The project manager is utilizing a hybrid management approach for a creative project. The organization is undergoing a change aimed at improving cross-functional collaboration, which may impact the project scope. What should the project manager do first?

In a hybrid project environment, when an internal organizational change threatens to impact the project scope, the project manager must act proactively. The immediate first step is to identify the stakeholders affected by this change. By engaging these stakeholders early, the project manager can collaboratively assess the potential impacts on the project scope and backlog, ensuring the project aligns with the new organizational goals for cross-functional collaboration. This approach adheres to PMI principles, which emphasize proactive stakeholder engagement, continuous alignment with business objectives, and collaborative problem-solving over making isolated adjustments or passively waiting for top-down directives.

A. The scenario explicitly describes an internal organizational change, not a shift in the external business environment, making this action irrelevant to the immediate trigger.
C. Analyzing project scope in isolation without first identifying and engaging affected stakeholders bypasses the collaborative assessment and alignment required in hybrid project management.
D. Passively waiting for official directives ignores the proactive leadership, continuous stakeholder engagement, and adaptability expected of a project manager in a hybrid environment.

1. Project Management Institute (PMI). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition. (2021). Section 2.1 (Stakeholder Performance Domain), pp. 8-11. (Details the necessity of identifying and engaging stakeholders proactively when changes occur).

2. Project Management Institute (PMI). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Sixth Edition. (2017). Section 13.1 (Identify Stakeholders), p. 507. (Defines the continuous process of identifying stakeholders and analyzing their potential impact on project success during organizational shifts).

3. Project Management Institute (PMI). Agile Practice Guide. (2017). Section 4.3.2 (Agile Roles), pp. 40-41; Section 5.2.2 (Organizational Culture), pp. 75-76. (Highlights the importance of cross-functional collaboration and adapting to organizational changes through stakeholder alignment in hybrid/agile setups).