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Module 4 Challenge (Project Planning: Putting It All Together) Answers 2025

Question 1

Fill in the blank: A(n) _____ is a known and real problem that can affect a team’s ability to complete a task.

  • threat

  • drawback

  • issue

  • risk

✅ Correct Answer: issue

🔹 Explanation:
An issue is a current, real problem. A risk is something that might happen in the future.

Question 2

The risk management process can provide project managers a better understanding of what information? (Select all that apply.)

  • Who the project manager needs to consult about a risk

  • What could go wrong with the project

  • When exactly the risk will occur

  • How could the project manager mitigate the potential risk

✅ Correct Answer: Who to consult; What could go wrong; How to mitigate

🔹 Explanation:
Risk management identifies possible risks, evaluates stakeholders to involve, and determines mitigation. Exact timing of risks is unpredictable.

Question 3

As a project manager practicing risk management, you’ve already identified the risk. Now, you’re determining the likelihood and potential impact the risk will have on your project. Which risk management step does this represent?

  • Monitor and control risks

  • Analyze risks

  • Treat risks

  • Avoid risks

✅ Correct Answer: Analyze risks

🔹 Explanation:
Risk analysis involves assessing probability and impact to prioritize risks.

Question 4

A fishbone diagram is a useful tool for risk planning because it identifies the possible cause of a problem that may or may not occur. In what other part of the project management process can you use the diagram?

  • Closing phase

  • Engagement phase

  • Execution phase

  • Mitigation phase

✅ Correct Answer: Execution phase

🔹 Explanation:
Fishbone diagrams (cause-and-effect) are used in execution to analyze actual problems as they occur.

Question 5

Fill in the blank: Once an organization has explored the inherent risks of a project, its willingness to accept the possible outcomes of those risks is known as _____.

  • risk register

  • risk analysis

  • risk appetite

  • risk assumption

✅ Correct Answer: risk appetite

🔹 Explanation:
Risk appetite is how much risk an organization is willing to tolerate in pursuit of its objectives.

Question 6

A project manager identifies a series of tasks in an upcoming project that can only be started when the previous task has been completed. What term defines the relationship between these tasks?

  • Dependency

  • Connected

  • Stacked

  • Opposed

✅ Correct Answer: Dependency

🔹 Explanation:
A dependency exists when one task relies on the completion or start of another.

Question 7

A project manager is concerned about the workload an internal team is taking on for an upcoming project. The project manager decides to shift this workload to an external supplier. What kind of risk mitigation strategy is this?

  • Transferring risk

  • Accepting risk

  • Avoiding risk

  • Controlling risk

✅ Correct Answer: Transferring risk

🔹 Explanation:
By outsourcing to a vendor, the PM transfers responsibility and associated risk to an external party.

Question 8

A project manager communicates a newly discovered risk to a stakeholder. The project manager sends a direct email to stakeholders and includes “urgent” in the subject line. What level of risk are they likely writing about?

  • Low-level risk

  • Medium-level risk

  • High-level risk

  • Single point of failure risk

✅ Correct Answer: Single point of failure risk

🔹 Explanation:
While “high-level risk” feels intuitive, Coursera’s course material makes a distinction:

  • Routine/low risks → documented in risk register.

  • Medium risks → tracked and escalated in normal reports.

  • High-level risks → escalated quickly, but not always with “urgent” direct comms.

  • Single point of failure risks are so critical that if the risk occurs, the whole project (or system) could fail — which justifies urgent, immediate communication.

Question 9

As a project manager, you’re identifying task dependencies. Task B cannot start until Task A has started. Which type of dependency does this situation represent?

  • Start to Start (SS)

  • Finish to Start (FS)

  • Finish to Finish (FF)

  • Start to Finish (SF)

✅ Correct Answer: Start to Start (SS)

🔹 Explanation:
In SS dependency, two tasks must start together or one can only start when the other has started.

Question 10

Which steps should be taken when updating a risk management plan? (Select all that apply.)

  • Remove risks that are no longer relevant.

  • Move the plan to a confidential folder.

  • Add newly-identified risks.

  • Include any changes in the mitigation plans.

✅ Correct Answer: Remove irrelevant risks; Add new risks; Update mitigation

🔹 Explanation:
Updating keeps the risk register accurate and actionable by removing old risks, adding new ones, and adjusting mitigation.