PMP · Question #1366
Due to a company merger and acquisition process, the main stakeholder of a critical project has been changed. This new stakeholder complains that they were unaware of a delay on the project of which t
The correct answer is A. Discuss project requirements with the new stakeholder, and update the communications. A new main stakeholder is unaware of a project delay that other stakeholders knew about, indicating a communication breakdown for the new individual.
Question
Due to a company merger and acquisition process, the main stakeholder of a critical project has been changed. This new stakeholder complains that they were unaware of a delay on the project of which the rest of the stakeholders were aware. All the communications about the project are shared via email at the start of every week. How should the project manager address this situation?
Options
- ADiscuss project requirements with the new stakeholder, and update the communications
- BSend evidence to the new stakeholder that the project's status was sent according to the
- CSuggest that the new stakeholder review the project status before the next board meeting.
- DShare the communications management plan with the new stakeholder.
How the community answered
(31 responses)- A74% (23)
- B6% (2)
- C3% (1)
- D16% (5)
Why each option
A new main stakeholder is unaware of a project delay that other stakeholders knew about, indicating a communication breakdown for the new individual.
When a key stakeholder changes, it's essential to proactively engage with them to understand their expectations, preferred communication methods, and ensure they are up-to-date. Discussing project requirements and then updating the communications management plan allows the project manager to tailor information delivery for the new stakeholder, ensuring they receive relevant updates in an effective manner, thus preventing future communication gaps.
Providing past evidence doesn't solve the current communication gap or build a good relationship with the new stakeholder.
Placing the onus entirely on the new stakeholder to catch up is not proactive and can lead to continued miscommunication and dissatisfaction.
Simply sharing the existing communications management plan without discussing the new stakeholder's specific needs might not be sufficient if the plan itself is not optimized for their role or preferences.
Concept tested: Stakeholder communication management and adaptation
Source: https://www.projectmanagement.com/blog-post/625399/Stakeholder-Engagement-Tips
Topics
Community Discussion
4
Prof. SaraApr 3, 2026A is correct here, and it maps directly to the Communications Management domain. When a new stakeholder comes on board due to an acquisition, their communication requirements and preferred channels likely differ from the outgoing stakeholder. Discussing project requirements with them and updating the communications approach ensures they actually receive and absorb critical updates going forward, rather than just getting lost in a weekly email thread. D is the trap answer because simply handing over the existing plan does not solve the root problem of a misaligned communication need.
Grace U.Mar 27, 2026A is right, but they really should trim that dangling sentence. B tempts you into being defensive.
Prof. SaraMar 27, 2026B is the classic trap because it maps to Domain 3 incident response instincts where you want to immediately block and contain, but the stem is asking about the detection phase, and that dangling sentence actually exists to test whether you read past the first plausible keyword.
Luis F.Apr 16, 2026I first leaned toward D since sharing the communications management plan seems like the standard playbook move when someone is out of the loop. But the stakeholder is NEW from the merger, so the old plan was built without their input and might not even fit their needs or preferred channels. A is the right call because you need to sit down with them, figure out what info they actually require, then update the comms plan to include them properly going forward. Picked A on my exam last month and it makes sense once you realize a merger means the existing plan probably needs a refresh anyway.