PMP · Question #1307
According to the project contract, the delivery date is approaching. However, one important material is still not on site. The construction work will have to stop and wait for this special material, d
The correct answer is A. Engage the project team to look for alternatives to find a solution.. When a critical material delay threatens the project delivery date, the project manager should immediately engage the project team to collaboratively look for alternative solutions.
Question
Options
- AEngage the project team to look for alternatives to find a solution.
- BRecord it in the risk register.
- CAsk the client to help solve the problem.
- DStart procuring this material from another supplier.
How the community answered
(42 responses)- A74% (31)
- B7% (3)
- C14% (6)
- D5% (2)
Why each option
When a critical material delay threatens the project delivery date, the project manager should immediately engage the project team to collaboratively look for alternative solutions.
This is an urgent issue that directly impacts the project schedule and deliverables. Engaging the project team leverages their collective expertise, creativity, and problem-solving skills to brainstorm and identify immediate alternatives, such as different suppliers, material substitutions, or changes in the construction sequence, to mitigate the delay proactively.
Recording it in the risk register is a reactive administrative step for issue logging; it does not solve the immediate problem or prevent the project delay.
Asking the client to solve the problem directly without first exploring internal solutions is an abdication of the project manager's responsibility to manage and resolve project issues.
Starting procurement from another supplier is one potential solution, but the project manager should first engage the *team* to explore all possible alternatives before unilaterally deciding on a single course of action.
Concept tested: Issue resolution and team problem-solving
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundations/pmi-lexicon#issue
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Olusegun A.Jun 18, 2026A is correct. When a material delay threatens the schedule, your first move is to pull the team together and look for alternatives or workarounds to keep things moving or limit the delay. The problem has already materialized, so just logging it in the risk register is too passive, and jumping straight to a new supplier without team input could breach your existing contract. You own the problem, so you engage the people doing the work to find the best path forward before escalating to the client or spending money you may not have.
Luis F.Jun 19, 2026Agreed A is right, just remember to document whatever workaround you land on in the risk register after the fact so you have a paper trail if the delay still impacts downstream tasks.
Luis F.Jun 23, 2026Went with A on my exam last week. D is super tempting because you want to fix it fast, but the PM should get the team together first to explore alternatives before jumping into a new procurement.
Wei W.Jun 13, 2026A is the right call. C is tempting because the client sometimes has leverage, but the exam wants the PM to empower the team to solve problems first rather than immediately escalating.
Luis F.Jun 14, 2026Yeah A is right but the key phrase to look for in the stem is usually "self-organizing" or "empowered" - that is the dead giveaway that they want the team to handle it before the PM steps in.
Toby R.Jun 28, 2026Confirmed A on exam last week. D is tempting because your instinct says fix the supply problem, but PMI wants you pulling the team together to brainstorm alternatives first before you go rogue on procurement.