Project Management Professional (PMP) — Question 453

A mid-size capital project has shared resources from the company's contract department. During the execution phase, the project team observed a delay in contracting. After communicating with the contract department, the project manager found the contract team is prioritizing other contracting jobs because they are not part of the project team.
What should the project manager do first in this situation?

Answer options

• A. Report the issue to higher management and seek their direct involvement to complete the job from the contract department.
• B. Arrange a meeting with the contract department to build trust and commitment by recognizing their critical support to the project.
• C. Arrange several meetings with the contract department and ask them to contract the project as it is critical for project success.
• D. Communicate with the contract manager to commit a budget for the resources required for project execution.

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is B, as building a relationship with the contract department can lead to improved collaboration and support, which is essential for project success. Reporting to higher management (A) may escalate the issue unnecessarily, while arranging multiple meetings (C) may overwhelm the contract team and not address the root cause. Communicating for budget commitments (D) does not directly resolve the prioritization issue.