- A
Reassign the team member's tasks to other team members to avoid further delays
Why wrong: This does not address the root cause and may overload others. The PM should provide support first.
- B
Provide coaching and training on time management and prioritization techniques
Helping the team member develop skills addresses the root cause and aligns with the PM's role in team development.
- C
Inform the project sponsor that a team member is underperforming and may need to be replaced
Why wrong: The PM should first attempt to resolve the issue within the team before escalating to the sponsor.
- D
Formally document the issue in the team member's performance record
Why wrong: Performance issues should be addressed through coaching and support before formal documentation.
Quick Answer
The correct first step is to provide coaching and training on time management and prioritization techniques. This is because the team member’s admission of feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to prioritize reveals a skill gap, not a lack of motivation or willful noncompliance; as a project manager, your responsibility under the PMP framework is to address the root cause through supportive leadership rather than punitive measures. On the Project Management Professional PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Manage Team process within the Executing process group, where the project manager must first apply interpersonal and team skills like coaching to resolve performance issues before escalating. A common trap is jumping to reassign tasks or notify the sponsor, but the PMBOK Guide emphasizes that formal escalation is a last resort when coaching fails. Memory tip: when a team member says “I don’t know how,” think “Coach first, escalate last.”
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 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?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Provide coaching and training on time management and prioritization techniques
Option C is correct because the root cause is a skill gap in prioritization, so the PM should provide support through training or coaching. Option A is wrong because reassigning tasks without addressing the root cause may not solve the problem. Option B is wrong because formal escalation should be a last resort. Option D is wrong because notifying the sponsor prematurely bypasses the PM's responsibility to manage the team.
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's tasks to other team members to avoid further delays
Why it's wrong here
This does not address the root cause and may overload others. The PM should provide support first.
- ✓
Provide coaching and training on time management and prioritization techniques
Why this is correct
Helping the team member develop skills addresses the root cause and aligns with the PM's role in team development.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Inform the project sponsor that a team member is underperforming and may need to be replaced
Why it's wrong here
The PM should first attempt to resolve the issue within the team before escalating to the sponsor.
- ✗
Formally document the issue in the team member's performance record
Why it's wrong here
Performance issues should be addressed through coaching and support before formal documentation.
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
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Process — Managing Technical Aspects practice questions
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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: Provide coaching and training on time management and prioritization techniques — Option C is correct because the root cause is a skill gap in prioritization, so the PM should provide support through training or coaching. Option A is wrong because reassigning tasks without addressing the root cause may not solve the problem. Option B is wrong because formal escalation should be a last resort. Option D is wrong because notifying the sponsor prematurely bypasses the PM's responsibility to manage the team.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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 the project. The project manager has had informal conversations with the team member, but the issue persists. What is the BEST next step?
medium- A.Reassign the team member to a less critical task to minimize impact
- B.Escalate the issue to the team member's functional manager immediately
- ✓ 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
- D.Remove the team member from the project and replace them with a more reliable resource
Why C: Option A is correct because the PM should address the issue directly and collaboratively, documenting it to track progress. Option B is passive. Option C escalates prematurely without a documented issue. Option D is punitive without understanding the root cause.
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.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 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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