CPSM CSPM Communication, Stakeholder & Team Management 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sponsor is disengaged and not approving critical decisions. The PM should:
- Proceed with decisions without approval to avoid delays
- Escalate to executive leadership if the sponsor fails to respond after formal outreach (Correct answer)
- Replace the sponsor with an alternate contact
- Accept the delays as a normal part of the project
Correct answer: Escalate to executive leadership if the sponsor fails to respond after formal outreach
After formal outreach attempts, escalation to executive leadership is appropriate to unblock critical decisions.
Question 2: What is the MOST important factor in ensuring a virtual team meeting is effective?
- Using the most expensive video conferencing platform available
- Distributing a clear agenda in advance and ensuring all participants can access the technology (Correct answer)
- Requiring cameras to be on at all times
- Limiting meetings to no more than 15 minutes
Correct answer: Distributing a clear agenda in advance and ensuring all participants can access the technology
A pre-circulated agenda with confirmed technology access ensures virtual participants are prepared and included.
Question 3: When a project manager uses active listening, they should PRIMARILY:
- Formulate their response while the other person is speaking
- Reflect on what was heard and ask clarifying questions to confirm understanding (Correct answer)
- Summarize only the points they agree with
- Interrupt to correct factual errors as they occur
Correct answer: Reflect on what was heard and ask clarifying questions to confirm understanding
Active listening requires fully processing the speaker's message and confirming understanding through reflection and clarification.
Question 4: Which stakeholder engagement level describes a stakeholder who is aware of the project but does not support or resist it?
- Unaware
- Resistant
- Neutral (Correct answer)
- Supportive
Correct answer: Neutral
A neutral stakeholder is aware of the project and its impacts but has neither positive nor negative engagement.
Question 5: A project manager is presenting a project status update to executives. Which communication approach is MOST appropriate?
- Provide detailed technical information so executives understand every issue
- Deliver a concise summary focusing on key metrics, decisions needed, and strategic impacts (Correct answer)
- Read from the detailed project log to ensure nothing is omitted
- Avoid mentioning problems to maintain confidence in the project
Correct answer: Deliver a concise summary focusing on key metrics, decisions needed, and strategic impacts
Executives need concise, decision-focused information tied to strategic outcomes rather than technical details.
Question 6: Which motivational theory suggests that team members are motivated by intrinsic factors like achievement and recognition rather than just salary?
- Theory X
- Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory (Correct answer)
- McGregor's Theory Y only
- Vroom's Expectancy Theory
Correct answer: Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory
Herzberg distinguishes motivators (achievement, recognition, growth) from hygiene factors (salary, working conditions) that only prevent dissatisfaction.
Question 7: A PM is managing stakeholders with conflicting interests. The BEST strategy is to:
- Side with the most powerful stakeholder automatically
- Facilitate a negotiation that addresses core needs of all parties and aligns with project objectives (Correct answer)
- Avoid involving conflicting stakeholders in the same meetings
- Escalate all conflicts to the project sponsor without attempting resolution
Correct answer: Facilitate a negotiation that addresses core needs of all parties and aligns with project objectives
Facilitating interest-based negotiation helps find mutually acceptable solutions while keeping the project aligned to its objectives.
CPSM CSPM Communication, Stakeholder & Team Management 5
A sponsor is disengaged and not approving critical decisions.
The PM should: