- A
Assign additional resources to help the member complete tasks
Why wrong: Adding resources without addressing the root cause may not be effective and could increase coordination overhead.
- B
Replace the team member with someone who can meet deadlines
Why wrong: Replacing without understanding the cause may not solve the problem and could demotivate the team.
- C
Issue a formal warning to the team member about performance expectations
Why wrong: A formal warning should be a last resort after coaching and support have been tried.
- D
Discuss the situation with the member and their functional manager to resolve the workload conflict
Collaborating with the functional manager to balance workload is a proactive approach that respects the team member's situation.
Question 260 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.
You are leading a virtual team across three time zones. A team member from the offshore location has been consistently missing deadlines, causing delays. When you inquire, the member says they are overloaded with work from another project. What is the best course of action?
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
✓
Discuss the situation with the member and their functional manager to resolve the workload conflict
Option D is correct because the root cause is a resource conflict across projects, which is a functional management issue. As a project manager, you must collaborate with the team member and their functional manager to negotiate priorities and workload balance, rather than unilaterally escalating or replacing the resource. This aligns with the PMI principle of 'engaging with stakeholders' and the 'manage team' process, where addressing resource constraints through negotiation is the first step before considering administrative actions.
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.
- ✗
Assign additional resources to help the member complete tasks
Why it's wrong here
Adding resources without addressing the root cause may not be effective and could increase coordination overhead.
- ✗
Replace the team member with someone who can meet deadlines
Why it's wrong here
Replacing without understanding the cause may not solve the problem and could demotivate the team.
- ✗
Issue a formal warning to the team member about performance expectations
Why it's wrong here
A formal warning should be a last resort after coaching and support have been tried.
- ✓
Discuss the situation with the member and their functional manager to resolve the workload conflict
Why this is correct
Collaborating with the functional manager to balance workload is a proactive approach that respects the team member's situation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often jump to a corrective action like adding resources (A) or issuing a warning (C) without first diagnosing the root cause, which is a resource conflict that requires negotiation with the functional manager.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a matrix organization, the project manager has authority over project work but not over the team member's overall workload; the functional manager controls resource allocation. The PMBOK Guide's 'Manage Team' process emphasizes using 'interpersonal and team skills' such as conflict resolution and negotiation to address resource constraints before escalating to formal performance reviews. A real-world scenario might involve a developer assigned to two critical sprints simultaneously; the PM must negotiate with the functional manager to reprioritize tasks or adjust deadlines, not simply add more developers or replace the resource.
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: Discuss the situation with the member and their functional manager to resolve the workload conflict — Option D is correct because the root cause is a resource conflict across projects, which is a functional management issue. As a project manager, you must collaborate with the team member and their functional manager to negotiate priorities and workload balance, rather than unilaterally escalating or replacing the resource. This aligns with the PMI principle of 'engaging with stakeholders' and the 'manage team' process, where addressing resource constraints through negotiation is the first step before considering administrative actions.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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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