PMI CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Examination Content OutlineProject Management Fundamentals and Core ConceptsMedium
A project manager is assigned to a project within a functional organization. The project requires significant resources from various departments, but the functional managers retain full authority over their staff and departmental budgets. What challenge is the project manager MOST likely to face in this environment?
- ADifficulty in obtaining dedicated resources for the project.
- BExcessive administrative overhead due to matrix reporting.
- CLimited access to specialized technical expertise within the organization.
- DLack of clear lines of authority for project team members.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Difficulty in obtaining dedicated resources for the project.
In a functional organization, project managers have limited authority and rely on functional managers for resources. Since functional managers prioritize their departmental work, securing dedicated resources for a project can be challenging.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Matrix organizations, not functional ones, typically have excessive administrative overhead due to dual reporting lines.
- C. Functional organizations often have a wealth of specialized expertise within their departments; the challenge is getting access to it, not its absence.
- D. Lines of authority are very clear in a functional organization; team members report directly to their functional managers.
Functional Organization Challenge
A primary challenge for project managers in a functional organization is the difficulty in acquiring and maintaining dedicated project resources due to limited authority.
- Project managers have limited authority.
- Resources report to functional managers.
- Resource allocation is often departmental priority-driven.
Memory trick: Functional is siloed, Matrix balances, Projectized is focused.