PMP Stakeholder Engagement 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project sponsor wants to reduce the frequency of status reports to save time. A key stakeholder, however, requires weekly updates per their engagement plan. What should the PM do?
- Follow the sponsor's direction and reduce all reports
- Maintain the stakeholder's agreed-upon communication frequency (Correct answer)
- Eliminate status reports entirely and use informal updates
- Escalate to the PMO for a decision
Correct answer: Maintain the stakeholder's agreed-upon communication frequency
The Stakeholder Engagement Plan documents agreed-upon communication needs; the PM must honor commitments to key stakeholders even if the sponsor prefers less reporting.
Question 2: Which tool or technique used in Monitor Stakeholder Engagement helps the PM assess whether engagement strategies are effective?
- Interviews
- Data Analysis (Correct answer)
- Meetings
- Surveys
Correct answer: Data Analysis
Data analysis techniques such as alternatives analysis and root cause analysis are used in Monitor Stakeholder Engagement to evaluate engagement effectiveness.
Question 3: A newly identified stakeholder is categorized as 'Unaware.' What engagement level should the PM typically aim to move them toward?
- Resistant
- Neutral
- Supportive (Correct answer)
- Leading
Correct answer: Supportive
The PM should aim to move unaware stakeholders toward 'Supportive' so they understand the project and can contribute positively.
Question 4: During a project review, the PM finds that the current engagement level of an influential stakeholder is 'Resistant' but the desired level is 'Supportive.' What tool visually captures this gap?
- Stakeholder Register
- Power/Interest Grid
- Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix (Correct answer)
- Issue Log
Correct answer: Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix
The Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix uses 'C' (current) and 'D' (desired) markers to visually represent engagement gaps for each stakeholder.
Question 5: Interpersonal and team skills used in the Manage Stakeholder Engagement process include all of the following EXCEPT:
- Active listening
- Cultural awareness
- Earned value analysis (Correct answer)
- Conflict management
Correct answer: Earned value analysis
Earned value analysis is a performance measurement technique used in cost and schedule management, not an interpersonal skill for stakeholder engagement.
Question 6: A PM is about to close a project. Which stakeholder engagement activity is most critical at this stage?
- Updating the power/interest grid
- Obtaining formal acceptance and documenting lessons learned with stakeholders (Correct answer)
- Re-running stakeholder identification
- Revising the stakeholder engagement plan for the next phase
Correct answer: Obtaining formal acceptance and documenting lessons learned with stakeholders
At project closure, obtaining formal acceptance from key stakeholders and capturing lessons learned are the most critical stakeholder engagement activities.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST describes 'Leading' on the stakeholder engagement spectrum?
- Stakeholder is aware but uncommitted
- Stakeholder actively promotes project success (Correct answer)
- Stakeholder opposes the project's objectives
- Stakeholder is unaware of the project
Correct answer: Stakeholder actively promotes project success
'Leading' describes the highest engagement level where a stakeholder actively works to ensure the project succeeds.
PMP Stakeholder Engagement 3
A project sponsor wants to reduce the frequency of status reports to save time.
A key stakeholder, however, requires weekly updates per their engagement plan.
What should the PM do?