This question fits the People domain because it concerns stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and resolving approval delays through direct communication. PMI's PMP Examination Content Outline emphasizes engaging stakeholders, understanding their needs, and addressing concerns before escalating issues. Since the stakeholder is new to the project and is withholding approval, the project manager should first meet with that stakeholder to understand the cause of the delay. The underlying problem may involve unclear expectations, insufficient information, misunderstanding of acceptance criteria, or concern about deliverable quality. Direct discussion is the most appropriate first step.
Option B escalates too early and assumes political influence is required before understanding the issue.
Option C is premature because workarounds should not be developed before the cause of non-approval is known. Option D may become necessary later if the issue persists, but PMP-style thinking favors resolving concerns at the lowest appropriate level first. A direct meeting helps restore alignment, clarify expectations, and potentially remove a barrier to approval without unnecessary escalation. That is why option A is the best answer.

The PMBOKGuide emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement and project communication management. When a functional manager expresses concerns about the project's quality management techniques, it is important for the project manager to address these concerns while also maintaining the integrity of the current project schedule. Negotiating a mutually agreeable time for the workshops respects the functional manager's concerns and the project team's current commitments. This approach is consistent with the principles of stakeholder engagement and effective communication, ensuring that all parties' needs are considered and addressed in a collaborative manner1.
References: (PMBOKGuide - Sixth Edition, Section 10.1 - Project Communications Management)

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Answer steps

According to the PMBOK Guide, project completion involves verifying that all the project deliverables meet the acceptance criteria and obtaining formal acceptance from the customer. Sometimes, the customer may request changes or modifications to the deliverables, which may affect the project scope, schedule, cost, or quality. In such cases, the project manager should negotiate with the customer to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement that balances the project objectives and the customer expectations. Negotiation is the process of conferring with others to come to terms with them or reach an agreement. The first step in negotiation is to analyze the bounds of the negotiation, which means to identify the best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA), the worst alternative to a negotiated agreement (WATNA), and the zone of possible agreement (ZOPA) for both parties. BATNA is the most advantageous alternative course of action a party can take if negotiations fail and an agreement cannot be reached. WATNA is the worst outcome that a party can expect if negotiations fail. ZOPA is the range of possible outcomes within which an agreement can be reached by both parties. By analyzing the bounds of the negotiation, the project manager can determine the minimum and maximum acceptable outcomes for both parties, and use them as a reference point for making offers and counteroffers. This can help the project manager to avoid deadlock, impasse, or unfavorable outcomes, and to achieve a win-win situation. Therefore, option A is the best answer. References: (Professional in Business Analysis Reference Materials source and documents) PMBOK Guide, 6th edition, Chapter 4: Project Integration Management, pages 123-124 PMBOK Guide, 6th edition, Chapter 12: Project Procurement Management, pages 481-482 PMP Exam Questions | 100% Free PMP Example Questions