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 project sponsor asks you to reduce costs by cutting the quality assurance phase. As a servant leader, what is the BEST response?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Explain the risks of skipping QA and propose other cost-saving options, such as reducing scope or using less expensive resources
Option A is correct because, as a servant leader, your primary responsibility is to protect the project's value and stakeholder interests. Cutting the quality assurance phase introduces significant technical debt and risk of defects, which could lead to rework, schedule delays, and higher costs later. By explaining these risks and proposing alternatives like scope reduction or resource optimization, you demonstrate ethical leadership and a focus on long-term project success.
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.
✓
Explain the risks of skipping QA and propose other cost-saving options, such as reducing scope or using less expensive resources
Why this is correct
The PM should provide informed alternatives to the sponsor.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Agree to the sponsor's request to reduce costs, as the sponsor has authority over the budget
Why it's wrong here
Agreeing to cut QA without assessing impact is not responsible.
✗
Update the risk register to reflect the sponsor's request and proceed without QA
Why it's wrong here
Proceeding with a risky decision without sponsor agreement on alternatives is not appropriate.
✗
Refuse to cut QA and continue with the current project plan
Why it's wrong here
Outright refusal without offering alternatives may not be well received.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume the sponsor's authority is absolute (Option B) or that logging the request in the risk register is sufficient (Option C), but the PMP exam emphasizes that a servant leader must proactively educate stakeholders and negotiate better outcomes, not passively comply.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In project management, quality assurance (QA) is a preventive process that identifies defects before they reach production, reducing the cost of quality (COQ). Cutting QA increases the likelihood of failure costs (rework, warranty, lost reputation) which often exceed the savings from skipping QA. A servant leader uses data from the cost of quality analysis to show that the total cost of ownership (TCO) may rise if QA is eliminated, and proposes trade-offs like scope reduction (which directly lowers work) or resource substitution (e.g., using junior staff with oversight) to meet budget constraints without compromising quality.
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: Explain the risks of skipping QA and propose other cost-saving options, such as reducing scope or using less expensive resources — Option A is correct because, as a servant leader, your primary responsibility is to protect the project's value and stakeholder interests. Cutting the quality assurance phase introduces significant technical debt and risk of defects, which could lead to rework, schedule delays, and higher costs later. By explaining these risks and proposing alternatives like scope reduction or resource optimization, you demonstrate ethical leadership and a focus on long-term project success.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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