PMP Question #68: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

Question

A project manager has been assigned to lead a software project to generate savings at an important financial institution. Initially, the duration of the project was 13 months, but due to various issues during execution, the project was extended to 16 months. By month 11, the expected savings were exceeded but not all of the functionalities planned for that date were fulfilled. How should the project manager inform the stakeholders of the project's progress?

Options

• AComplete the outstanding functionalities before informing the sponsor of the project progress
• BCommunicate the benefit expectations and the action plan for the pending functionalities
• CSend an email with the monthly project progress to all relevant stakeholders
• DReport that the project has not fulfilled all the expected functionalities

Explanation

The project manager should communicate transparently with stakeholders, highlighting the achieved benefits (exceeded savings) while also providing an action plan for the unfulfilled functionalities.

Common mistakes.

• A. Delaying communication until all functionalities are complete would withhold important information from stakeholders and is not transparent, especially when significant benefits have already been realized.
• C. While sending an email with monthly progress is good practice, simply stating progress without explaining the critical context of exceeded savings and the plan for pending functionalities is insufficient and not strategic.
• D. Reporting only on unfulfilled functionalities presents an incomplete and potentially negative picture, ignoring the positive achievement of exceeding savings and failing to provide a solution for the remaining work.

Concept tested. Stakeholder communication and benefit realization

Reference. https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/stakeholder-engagement

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