PMBOK PMBOK Stakeholder Engagement Strategies Questions and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When using a power/interest grid, how should a project manager manage stakeholders classified as high power and low interest?
- Manage closely with frequent detailed updates
- Keep satisfied with periodic updates without overwhelming them (Correct answer)
- Monitor with minimal effort
- Keep informed through regular communications
Correct answer: Keep satisfied with periodic updates without overwhelming them
High-power, low-interest stakeholders should be kept satisfied so they remain supportive without being burdened by unnecessary detail.
Question 2: A project manager identifies a previously unknown stakeholder late in the execution phase who has significant influence. What is the BEST course of action?
- Wait until the next project phase to engage them
- Update the stakeholder register and develop an engagement strategy immediately (Correct answer)
- Inform the sponsor and take no further action
- Add them to the email distribution list only
Correct answer: Update the stakeholder register and develop an engagement strategy immediately
Newly identified stakeholders must be promptly added to the register and engaged with an appropriate strategy to minimize project risk.
Question 3: What distinguishes the Manage Stakeholder Engagement process from the Monitor Stakeholder Engagement process?
- Manage focuses on identifying stakeholders while Monitor focuses on classifying them
- Manage involves actively working with stakeholders to meet their needs while Monitor tracks engagement effectiveness (Correct answer)
- Manage is performed only during planning while Monitor occurs during execution
- Both processes are identical in purpose and activities
Correct answer: Manage involves actively working with stakeholders to meet their needs while Monitor tracks engagement effectiveness
Manage Stakeholder Engagement is about proactive interaction, while Monitor Stakeholder Engagement evaluates and adjusts engagement strategies over time.
Question 4: Which document provides the MOST guidance on how to engage stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle?
- Project charter
- Stakeholder engagement plan (Correct answer)
- Communications management plan
- Risk register
Correct answer: Stakeholder engagement plan
The stakeholder engagement plan defines the strategies and actions needed to promote productive stakeholder involvement throughout the project.
Question 5: A stakeholder classified as 'resistant' on the engagement assessment matrix needs to move to 'supportive.' Which approach is MOST effective?
- Exclude them from meetings until their attitude improves
- Identify their concerns, address underlying issues, and demonstrate project benefits relevant to them (Correct answer)
- Assign them additional project responsibilities
- Send them weekly status reports
Correct answer: Identify their concerns, address underlying issues, and demonstrate project benefits relevant to them
Understanding and addressing resistant stakeholders' specific concerns while showing relevant benefits is the most effective way to shift their engagement level.
Question 6: In an agile environment, how does stakeholder engagement differ from traditional predictive approaches?
- Stakeholders are engaged only at milestone reviews
- Stakeholder engagement is continuous with frequent feedback loops and collaboration throughout iterations (Correct answer)
- Stakeholder engagement is less important because the team is self-organizing
- The product owner handles all stakeholder engagement exclusively
Correct answer: Stakeholder engagement is continuous with frequent feedback loops and collaboration throughout iterations
Agile emphasizes continuous stakeholder collaboration through sprint reviews, demos, and ongoing feedback to ensure the product meets evolving needs.
When using a power/interest grid, how should a project manager manage stakeholders classified as high power and low interest?