The answer is to propose a hybrid team model with a core co-located group and remote members integrated via collaboration tools. This is correct because it directly addresses the sponsor’s preference for co-location while acknowledging the practical reality that the best available resources are distributed across different countries. A hybrid approach balances stakeholder negotiation with adaptive leadership, allowing high-bandwidth collaboration among the core team while leveraging technology to bridge geographic gaps. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your ability to navigate the tension between sponsor preferences and resource optimization, a common trap where candidates might either blindly accept co-location or dismiss the sponsor’s concern. The key is to demonstrate flexibility without sacrificing quality. Memory tip: think “core local, remote global” — keep the heartbeat in one room, but don’t lose the best talent.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
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.
A project manager is forming a new team for a complex software development project. The sponsor insists on using a co-located team for better communication. However, the best available resources are located in different countries. What should the project manager do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Propose a hybrid model with core team co-located and remote members integrated via collaboration tools.
Option A is correct because it balances the sponsor's preference for co-location with the practical reality of distributed talent. A hybrid model allows a core team to be co-located for high-bandwidth collaboration while integrating remote members via collaboration tools (e.g., video conferencing, shared repositories, and agile boards). This approach aligns with PMI's emphasis on stakeholder negotiation and adaptive leadership, ensuring the project benefits from the best resources without sacrificing communication quality.
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.
✓
Propose a hybrid model with core team co-located and remote members integrated via collaboration tools.
Why this is correct
Leverages best resources while addressing communication needs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Accept the sponsor's requirement and hire local contractors.
Why it's wrong here
May not get the best talent and increases cost.
✗
Relocate the remote resources to the project location.
Why it's wrong here
Expensive and may not be feasible.
✗
Replace remote resources with local ones who have similar skills.
Why it's wrong here
May compromise team competency.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume the sponsor's requirement is non-negotiable, but PMP best practice requires the project manager to analyze trade-offs and propose a solution that optimizes both resource quality and communication, rather than blindly accepting or forcing impractical changes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In distributed agile teams, communication overhead is mitigated by structured ceremonies (daily stand-ups, sprint reviews) and asynchronous tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence). The hybrid model leverages the 'Brooks' Law' principle—adding people to a late project makes it later—by keeping the core team small and co-located for critical path tasks, while remote members handle modular components. Real-world scenarios like open-source projects (e.g., Linux kernel) demonstrate that well-defined interfaces and continuous integration pipelines can reduce dependency on physical proximity.
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: Propose a hybrid model with core team co-located and remote members integrated via collaboration tools. — Option A is correct because it balances the sponsor's preference for co-location with the practical reality of distributed talent. A hybrid model allows a core team to be co-located for high-bandwidth collaboration while integrating remote members via collaboration tools (e.g., video conferencing, shared repositories, and agile boards). This approach aligns with PMI's emphasis on stakeholder negotiation and adaptive leadership, ensuring the project benefits from the best resources without sacrificing communication quality.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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