A newly assigned engineer has the required skills but consistently waits for the project manager's authorization before acting. What should the project manager do?

The correct answer is to define the appropriate decision-making authority and empower the engineer. The engineer has the required skills, indicating a capability to perform the work. The issue is a lack of understanding regarding their authority and a reluctance to act without explicit permission. The project manager should clarify the engineer's boundaries for decision-making and encourage independent action within those boundaries, fostering autonomy and efficiency. Providing additional training is unnecessary as the engineer already possesses the required skills. Making all decisions for the engineer would create a bottleneck and micromanage, hindering productivity and the engineer's growth. Replacing the engineer is an extreme measure and premature, as the current issue can likely be resolved through clear communication and empowerment, rather than a skill deficit.