unacceptable technical debt and quality risks, especially in a hybrid project where testing is a critical control point. Performing a cost-benefit analysis allows you to objectively evaluate the impact of skipping testing and present data-driven alternatives, such as reducing test coverage in low-risk areas or deferring non-critical tests, while maintaining the integrity of the deliverable.
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.
✗
Reduce the scope of testing but not eliminate it entirely
Why it's wrong here
Reducing testing may still compromise quality; a formal change request is needed.
✗
Inform the sponsor that testing cannot be skipped under any circumstances
Why it's wrong here
The PM should explore options before refusing.
✓
Perform a cost-benefit analysis and present alternative cost-saving measures to the sponsor
Why this is correct
Analyzing impacts and proposing alternatives aligns with PMI's proactive approach and maintains quality.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Agree to skip testing to meet the sponsor's request
Why it's wrong here
Skipping testing violates quality standards and may cause rework.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option B (absolute refusal) because they believe testing is non-negotiable, but the PMP exam expects you to engage the sponsor with data-driven alternatives rather than a flat 'no'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a hybrid project, testing phases are often defined in the predictive portion (e.g., system integration testing) while agile sprints handle iterative validation. Skipping testing eliminates the feedback loop that catches defects early, increasing the cost of quality (CoQ) later. A cost-benefit analysis would quantify the cost of potential rework versus the savings from skipping testing, using metrics like defect detection rate (DDR) and cost of poor quality (COPQ).
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: Perform a cost-benefit analysis and present alternative cost-saving measures to the sponsor — Option C is correct because, as a project manager, you must balance cost constraints with quality and risk. Skipping testing entirely introduces unacceptable technical debt and quality risks, especially in a hybrid project where testing is a critical control point. Performing a cost-benefit analysis allows you to objectively evaluate the impact of skipping testing and present data-driven alternatives, such as reducing test coverage in low-risk areas or deferring non-critical tests, while maintaining the integrity of the deliverable.
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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