PMP · Question #864
During the early phases of a project, mitigation actions were not executed in a timely manner; therefore, the project schedule was impacted. Several project stakeholders are now frustrated with the de
The correct answer is C. Identified the appropriate response and had it implemented. To prevent the schedule impact, the project manager should have identified the appropriate mitigation responses for risks and ensured their timely and effective implementation.
Question
During the early phases of a project, mitigation actions were not executed in a timely manner; therefore, the project schedule was impacted. Several project stakeholders are now frustrated with the delays. What should the project manager have done to manage the issue?
Options
- AIdentified and reported the issue
- BMonitored and controlled the issue
- CIdentified the appropriate response and had it implemented
- DCommunicated any identified action to impacted stakeholders
How the community answered
(43 responses)- A14% (6)
- B9% (4)
- C72% (31)
- D5% (2)
Why each option
To prevent the schedule impact, the project manager should have identified the appropriate mitigation responses for risks and ensured their timely and effective implementation.
Identifying and reporting the issue is part of recognizing the problem, but it doesn't solve the *lack of timely execution* of mitigation actions, which is the root cause mentioned.
Monitoring and controlling the issue would come after an issue has occurred; the question asks what should have been done to *manage* the issue, implying preventative or early corrective action to avoid the impact.
The problem states that mitigation actions were *not executed in a timely manner*, leading to schedule impact. Therefore, the project manager should have ensured that once appropriate risk responses were identified, they were actually implemented as planned to prevent the risks from becoming issues.
Communicating actions is important for stakeholder management, but it doesn't address the core problem of the mitigation actions *not being executed* or not being effective when executed.
Concept tested: Risk response implementation
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/implement-risk-responses
Topics
Community Discussion
7
Mei-Ling H.Jan 5, 2026C is correct because the key word in the stem is "mitigation actions were not executed," meaning the response was identified but never actually put into practice. Option B, monitored and controlled, is a trap because you are only watching the issue instead of fixing it. The PM must identify the appropriate response and have it implemented, which closes the gap between planning the mitigation and actually doing the work.
Bao N.Jan 13, 2026C is the only one that actually closes the loop. The stem says mitigation actions were not executed in a timely manner, which means the PM failed at step three of the issue management process, identify the response and make sure it gets implemented. A and B are earlier steps that were likely already done since the mitigation actions existed but were not executed. D is just communication and does not fix the actual problem. Saw this exact wording on my exam last month and almost talked myself into B because monitored and controlled sounds official. Re-read the stem and caught that the mitigation actions were identified but never carried out
Anjali D.Jan 15, 2026Good catch on the stem wording Bao N., and I will add that C also covers the monitored and controlled language from B so you are not really losing anything by going with C.
Anjali D.Jan 25, 2026Our study group landed on A for this one. The stem says mitigation actions were not executed in a timely manner, which points to a failure in identifying the issue early and reporting it through the right channels so it could get addressed. A few folks in our group argued for C because it sounds more proactive, but the question is asking what the PM should have done to manage the issue, and you cannot respond to something you have not properly identified and escalated first. Anyone else read it this way, or did your group lean toward a different option?
Imani T.Jan 28, 2026C is correct here because the stem says mitigation actions were not executed in a timely manner, which is a follow-through and tracking problem, not an identification problem. The PM identified the issue fine but failed to stay on top of ensuring the mitigation actually got done.
Imani T.Jan 31, 2026I first leaned toward B because monitoring and controlling the issue sounds like the textbook thing you do when a risk materializes, but the real problem in the stem is that the mitigation actions were not executed in a timely manner. That points straight to C, the PM failed to identify the appropriate response and actually get it implemented, which is the whole point of managing risks versus just watching them slip.
Mei-Ling H.Jan 31, 2026Agree on C, but want to flag the qualifier "timely" in the stem because that word specifically points to a failure in the Monitor Risks process where the PM should have been tracking whether mitigation actions were actually being done on schedule, not just identifying the response up front in Plan Risk Responses.