A key stakeholder asked several members of the project team to make project changes without submitting them for approval.
Because the stakeholder is related to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the team members are reluctant to deny these requests.
Which of the following should the project manager do FIRST to control this situation?
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A. B. C. D.C.
The situation described in the question highlights the challenge of managing stakeholders in a project. A key stakeholder has requested changes to the project without following the proper approval process, and members of the project team are reluctant to deny these requests because of the stakeholder's relationship with the CEO. This situation can lead to scope creep, which can result in delays, cost overruns, and decreased project success.
The project manager's first action should be to assert their authority and reinforce the project's change control process. Therefore, option A, having the team members deny all change requests from the stakeholder, is not the best approach, as it may damage the stakeholder's relationship with the project team and could lead to further conflict.
Option B, asking the project sponsor for more funding to anticipate the change requests, may not be the most appropriate solution at this stage. It is premature to request more funding when the scope of the changes is not yet determined.
Option D, requesting additional resources from the project team to complete the change requests from the key stakeholder, is not the best solution either, as the team is already reluctant to deny the stakeholder's requests. Additional resources may not be the best solution for addressing the problem of the stakeholder making unauthorized changes.
Option C, contacting the key stakeholder to encourage the submission of written change requests, is the best solution to control the situation. This approach will reinforce the importance of following the proper change control process while maintaining a positive relationship with the stakeholder. It will also ensure that the stakeholder's requests are formally documented, reviewed, and approved before implementation.
In summary, the project manager should choose option C, contact the key stakeholder to encourage the submission of written change requests, as the first step to control the situation. This approach will help to maintain good stakeholder relationships, reinforce the importance of following the project's change control process, and ensure that all changes are formally documented, reviewed, and approved before implementation.