PMP · Question #625
A project manager is leading a project in an organization that has a functional structure. The project manager has been informed by the team that the tasks related to the purchase of services are taki
The correct answer is B. Meet with the purchasing manager to find the source of the delays and agree on a purchasing. In a functional organization where departmental priorities cause delays in project-critical tasks, the project manager should proactively meet with the functional manager to understand the source of delays and negotiate a schedule that aligns with project needs.
Question
A project manager is leading a project in an organization that has a functional structure. The project manager has been informed by the team that the tasks related to the purchase of services are taking too long, as the purchasing department has other priorities. What should the project manager do?
Options
- AAsk the project team to keep developing other tasks that do not depend on the purchase of
- BMeet with the purchasing manager to find the source of the delays and agree on a purchasing
- CRequest that the purchasing tasks be outsourced through an existing purchasing vendor.
- DModify the project schedule to accommodate the delays in the purchase of services.
How the community answered
(25 responses)- A4% (1)
- B72% (18)
- C8% (2)
- D16% (4)
Why each option
In a functional organization where departmental priorities cause delays in project-critical tasks, the project manager should proactively meet with the functional manager to understand the source of delays and negotiate a schedule that aligns with project needs.
Asking the project team to work on other tasks might temporarily keep them busy but does not address the fundamental bottleneck in purchasing and could lead to further delays down the line.
In a functional organization, project managers often have limited direct authority over functional resources. Meeting with the purchasing manager is the most effective first step to understand their department's priorities, explain the project's critical needs, negotiate a revised schedule, and collaborate on a solution to mitigate the delays caused by conflicting priorities.
Requesting outsourcing is a significant decision with potential cost and control implications, and it's premature before attempting to resolve the issue directly with the internal department.
Modifying the project schedule to accommodate delays without addressing the root cause is a reactive measure that simply accepts the problem rather than solving it, potentially impacting project objectives.
Concept tested: Resource negotiation in functional organizations
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/project-resource-management
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Dervla O.Nov 18, 2025B. In a functional structure the purchasing manager controls those resources, so go have the conversation directly to find the root cause and negotiate a workable timeline. C is a trap because outsourcing purchasing tasks is out of your authority, and D just absorbs the delay instead of solving it.
Lena V.Nov 19, 2025Agreed on B, but the exam also wants you to document the agreed timeline in writing afterward so you have a paper trail if the issue resurfaces.
Lena V.Dec 13, 2025B is the PMP answer here. In a functional structure the PM has limited authority, so you negotiate with the functional manager to resolve resource conflicts rather than just absorbing the delay or working around it. One thing I am still shaky on: if the purchasing manager refuses to budge after the meeting, does the PM escalate to the sponsor next or document it as a risk and keep pushing schedule compression?
Carlos M.Dec 3, 2025B is the right call here. In a functional structure the PM has little authority over resources, so you have to negotiate with the functional manager to get anywhere. The question is basically testing whether you know to collaborate and find root cause rather than just work around the problem or push it off on someone else. Option A sounds reasonable but it ignores the delay instead of fixing it, and D just accepts the slip without question. One thing I am still fuzzy on, in a functional org does the PM even have the authority to outsource purchasing tasks like C suggests, or would that decision also fall outside their
Lena V.Dec 5, 2025Carlos is right on B but to answer his question, in a functional org the PM almost certainly lacks authority to outsource anything, so C would fail for the same reason A and D do.
Olusegun A.Dec 7, 2025B. Functional org means no direct authority, so you negotiate with the functional manager.