Handling Underperforming Team Member: Consult HR
A team member consistently misses deadlines, causing delays for the rest of the team. When you discuss this with them, they cite personal issues but assure you they will improve. However, the pattern continues. What is the BEST next step?
Quick Answer
The correct next step is to consult with human resources to determine the appropriate course of action. This is because when a team member’s performance issues persist despite verbal coaching and involve personal matters, the project manager must follow organizational policies and legal guidelines rather than making unilateral disciplinary decisions. The PMP exam tests your ability to recognize when a problem escalates beyond the project manager’s authority—specifically, when handling underperforming team members requires HR’s expertise to mitigate risk and ensure fairness. A common trap is choosing to issue a formal warning or reassign tasks yourself, but the exam emphasizes that HR is the proper channel for sensitive personnel issues involving personal circumstances. Memory tip: think “P.I.P.”—Personal issues mean Involve People (HR).
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to formal disciplinary actions (Option C) or removal (Option D) because they seem decisive, but the PMP exam requires following organizational process and involving HR before escalating to formal measures.
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
✓
Consult with human resources to determine the appropriate course of action
When a team member's performance issue persists despite verbal coaching and involves personal matters, consulting HR ensures the project manager follows organizational policies and legal guidelines. The PMP emphasizes that the project manager should leverage HR expertise for sensitive personnel issues to mitigate risk and maintain fairness, rather than making unilateral disciplinary decisions.
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 to minimize impact
Why it's wrong here
This avoids addressing the performance issue and may not be fair to the team member.
- ✓
Consult with human resources to determine the appropriate course of action
Why this is correct
HR can provide guidance on performance management, legal considerations, and support options.
- ✗
Issue a formal warning and put the team member on a performance improvement plan
Why it's wrong here
This may be premature without understanding all factors; consulting HR first is advisable.
- ✗
Remove the team member from the project to protect the team's morale
Why it's wrong here
Removal should be a last resort; the PM should first attempt to support improvement.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Organizational Change Management
Organizational Change Management (OCM) is the structured approach to preparing, supporting, and guiding people through changes in an organization to ensure lasting success.
Key term
Training and Development
Training and Development is the process of enhancing team members' skills, knowledge, and competencies to improve project performance and achieve career growth.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PMP
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. During a project, a key team member consistently misses deadlines, causing delays. The project manager has had informal conversations with the team member, but the situation has not improved. What should the project manager do next?
medium- ✓ A.Schedule a private meeting to discuss the performance gap, identify underlying issues, and create an improvement plan
- B.Ignore the issue and adjust the schedule to accommodate the delays
- C.Escalate the issue to the functional manager and request a replacement
- D.Reassign the task to another team member without discussion
Why A: The project manager should first address performance issues through direct, private communication to understand root causes and collaboratively develop an improvement plan. This aligns with the PMI People domain, emphasizing servant leadership and coaching to resolve team member performance gaps before escalating or reassigning tasks. The informal conversations have not worked, so a structured approach with clear expectations and support is the next logical step.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.