PMP Practice Exam Question

While preparing for a critical project task, the project manager discovers that a key piece of equipment needed for the task has not been procured, causing a delay in the schedule. The procurement process will take at least two weeks to complete. What should the project manager have done to avoid this delay?

A) Included the procurement of the equipment in the project’s procurement management plan and tracked its progress.

B) Added a contingency plan in the risk register to handle potential delays in procurement.

C) Logged the delay in the issue log and notified the sponsor immediately.

D) Submitted a change request to adjust the project schedule to accommodate the delay.

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Correct Answer: A. Included the procurement of the equipment in the project’s procurement management plan and tracked its progress.

Explanation:

Effective project management requires proactive planning and tracking to prevent unexpected delays. Here’s why the selected option is the best course of action:

• A. Including the procurement in the procurement management plan ensures that the acquisition of necessary equipment is scheduled and tracked, preventing delays. This proactive step would have allowed the project manager to foresee the need for the equipment and ensure timely procurement.
• B. Adding a contingency plan to the risk register is a good practice, but it would not prevent the delay in this case. The issue here stems from the lack of planning, not from an unforeseen risk.
• C. Logging the delay in the issue log is a reactive measure, which helps manage the problem once it occurs but does not prevent it. The project manager should focus on planning ahead to avoid the issue in the first place.
• D. Submitting a change request to adjust the project schedule is also a reactive step that deals with the consequences of the delay rather than preventing it. Proper planning would have eliminated the need for this.

By including the procurement in the procurement management plan, the project manager would have ensured that the equipment was available when needed, avoiding the delay altogether.