Project Management Professional (PMP)® Examination Content OutlineProcessMedium
A project manager is overseeing a project to develop a new mobile application. The team has identified a technical dependency on an external API that is still under development by a third party. This dependency poses a significant risk to the project schedule. What is the BEST course of action for the project manager to take regarding this dependency?
- AEscalate the issue to senior management, requesting their intervention with the third-party vendor.
- BAdd a large buffer to the project schedule to account for potential delays.
- CInstruct the development team to start working on other features until the API is ready.
- DDevelop a contingency plan for an alternative API or a workaround if the primary API is delayed.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Develop a contingency plan for an alternative API or a workaround if the primary API is delayed.
Developing a contingency plan is a proactive risk response strategy for dependencies. It prepares the team for potential delays or failures of the external API by having an alternative ready.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Escalation is an option but should follow attempts to mitigate the risk at the project level first, and it doesn't guarantee a resolution.
- B. Adding a large buffer is a reactive approach and doesn't address the underlying risk actively.
- C. Stopping work on dependent features might lead to idle time or resource underutilization, and doesn't mitigate the dependency risk itself.
Dependency Management
The process of identifying, documenting, and managing relationships between project activities or between a project and external factors, ensuring that these relationships are handled to minimize negative impacts.
- Involves understanding external and internal links.
- Crucial for schedule and resource planning.
- Requires proactive risk identification and mitigation.
Memory trick: When one chain link is weak, prepare a spare or a different path.