A project is on its fifth iteration out of six. One member of the team has left the company unexpectedly. What should the project manager do next?

A project manager taking on development work directly is generally discouraged as it deviates from their primary management role and could lead to burnout or neglect of other project responsibilities.

A sudden team member departure during a critical phase like the fifth iteration out of six constitutes a major risk or issue that could severely impact project delivery. Involving stakeholders is crucial because they represent key interests and can help decide on the best mitigation strategy, such as reassigning tasks, adjusting scope, or extending the timeline, ensuring collective agreement and support for the chosen path.

Simply detailing the reason for a delay in a status report is reactive and does not proactively address the problem or develop a solution.

While registering an issue is correct, escalating directly to the project sponsor without first formulating a proposed mitigation plan or discussing with relevant stakeholders might be premature and less effective.