PMP Practice Questions #18
You are the Project Manager for a large construction project. Two weeks ago, the team raised an issue regarding the incompatibility of materials sourced from a new supplier, which could potentially cause structural problems. You addressed the concern by involving a materials expert to offer a potential solution. Which of the following actions is the BEST for this week?
A) Continue monitoring the issue to assess the solution and its impact on the project schedule.
B) Update the Issue Log to mark the issue as resolved.
C) Record the lesson learned about the issue so future teams can use it.
D) Close the issue and add a risk in the risk register about the potential of this solution not working as expected and track the risk.
Analysis
The question revolves around a critical decision-making scenario for a Project Manager in a large construction project. The team identified a significant issue two weeks ago concerning the incompatibility of materials from a new supplier, posing potential structural problems. In response, the Project Manager involved a materials expert to propose a solution. However, it is unclear whether this solution has been implemented or if it has effectively resolved the issue. The primary task now is to determine the most appropriate next step in dealing with this issue.
Analysis of Options:
Option A: Continue monitoring the issue to assess the solution and its impact on the project schedule. This option is good because the status of the issue is still uncertain. The solution from the materials expert is known, but there is no information about its implementation or success. Thus, continuous monitoring is essential to assess the solution’s effectiveness and understand its impact on the project. Until the issue is officially closed, it should remain a point of discussion and evaluation in status and review meetings. This approach aligns with proactive problem management, ensuring any evolving implications are promptly addressed.
Option B: Update the Issue Log to mark the issue as resolved. This option is premature because, while a potential solution has been identified, there is no clear evidence that the issue has been resolved. Marking the issue as resolved without sufficient information or confirmation of the solution’s effectiveness could lead to oversight and potential risks in the future.
Option C: Record the lesson learned about the issue so future teams can use it. While recording lessons learned is a valuable practice in project management, it is typically more beneficial when the outcome of a situation is clear. In this case, the issue is not yet resolved, and the full lesson is not yet understood. It’s important to record insights continuously, but it may be too soon to extract a comprehensive lesson for future teams.
Option D: Close the issue and add a risk in the risk register about the potential of this solution not working as expected and track the risk. This option is not advisable at this stage. Although identifying potential risks is an integral part of project management, the issue at hand has not been confirmed as resolved. It is premature to close the issue and shift the focus to tracking a new risk related to the solution. The primary concern should still be confirming the effectiveness of the proposed solution and officially resolving the issue.
Conclusion: Based on this analysis, Option A is the most appropriate choice in this scenario. The project manager should continue to monitor the issue, assess the proposed solution, and understand its impact on the project. This continuous evaluation will ensure that any new developments or implications are addressed promptly, maintaining the integrity and success of the project.
PMP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
|---|---|
| Process | Task 15: Manage project issues |
Topics Covered
- Address issues using optimal actions for project success
- Collaborate with key stakeholders for resolution.
