PMP · Question #848
A business analyst on the project meets the customer in the elevator and says that due to constant changes in requirements, the development of the product will take more time than expected. What shoul
The correct answer is B. Point out to the project team and the customer that all information concerning the timeline of the. A project team member has communicated critical project timeline information to a customer informally and potentially inaccurately, violating proper communication protocols. The project manager must reinforce that all official and important project information, especially concern
Question
Options
- ASubmit a change request to the change control board (CCB) in order to reflect the new
- BPoint out to the project team and the customer that all information concerning the timeline of the
- CRefer to the resource management plan to find out if more business analysts may be assigned to
- DExplain that distribution of important news can only be done using traceable communication
How the community answered
(43 responses)- A19% (8)
- B70% (30)
- C5% (2)
- D7% (3)
Why each option
A project team member has communicated critical project timeline information to a customer informally and potentially inaccurately, violating proper communication protocols. The project manager must reinforce that all official and important project information, especially concerning timelines, must be communicated through established, traceable channels to both the team and the customer.
Submitting a change request is a potential outcome of requirement changes, but the immediate issue is the informal communication and its impact, not yet the formal change process itself.
This action addresses both the immediate problem of informal, potentially misleading communication and the underlying need for formal communication protocols. It ensures that both the project team and the customer understand that critical information like timeline changes must be communicated through official, traceable channels, preventing future misunderstandings and maintaining control over project communication.
Referring to the resource management plan is an unrelated action; the immediate problem is the inappropriate communication, not a lack of business analysts.
While explaining traceability is part of the solution, the project manager needs to ensure all stakeholders (team and customer) understand and adhere to the communication plan, not just explain traceability.
Concept tested: Communication management and formal communication channels
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok
Topics
Community Discussion
4
Wei W.Mar 25, 2026B is correct. The BA is having an ad hoc conversation with the customer about timeline impact, which needs to go through proper channels so the whole team and the customer have one shared view of reality.
Yuki V.Mar 26, 2026Agreed on B, and the keyword that locks it is "ad hoc" because informal timeline chats with the customer are exactly how scope creep starts - routing it through formal change control keeps that shared view Wei mentioned.
Fatima Z.Mar 12, 2026Going with B. D tempted me hard because elevator chatter is exactly the kind of uncontrolled blabbing that makes PMs twitch, but the real exam sin here is the analyst skipping established communication channels to whisper timeline doom to the customer. Fix the leakage first, then handle the schedule conversation properly.
Yuki V.Feb 26, 2026Saw this one on my exam last month and almost picked D because the elevator talk bugged me, but B is right because the real issue is unauthorized communication about timeline changes, not the change itself. The memory hook that saved me here was "loose lips sink projects, so route all timeline news through official channels."