Project Life Cycle →mediumMultiple Choice

PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Practice Question

A project manager is leading a project to deploy a new customer relationship management (CRM) system. The project is in the Executing phase, and the team has just completed the first sprint. During a review, the project manager notices that the team is not following the agreed-upon coding standards, leading to inconsistent code quality. Which of the following actions should the project manager take FIRST to address this issue?

⚠ Common exam trap

The trap here is assuming that updating the project management plan or escalating immediately will solve the problem, when the project manager should first address the team directly to understand and correct the behavior.

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

✓

Conduct a team meeting to reinforce the importance of following the coding standards and provide training if needed.

In the Executing phase, the project manager must ensure the team adheres to quality standards. The first step is to engage the team, reinforce expectations, and provide necessary support or training. This proactive approach addresses the root cause and aligns with the project manager's responsibility to manage team performance and quality. Escalation or plan changes are premature without understanding the issue.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
Update the project management plan to include stricter coding standards.
Why it's wrong here
Updating the project management plan is a formal change that may be necessary later, but it does not address the immediate non-compliance. The project manager should first understand why the team is not following the standards. Changing the plan without involving the team may lead to further resistance and does not correct the behavior. The plan already contains the standards; the issue is adherence, not documentation.
✗
Implement a formal quality audit to identify all instances of non-compliance.
Why it's wrong here
A quality audit is a valid tool to detect non-compliance, but it is a reactive measure that identifies issues after they occur. The project manager already knows the team is not following standards. The first step should be to correct the behavior through direct engagement. Audits can be used later to verify compliance, but they do not address the immediate need to guide the team.
✓
Conduct a team meeting to reinforce the importance of following the coding standards and provide training if needed.
Why this is correct
The project manager should first address the team directly to understand the root cause and reinforce expectations. A meeting allows for open communication, clarification of standards, and identification of any training gaps. This aligns with the Executing phase's focus on team development and quality assurance. If the issue persists, more formal actions like process adjustments or performance management can follow.
✗
Escalate the issue to the functional manager and request that team members be replaced.
Why it's wrong here
Escalation and replacement are drastic steps that should be reserved for persistent performance issues after other interventions have failed. The project manager has not yet determined why the team is not following standards; it could be a misunderstanding or lack of training. Taking such action now would damage team morale and may not solve the underlying problem. It is not the first step.

Go deeper

PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Practice Question

Why each option matters

Option-by-option breakdown

Related to this question