Question

A project manager notices that a functional manager who lends a specialist to the team insists on personally approving every minor technical decision the specialist makes. This creates delays, and the specialist has expressed frustration about not being trusted. The project manager wants to build a more capable, self-reliant team while maintaining the relationship with the functional manager. What should the project manager do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Meet with the functional manager to understand their concerns and negotiate a defined decision-authority threshold below which the specialist can act independently

Answer

Escalate the situation to the sponsor and request that the functional manager be removed from the decision loop entirely

Answer

Instruct the specialist to stop seeking approval and make all technical decisions without involving the functional manager

Answer

Document the delays in the risk register and accept the approval process as an unavoidable constraint