2. A project manager identifies several issues with the formatting and phrasing of a deliverable. They are concerned the customer will not accept the deliverable as it is. To solve this problem, they are considering hiring an external consultant to help with that deliverable.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Cost and quality

The project manager's concern about the formatting and phrasing of the deliverable relates directly to the quality of the work. By hiring an external consultant, they aim to enhance the deliverable's quality while considering the associated costs of bringing in additional expertise.

A) Cost and scope

This option incorrectly focuses on the relationship between cost and scope. While cost is relevant, the scope is not the primary concern in this scenario, as the project manager's main issue is the quality of the deliverable rather than its overall scope.

B) Schedule and scope

This choice is incorrect because it emphasizes schedule and scope, neither of which directly addresses the quality concerns raised by the project manager. The critical factor here is not the timeline or the extent of the project but rather the quality of the deliverable itself.

C) Cost and quality

This option accurately captures the essence of the project manager's dilemma. Concerns about the quality of the deliverable necessitate consideration of costs when hiring an external consultant, making this the correct choice.

D) Schedule and quality

While this option mentions quality, it incorrectly pairs it with schedule, which is not relevant to the immediate concern of improving the deliverable's quality. The focus should be on the cost associated with enhancing quality rather than the timeline.

Conclusion

The correct answer, "Cost and quality," highlights the project manager's need to balance the expenses involved in hiring a consultant against the imperative of improving the deliverable's quality. Other options fail to prioritize the critical issue of quality while misplacing emphasis on factors such as scope and schedule, which are not the immediate concerns in this context.