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.
Your project team includes members from diverse cultural backgrounds. You notice that some team members are not contributing ideas during brainstorming sessions, while others dominate the conversation. What should you do to promote inclusion?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement a round-robin technique to give each team member an opportunity to speak
Option B is correct because the round-robin technique is a structured facilitation method that ensures every team member has an equal opportunity to speak, directly addressing the cultural and behavioral imbalance in brainstorming. This approach aligns with the PMP's emphasis on inclusive leadership and active listening, as it systematically prevents domination and encourages contributions from quieter members without imposing artificial quotas.
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 speaking quotas to ensure equal participation
Why it's wrong here
Quotas may feel forced; facilitation techniques are more effective.
✓
Implement a round-robin technique to give each team member an opportunity to speak
Why this is correct
This fosters inclusion and ensures all perspectives are considered.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Allow the dominant members to lead since they are more engaged
Why it's wrong here
This perpetuates exclusion and reduces diverse input.
✗
Send a memo reminding the team to be respectful during meetings
Why it's wrong here
This is too passive and does not change behavior.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option A (quotas) because it seems fair and measurable, but the PMP exam tests the distinction between enforced equality (which can harm team morale) and facilitated inclusion (which respects individual differences and promotes organic collaboration).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The round-robin technique is a specific facilitation tool where each team member speaks in turn, often used in retrospectives or brainstorming to ensure psychological safety and equal airtime. Under the hood, it leverages the 'equal opportunity to contribute' principle from the PMBOK Guide's 'Manage Team' process, and it is particularly effective in cross-cultural teams where power distance or uncertainty avoidance may inhibit participation. In a real-world scenario, a project manager might combine round-robin with silent brainstorming (e.g., using sticky notes) to further reduce social pressure before verbal sharing.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: Implement a round-robin technique to give each team member an opportunity to speak — Option B is correct because the round-robin technique is a structured facilitation method that ensures every team member has an equal opportunity to speak, directly addressing the cultural and behavioral imbalance in brainstorming. This approach aligns with the PMP's emphasis on inclusive leadership and active listening, as it systematically prevents domination and encourages contributions from quieter members without imposing artificial quotas.
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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