A new major road project’s contractor contractually agreed to submit regular status reports and attend integration meetings. Midway through the project they stop attending meetings and submitting reports, saying it takes too much time. What should the project manager do first?

The project manager should first remind the contractor of their contractual obligations. This is the most direct and least escalatory approach to address the issue. It allows for a direct conversation to understand the contractor's concerns and find a mutually agreeable solution before escalating. Assessing risk and escalating to the sponsor, submitting a claim, or consulting a lawyer are all more severe actions that should be considered only if direct communication fails to resolve the issue. These options bypass the opportunity for a simple resolution and could damage the working relationship unnecessarily.