PMP · Question #667
A project manager has received feedback from stakeholders regarding poor communication about project progress. Weekly status reports were provided to the project management office (PMO), and the stand
The correct answer is C. Perform a root cause analysis (RCA) of the existing communication approach.. When communications are perceived as poor despite following the plan, the project manager should first perform a root cause analysis to identify the underlying issues.
Question
Options
- ACreate a change request for implementing an online collaboration tool.
- BDistribute hard copies of status reports and confirm that messages were read.
- CPerform a root cause analysis (RCA) of the existing communication approach.
- DEnsure that all of the complaining stakeholders are on the distribution list.
How the community answered
(23 responses)- A4% (1)
- B17% (4)
- C70% (16)
- D9% (2)
Why each option
When communications are perceived as poor despite following the plan, the project manager should first perform a root cause analysis to identify the underlying issues.
Implementing an online collaboration tool is a potential solution, but it's premature without understanding the root cause of the communication breakdown; it might not address the actual problem.
Distributing hard copies and confirming readership is an outdated and inefficient approach that doesn't necessarily improve communication effectiveness or address the underlying reasons for dissatisfaction.
If stakeholders are complaining about poor communication despite the project manager following the established communications management plan, the project manager should perform a root cause analysis. This will help identify why the current approach is failing to meet stakeholder needs, allowing for targeted and effective adjustments rather than simply trying different methods blindly.
Ensuring stakeholders are on the distribution list is a basic hygiene factor; if they are already complaining, it implies more than just not receiving the report; it's likely about the quality, completeness, or timeliness of the information.
Concept tested: Communication issue analysis
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok
Topics
Community Discussion
4
Grace U.Jun 17, 2026C is the answer here. The PM followed the existing plan and people are still unhappy, so before changing anything you need to figure out where the gap actually is. A root cause analysis helps you understand whether the issue is the format, the frequency, the audience, or the content itself. Jumping straight to a tool change or just adding people to a list might mask the real problem and leave the same complaints coming back next month.
Mei-Ling H.Jun 19, 2026Agree with C but watch the qualifier on the exam, if the stem says stakeholders report issues with the current communication method then it is asking you to consult the communications management plan first before jumping to root cause analysis.
Mei-Ling H.Jul 5, 2026C is correct here because the key word is "poor communication" even though the plan "was followed", which means you must investigate the root cause before changing anything. I had this exact question on my exam last month and almost picked A because it sounded proactive, but the qualifier "was followed" tells you the process itself needs analysis, not a tool swap.
Samuel O.Jun 30, 2026Going with C. In my experience moving over to IT project work, when stakeholders say communication is poor but you have been following the plan to the letter, the plan itself is what needs investigating, not just throwing more reports at people. Does anyone know if the PMP treats RCA as the default first step for any stakeholder satisfaction issue, or are there specific scenarios where they want you to jump straight to a change request?