PMP · Question #1176
A company is engaged in a transformation journey, and the project manager for this endeavor is new to this project. During one of the project status update meetings, a key stakeholder, the project man
The correct answer is D. Listen carefully and show understanding of the growing needs of the functional manager.. When a key stakeholder expresses dissatisfaction, especially a functional manager, the project manager should first actively listen and acknowledge their concerns to build trust and gather information.
Question
Options
- AShow the functional manager that the progress is on time based on the schedule.
- BAdmit that the functional manager is right and promise to rectify the situation immediately.
- CSchedule a one-on-one meeting with the functional manager to prove the project is on time.
- DListen carefully and show understanding of the growing needs of the functional manager.
How the community answered
(43 responses)- A5% (2)
- B7% (3)
- C16% (7)
- D72% (31)
Why each option
When a key stakeholder expresses dissatisfaction, especially a functional manager, the project manager should first actively listen and acknowledge their concerns to build trust and gather information.
Immediately presenting data without first understanding the stakeholder's specific concerns can be dismissive and may not address the root cause of their dissatisfaction.
Admitting fault without a full understanding of the situation and promising immediate rectification can lead to rash decisions or commitments that are not feasible or necessary.
Scheduling a meeting solely to "prove" the project is on time indicates a defensive posture rather than a collaborative approach to understanding and addressing stakeholder concerns.
Active listening and showing empathy are crucial initial steps when a key stakeholder expresses dissatisfaction, as it allows the project manager to understand the underlying concerns before reacting or defending. This approach fosters trust and opens a channel for constructive dialogue to address the stakeholder's evolving needs.
Concept tested: Stakeholder management and conflict resolution
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/project-stakeholder-management
Topics
Community Discussion
7
Wei W.Mar 9, 2026D is the answer. Before you defend the schedule or make promises in a room full of people, you listen to understand what is actually driving the concern, because empiricism starts with transparent dialogue rather than reflexive self-defense.
Hiroshi T.Mar 10, 2026Agreed on D, and worth adding that the Scrum Guide frames this as the Scrum Master serving the Product Owner by facilitating stakeholder collaboration, so the listening is not just empathy but a defined accountability.
Lena V.Mar 18, 2026D is correct. PMP always wants active listening and empathy before defending or capitulating, especially with a stakeholder who is also your functional manager. Saw this on my exam last month, A and C are traps because they assume the PM already has the full picture, and B is a knee-jerk surrender that the exam penalizes.
Hiroshi T.Mar 7, 2026C is the right call here. Per the PMBOK Guide, stakeholder dissatisfaction should be addressed in a one-on-one setting where you can walk through the schedule and performance data directly, rather than turning a status meeting into a debate or conceding without evidence.
Wei W.Mar 9, 2026D is the right call here. Once you have the data, the empirical move is to make the work visible to the whole team rather than handling dissatisfaction behind closed doors, since transparency and inspection by everyone is what actually builds trust in an Agile context.
Anjali D.Feb 28, 2026Our group leaned D but I am sticking with C, needs a private convo.
Lena V.Mar 2, 2026D is correct, and your group had it right. C sounds reasonable but it does not match what the cert is testing here, so worth revisiting before exam day.