Final answer:
A project manager facing an SPI of 0.85 should analyze project delays, communicate with stakeholders, and implement a corrective action plan to address the schedule variance and get back on track.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a project manager of the Mess Rapid Transit project is facing a schedule performance index (SPI) of 0.85, it implies that the project is behind schedule. The SPI is calculated by dividing the earned value (EV) by the planned value (PV), and an SPI value less than 1 indicates that less work has been completed than was planned at a given point in time.
To respond effectively, the project manager should take the following steps:
- Conduct a performance analysis to understand the causes of the delays.
- Communicate the issue with stakeholders and team members to set expectations and seek support.
- Develop and implement a corrective action plan to get the project back on schedule, which may include re-allocating resources, adjusting task dependencies, or negotiating scope changes with stakeholders.
It's essential that the project manager acts promptly to address the issue, as further delays could lead to cost overruns and might impact project success negatively.