ABC project is at risk for failing to achieve a major project objective due to unresolved stakeholder issues. Team member morale is low. Who is primarily responsible for the project being at risk?

Question

Options

• ATeam members who have low morale
• BSponsor who is not actively supporting the project
• CProject manager who is responsible for managing stakeholder expectations
• DStakeholders who have unrealistic expectations

• A
  10% (6)
• B
  7% (4)
• C
  81% (47)
• D
  2% (1)

Explanation

Why C is correct: The project manager owns stakeholder management - it's a core PM responsibility to identify, engage, and resolve stakeholder issues before they threaten project objectives. Low morale and unresolved stakeholder conflicts are symptoms of a management gap, not external forces beyond the PM's control.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A - Team members with low morale are a symptom, not the cause; their morale is likely a result of poor project conditions, not the root of the problem.
• B - Sponsor inactivity may be a contributing factor, but the PM is responsible for escalating to the sponsor and keeping them engaged - if the sponsor isn't engaged, that's a stakeholder management failure.
• D - Stakeholder expectations being "unrealistic" doesn't shift blame to stakeholders; the PM's job is to manage, align, and negotiate those expectations from the start.

Memory tip: On PMP-style exams, when something goes wrong on a project, the answer is almost always the project manager - the PM is accountable for the overall project environment, including stakeholder relationships, team morale, and risk escalation, regardless of who "caused" the problem.

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