HKSM
Vendor
An external person or company that delivers goods or services the project organization does not handle as part of its core expertise.
Key Points
- Vendors are outside the performing organization and are engaged through contracts or purchase orders.
- They supply capabilities that are not core competencies of the project organization or are more efficient to buy than build.
- Selection and oversight occur through procurement processes such as RFP/RFQ, evaluation, contracting, and performance monitoring.
- Clear scope, statements of work, SLAs, acceptance criteria, and change control help manage cost, schedule, and quality risks.
Example
An IT project needs specialized penetration testing that the team cannot perform internally. The project contracts a cybersecurity firm to provide this service under a fixed-price agreement.
PMP Example Question
A project team lacks advanced data analytics capability and signs a service agreement with a third-party company to provide it. What is this third party called?
- Functional manager
- Vendor
- Sponsor
- Internal stakeholder
Correct Answer: B — Vendor
Explanation: A vendor is an external entity that provides goods or services not performed within the project's in-house core competencies.
