Project Management Professional (PMP) — Question 85

A project is near completion but it is behind schedule. The contingency budget has already being used, although the remaining budget should be enough to complete the project. The only subject matter expert (SME) assigned to the project has been asked by their manager to solve a problem in the operations department.
What should the project manager do?

Answer options

• A. Escalate the situation to the project sponsor.
• B. Free the resource to handle the operations priority.
• C. Ask the manager to submit a change request.
• D. Design a negotiation strategy for this situation.

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is D because designing a negotiation strategy allows the project manager to find a balance between the project's needs and the operations department's priorities. Option A may not resolve the immediate issue, while B could jeopardize project completion, and C may not be necessary if negotiation can lead to a better outcome.