Free PMBOK Engaging and Analyzing Stakeholders Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project manager is developing a strategy for a public works project and identifies a local advocacy group that is highly interested in the project's environmental impact but has very little formal authority to influence its decisions. According to the Power/Interest grid for stakeholder analysis, what is the most appropriate engagement strategy for this group?
- Manage Closely
- Keep Satisfied
- Keep Informed (Correct answer)
- Monitor
Correct answer: Keep Informed
The Power/Interest grid categorizes stakeholders to help define engagement strategies. A stakeholder group with high interest but low power should be kept informed. The project manager should ensure they receive regular updates and information to manage their expectations and prevent them from becoming a source of opposition, without expending the resources required for stakeholders who have high power.
Question 2: A project manager is creating a document that will outline the specific approaches to increase the support and minimize the negative impacts of stakeholders throughout the project life cycle. This document will detail communication requirements and the reasons for different engagement strategies. Which document is being created?
- Stakeholder Register
- Communications Management Plan
- Risk Register
- Stakeholder Engagement Plan (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Stakeholder Engagement Plan
The Stakeholder Engagement Plan is the document that outlines the strategies and actions required to promote productive involvement of stakeholders. While the Stakeholder Register identifies stakeholders and their interests, and the Communications Management Plan details the 'how' of communication, the Stakeholder Engagement Plan specifically focuses on the strategy for managing their attitudes and involvement.
Question 3: Which of the following stakeholder analysis models is best suited for classifying stakeholders based on their power, urgency, and legitimacy to determine their prominence?
- Salience Model (Correct answer)
- Power/Interest Grid
- Stakeholder Cube
- Influence/Impact Grid
Correct answer: Salience Model
The Salience Model specifically uses the attributes of power (ability to influence), legitimacy (appropriateness of their involvement), and urgency (need for immediate attention) to classify stakeholders. This three-dimensional view helps project managers prioritize stakeholders who require the most attention.
Question 4: A project manager uses a Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix and notes that a key project sponsor is currently 'Neutral' but their desired level of engagement is 'Leading' for the project to succeed. What is the BEST next step for the project manager?
- Report the sponsor's lack of engagement to senior management.
- Accept the current engagement level to avoid conflict.
- Implement planned engagement strategies to close the gap. (Correct answer)
- Update the project schedule to account for potential delays.
Correct answer: Implement planned engagement strategies to close the gap.
The primary purpose of the Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix is to compare the current (C) engagement level of stakeholders with the desired (D) level required for project success. When a gap is identified, the project manager's next step is to execute the strategies outlined in the stakeholder engagement plan to shift the stakeholder from their current state to the desired state.
Question 5: During the initial Identify Stakeholders process, a project manager is compiling a key output. In addition to identification information like name and role, this document should contain assessment information and stakeholder classification. What is this document?
- Project Charter
- Stakeholder Engagement Plan
- Stakeholder Register (Correct answer)
- RACI Chart
Correct answer: Stakeholder Register
The Stakeholder Register is the primary output of the Identify Stakeholders process. It contains identification information (name, role, contact), assessment information (requirements, expectations, influence), and stakeholder classification (e.g., internal/external, power/interest).
Question 6: Midway through a project, a project manager discovers that a previously unknown regulatory agency has the authority to audit the project's deliverables, potentially impacting the schedule and quality standards. What is the first process the project manager should perform in response to this discovery?
- Plan Risk Responses
- Identify Stakeholders (Correct answer)
- Manage Stakeholder Engagement
- Control Procurements
Correct answer: Identify Stakeholders
Identifying stakeholders is an iterative process that occurs throughout the project life cycle. When a new stakeholder, such as a regulatory agency, is discovered, the first step is to formally add them to the project's list of stakeholders through the Identify Stakeholders process. This allows for subsequent analysis of their interests, influence, and the development of an appropriate engagement strategy.
Free PMBOK Engaging and Analyzing Stakeholders Questions and Answers
A project manager is developing a strategy for a public works project and identifies a local advocacy group that is highly interested in the project's environmental impact but has very little formal authority to influence its decisions.
According to the Power/Interest grid for stakeholder analysis, what is the most appropriate engagement strategy for this group?