A project manager has been experiencing resistance from a group of stakeholders. With which of the following should the project manager consult to reduce friction going forward?

The project scheduler manages timelines and has no authority or defined role in stakeholder relationship management.

The project coordinator handles administrative and coordination tasks but lacks the authority to influence or resolve resistance from stakeholder groups.

The project sponsor is an executive champion with organizational authority who can intervene and align resistant stakeholders that the project manager cannot influence alone. The sponsor's position at higher organizational levels makes them uniquely suited to mediate friction and remove political obstacles. Consulting the sponsor is the recognized escalation path in PMI methodology when stakeholder conflict exceeds the PM's sphere of influence.

The PMO provides governance frameworks and methodology support but is not typically the resource engaged to resolve individual stakeholder friction.