- A
Ignore the issue as it will likely resolve on its own
Why wrong: Unaddressed conflict can escalate; proactive intervention is needed.
- B
Facilitate a team discussion to develop a team charter that includes communication norms and cultural respect
Collaboratively setting norms fosters ownership and respect for diversity.
- C
Provide cultural sensitivity training to the entire team
Why wrong: Training is good but may not be immediately actionable; establishing norms is more direct.
- D
Tell the direct communicators to soften their tone
Why wrong: Singling out individuals may cause resentment; better to establish team-wide norms.
Question 278 of 892
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.
Your project team includes members from diverse cultural backgrounds. During a meeting, you notice that some team members are uncomfortable with the direct communication style of others. How should you address this?
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
✓
Facilitate a team discussion to develop a team charter that includes communication norms and cultural respect
Option B is correct because it aligns with the PMP's focus on proactive leadership and team development. By facilitating a team discussion to create a team charter with agreed-upon communication norms and cultural respect, you empower the team to collaboratively solve the issue, fostering a respectful and inclusive environment. This approach directly addresses the root cause—differing communication styles—and builds a sustainable framework for future interactions, which is a core responsibility of a project manager in the 'Manage Team' process.
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.
- ✗
Ignore the issue as it will likely resolve on its own
Why it's wrong here
Unaddressed conflict can escalate; proactive intervention is needed.
- ✓
Facilitate a team discussion to develop a team charter that includes communication norms and cultural respect
Why this is correct
Collaboratively setting norms fosters ownership and respect for diversity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Provide cultural sensitivity training to the entire team
Why it's wrong here
Training is good but may not be immediately actionable; establishing norms is more direct.
- ✗
Tell the direct communicators to soften their tone
Why it's wrong here
Singling out individuals may cause resentment; better to establish team-wide norms.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PMI often tests the misconception that a project manager should immediately impose a solution (like training or direct orders) rather than facilitating a collaborative team agreement, which is the core of servant leadership and the PMP's emphasis on empowering the team to self-organize.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The team charter is a key artifact in the 'Develop Team' process, serving as a living document that codifies ground rules, communication protocols, and cultural norms. Under the hood, this process leverages Tuckman's Ladder (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing) to guide team development; facilitating a discussion during the 'Storming' phase helps the team transition to 'Norming' by establishing shared expectations. In a real-world scenario, a distributed team with members from Japan (high-context, indirect) and the Netherlands (low-context, direct) can use the charter to agree on a 'feedback sandwich' technique, preventing misunderstandings without stifling anyone's natural style.
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 practitioner preparing for the PMP exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
People — Leading Projects — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
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: Facilitate a team discussion to develop a team charter that includes communication norms and cultural respect — Option B is correct because it aligns with the PMP's focus on proactive leadership and team development. By facilitating a team discussion to create a team charter with agreed-upon communication norms and cultural respect, you empower the team to collaboratively solve the issue, fostering a respectful and inclusive environment. This approach directly addresses the root cause—differing communication styles—and builds a sustainable framework for future interactions, which is a core responsibility of a project manager in the 'Manage Team' process.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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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