An organization is deploying a new digital purchasing solution. The project manager has prepared plans for integration and launch, but there is a risk that a partner's system may be unavailable and negatively affect the project. What key activity is needed to help ensure project success?

The correct answer emphasizes proactive risk management. Continuously monitoring the risk allows the project team to track its status and triggers. Preparing resolution plans (contingency plans) ensures that if the risk materializes into an issue, there's a predefined course of action to minimize its impact, thus helping ensure project success. Informing stakeholders is a communication activity, not a direct risk response strategy. While important, it doesn't solve the underlying risk. Eliminating the risk by requiring a partner to change their system is often impractical and outside the project's direct control, making it an unrealistic expectation. Mitigating the risk by developing alternatives is a valid risk response, but it's a specific strategy. The question asks for a "key activity" to help ensure success, and ongoing monitoring combined with prepared responses is a more comprehensive and fundamental aspect of risk management than a single mitigation strategy.