Project Management Professional (PMP)® Examination Content OutlineBusiness EnvironmentMedium
A project manager is leading a project to upgrade the company's internal server infrastructure. The project is nearing completion when the organization's IT department announces a new strategic initiative to migrate all on-premise infrastructure to a cloud-based solution within the next 18 months. This initiative was not known when the server upgrade project was initiated. What is the MOST appropriate action for the project manager to take regarding the current server upgrade project?
- ACommunicate the new initiative to the project team and ask them to find ways to adapt the current servers for cloud migration.
- BRe-evaluate the current project's business case and objectives in light of the new strategic direction.
- CComplete the server upgrade project as planned, as the new initiative is separate and long-term.
- DImmediately stop the server upgrade project to avoid wasting resources on an obsolete solution.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Re-evaluate the current project's business case and objectives in light of the new strategic direction.
When a significant organizational strategic shift occurs that impacts the long-term relevance of a project's deliverables, the most appropriate action is to re-evaluate the project's business case and objectives. This ensures alignment with the new strategy and prevents investing further resources into a potentially obsolete solution.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Asking the team to adapt without a clear strategic re-evaluation might lead to unfocused efforts and potentially inefficient solutions.
- C. Completing the project without re-evaluation risks delivering a solution that will soon be obsolete, wasting resources.
- D. Stopping the project immediately without assessment might discard valuable work or prematurely halt something that could still provide interim value.
Strategic Alignment Re-evaluation
The process of reassessing a project's objectives and deliverables against new or changed organizational strategic goals to ensure continued relevance and value delivery.
- Ensures project outcomes support current strategic objectives.
- Triggered by significant changes in organizational strategy.
- May lead to project modification, termination, or continuation with adjusted scope.
Memory trick: Strategy shifts, project lifts its gaze, or risks losing its way in the organizational maze.