- A
Initiate a formal performance improvement plan.
A formal plan provides clear expectations and consequences.
- B
Reassign the task to another team member.
Why wrong: Reassigning without addressing the issue may not solve the root cause.
- C
Ask the team member's manager to intervene.
Why wrong: The PM should handle performance issues directly first.
- D
Remove the team member from the project.
Why wrong: Removal should be a last resort after documented attempts.
Question 291 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.
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 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
✓
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 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: 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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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