A project manager read the initial contract when a project was started. The contract states a house has to be built in one year, and the foundation has to be completed in 30 days. What should the project manager do?

The contract provides mandatory requirements that act as major project constraints and key milestones. The project manager's immediate and most critical responsibility is to integrate these contractual obligations into the project management plan. These dates (foundation in 30 days, house in one year) are imposed deadlines that will govern the project schedule, resource allocation, and overall execution strategy. Incorporating them into the plan ensures that all subsequent project activities are aligned to meet these non-negotiable targets.

1. Project Management Institute. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (7th ed.). Section 2.3, Planning Performance Domain. This domain involves organizing and coordinating the work required to deliver outcomes, which includes establishing the schedule and milestones based on project requirements and constraints, such as those found in a contract.

2. Project Management Institute. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). Section 4.2, Develop Project Management Plan. The inputs for this process include "Agreements" (4.2.1.4), which refers to contracts. The output is the project management plan, which must reflect these contractual obligations.

3. Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2021). Project Management: The Managerial Process (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. Chapter 5, "Defining the Project," emphasizes that the project plan is built upon the scope, requirements, and constraints defined in documents like contracts and statements of work. Contractual milestones are a primary input for developing the project schedule. (This text is widely used in university-level project management courses).