PMP · Question #454
A project manager realizes that a project is becoming delayed because some key decisions are affected by contradicting views between the organization's senior management and external stakeholders…
The correct answer is D. Review the adequacy of the project's governance and ensure that an appropriate structure is in. Conflicting views between senior management and external stakeholders are delaying key decisions, indicating a breakdown in the project's decision-making structure. The project manager should review and strengthen project governance.
Question
A project manager realizes that a project is becoming delayed because some key decisions are affected by contradicting views between the organization's senior management and external stakeholders. What should the project manager do?
Options
- AReview the stakeholder register and ensure that communications are being followed in line with
- BIsolate the project team from external factors such as senior management and stakeholders so
- CReview the remaining scope and rebaseline the project's schedule to take into account delays in
- DReview the adequacy of the project's governance and ensure that an appropriate structure is in
How the community answered
(30 responses)- A3% (1)
- B17% (5)
- C10% (3)
- D70% (21)
Why each option
Conflicting views between senior management and external stakeholders are delaying key decisions, indicating a breakdown in the project's decision-making structure. The project manager should review and strengthen project governance.
While reviewing the stakeholder register and communication plan is important, it addresses communication mechanics, not the fundamental issue of conflicting decision-making power or resolution mechanisms.
Isolating the project team is counterproductive as effective decision-making requires engagement with both senior management and external stakeholders, not their exclusion.
Rebaselining the schedule is a reactive measure to account for delays, but it does not address the root cause of the delays, which is the unresolved decision-making conflict.
Conflicting views from key decision-makers signify a lack of clear decision authority or an ineffective conflict resolution process within the project's governance framework. Reviewing project governance ensures that an appropriate structure, roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths are in place to address such conflicts and facilitate timely decisions.
Concept tested: Project governance and decision-making
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/project-governance
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Nina C.May 5, 2026So just to make sure I am understanding this one right, the issue here is that senior management and external stakeholders hold contradicting views which is causing decision delays, so we need a way to resolve those conflicts at an organizational level rather than just managing communications, correct? That is why D is the answer, because if decisions are stalled by opposing parties the real problem is a lack of governance structure to escalate and resolve those disputes. A might seem tempting since it deals with stakeholders but the register just documents who they are and how to talk to them, it does not fix a broken decision making process. Coming
Prof. SaraMay 28, 2026Saw this on my exam, D is right because conflicts need governance, not isolation.
Viktor S.May 28, 2026D is correct but Sara is half right: governance is the goal, but isolation via separate workspaces is often the mechanism that enforces it, so know both.
Wei W.May 22, 2026D is correct. Conflicting decisions between seniors and external stakeholders point straight to a governance gap.
Nina C.May 24, 2026Agree on D but I would also add that the governance gap is specifically about the RACI being unclear or missing, since someone should own the final call when seniors and external stakeholders clash.
Viktor S.May 13, 2026D. Had this on my exam, governance jumped out once I saw conflicting authority.