A project manager held a meeting and framed the project schedule. A critical stakeholder, who was not consulted at the time of the schedule discussion, complained that the published dates are not agreeable due to a prescheduled task for another assignment.
What should the project manager do first?
When faced with the critical stakeholder's concern about the project schedule, the first step the project manager should take is to organize a new schedule framing meeting with the stakeholder. This approach allows the project manager to directly address the stakeholder's concerns, gather necessary input, and make informed adjustments to the schedule if needed. By involving the stakeholder in the scheduling process, the project manager ensures that all key perspectives are considered, which promotes collaboration and helps in creating a more realistic and agreeable project timeline.
If we are taling about the FIRST step the PM needs to take: from my perspective it has to be investigated why a critical stakeholder was not consulted and this issue has to be corrected. Then the second step the PM needs to take: he/she needs to organize new schedule framing meeting with the critical stakeholder.
Analyzing the root cause of the issue and updating the communications management plan (option C) may be relevant for addressing communication gaps or issues, but the immediate priority is to address the stakeholder's concerns regarding the project schedule.
This approach involves investigating why the critical stakeholder was not consulted during the schedule framing meeting. Understanding and rectifying this root cause will help prevent similar oversights in the future, improving stakeholder engagement practices.
By involving the critical stakeholder in a new schedule framing meeting, the project manager can gather their input and considerations, ensuring that their schedule constraints and commitments are taken into account. This promotes collaboration and helps in creating a more realistic and feasible project schedule.
Question states "do first" = immediate proactive action to resolve the situation. Rather than RCA, engaging the stakeholder is the most immediate action to take to resolve the issue at hand.
Agree, both A and C should be do by this situation. but A should "Do First" then C later.
While a proactive measure for the future, understanding the root cause doesn't immediately fix the scheduling clash and further delays resolution.
C Those kinds of questions are without meaning. They dont offer knowledge. I say C but I think that it's a meaningless question.
C first to see why that critical stakeholder wasnt involved in scheduling discussions, then A
While analyzing the root cause of the issue and updating the communications management plan (option C) is an important task for continuous improvement, it does not directly address the immediate problem: the critical stakeholder's concern about the project schedule. The primary objective at this point is to ensure that the stakeholder's concerns are addressed and that the project schedule is feasible for all parties involved. Organizing a new schedule framing meeting with the critical stakeholder (option A) is the most direct and effective way to do this. Once the meeting has been held, and the schedule has been adjusted, the project manager can then analyze the root cause of the communication breakdown and update the communications management plan accordingly (option C) to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.
The correct answer is A. Organize a new schedule framing meeting with the critical stakeholder to obtain input. When a critical stakeholder complains that the published dates are not agreeable due to a prescheduled task for another assignment, the project manager should first consult with the stakeholder to understand their concerns and requirements. This meeting will allow the project manager to: 1. Understand the stakeholder's constraints and limitations. 2. Discuss possible alternatives and adjustments to the project schedule. 3. Obtain the stakeholder's input and agreement on the revised schedule. Only after consulting with the critical stakeholder should the project manager consider updating the project schedule, communicating changes to other stakeholders, and potentially involving the project sponsor or adjusting the communications management plan.