PMP Practice Questions #134
Your project has reached completion, and you have fulfilled the contractual obligation of providing three weeks of post-delivery support. However, as the support period concludes, you recognize that the stakeholders are not fully prepared to operate the newly implemented system independently. As the project manager, how should you proceed to ensure a smooth transition and operational success?
A) Conclude all support activities as the three-week period is over, take a signoff on contractual obligations fulfilled to avoid future conflicts.
B) Request an extension of the support contract while sharing your concerns regarding the stakeholders’ lack of readiness.
C) Assess the areas where stakeholders are struggling and propose a tailored support extension, ensuring they have the necessary resources and knowledge to operate the system independently.
D) Conclude the support activities and provide your contact details to stakeholders so they can contact you for informal support on a case-by-case basis.
Analysis
Halfway through the project, significant changes in economic conditions have affected the purchasing power of the target demographic, misaligning the originally projected business value with current market trends. This shift necessitates a reassessment of the project’s direction to ensure its success and relevance.
Analysis of Options:
Option A: Conclude all support activities as the three-week period is over, take a signoff on contractual obligations fulfilled to avoid future conflicts. This option entails completing the support activities as the three-week period has ended and taking a signoff on the contractual obligations being fulfilled. While this action adheres to the initial agreement, it neglects the stakeholders’ current state of unpreparedness, potentially leading to future operational challenges. This approach prioritizes contractual adherence over practical readiness and long-term success.
Option B: Request an extension of the support contract while sharing your concerns regarding the stakeholders’ lack of readiness. By requesting an extension of the support contract and sharing concerns about stakeholders’ readiness, this option aims to provide additional time for stakeholder preparation. While this approach addresses the immediate need for further support, it assumes that an extension can be easily negotiated and that it will sufficiently resolve the readiness issues.
Option C: Assess the areas where stakeholders are struggling and propose a tailored support extension, ensuring they have the necessary resources and knowledge to operate the system independently. Conduct a thorough market analysis to understand the impact of the changing economic conditions on your project and adjust the project’s objectives, scope, and deliverables accordingly. This option suggests a proactive approach to adapting the project in response to external changes but assumes the project manager has the expertise and authority to make these adjustments independently.
Option D: Conclude the support activities and provide your contact details to stakeholders so they can contact you for informal support on a case-by-case basis. Concluding the support activities and providing personal contact details for case-by-case informal support is a gesture of goodwill but lacks the structure and reliability of formal support mechanisms. While it may offer temporary relief, it does not systematically address the stakeholders’ readiness or ensure a stable transition to independent operation.viable path forward.
Conclusion: Option C stands out as the most effective course of action. It acknowledges the stakeholders’ current challenges and commits to a structured and detailed support extension tailored to their needs. This option ensures that support is not merely extended in time but is adapted to effectively address the areas of struggle, facilitating a truly smooth transition and operational success. It aligns with the project manager’s responsibility to ensure not only the completion of contractual obligations but also the long-term viability and success of the project outcome.
PMP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
|---|---|
| Process | Task 16: Ensure knowledge transfer for project continuity |
| Process | Task 17: Plan and manage project/phase closure or transitions |
| Business | Task 4: Support organizational change |
Topics Covered
- Project Closure
- Training
- Lesson Learned
