mediumMultiple Choice
PK0-005 Practice Question: A project team member consistently misses…
A project team member consistently misses deadlines and produces low-quality work. The project manager wants to address the issue without demotivating the team member. What is the appropriate first step?
⚠ Common exam trap
The PK0-005 exam often tests the misconception that immediate escalation or public reprimand is appropriate for performance issues, when in fact the correct first step is always a private, constructive conversation to understand the root cause and maintain team morale.
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
✓
Schedule a private meeting to discuss performance concerns
Addressing performance issues in a private, respectful manner aligns with project management best practices for maintaining team morale while ensuring accountability. The project manager should first gather specific data on missed deadlines and quality metrics, then schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss root causes and collaboratively develop an improvement plan. This approach preserves trust and avoids public embarrassment, which could further demotivate the team member.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reassign the team member to less critical tasks
Why it's wrong here
Reassignment sidesteps the performance problem rather than diagnosing it, so the underlying cause persists and the member may read it as punishment. It is tempting because reassignment genuinely suits resourcing decisions, such as matching a specialist's skills to different work, but here the stem asks for a first corrective conversation.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to human resources immediately
Why it's wrong here
Escalation to HR should be a last resort after attempting to resolve the issue directly.
- ✗
Formally warn the team member in front of the team
Why it's wrong here
Publicly warning a team member is a punitive act that humiliates them before peers, directly contradicting the requirement to avoid demotivation. Formal warnings belong in private, documented discussions after coaching has failed; this option is tempting as visible enforcement, yet it breaches confidentiality and destroys psychological safety.
- ✓
Schedule a private meeting to discuss performance concerns
Why this is correct
A private meeting is the appropriate first step in progressive discipline and performance management, allowing the PM to understand root causes, clarify expectations and agree corrective actions without public embarrassment, thereby addressing the shortfall while preserving the team member's motivation.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.