PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
Your project is using a hybrid approach. An executive stakeholder has been bypassing you and giving direct instructions to the development team. The team is confused about priorities. What should the project manager do first?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers choose Option A (instruct the team to ignore) because it seems like a quick fix, but the PMP exam emphasizes a collaborative, stakeholder-first approach where the PM addresses the issue directly with the stakeholder rather than creating a confrontational rule for the team.
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
✓
Speak privately with the executive stakeholder to remind them of the communication protocols and the impact of their actions on the team
In a hybrid project, the project manager is responsible for maintaining clear communication channels and protecting the team from conflicting priorities. Option C is correct because the first step is to address the issue directly with the executive stakeholder in a private, respectful conversation, explaining how bypassing the PM disrupts the agreed-upon communication protocols and creates confusion for the development team. This aligns with the PMI principle of managing stakeholders and ensuring the team can focus on the prioritized backlog without interference.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Instruct the team to ignore any instructions that do not come through you
Why it's wrong here
Instructing the team to ignore direct instructions from an executive is an adversarial approach that directly undermines stakeholder relationships and project harmony. This action can escalate conflict, create confusion within the team regarding authority, and damage the project manager's reputation for collaborative problem-solving, rather than resolving the underlying communication breakdown.
- ✗
Update the communications management plan to include the stakeholder's preferred communication channels
Why it's wrong here
Updating the communications management plan without first addressing the executive's behavior directly is insufficient because the core issue is non-compliance with existing protocols, not a lack of documented channels. This administrative change fails to tackle the root cause of the executive bypassing the project manager, which is a behavioral issue requiring direct communication and reinforcement of established project governance.
- ✓
Speak privately with the executive stakeholder to remind them of the communication protocols and the impact of their actions on the team
Why this is correct
Speaking privately with the executive stakeholder is the most appropriate first step, demonstrating proactive conflict resolution and effective stakeholder management. This direct, respectful conversation allows the project manager to clarify established communication protocols, explain the negative impact of bypassing channels on team morale and project efficiency, and seek a collaborative path forward before considering escalation.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the sponsor and request intervention
Why it's wrong here
Escalating the issue to the sponsor prematurely, without first attempting to resolve it directly with the executive stakeholder, can undermine the project manager's authority and problem-solving capabilities. This action should be reserved as a last resort, as it can strain relationships, consume the sponsor's valuable time unnecessarily, and suggest an inability to manage conflicts independently within the project team.
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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.