PMP · Question #993
In the initial project meeting, a stakeholder presents a complaint about the validity of the project. The complaint occurs after the stakeholder discovers that the project will not deliver the…
The correct answer is D. Reinforce the importance of the project mission and the overall vision of the work to be. A key stakeholder complains that the project will not meet their expected objectives and is over budget during the initial project meeting.
Question
In the initial project meeting, a stakeholder presents a complaint about the validity of the project. The complaint occurs after the stakeholder discovers that the project will not deliver the objectives they expected and will have a higher cost. How should the project manager handle the complaint?
Options
- AHighlight the reasons for the project cost increase and negotiate with the providers to reduce the
- BUse management skills to convince the stakeholder in agreeing to the project cost.
- CDelay discussions with the stakeholder and request a revision of the project with the sponsors.
- DReinforce the importance of the project mission and the overall vision of the work to be
How the community answered
(49 responses)- A6% (3)
- B2% (1)
- C8% (4)
- D84% (41)
Why each option
A key stakeholder complains that the project will not meet their expected objectives and is over budget during the initial project meeting.
Focusing solely on cost increases and negotiation does not address the stakeholder's fundamental concerns about the project's objectives and validity.
Attempting to simply convince a stakeholder without addressing their core concerns about objectives and validity is unlikely to be effective and may damage the relationship.
Delaying discussions and immediately seeking a project revision without attempting to clarify or re-align with the stakeholder can escalate the issue and demonstrate a lack of confidence.
When facing stakeholder complaints about project validity, the project manager should re-center the discussion by reiterating the project's strategic mission and its alignment with the overall organizational vision. This approach helps the stakeholder understand the project's broader value proposition, potentially shifting their focus from immediate concerns to long-term benefits.
Concept tested: Stakeholder engagement and value reinforcement
Source: https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/stakeholder-management-communication-challenges-6485
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Yusuf A.Jul 5, 2026Going with D here. My senior PM always says the first stakeholder meeting is about alignment, not negotiation, so if someone is questioning whether the project should even exist, you anchor them back to the mission and vision before anything else. A and B jump straight into cost justification or persuasion, which skips the real issue, and C just delays a conflict that will fester. D keeps the conversation at the strategic level where the stakeholder's concern actually lives. Does anyone know if the exam tends to treat vision reinforcement as the default first step for scope or budget disputes like this?
Mei-Ling H.Jul 7, 2026Agree on D for this stem but watch the qualifier, if the question says the stakeholder is challenging the budget numbers specifically rather than the project itself, the exam shifts to A because the concern is now financial, not strategic.
Imani T.Jun 29, 2026I first leaned toward C because delaying to revisit scope with sponsors sounded reasonable given the cost spike. But the key detail is this is the initial project meeting, meaning the charter and business case are already locked in and the PM needs alignment, not a do-over. D is the PMBOK answer because when a stakeholder challenges project validity early on, your job is to reconnect them to the approved mission and vision that justified the investment in the first place. You are not renegotiating costs or delaying kickoff, you are managing expectations against what leadership already signed off on.
Mateus R.Jul 5, 2026Confirmed D on exam last week. Think of it like a town hall meeting where a resident gripes about a new road costing more and not going where they thought: you dont haggle with the paving contractor right there, you re-anchor everyone on why the road connects the community in the first place. That is reinforcing the project mission and overall vision, which keeps the stakeholder aligned before you go tweaking costs or scope.
Mei-Ling H.Jul 5, 2026D is correct here. The key detail is "initial project meeting" combined with a stakeholder questioning the project validity, which means the PM needs to anchor them back to the project charter and business case rationale, not jump into cost negotiations or delay tactics. Options A and B are premature since you cannot negotiate or convince your way out of a misaligned expectation at kickoff, and C just avoids the conflict entirely. Reinforcing the mission and vision realigns the stakeholder to why the project was approved in the first place. I had almost this exact scenario on my PMP exam last month and initially