Project Management Professional (PMP) — Question 1135

A project manager is managing the development of a dental wire bending machine. The machine is compatible with the three most popular dental wires in the market, which covers 90% of the market. The prototype is now under testing for certification. The manufacturer of one of the three wires announced they will be producing a different wire that will be incompatible with the machine. This will result in a 25% loss of market coverage from the initially predicted 90% coverage.

What should the project manager do?

Answer options

• A. Meet with the sales and marketing representatives and ask them to convince the wire manufacturer to reconsider
• B. Meet with the wire manufacturer to secure enough of the existing stock for the machine
• C. Investigate the impact of this issue with the team and survey the market for alternative wires with similar characteristics
• D. Stop the project and kick off another project to apply alternative wires for the machine

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer, C, is appropriate because it focuses on understanding the full impact of the issue and exploring potential solutions, such as alternative wires. Options A and B do not address the core problem and rely on external factors that the project manager cannot control. Option D is extreme and unnecessary, as investigating alternatives is a more strategic approach.