PMP · Question #839
A project sponsor receives project information and updates in a timely manner, but the sponsor is concerned because key information is missing in the reports. What should the project manager do?
The correct answer is C. Review the communication needs of key stakeholders.. When a sponsor reports missing key information, the project manager should review the communication needs of key stakeholders to ensure reports align with expectations.
Question
A project sponsor receives project information and updates in a timely manner, but the sponsor is concerned because key information is missing in the reports. What should the project manager do?
Options
- AConfirm that the project information is understood and feedback is received.
- BDetermine communication methods, frequency, and level of detail.
- CReview the communication needs of key stakeholders.
- DProvide all project information to the stakeholder.
How the community answered
(22 responses)- A9% (2)
- B5% (1)
- C82% (18)
- D5% (1)
Why each option
When a sponsor reports missing key information, the project manager should review the communication needs of key stakeholders to ensure reports align with expectations.
Confirming understanding and receiving feedback is important for general communication effectiveness, but the immediate problem is missing key information, which points to a content gap, not necessarily an understanding gap.
The methods and frequency seem to be fine ("timely manner"); the issue is with the content or level of detail of the information itself.
The project manager needs to understand precisely what "key information" the sponsor feels is missing. This requires reviewing or re-evaluating the sponsor's specific communication needs and expectations, as outlined in the communications management plan, to ensure that the content and level of detail in the reports accurately address their requirements. This targeted review helps identify the gap between what is being provided and what is expected.
Providing all project information can lead to information overload, making it harder for the sponsor to find the truly "key" details, and is an inefficient approach.
Concept tested: Tailoring stakeholder communication content
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/current
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Viktor S.Dec 11, 2025C is correct, confirmed on my exam last month. The stem tells you reports are timely but missing content the sponsor actually needs, which points straight at a stakeholder engagement or communication requirements gap, not a delivery problem. A and B are tempting but they assume you already know what the sponsor wants, which is exactly what is in question here. D is the trap - dumping all project information on someone is not communication, it is noise, and it ignores the real issue of tailoring content to the audience.
Luis F.Nov 26, 2025C is correct because if the sponsor says key info is missing, you need to go back and review what their actual communication needs are. A sounds nice but you already know the current reports arent cutting it, and B is tempting because it sounds proactive, but you gotta figure out the needs before you tweak the methods. D is just throwing everything at them and hoping something sticks, which wastes everyones time. I had almost this exact question on my PMP last month and almost picked B because the words frequency and level of detail felt like dead giveaways. Re-read the stem and realized the issue is
Hiroshi T.Nov 21, 2025Saw this on my exam last month. The PMBOK Guide section on Manage Communications is clear that when stakeholders report gaps in the information they receive, the right move is to review the communication needs of key stakeholders, not simply dump more data on them. Picked C because the sponsor already gets timely updates, so the issue is content relevance, which points straight back to reviewing stakeholder communication requirements.
Olusegun A.Dec 18, 2025C is correct. I had this exact scenario on my exam last year and almost picked B because it sounds proactive, but the stem tells you the sponsor is already getting timely updates, so frequency and method are not the problem, content is. Reviewing communication needs of key stakeholders is the PMBOK move because you have to reassess what information actually matters to that specific stakeholder rather than just dumping more data on them.
Ola B.Dec 24, 2025Leaned toward B but missing info points to unmet needs, so review stakeholder communication needs.
Hiroshi T.Dec 24, 2025Agreed on B. The key phrase is communication needs, which maps directly to the stakeholder engagement plan update described in PMBOK 10.1.3.1, not just the generic stakeholder register.