PMP Question #250: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

Question

An external project manager is managing the construction of new corporate offices for a large company. The project management plan states that it is necessary to contract a highly trained external resource to revise and validate an important project component. The client has rejected hiring the external resource because of the high cost, even though it is within the project budget. What should the project manager do to resolve this issue?

Options

• ATry to accomplish the task internally by leveling resources from other projects.
• BAsk the client for a meeting and explain that the task will not be performed.
• CEvaluate the consequences and meet with the client to explain the possible scenarios.
• DHire the resource in order to achieve the project objectives.

Explanation

The project manager should evaluate the potential consequences of the client's decision to reject the necessary resource and then meet with the client to explain these scenarios for an informed decision.

Common mistakes.

• A. This is premature; the PM hasn't assessed the impact of not hiring the external resource or discussed it further with the client, and attempting internal solutions might not meet the 'highly trained' requirement.
• B. This is confrontational and does not provide the client with the necessary information to understand the impact of their rejection, potentially damaging the relationship and project.
• D. Hiring the resource against the client's explicit rejection, even if budgeted, disregards client concerns and authority, potentially leading to distrust and further conflict, especially without explaining the consequences first.

Concept tested. Stakeholder management & consequence analysis

Reference. https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok

No community discussion yet for this question.