During project execution, an experienced team member says they cannot participate in all scheduled project activities because of a conflicting operational schedule. What should the project manager do?

The best course of action is to discuss the conflict with the team member's functional manager. This approach respects organizational hierarchy and seeks a collaborative solution that might benefit both the project and operations. The functional manager has authority over the team member's operational schedule and can assess the feasibility of adjustments, potentially re-prioritizing tasks or reassigning work to ensure project continuity without negatively impacting operations. Encouraging the team member to prioritize project activities without involving their manager might put the team member in a difficult position and doesn't address the root cause of the conflict. Replacing the team member should be a last resort, as it can lead to knowledge loss, onboarding delays, and decreased team morale. Consulting the PMO for resources is premature before attempting to resolve the current resource conflict with the functional manager.