PMP · Question #83
A project schedule risk has turned into an issue. The project manager foresees delays in project execution. What should the project manager do to resolve the issue?
The correct answer is B. Work with relevant stakeholders to determine possible solutions. When a schedule risk becomes an issue, the project manager should collaborate with relevant stakeholders to identify and determine the most effective solutions.
Question
A project schedule risk has turned into an issue. The project manager foresees delays in project execution. What should the project manager do to resolve the issue?
Options
- AEscalate the issue to senior leadership for resolution
- BWork with relevant stakeholders to determine possible solutions
- CUpdate the schedule baseline to the new project time line
- DUpdate the risk management plan and send it to the project team
How the community answered
(65 responses)- A2% (1)
- B83% (54)
- C11% (7)
- D5% (3)
Why each option
When a schedule risk becomes an issue, the project manager should collaborate with relevant stakeholders to identify and determine the most effective solutions.
Escalation to senior leadership is typically reserved for issues that cannot be resolved by the project team or that have a significant impact requiring high-level intervention, which comes after attempting team-level solutions.
When an identified risk materializes into an issue, the project manager's primary responsibility is to work collaboratively with the team and other relevant stakeholders to analyze the problem and brainstorm potential solutions. This approach leverages collective expertise and ensures buy-in for the chosen resolution strategy before any baselines are altered or escalations occur.
Updating the schedule baseline is a change control process that occurs after a solution has been determined and approved, not as the initial step to resolve an issue.
Updating the risk management plan is relevant for managing future risks or updating risk responses, but it doesn't directly resolve an active issue that has already materialized.
Concept tested: Issue resolution; stakeholder collaboration
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/project-stakeholder-management
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Olusegun A.Mar 25, 2026B is the move. Once a risk materializes into an issue, you engage the relevant stakeholders to identify and evaluate solution options before taking action, period.
Yusuf A.Mar 12, 2026My senior PM always says the second a risk becomes an issue you stop analyzing probabilities and start collaborating with stakeholders on solutions, which lines up with B. Quick question though, at what point does the PM escalate to senior leadership instead of handling it with the team, is it only when the issue is outside the project managers authority?
Ingrid P.Mar 13, 2026B is correct and your escalation trigger is right, but add a card for the other two triggers: when the issue exceeds the PMs authority OR when the impact crosses a defined threshold OR when resolution requires resources outside the project, because the exam loves to test all three conditions rather than just the authority one.
Wesley A.Mar 17, 2026B is correct. Failed first time picking A, PMI wants collaboration before escalation.
Ingrid P.Mar 28, 2026B is the PMI answer because issue resolution always starts with collaborative analysis, not unilateral baseline changes or escalation. Making a card for this: schedule risk becomes issue equals engage stakeholders first, then update baselines through change control. One thing I keep getting tripped up on, where exactly is the line between an issue you resolve with the team versus something that actually warrants escalation to senior leadership?