The correct answer is to initiate a formal performance improvement plan. This is the appropriate next step because the project manager has exhausted informal coaching and the team member consistently misses deadlines, which now impacts the critical path. In project management, progressive discipline dictates that when informal conversations fail to resolve performance issues affecting the project schedule, a formal PIP is required to document expectations, set measurable goals, and protect the project’s timeline. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Manage Team process and the escalation of team performance issues; a common trap is choosing to reassign the team member or escalate to HR prematurely, but the PIP is the structured, documented step before those actions. Remember the memory tip: “Informal first, formal when it hurts the path”—if the critical path is threatened, it’s time for a PIP.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. 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 with deliverables, affecting the critical path. The project manager has had informal conversations, but performance hasn't improved. What should the project manager do next?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Initiate a formal performance improvement plan.
Option A is correct because the project manager has already attempted informal resolution, and the continued impact on the critical path requires a formal performance improvement plan (PIP) to document the issue, set clear expectations, and provide a structured path for improvement. This aligns with the PMI's progressive discipline approach, where informal coaching precedes formal action to protect the project's schedule and maintain team accountability.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Initiate a formal performance improvement plan.
Why this is correct
A formal plan provides clear expectations and consequences.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Reassign the task to another team member.
Why it's wrong here
Reassigning without addressing the issue may not solve the root cause.
✗
Ask the team member's manager to intervene.
Why it's wrong here
The PM should handle performance issues directly first.
✗
Remove the team member from the project.
Why it's wrong here
Removal should be a last resort after documented attempts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option C (escalation to the team member's manager) because they confuse a functional reporting structure with the project manager's direct authority over project deliverables, but the PMP exam expects the project manager to handle performance issues directly before escalating outside the project team.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In PMP best practices, the conflict resolution and performance management process follows a progressive ladder: informal coaching, then formal PIP, then reassignment or removal if necessary. The PIP should include specific, measurable goals (e.g., deliverable deadlines tied to the critical path), a timeline for improvement, and consequences for non-compliance. This mirrors the PMBOK Guide's 'Manage Team' process, where the project manager uses interpersonal skills and formal documentation to address performance variances that threaten project objectives.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Initiate a formal performance improvement plan. — Option A is correct because the project manager has already attempted informal resolution, and the continued impact on the critical path requires a formal performance improvement plan (PIP) to document the issue, set clear expectations, and provide a structured path for improvement. This aligns with the PMI's progressive discipline approach, where informal coaching precedes formal action to protect the project's schedule and maintain team accountability.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A junior team member consistently misses deadlines, affecting the project schedule. You have spoken to them twice about the issue, but performance has not improved. What should you do NEXT?
easy
A.Reassign the tasks to another team member.
✓ B.Meet with the team member privately to explore any obstacles or personal challenges.
C.Escalate the matter to the team member's functional manager.
D.Ignore the issue to avoid conflict.
Why B: Option B is correct because the PM should first seek to understand the root cause of the performance issue through a private, supportive conversation. This aligns with the PMP's 'People' domain, emphasizing servant leadership and emotional intelligence. Exploring obstacles or personal challenges addresses potential underlying factors (e.g., unclear requirements, resource constraints, or personal stress) before escalating or reassigning work.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
Question Discussion
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This PMP 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 PMP exam.
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