A project depends on the client's vendor management system for critical requirements, but the vendor management team gains no direct benefit from the project. The project needs support from the vendor management head. What should the project manager do next?

The project manager needs to secure support from the vendor management head, who is a key stakeholder. A communications management plan, developed with the sponsor, is the most effective approach to strategically engage this stakeholder. This plan would outline how to communicate the project's importance, dependencies, and potential indirect benefits to the vendor management head, fostering their cooperation. Asking the sponsor to hire a vendor management SME is premature; the immediate need is to gain support from the existing head, not to replace or supplement their team. Reviewing steering committee terms of reference might be a later step if direct engagement fails, but the initial focus should be on direct communication and relationship building. Asking the sponsor to highlight nonfinancial benefits is a good idea, but it's a component of a broader communications strategy, not the strategy itself.