A key team member was accepted into a master's program, with the first semester overlapping the project's final phase. What should the project manager do?

The project manager's primary responsibility is to ensure project success. When a key team member's commitment might be divided, the project manager must proactively assess the potential impact. This involves understanding the team member's priorities and how their academic commitments might affect their availability, focus, and ability to complete critical tasks during the final phase. Based on this assessment, the project manager can then develop a suitable plan, which might include adjusting tasks, providing support, or discussing options with the team member and stakeholders. Suggesting postponement is not a collaborative or professional first step. Delegating tasks might be a solution, but it should come after assessing the situation, not before. Notifying HR is an administrative step that doesn't address the immediate project impact.