PMP · Question #624
A key stakeholder is refusing to participate in a crucial project stage and disagrees with the project team's approach. This situation is affecting the project team's morale. What should the project m
The correct answer is B. Schedule a meeting with the project team and the key stakeholder as soon as possible to discuss. To address a key stakeholder's refusal to participate and disagreement, the project manager should promptly schedule a meeting involving both the project team and the stakeholder to openly discuss concerns and find a collaborative resolution.
Question
Options
- AAsk the project team to meet and document why the stakeholder's approach is incorrect.
- BSchedule a meeting with the project team and the key stakeholder as soon as possible to discuss
- CDiscuss the issue with the project team during a project status meeting and request that they
- DAsk the project sponsor to meet with the project team and key stakeholder to discuss the
How the community answered
(43 responses)- A14% (6)
- B79% (34)
- C2% (1)
- D5% (2)
Why each option
To address a key stakeholder's refusal to participate and disagreement, the project manager should promptly schedule a meeting involving both the project team and the stakeholder to openly discuss concerns and find a collaborative resolution.
Asking the team to document why the stakeholder is incorrect is confrontational and escalates the conflict rather than seeking resolution and understanding with the stakeholder.
Scheduling a direct meeting with the project team and the key stakeholder is the most effective way to address disagreements and non-participation. This approach facilitates open communication, allows all parties to voice concerns, promotes understanding of different perspectives, and enables collaborative problem-solving to find a mutually agreeable path forward, improving morale and alignment.
Discussing with the team and asking them to ignore the stakeholder's issues is an avoidance strategy that will not resolve the conflict and can further degrade project morale and stakeholder relationships.
Asking the project sponsor to meet is an escalation. While the sponsor may eventually be involved, the project manager should first attempt to resolve the issue directly with the involved parties before escalating.
Concept tested: Stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/project-stakeholder-management
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Prof. SaraJun 25, 2026Confirmed B on exam last week. The direct conflict resolution approach is the PMP giveaway here, because a refusing stakeholder plus dropping morale requires immediate face-to-face collaboration to find alignment. A and C are passive-aggressive traps that exclude the stakeholder from the conversation and will only deepen the divide. D defers your responsibility upward to the sponsor, which the exam penalizes unless you have already exhausted your own options first. Remember the mnemonic Direct Beats Deferral: the project manager must own stakeholder engagement directly before escalating.
Luis F.Jun 13, 2026I first leaned toward D thinking the sponsor needs to step in when stakeholders get difficult, but that is basically escalating before you even try to resolve it yourself. B is the right move because the PM should facilitate direct communication between the team and the stakeholder first, especially since morale is already taking a hit. You gotta get everyone in a room and hash out the disagreement before it spirals further. Got this exact scenario on my exam last month and B was confirmed correct.
Wesley A.Jun 17, 2026I actually leaned toward D on my first attempt because escalating to the sponsor felt like the right move when a key stakeholder is being difficult. But that approach backfired on me because the exam wants you to handle it directly before escalating. B is correct because the PM needs to bring the stakeholder and team together to hash out the disagreement immediately, especially since morale is already taking a hit. The word "crucial" in the stem is your clue that you cannot wait or pass it up the chain, you own this conversation.
Olusegun A.Jul 5, 2026Confirmed B. Direct stakeholder engagement beats escalating or documenting behind their back.
Viktor S.Jun 29, 2026Leaned D first but PM owns stakeholder conflicts, so B.