Some stakeholders prefer to communicate directly with programmers and system analysts, bypassing project managers, which complicates resource management. How should the project manager address this?

The correct answer is to promote adoption of the communications management plan with the project team. This plan defines how, when, and by whom project information will be communicated. By ensuring the team understands and adheres to it, the project manager can reinforce proper communication channels and prevent stakeholders from bypassing established protocols, thereby improving resource management. Implementing a new PMIS might be a long-term solution but doesn't immediately address the behavioral issue. Escalating to senior management is premature; the project manager should first attempt to resolve the issue within the project team. A team-building event could improve morale but won't directly enforce communication protocols or prevent stakeholders from bypassing the project manager.