- A
Inform the team member that the change is mandatory and must be followed.
Why wrong: A directive approach can increase resistance and decrease motivation.
- B
Involve the team member in the agile transition planning to gain buy-in.
Participation in the change process fosters ownership and reduces resistance.
- C
Assign a mentor to guide the team member through the new processes.
Why wrong: Mentorship is helpful but does not directly address the underlying resistance to change.
- D
Conduct a training session on agile principles and practices.
Why wrong: Training alone may not be sufficient; the team member needs to be engaged in the change.
Question 49 of 892
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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 team is transitioning from a predictive to an agile approach. One team member is resistant to change and insists on detailed upfront planning. What is the best way for the project manager to address this resistance?
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 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
✓
Involve the team member in the agile transition planning to gain buy-in.
Option B is correct because involving the resistant team member in the agile transition planning directly addresses the root cause of resistance—lack of ownership and understanding. By participating in planning, the team member can see how agile practices (e.g., iterative delivery, adaptive planning) still incorporate upfront analysis but in a more flexible, value-driven way. This collaborative approach leverages the team member's experience while aligning with agile principles, reducing friction without forcing change.
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.
- ✗
Inform the team member that the change is mandatory and must be followed.
Why it's wrong here
A directive approach can increase resistance and decrease motivation.
- ✓
Involve the team member in the agile transition planning to gain buy-in.
Why this is correct
Participation in the change process fosters ownership and reduces resistance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Assign a mentor to guide the team member through the new processes.
Why it's wrong here
Mentorship is helpful but does not directly address the underlying resistance to change.
- ✗
Conduct a training session on agile principles and practices.
Why it's wrong here
Training alone may not be sufficient; the team member needs to be engaged in the change.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose training (Option D) as the default solution for any agile adoption issue, but the PMP exam emphasizes that resistance to change is best addressed through involvement and buy-in, not just education or mandates.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In agile transitions, resistance often stems from a perceived loss of control or fear of uncertainty. Involving the team member in transition planning uses the agile principle of 'individuals and interactions over processes and tools'—it treats the resistance as a signal to collaborate, not a problem to override. Real-world scenarios show that when teams co-create their agile adaptation (e.g., defining their own sprint length or WIP limits), adoption rates increase significantly because the change feels owned rather than imposed.
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.
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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: Involve the team member in the agile transition planning to gain buy-in. — Option B is correct because involving the resistant team member in the agile transition planning directly addresses the root cause of resistance—lack of ownership and understanding. By participating in planning, the team member can see how agile practices (e.g., iterative delivery, adaptive planning) still incorporate upfront analysis but in a more flexible, value-driven way. This collaborative approach leverages the team member's experience while aligning with agile principles, reducing friction without forcing change.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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