PMP · Question #366
A marketing team is planning for a multiyear initiative that will include a lot of cross-functional stakeholders. The project manager has been assigned and is now in the project planning phase. What i
The correct answer is C. A communications management plan that addresses the team's needs. For a multiyear initiative with many cross-functional stakeholders, the project manager should prioritize developing a communications management plan to effectively engage and inform all parties from the outset.
Question
A marketing team is planning for a multiyear initiative that will include a lot of cross-functional stakeholders. The project manager has been assigned and is now in the project planning phase. What item(s) should the project manager develop first?
Options
- AA product backlog and identification of the features to be delivered
- BA business case and scope document
- CA communications management plan that addresses the team's needs
- DA risk management plan to incorporate known risks
How the community answered
(28 responses)- A4% (1)
- B7% (2)
- C86% (24)
- D4% (1)
Why each option
For a multiyear initiative with many cross-functional stakeholders, the project manager should prioritize developing a communications management plan to effectively engage and inform all parties from the outset.
A product backlog is a detailed agile artifact, but the question implies a broader project planning phase for a multiyear initiative, where effective communication with diverse stakeholders needs to be established *before* deep-diving into feature identification.
A business case is typically developed *before* the project planning phase to justify the project, and while a scope document is part of planning, it relies on effective communication to gather requirements and manage expectations.
In a multiyear initiative with numerous cross-functional stakeholders, establishing a robust communications management plan early is paramount. This plan defines how information will be shared, to whom, when, and by what methods, ensuring all stakeholders are properly engaged, informed, and can provide input, which is critical for alignment and success over a long duration and across diverse groups.
A risk management plan is crucial in project planning, but establishing clear communication channels with a large, diverse stakeholder group often precedes or runs in parallel with detailed risk planning to ensure all potential risks are identified and properly communicated.
Concept tested: Communication planning for complex projects
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/communications-management
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Imani T.Feb 2, 2026Confirmed C on exam two months ago. The keyword combo of "multiyear" and "cross-functional stakeholders" screams communications management plan, because before you can plan anything else effectively you need to figure out how to keep all those disparate groups aligned and informed.
Ingrid P.Jan 20, 2026Leaned toward B first, but the cross-functional stakeholder signal points to C.
Bao N.Jan 21, 2026C is right but watch out, they love to swap "cross-functional" for "executive sponsor" on variants to bait you into B.
Samuel O.Feb 11, 2026Going with C here. In my experience wrangling cross-functional stakeholders on long initiatives, if you don't nail down how people communicate early, everything downstream falls apart. The business case in B is tempting but that should already exist before you get assigned as PM - you don't build the justification for the project during planning, you inherit it. Same logic rules out A, since a product backlog assumes you are already in delivery mode. With a multiyear initiative and lots of cross-functional players, getting a communications management plan in place first is the foundation that keeps the whole thing from fracturing.
Bao N.Jan 23, 2026C is correct. Got this exact scenario on my exam last month, the cross-functional stakeholder language is the giveaway that communications planning comes first before diving into backlog or risk work.