A project manager for an education project must train staff in application development. The customer is providing the training facility and the first session must start in two weeks. The customer calls to say the facility will be unavailable in two weeks due to unforeseen problems. What should the project manager do next?

The best next step is to help the customer find an alternative location. This demonstrates a proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving, which is crucial for maintaining a positive customer relationship and keeping the project on track. While the customer is responsible for providing the facility, a project manager focused on project success and stakeholder satisfaction will offer assistance to mitigate the immediate impact. Applying contract penalties is premature and adversarial, potentially damaging the relationship. Issuing a change request or updating the schedule are necessary steps, but they are reactive and do not address the immediate problem of finding a training location. Finding a solution first allows for a more accurate change request and schedule update.