You are managing a predictive software development project with a fixed timeline of 18 months. During the planning phase, you identify that two critical team members with specialized database expertise will be needed for months 8-12, but they are currently assigned to another project. The resource manager indicates they might become available, but cannot guarantee it. Your project schedule shows these resources on the critical path. What should you do first?

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Accepted Answer

The correct answer is A. The best approach is to document this as a resource risk and develop mitigation strategies (Option A), which aligns with proactive risk management in predictive projects. This allows you to plan alternatives such as identifying backup resources, cross-training existing team members, or adjusting the schedule if needed. Option C is the main distractor because while escalation may eventually be necessary, doing so immediately without first documenting the risk and exploring options is premature and doesn't follow proper risk management processes. The sponsor needs to see you've analyzed the situation and have recommendations before engaging in high-level negotiations. Options B and D are reactive rather than proactive approaches that don't properly address the planning-phase risk identification.

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