The answer is to initiate the formal performance management process as per organizational policy. This is correct because once informal coaching has failed to correct a performance issue that impacts the critical path, the project manager must escalate to the formal process defined in the organization’s policy, ensuring due process, documentation, and alignment with HR and legal requirements. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Manage Team process and the distinction between informal and formal performance management, often appearing as a trap where you might be tempted to reassign tasks or have yet another conversation. The key is recognizing that when a team member consistently misses deadlines after informal conversations, the next step is not to bypass the issue but to follow the established policy. A helpful memory tip: “Informal first, formal worst” — once informal fails, formal is the only path that protects the project and the organization.
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 is in execution phase, and a team member consistently misses deadlines, impacting the critical path. The project manager has had informal conversations, but the behavior continues. 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
✓
Initiate the formal performance management process as per organizational policy
Option B is correct because once informal coaching has failed to correct a performance issue that impacts the critical path, the project manager must escalate to the formal performance management process as defined in the organizational policy. This ensures due process, documentation, and alignment with HR and legal requirements, protecting both the project and the organization.
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.
✗
Reassign the team member to a less critical task
Why it's wrong here
This avoids the problem and may not be feasible.
✓
Initiate the formal performance management process as per organizational policy
Why this is correct
Formal steps ensure documentation and provide a clear path for improvement or consequences.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ignore the issue and hope it resolves on its own
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring underperformance harms the project and team morale.
✗
Replace the team member with a new resource
Why it's wrong here
Replacement should be a last resort after formal performance management.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option A (reassign to a less critical task) thinking it is a quick fix to protect the critical path, but the PMP exam expects the project manager to follow the organizational policy for performance issues before considering reassignment or replacement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The formal performance management process typically includes steps such as a documented verbal warning, a written performance improvement plan (PIP) with measurable goals, regular follow-up meetings, and escalation to HR if improvement is not achieved. This structured approach ensures that the team member receives clear expectations and an opportunity to improve, while the project manager builds a defensible record of actions taken. In real-world scenarios, skipping formal processes can lead to wrongful termination claims or demoralization of the team if the issue is perceived as unfairly handled.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: Initiate the formal performance management process as per organizational policy — Option B is correct because once informal coaching has failed to correct a performance issue that impacts the critical path, the project manager must escalate to the formal performance management process as defined in the organizational policy. This ensures due process, documentation, and alignment with HR and legal requirements, protecting both the project and the organization.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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. You are managing a project where a team member consistently misses deadlines, affecting the team's velocity. You have had informal conversations with the team member, but the behavior continues. What is the BEST next step?
easy
A.Formally reprimand the team member and put them on a performance improvement plan.
B.Inform the team that delays are unacceptable and expect improvement.
✓ C.Schedule a private meeting to discuss the challenges and offer support to help improve performance.
D.Reassign the team member to less critical tasks to minimize impact.
Why C: Option C is correct because, as a project manager, your first formal step should be to understand the root cause of the performance issue through a private, supportive conversation. This aligns with the PMP's focus on servant leadership and addressing people problems with empathy before escalating to punitive measures. The goal is to identify obstacles (e.g., skill gaps, resource constraints, personal challenges) and collaboratively develop a plan to improve velocity, which is more effective than immediate reprimand or task reassignment.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
Question Discussion
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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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