PK0-005 Project Management Concepts Practice Question
A project manager is building the project team for a six-month software implementation. The organization uses a weak matrix structure. The project manager needs two developers, but the functional manager controls their day-to-day assignments and performance reviews. Which action should the project manager take FIRST to secure these resources?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming the project manager can simply assign the developers in the schedule without the functional manager's agreement because the work belongs to the project.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Negotiate directly with the functional manager to agree on the developers' allocation and availability.
Because the organization is a weak matrix, the functional manager holds the real authority over staff assignments and performance. The project manager's first and most effective move is direct negotiation to secure named resources and an agreed level of availability, which establishes a documented commitment. Only if that negotiation fails should escalation to a higher authority such as the sponsor be considered.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Add the developers to the project team directory and begin assigning them tasks in the schedule.
Why it's wrong here
Listing people in a directory does not grant the project manager authority over their time. In a weak matrix, tasks assigned in the schedule can be ignored or overridden by the functional manager's priorities, so this action creates a false impression of resourcing while leaving the actual allocation unresolved and the schedule at risk.
- ✓
Negotiate directly with the functional manager to agree on the developers' allocation and availability.
Why this is correct
In a weak matrix the functional manager controls resource assignment, so the project manager must first negotiate for the specific people and the percentage of their time. Agreeing on allocation and availability up front creates a shared expectation and documents the commitment, which is the standard first step before any escalation becomes necessary.
- ✗
Escalate to the project sponsor to force the functional manager to release the developers.
Why it's wrong here
Escalation to the sponsor is a heavyweight action reserved for unresolved conflict after direct negotiation has failed. In a weak matrix the functional manager legitimately owns the resources, so immediately escalating implies the project manager skipped the collaborative step and risks damaging a working relationship needed for the entire six-month engagement.
- ✗
Issue a resource requisition through the PMO and wait for the developers to be assigned automatically.
Why it's wrong here
A PMO requisition process may exist, but relying on it passively does not address the functional manager's authority in a weak matrix and gives the project manager no influence over which developers or how much time are committed. It also delays the schedule while the request queues, which is avoidable when direct negotiation is available.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This PK0-005 question is part of Courseiva's 954-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This PK0-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PK0-005 exam.