A construction project is experiencing schedule and cost overruns, and the client is unhappy with progress on specific scope items. What should the project manager do first?

The project manager should first review the scope and project objectives because this foundational step helps to understand the root cause of the issues. Schedule and cost overruns, coupled with client dissatisfaction on specific scope items, indicate a potential misalignment or misunderstanding of what needs to be delivered. By reviewing the scope, the project manager can confirm what was agreed upon, identify any scope creep, or determine if the original objectives were unrealistic. This clarity is essential before taking any corrective actions. Enforcing a penalty clause on a supplier might be a later step if a supplier is indeed at fault, but without understanding the scope, it's premature. Taking action to reduce cost overrun is important, but without understanding the scope, it might lead to cutting corners on essential deliverables. Working with the client on scope completion is also important, but a review of the original scope and objectives should precede this to ensure alignment and avoid further misunderstandings.