Smartsheet Certification Practice Exam

What is the best method for a project manager to notify an individual when a task becomes at-risk?

1. Create a conditional formatting rule to notify individuals when a task is marked at-risk

2. Send the activity log to all shared users of a sheet

3. Use the send row functionality to send a row when the task is marked as at-risk

4. Create an alert to notify the assignee when a task is marked as at-risk

The correct answer is: Create an alert to notify the assignee when a task is marked as at-risk

The best method for a project manager to notify an individual when a task becomes at-risk is to create an alert to notify the assignee when that task is marked as at-risk. This approach is effective because alerts can be configured to directly inform specific users based on changes to specific fields or conditions within the project management tool. By setting up an alert, the assignee receives a timely and relevant notification that pertains directly to their responsibilities. This ensures that the individual is made immediately aware of the change in status, enabling them to take appropriate action to address the risks associated with the task. Alerts provide targeted communication to key stakeholders, facilitating better responsiveness and management of tasks. The other options, while they have their uses, do not provide the same level of direct and immediate communication to the individual responsible for the task. For instance, conditional formatting rules alter the visual aspect of a project sheet but do not actively notify users. Sending an activity log to all shared users could lead to information overload and might not reach the specific individual who needs to take action. Lastly, using the send row functionality may be helpful for one-off notifications, but it does not create an ongoing alert system that reacts to task changes consistently. Thus, creating alerts is the most systematic and efficient