Is the below answer correct. I think it is wrong, and the answer should be B. Can somebody please provide some guidance:
Question: The research and development team is planning to build a new facility that will focus on improving existing products the organization has developed. It will be a multi-year initiative.
What should the project manager do first?
A. Develop a scope management plan that will focus on the expected objectives of the initiative. B. Develop a business case document that covers the return on investment (ROI) of the initiative. C. Develop a resource management plan to cover resources and contingency planning. D. Develop a communications management plan to address stakeholder needs.
Solution: A. Develop a scope management plan that will focus on the expected objectives of the initiative.
The first step in planning for any project is to develop a scope management plan. This plan will define the project's goals, objectives, and deliverables. It will also identify the project's boundaries and constraints.
The other answer choices are important, but they are not the first step that the project manager should take. The business case document is important for justifying the project and securing funding, but it is not the first step in the planning process. The resource management plan is important for ensuring that the project has the resources it needs to be successful, but it is not the first step in the planning process. The communications management plan is important for keeping stakeholders informed of the project's progress and managing their expectations, but it is not the first step in the planning process. By developing a scope management plan first, the project manager can ensure that the project is well-defined and that everyone involved in the project has a clear understanding of its goals and objectives.
I'm generally not a fan of these "what should be done first" questions, but I recognize that there are at least a few of these on most practice exams.
If the answer provided is "A", then that is reasonable based on the assumption that a business case was previously submitted and approved. They haven't stated that assumption explicitly, but it is a reasonable one to make as in many cases a PM gets assigned to a project once its business case has been approved. "C" and "D" are not valid as it would be difficult to develop the preliminary versions of these without a better understanding of project scope so it really is a decision between "A" and "B".
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Vishal, while I do agree with Kiron's assumption and perspective in that PMs are usually engaged after the Business Case has been approved, yet as someone who has been working in the construction industry for many years, I want to offer a slightly different perspective.
Given that the initiative is multi-year and involves building a new facility, clarity on scope ensures that everyone understands the project's boundaries and objectives from the outset and while other options (B, C, and D) are important and will need to be addressed, they are typically built upon a clear understanding of the project scope so for me, option A is the correct answer. Moreover, since they are already planning on building the facility, this means, they already have their ROI justified and probably the BC approved.
On another note, I am also not a big fan of "what should be done first" questions because in real life, the order of how things should be done differs from one project to another and the order is based on what makes sense to your project and circumstances. In many cases, we develop SOW before a Business Case. Saving Changes...
Practically, I agree it could be either situationally. However, PMP exam asks to answer question as per PMI, not as per personal experiences, and that's where the confusion is :)
From what I have studied, we first define the business case and benefit plan, which are part of project charter. Only once the project charter is approved, the project starts, and that where "Planning" starts, where a Project Management Plan is created,
And "Scope Management Plan" as mentioned in the question is part of "Project Management Plan". As per that, I feel the right answer should be option B, but the mock test says it is Option A, and now super confused.
Thinking in terms of the PMP Exam, practically even in my experience, it could be either A or B.
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2 replies by Aung Sint and Kiron Bondale
Jul 25, 2024 7:41 AM
Kiron Bondale
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Vishal -
The good news for you is that the actual exam questions are thoroughly tested by PMI as control questions for a period of time to see how candidates respond to them. If you have a question where two answers are getting roughly equal response rates, the answers or the question stem are likely to be revised and in extreme cases the question could be dropped.
I would also suggest that even though all management plans are included in the PM Plan, they are developed iteratively so it is quite likely that the scope management plan could be drafted very early in the tenure of the PM on that particular project.
Kiron
Jan 23, 2026 11:53 PM
Aung Sint
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Vishal Vora I can see where the confusion arises... It would have been clearer if Option A had used the phrase "Scope Statement" instead of "Scope Management Plan," which refers to a management plan for how the scope will be managed.
Practically, I agree it could be either situationally. However, PMP exam asks to answer question as per PMI, not as per personal experiences, and that's where the confusion is :)
From what I have studied, we first define the business case and benefit plan, which are part of project charter. Only once the project charter is approved, the project starts, and that where "Planning" starts, where a Project Management Plan is created,
And "Scope Management Plan" as mentioned in the question is part of "Project Management Plan". As per that, I feel the right answer should be option B, but the mock test says it is Option A, and now super confused.
Thinking in terms of the PMP Exam, practically even in my experience, it could be either A or B.
Vishal -
The good news for you is that the actual exam questions are thoroughly tested by PMI as control questions for a period of time to see how candidates respond to them. If you have a question where two answers are getting roughly equal response rates, the answers or the question stem are likely to be revised and in extreme cases the question could be dropped.
I would also suggest that even though all management plans are included in the PM Plan, they are developed iteratively so it is quite likely that the scope management plan could be drafted very early in the tenure of the PM on that particular project.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Vishal, to add to Kiron's response, please keep in mind two things: The Integration Management Process and that the exam is experience-based and in most cases you will find two answers that are easy to eliminate and two that are hard to chose between. Saving Changes...
I had a similar experience with this question while studying with Study Hall. I chose option B as my answer but was surprised to see that I got it wrong.
I would also like to add that going by PMI, the business case is developed at the project Initiation stage, and according to the question, the R&D team is already in the "planning stage." So, I assume that the business case has already been established before the engagement of the P.M. Which leads to the choice to go ahead with the Scope management plan .
Thank you, Kiron, Rami, and Vishal, for all your input.
Here are my opinions regarding this subject, for your reference:
According to the PMI Project Management Body of Knowledge, the business case is developed and maintained by the initiator, and the project manager typically isn't directly responsible for creating or modifying it.
In the scenario we're considering, if you're preparing for your PMP exam, the project manager would start by developing a scope management plan. But if you're aiming for your PBA certification, the business analyst would take the lead in crafting the business case.
To break it down simply:
1）PMP candidates: The project manager begins by laying out a scope management plan.
2）PBA candidates: It's the business analyst who steps up to develop the business case.
This approach ensures that each role focuses on their area of expertise, in line with PMI's guidelines.
Ah, a great question! I can see both sides. On one hand, developing a scope management plan first makes sense, as it defines the project's goals and objectives. On the other hand, creating a business case document initially sets the project's foundation and ensures alignment with organizational goals. However, if I had to lean towards one option, I would suggest that developing a business case document (option B) might be the more appropriate first step. Of course, every project is unique, and the approach may vary depending on the specific circumstances.
Came across a similar type of question on SH : An experienced project manager is preparing a kick-off meeting for a new service assessment. A high-level description of the service has been provided. What should the project manager do first?
A.Develop the project charter.
B.Develop the responsible, accountable, consult, and inform (RACI) matrix.
C.Define the project scope statement.
D.Create the work breakdown structure (WBS).
Solution: A. Develop the project charter
From what I have read and understood as per PMBOK - Project charter is developed first by the project sponsor, after which PM is assigned for the proejct , and the scope is defined. Hence I selected Option C (which has been marked as wrong answer. Saving Changes...
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