PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
You are leading a virtual team across multiple time zones. During daily stand-ups, you notice that team members from one region are consistently quiet and not contributing. What should you do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to a process or tool-based solution (like Option A or D) instead of first practicing empathetic leadership and root cause analysis, which is the core of the PMP's 'People' domain.
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 one-on-one meeting with a few members of that region to ask about their experience and any barriers
The first step in addressing a participation issue in a virtual team is to understand the root cause through direct, private conversations. This aligns with the PMP principle of 'servant leadership' and the 'People' domain, where you must first investigate barriers (e.g., time zone fatigue, cultural norms, or tool discomfort) before implementing solutions. A one-on-one meeting builds psychological safety and gathers specific feedback, which is essential for an effective corrective action.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Implement a new communication tool to encourage engagement
Why it's wrong here
Implementing a new communication tool without first understanding the root cause of disengagement is a premature and potentially costly solution. The problem might stem from cultural differences, time zone challenges, or perceived value of participation, rather than the inadequacy of existing technology. A project manager should always conduct a thorough analysis before proposing a solution, aligning with the "Plan Communications Management" process.
- ✓
Schedule a one-on-one meeting with a few members of that region to ask about their experience and any barriers
Why this is correct
Scheduling one-on-one meetings demonstrates proactive engagement and respect for individual perspectives, which is crucial for virtual teams. This approach allows the project manager to gather direct, unfiltered feedback on specific barriers, such as time zone conflicts, cultural communication norms, or perceived value of contributions, without public pressure. This aligns with effective stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution techniques, aiming to understand the underlying issues before formulating solutions.
- ✗
Send a team-wide email reminding everyone of the importance of participation
Why it's wrong here
Sending a generic team-wide email is an impersonal approach that fails to address specific concerns or cultural nuances contributing to disengagement. Such a reminder can be perceived as accusatory or dismissive of legitimate challenges, potentially further alienating team members rather than fostering participation. Effective communication management requires tailoring messages to specific audiences and understanding their context, which a broad email does not achieve.
- ✗
Assign speaking turns to ensure everyone participates
Why it's wrong here
Forcing participation by assigning speaking turns can create an uncomfortable environment, particularly for team members from cultures where direct challenges or speaking out of turn are less common. This tactic does not address the underlying reasons for silence, such as language barriers, lack of confidence, or feeling unheard, and can erode psychological safety within the team. A project manager should foster genuine engagement, not coerced contributions.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Leading Teams and Empowering Team Members
Key term
Training and Development
Training and Development is the process of enhancing team members' skills, knowledge, and competencies to improve project performance and achieve career growth.
Key term
Organizational Change Management
Organizational Change Management (OCM) is the structured approach to preparing, supporting, and guiding people through changes in an organization to ensure lasting success.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.