PMP · Question #1327
A project stakeholder has expressed concern that the established success criteria for the project are not being met. What should the project manager do next?
The correct answer is B. Review the established project benefits tracking metrics.. When a stakeholder expresses concern about unmet success criteria, the project manager should review the established project benefits tracking metrics to objectively assess performance against defined goals.
Question
Options
- ADocument the agreed-upon ownership of benefits realization.
- BReview the established project benefits tracking metrics.
- CCreate a project benefits management plan.
- DUpdate the project business case document.
How the community answered
(40 responses)- A13% (5)
- B80% (32)
- C5% (2)
- D3% (1)
Why each option
When a stakeholder expresses concern about unmet success criteria, the project manager should review the established project benefits tracking metrics to objectively assess performance against defined goals.
Documenting benefits realization ownership is typically done during project planning and isn't the primary response to a concern about already established criteria not being met.
If a stakeholder is concerned that success criteria are not being met, the immediate next step is to examine the objective measures that were put in place to track those criteria. Reviewing the established project benefits tracking metrics allows the project manager to gather data, understand the current status, and determine if the concern is valid or based on a misunderstanding, before taking further action.
Creating a project benefits management plan is done during project planning, not as a reactive measure to a concern that existing criteria are not being met.
Updating the project business case is a significant change that should only be considered after reviewing the current status and confirming that the original business case is no longer viable or accurate, which is premature at this stage.
Concept tested: Project benefits management and success criteria tracking
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/benefits-management
Topics
Community Discussion
7
Grace U.Jan 1, 2026The correct answer is B. When a stakeholder raises concerns about success criteria, the natural next step is to go back and review the metrics you already have in place to track those benefits. You want to verify whether the concern reflects an actual deviation or a misunderstanding of the data. Options A, C, and D jump into creating or updating documents, which is premature here. The exam wants to see that you consult existing tracking tools and data before making changes.
Lena V.Jan 2, 2026Agreed, but the key word in the stem is concerns, not changes. The exam expects you to distinguish between someone questioning existing metrics, which points to B, versus someone requesting new success criteria, which would make A or D correct.
Lena V.Dec 29, 2025Confirmed B on exam. Stakeholder concern about success criteria means review your benefits tracking metrics.
Zlatan X.Dec 29, 2025A is the right call here because when a stakeholder challenges whether success criteria are being met, the immediate governance response is to confirm who owns accountability for benefits realization at the component level. Without documented ownership, there is no clear authority to assess, defend, or course-correct against the established criteria.
Grace U.Dec 29, 2025B is correct here because when a stakeholder challenges whether success criteria are being met, the governance group reviews the benefits realization plan and current performance data to verify alignment, rather than escalating to ownership questions first. Confirming accountability matters, but the direct response to a challenge about criteria is to look at the evidence and the plan that tracks it.
Nina C.Jan 14, 2026Going with A here. If a stakeholder is worried the success criteria are not being met, the PM needs to make sure there is clear ownership of who is responsible for benefits realization so the concern gets directed to the right person and tracked properly.
Lena V.Jan 15, 2026B is correct here, Nina. When a stakeholder questions whether success criteria are being met, the PMs job is to review the actual benefits realization measurements against the baseline, not just redirect the concern to someone else.