CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
A project manager is leading a project to implement a new customer relationship management (CRM) system. The project is in the execution phase. The project manager notices that a team member is consistently late in completing assigned tasks, causing delays. What is the most appropriate action for the project manager to take first?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is jumping to escalation or reassignment without first diagnosing the problem through direct communication.
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
✓
Discuss the issue with the team member to understand the cause
When a team member's performance affects project progress, the project manager should first engage in direct communication to uncover the underlying cause. This approach aligns with the principles of team management and conflict resolution, emphasizing collaboration and problem-solving. Only after understanding the issue can the project manager determine the appropriate corrective action, such as providing support, clarifying expectations, or involving functional management if necessary.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Discuss the issue with the team member to understand the cause
Why this is correct
The project manager should first communicate directly with the team member to identify the reasons for the delays. This could be due to lack of resources, unclear expectations, personal issues, or skill gaps. Addressing the root cause is essential for a sustainable solution and aligns with effective team management and conflict resolution.
- ✗
Reassign the team member's tasks to other team members
Why it's wrong here
Reassigning tasks may resolve the immediate delay but does not address the root cause of the team member's lateness. It could also demotivate the team member and set a precedent for avoiding responsibility. The project manager should first understand why the team member is late before taking corrective action.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the functional manager immediately
Why it's wrong here
Escalating immediately may be premature and could damage the working relationship with the team member. The project manager should first attempt to resolve the issue directly. Escalation is typically a last resort after other methods have failed or if the issue is beyond the project manager's authority.
- ✗
Update the issue log and continue monitoring the situation
Why it's wrong here
Logging the issue is important, but simply monitoring without taking action does not resolve the problem. The project manager needs to proactively address the performance issue. Logging is a part of the process, but direct communication should occur first to understand and correct the behavior.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PMI exam blueprint
This CAPM practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 CAPM exam.