What is the preferred way to handle a request for information from a stakeholder not on your report distribution list?

• A. Acknowledge their request and offer to get back to them later after checking on their inclusion in the distribution list.
• B. Ignore their request.
• C. Send a generic summary to everyone.
• D. Change the report distribution list without informing them.

Answer: (A)

Handling access to information hinges on following proper stakeholder communication and data governance. When someone asks for a report who isn’t on the current distribution list, the right move is to acknowledge the request and verify whether they should have access under your organization's policies. By promising to check their role and the distribution rules, you protect sensitive data, uphold governance standards, and set clear expectations about how information will be shared. This approach demonstrates professional responsibility and helps maintain trust with both the requester and the rest of the team.

Choosing to ignore the request misses an opportunity to communicate and can damage relationships. Sending a generic summary to everyone risks sharing information with people who shouldn’t see it and can violate privacy policies. And altering the distribution list without informing the requester bypasses governance controls and creates security and accountability issues.