This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
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?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Schedule a private meeting to discuss the performance gap, identify underlying issues, and create an improvement plan
Option A is correct because 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.
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.
✓
Schedule a private meeting to discuss the performance gap, identify underlying issues, and create an improvement plan
Why this is correct
Addressing performance directly with coaching is the recommended approach.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ignore the issue and adjust the schedule to accommodate the delays
Why it's wrong here
This may affect project success and team morale.
✗
Escalate the issue to the functional manager and request a replacement
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should be after performance management steps.
✗
Reassign the task to another team member without discussion
Why it's wrong here
This avoids addressing the root cause.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PMI often tests the misconception that escalating or reassigning tasks is the fastest solution, but the PMP exam emphasizes that the project manager should first attempt to resolve issues directly with the team member through coaching and a performance improvement plan before involving management or making unilateral changes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In project management, performance issues are typically addressed using a progressive discipline or coaching model, starting with informal feedback, then formal one-on-one meetings with documented improvement plans. This approach is rooted in the PMBOK Guide's Manage Team process, which emphasizes conflict resolution and performance assessment. A real-world scenario might involve a developer consistently missing sprint deadlines due to unclear requirements or personal challenges; a private meeting to identify blockers and adjust workload or provide training can restore productivity without escalating unnecessarily.
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.
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: Schedule a private meeting to discuss the performance gap, identify underlying issues, and create an improvement plan — Option A is correct because 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.
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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Question Discussion
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