Question

During a company-wide software rollout, a senior department head with significant organizational influence has begun openly criticizing the project in meetings, though he has little day-to-day involvement in the actual work. His resistance is starting to reduce team morale and slow adoption. What is the project manager's BEST approach to managing this stakeholder?

Accepted Answer

Engage the department head directly to understand his concerns and keep him satisfied given his high influence over adoption

Answer

Escalate to the sponsor immediately and request the department head be removed from all project communications

Answer

Ignore the criticism since he has little involvement in the actual project tasks

Answer

Send the department head the same routine status reports the working team receives and continue as planned