PMP Practice Questions #165
You are working on a project to improve traffic movement in a neighborhood. The residents, who will benefit from the project’s results, are currently negatively impacted by the ongoing work. How should you manage these stakeholders?
A) Conduct regular meetings with them
B) Monitor them for now and act accordingly if problems arise
C) Keep them informed through publications of project progress
D) Send gifts and benefits to these residents
Analysis
In managing stakeholders who are negatively impacted by ongoing project work but will benefit in the future, it’s crucial to balance their current dissatisfaction with transparent communication and engagement. The scenario involves residents in a neighborhood project aimed at improving traffic movement. These stakeholders have a high interest in the project due to its direct impact on their daily lives but likely have low power regarding project decisions. The objective is to manage their expectations and maintain their support.
Analysis of Options:
Option A: Conduct regular meetings with them: Regular meetings are usually reserved for stakeholders with high power and high interest, as this level of engagement requires significant time and resources. Given the residents’ high interest but low power, regular meetings might be excessive and not the most efficient way to manage their concerns. While meetings can improve engagement, they might not be necessary for stakeholders who do not influence project decisions directly.
Option B: Monitor them for now and act accordingly if problems arise: Monitoring is typically used for stakeholders with low power and low interest. This option implies a reactive approach, which might not be appropriate given the residents’ high interest. Proactively managing their concerns is more suitable in this context. Waiting for problems to arise could exacerbate their negative experiences and reduce support for the project.
Option C: Keep them informed through publications of project progress: Keeping stakeholders informed is a proactive strategy suited for stakeholders with high interest and low power. This approach maintains transparency and ensures residents are aware of project developments, progress, and how their current discomfort will lead to future benefits. This method aligns well with the goal of managing expectations and maintaining their support without overcommitting resources.
Option D: Send gifts and benefits to these residents: Sending gifts and benefits is an engagement strategy that might be suitable in situations where stakeholders are very negatively impacted and there is a need to improve relations quickly. However, this option seems excessive and potentially inappropriate in this context, as it does not address the root cause of their concerns (the impact of ongoing work). Moreover, it could be seen as a superficial solution rather than a strategic management approach.
Conclusion: Option C is the most appropriate way to manage the stakeholders in this scenario. It involves keeping the residents informed through publications of project progress, which addresses their high interest by providing transparency and continuous updates without overcommitting resources. This approach ensures that stakeholders are aware of how the project is progressing and how it will ultimately benefit them, aligning well with best practices for stakeholder management.
PMP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
|---|---|
| People | Task 9: Collaborate with stakeholders |
| Process | Task 4: Engage stakeholders |
Topics Covered
- Power/Interest Grid
