Quick Answer
The correct first step is to discuss the issue with the team member. This prioritizes direct communication to uncover the root cause of the delays before making any schedule or resource changes, which is a core tenet of the PMI’s performance management approach. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this question tests your understanding of progressive problem-solving: you must resist the trap of immediately updating the critical path or escalating to management, as those actions skip the essential diagnostic conversation. The search intent behind “team member late on tasks first step” reflects the real-world need to address human factors before technical fixes. A common memory tip is to think “Talk First, Adjust Later”—always start with a private, non-confrontational discussion to identify whether the issue stems from unclear requirements, skill gaps, or personal obstacles, and only then consider schedule compression or reassignment.
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of project management concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A project team member is consistently late in completing assigned tasks, affecting the critical path. The project manager should FIRST:
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Replace the team member
Why wrong: Replacement is a drastic action that should come after discussion and attempts to resolve.
Discuss the issue with the team member
Correct. Open communication is the first step.
Update the project schedule
Why wrong: Updating the schedule may be needed later, but not the first action.
Escalate to the sponsor
Why wrong: Escalation is premature before addressing with the team member.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Discuss the issue with the team member
The project manager should first discuss the issue with the team member to understand the root cause of the delays. This aligns with the PMI's principle of addressing performance issues through direct communication before taking corrective actions that affect the schedule or team composition. Only after understanding the reason (e.g., unclear requirements, resource constraints, or personal issues) should the PM consider schedule updates or escalation.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Replace the team member
Why it's wrong here
Replacement is a drastic action that should come after discussion and attempts to resolve.
Discuss the issue with the team member
Why this is correct
Correct. Open communication is the first step.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Update the project schedule
Why it's wrong here
Updating the schedule may be needed later, but not the first action.
Escalate to the sponsor
Why it's wrong here
Escalation is premature before addressing with the team member.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that schedule updates or escalation are the immediate next steps, when in fact the PM must first engage the team member directly to resolve performance issues at the lowest level.
Detailed technical explanation
In project management, the critical path method (CPM) identifies tasks that directly impact project duration. A delay on the critical path compresses float to zero, so any further slippage extends the project finish date. The PM must first perform a root cause analysis (e.g., using the 5 Whys or Ishikawa diagram) to determine if the delay is due to a skill gap, unclear acceptance criteria, or external dependencies, then apply appropriate corrective actions like resource leveling or fast tracking.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Project Management Concepts — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Project Management Concepts practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All PK0-005 questions
500 questions across all exam domains
CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
PK0-005 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to Project Life Cycle Phases.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to Basics of IT Infrastructure and IT Project Management.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to Project Management Concepts.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to Tools and Documentation.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to PK0-005 fundamentals.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to PK0-005 scenario.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to PK0-005 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Project Management Concepts — This question tests Project Management Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Discuss the issue with the team member — The project manager should first discuss the issue with the team member to understand the root cause of the delays. This aligns with the PMI's principle of addressing performance issues through direct communication before taking corrective actions that affect the schedule or team composition. Only after understanding the reason (e.g., unclear requirements, resource constraints, or personal issues) should the PM consider schedule updates or escalation.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.