Question 1

A stakeholder with HIGH power and HIGH interest should be managed using which strategy?

Accepted Answer

The power/interest grid places stakeholders in four quadrants. High power + high interest = Manage Closely. High power + low interest = Keep Satisfied. Low power + high interest = Keep Informed. Low power + low interest = Monitor.

Question 2

What is the formula for the number of communication channels in a project?

Accepted Answer

The number of communication channels = n(n−1)/2, where n is the number of stakeholders. Adding one person to a team of 5 (6 people total) increases channels from 10 to 15. This formula illustrates why communication complexity grows rapidly with team size.

Question 3

A project manager receives conflicting priorities from two different functional managers. What is the BEST first action?

Accepted Answer

When facing conflicting priorities from multiple stakeholders, the project manager should escalate to a higher authority (sponsor or steering committee) who can make the priority decision. This protects the PM from being caught between competing demands and ensures decisions are made at the appropriate level.

Question 4

What is a RACI matrix used for?

Accepted Answer

A RACI matrix maps tasks to team roles: Responsible (does the work), Accountable (owns the outcome — only one per task), Consulted (provides input), Informed (receives updates). It clarifies expectations and reduces role ambiguity on the project team.

Question 5

What type of communication is best suited for complex information that requires detailed documentation?

Accepted Answer

Written formal communication (status reports, change requests, memos, project plans) is best for complex information requiring a permanent record, precise wording, or audit trail. Verbal communication is best for immediate feedback and relationship building. Interactive is best for problem-solving sessions.

Question 6

A project manager identifies a powerful stakeholder who is skeptical about the project. The best approach is:

Accepted Answer

Powerful, resistant stakeholders require proactive engagement. Involving them in relevant decisions can convert resistance to support or at least reduce opposition. Ignoring powerful skeptics risks escalating resistance that can derail the project.

Question 7

What is the communication channels formula for a project team of 8 people?

Accepted Answer

The number of potential communication channels = n(n-1)/2. For n=8: 8×7/2 = 28 channels. This formula illustrates how communication complexity grows rapidly as team size increases — a key reason why larger teams require more structured communication management.

Question 8

A communications management plan should include which of the following elements?

Accepted Answer

The communications management plan documents: who needs what information, in what format, how often, and who is responsible for providing it. It also covers escalation paths, glossaries, and communication constraints — ensuring stakeholders receive the right information at the right time.

Question 9

Which communication method is most appropriate for conveying complex technical information that requires documentation and stakeholder review?

Accepted Answer

Complex technical information requiring documentation, review, and an audit trail calls for formal written communication — technical reports, email summaries with attachments, or meeting minutes. Informal verbal or text communication lacks the structure, permanence, and reference value needed for complex technical content.

Question 10

A project manager discovers a key stakeholder has not been receiving status reports for three months. This represents a failure in which process?

Accepted Answer

Manage Communications is the process of creating, distributing, and storing project information per the communications plan. Failing to deliver status reports to a key stakeholder is a failure in this execution process — not a planning failure. The plan may have been correct, but execution was not followed.

Stakeholder and Communication Management Practice Questions

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