A project manager has just received communication from an operational functional manager to complete an additional scope item for a project that was formally closed a few weeks ago. The scope looks relatively small and simple to handle as part of the daily operations activity.How should the project manager deal with this request?

Submitting a change request may be premature without first evaluating the nature of the request. The project manager should ascertain whether the request legitimately falls within the project scope or if it requires formal approval due to the project's closure. Jumping to allocate resources without understanding the request could lead to unnecessary complications.

Confirming budget and resource availability assumes that the request is valid and actionable. However, prior to this step, the project manager needs to evaluate the request's context and its alignment with the project closure. Simply confirming resources without proper assessment could lead to misallocation or resource strain on other ongoing projects.

While exploring alternative resources might seem helpful, it does not address the fundamental need to evaluate the request itself. Before considering how to execute the additional scope, the project manager should fully understand the request's implications and communicate effectively with the operational functional manager.