PMBOK Engaging and Analyzing Stakeholders 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project manager notices that a key stakeholder has high interest but low power. What is the recommended engagement strategy?
- Manage closely with frequent updates
- Keep informed with regular communication (Correct answer)
- Monitor with minimal effort
- Keep satisfied with one-on-one meetings
Correct answer: Keep informed with regular communication
Stakeholders with high interest but low power should be kept informed regularly to maintain their engagement without over-investing resources.
Question 2: Which PMBOK process is responsible for developing approaches to involve stakeholders based on their needs and expectations?
- Identify Stakeholders
- Plan Stakeholder Engagement (Correct answer)
- Manage Stakeholder Engagement
- Monitor Stakeholder Engagement
Correct answer: Plan Stakeholder Engagement
Plan Stakeholder Engagement develops strategies and actions to promote productive involvement of stakeholders.
Question 3: During a project retrospective, the team realizes stakeholder resistance was not detected until late in the project. Which artifact would have best helped detect this earlier?
- Risk register
- Stakeholder engagement assessment matrix (Correct answer)
- Issue log
- RACI chart
Correct answer: Stakeholder engagement assessment matrix
The stakeholder engagement assessment matrix compares current versus desired engagement levels, enabling early detection of resistance.
Question 4: A project manager discovers that two senior stakeholders have conflicting requirements. What should the PM do first?
- Escalate immediately to the project sponsor
- Facilitate a meeting to understand each stakeholder's underlying interests (Correct answer)
- Document the conflict in the issue log and move on
- Choose the requirement from the stakeholder with more authority
Correct answer: Facilitate a meeting to understand each stakeholder's underlying interests
Understanding the underlying interests of conflicting stakeholders is the first step to finding common ground and resolving disputes.
Question 5: What does the 'Unaware' engagement level mean in the stakeholder engagement assessment matrix?
- The stakeholder knows about the project but does not support it
- The stakeholder lacks knowledge of the project and its potential impacts (Correct answer)
- The stakeholder actively opposes the project objectives
- The stakeholder is aware but has no opinion on the project
Correct answer: The stakeholder lacks knowledge of the project and its potential impacts
An 'Unaware' stakeholder has no knowledge of the project or its potential impacts on them.
Question 6: Which tool or technique is MOST useful when trying to identify hidden stakeholders who may be affected by the project?
- SWOT analysis
- Brainstorming and stakeholder interviews (Correct answer)
- Earned Value Management
- Monte Carlo simulation
Correct answer: Brainstorming and stakeholder interviews
Brainstorming and interviewing known stakeholders often surfaces additional hidden or overlooked parties who should be engaged.
Question 7: A project is entering its execution phase. Which document should guide the project manager's day-to-day interactions with stakeholders?
- Project charter
- Stakeholder register
- Stakeholder engagement plan (Correct answer)
- Communications management plan
Correct answer: Stakeholder engagement plan
The stakeholder engagement plan provides specific strategies and actions for engaging each stakeholder during project execution.
PMBOK Engaging and Analyzing Stakeholders 2
A project manager notices that a key stakeholder has high interest but low power.
What is the recommended engagement strategy?