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 transition, a key team member resigns unexpectedly. The project manager needs to ensure knowledge transfer and minimize impact. Which THREE actions should the project manager take? (Choose three.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Redistribute the departing member's tasks among the team based on capacity and skills, and update the work breakdown structure
Option A is correct because redistributing the departing member's tasks based on team capacity and skills is a proactive resource management action that maintains project continuity. Updating the work breakdown structure (WBS) ensures the project scope and task assignments are accurately reflected, preventing scope creep and confusion. This approach leverages existing team knowledge and avoids the delays associated with external hiring.
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.
✓
Redistribute the departing member's tasks among the team based on capacity and skills, and update the work breakdown structure
Why this is correct
Task redistribution and WBS update ensure continuity and clarity.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Arrange for the departing member to document key processes and create a handover document
Why this is correct
Documentation ensures critical knowledge is preserved.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ask the remaining team members to absorb the departing member's tasks
Why it's wrong here
This may overload the team; a structured redistribution is better.
✗
Immediately hire a replacement with similar skills
Why it's wrong here
Hiring may take time; immediate focus should be on knowledge transfer.
✓
Conduct an exit interview with the departing team member to document knowledge
Why this is correct
Exit interviews help capture tacit knowledge and insights.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'immediate hiring' (Option D) as a quick fix, overlooking the reality that hiring takes time and does not solve the immediate knowledge gap, or they may assume 'absorbing tasks' (Option C) is a simple solution without considering team capacity and risk of overload.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Effective knowledge transfer during unplanned departures relies on structured documentation and handover processes, as outlined in PMBOK Guide's 'Manage Team' and 'Develop Team' processes. The exit interview (Option E) captures tacit knowledge that may not be in formal documents, while the handover document (Option B) creates an explicit record of processes, configurations, and dependencies. This dual approach aligns with the 'lessons learned' repository and organizational process assets, ensuring the project's knowledge base remains intact.
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: Redistribute the departing member's tasks among the team based on capacity and skills, and update the work breakdown structure — Option A is correct because redistributing the departing member's tasks based on team capacity and skills is a proactive resource management action that maintains project continuity. Updating the work breakdown structure (WBS) ensures the project scope and task assignments are accurately reflected, preventing scope creep and confusion. This approach leverages existing team knowledge and avoids the delays associated with external hiring.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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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