The answer is to involve the team in reprioritizing the backlog and recognize individual contributions in team meetings. These two actions are most effective because they directly address the esteem and recognition needs central to Maslow’s hierarchy and Herzberg’s hygiene-motivation theory, turning low morale into engagement by validating effort and giving the team control over unclear priorities. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your ability to apply motivational theories to real-world team dynamics, often appearing in questions about managing stakeholder expectations or resource constraints. A common trap is choosing tangible rewards like bonuses, which only satisfy short-term hygiene factors, whereas involvement and recognition create lasting motivation. Memory tip: think “R&R” for Reprioritization and Recognition—the dual drivers of morale when workload is high and clarity is low.
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 team is experiencing low morale due to high workload and unclear priorities. The project manager wants to improve motivation. Which TWO actions are most effective according to motivational theories?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Recognize individual contributions in team meetings.
Option A is correct because recognizing individual contributions in team meetings directly addresses the esteem needs in Maslow's hierarchy and provides positive reinforcement per Herzberg's hygiene-motivation theory. This action boosts morale by validating effort, which is critical when workload is high and priorities are unclear.
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.
✓
Recognize individual contributions in team meetings.
Why this is correct
Recognition addresses esteem needs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase oversight to ensure no tasks are missed.
Why it's wrong here
Micromanagement decreases motivation.
✗
Conduct a blame-free review of recent failures.
Why it's wrong here
Blame-free reviews can help learning but do not directly improve morale.
✗
Offer a bonus for meeting deadlines.
Why it's wrong here
Monetary rewards are not long-term motivators.
✓
Involve the team in reprioritizing the backlog.
Why this is correct
Involvement increases ownership and clarity.
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 confuse extrinsic rewards (like bonuses) with effective motivation, failing to recognize that in high-stress contexts, autonomy and recognition (intrinsic factors) are more powerful than financial incentives per PMP best practices.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Motivational theories like Herzberg's two-factor theory distinguish between hygiene factors (e.g., workload, policies) and motivators (e.g., recognition, achievement). In this scenario, unclear priorities create a hygiene deficiency, while high workload causes stress; involving the team in reprioritizing the backlog (Option E) directly addresses the root cause by giving them control and clarity, which aligns with the job characteristics model's autonomy and task significance. Recognition (Option A) serves as a motivator that counteracts the demotivating effects of the hygiene issues.
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: Recognize individual contributions in team meetings. — Option A is correct because recognizing individual contributions in team meetings directly addresses the esteem needs in Maslow's hierarchy and provides positive reinforcement per Herzberg's hygiene-motivation theory. This action boosts morale by validating effort, which is critical when workload is high and priorities are unclear.
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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Question Discussion
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