- A
Immediately remove the late team member from the project to restore team harmony.
Why wrong: Removing a team member without due process is drastic and could be unfair; it should be a last resort.
- B
Schedule a team-building workshop to improve collaboration.
Why wrong: While team building might help, the behavior is persistent and requires formal escalation, not just a workshop.
- C
Document the issue in the issue log and escalate to the functional manager with a request for performance improvement.
The PM should formally document the issue and engage the functional manager for performance management, as the PM may not have direct authority.
- D
Ask the team to resolve the conflict themselves during the next retrospective.
Why wrong: The PM has already tried direct discussion; leaving it to the team may not resolve the persistent issue.
Quick Answer
The correct next step is to document the issue in the issue log and escalate to the functional manager with a request for performance improvement. This aligns with the PMP framework for handling persistent team member conflict after direct discussion fails, as the project manager lacks direct authority over team members’ employment terms and must formally involve their reporting manager to enforce behavioral change. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the escalation path within the Manage Team process, where informal resolution attempts have been exhausted—a common trap is choosing to reassign tasks or hold another meeting, which delays necessary formal action. Remember the memory tip: “Discuss, Document, Delegate”—after direct discussion fails, document the conflict in the issue log, then delegate performance accountability to the functional manager.
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
Your project is in the executing phase, and you receive a formal complaint from a team member that another team member is consistently late to daily standups and not completing tasks on time. This is causing friction in the team. You have discussed this with both individuals, but the behavior continues. What should you do NEXT?
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
Document the issue in the issue log and escalate to the functional manager with a request for performance improvement.
After addressing the issue directly with the individuals and it persists, the project manager should escalate the issue formally by documenting it in the issue log and involving the functional manager or HR if necessary. Option A is too lenient, B may escalate prematurely, and D is not the best first step after direct discussion.
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.
- ✗
Immediately remove the late team member from the project to restore team harmony.
Why it's wrong here
Removing a team member without due process is drastic and could be unfair; it should be a last resort.
- ✗
Schedule a team-building workshop to improve collaboration.
Why it's wrong here
While team building might help, the behavior is persistent and requires formal escalation, not just a workshop.
- ✓
Document the issue in the issue log and escalate to the functional manager with a request for performance improvement.
Why this is correct
The PM should formally document the issue and engage the functional manager for performance management, as the PM may not have direct authority.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ask the team to resolve the conflict themselves during the next retrospective.
Why it's wrong here
The PM has already tried direct discussion; leaving it to the team may not resolve the persistent issue.
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
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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: Document the issue in the issue log and escalate to the functional manager with a request for performance improvement. — After addressing the issue directly with the individuals and it persists, the project manager should escalate the issue formally by documenting it in the issue log and involving the functional manager or HR if necessary. Option A is too lenient, B may escalate prematurely, and D is not the best first step after direct discussion.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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