- A
Reassign the team member to a less critical task to minimize impact
Why wrong: Avoids the underlying performance issue.
- B
Escalate the issue to the team member's functional manager immediately
Why wrong: Escalation should come after attempts to resolve directly.
- C
Schedule a private meeting with the team member to discuss the issue, identify root causes, and create a performance improvement plan with clear expectations
Direct communication and collaborative problem-solving is the best approach.
- D
Remove the team member from the project and replace them with a more reliable resource
Why wrong: Removing without addressing root cause is too drastic and may not be possible.
Question 141 of 892
Managing Team Member Performance Issues
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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 team member consistently misses deadlines, causing delays in the project. The project manager has had informal conversations with the team member, but the issue persists. What is the BEST next step?
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
✓
Schedule a private meeting with the team member to discuss the issue, identify root causes, and create a performance improvement plan with clear expectations
Option C is the correct action because it directly addresses the performance issue collaboratively, aiming to understand root causes and set clear expectations through a documented performance improvement plan. This aligns with PM best practices for managing team member performance. Option A is incorrect because reassigning without addressing the root cause may shift the problem rather than solve it. Option B escalates prematurely before attempting direct resolution. Option D is punitive and may damage team morale without understanding underlying issues.
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 to minimize impact
Why it's wrong here
Avoids the underlying performance issue.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the team member's functional manager immediately
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should come after attempts to resolve directly.
- ✓
Schedule a private meeting with the team member to discuss the issue, identify root causes, and create a performance improvement plan with clear expectations
Why this is correct
Direct communication and collaborative problem-solving is the best approach.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Remove the team member from the project and replace them with a more reliable resource
Why it's wrong here
Removing without addressing root cause is too drastic and may not be possible.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — 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 with the team member to discuss the issue, identify root causes, and create a performance improvement plan with clear expectations — Option C is the correct action because it directly addresses the performance issue collaboratively, aiming to understand root causes and set clear expectations through a documented performance improvement plan. This aligns with PM best practices for managing team member performance. Option A is incorrect because reassigning without addressing the root cause may shift the problem rather than solve it. Option B escalates prematurely before attempting direct resolution. Option D is punitive and may damage team morale without understanding underlying issues.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on PMP
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. A team member consistently misses deadlines, causing delays in dependent tasks. During a one-on-one meeting, the team member admits to feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to prioritize work. What should the project manager do FIRST?
easy- A.Reassign the team member's tasks to other team members to avoid further delays
- ✓ B.Provide coaching and training on time management and prioritization techniques
- C.Inform the project sponsor that a team member is underperforming and may need to be replaced
- D.Formally document the issue in the team member's performance record
Why B: Option B is correct because the team member's issue stems from feeling overwhelmed and lacking prioritization skills. The project manager should first address the root cause by providing coaching or training on time management and prioritization, which aligns with the PM's role as a servant leader and coach. Option A is incorrect because reassigning tasks without addressing the underlying problem does not help the team member develop and may cause further issues. Option C is incorrect because escalating to the sponsor is premature and should be considered only after the PM has taken appropriate actions to support the team member. Option D is incorrect because documenting in the performance record is punitive and not a first step; the PM should first offer support.
Variation 2. A team member consistently misses deadlines, causing delays for the rest of the team. You have already spoken to the team member informally, but the behavior continues. What is the BEST next step?
easy- A.Remove the team member from the project
- B.Escalate the issue to the team member's functional manager
- ✓ C.Have a formal meeting with the team member to discuss expectations and consequences
- D.Reassign the team member to less critical tasks
Why C: The PM should address performance issues formally by documenting the issue and discussing it with the team member, setting clear expectations and consequences. This follows a progressive discipline approach.
Variation 3. A team member consistently misses deadlines, causing delays in the sprint. The project manager has had informal conversations, but the issue persists. What is the BEST next step?
medium- A.Reassign the work to other team members to avoid delays.
- ✓ B.Schedule a formal meeting to discuss the issue, set clear expectations, and document the conversation.
- C.Escalate the issue to the team member's functional manager for disciplinary action.
- D.Remove the team member from the project and request a replacement.
Why B: The PM should follow the performance management process, starting with a documented conversation. Option B is correct. Option A escalates too quickly; Option C avoids the issue; Option D is too drastic.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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