PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently 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).
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
✓
Implement a round-robin technique to give each team member an opportunity to speak
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.
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
Assigning speaking quotas, while seemingly promoting equality, often creates an artificial and forced environment within a project team. This approach can undermine genuine collaboration and psychological safety, as team members may feel compelled to speak rather than contributing organically and authentically. Effective facilitation focuses on creating an inclusive space where participation is voluntary and valued, rather than mandated by rigid, potentially counterproductive rules.
- ✓
Implement a round-robin technique to give each team member an opportunity to speak
Why this is correct
Implementing a round-robin technique is an active facilitation strategy that systematically ensures every team member has a dedicated opportunity to contribute their thoughts. This method is particularly effective in diverse teams, as it prevents dominant voices from monopolizing discussions and actively promotes an inclusive environment. By guaranteeing a turn for each individual, it fosters psychological safety and ensures all unique perspectives are heard and considered, enriching decision-making and problem-solving.
- ✗
Allow the dominant members to lead since they are more engaged
Why it's wrong here
Allowing dominant members to consistently lead discussions, despite their perceived engagement, significantly hinders the project's overall effectiveness and team cohesion. This approach inevitably marginalizes quieter or culturally diverse team members, suppressing valuable alternative viewpoints and fostering an environment of exclusion. Such a dynamic can lead to groupthink, reduced innovation, and a failure to leverage the full spectrum of the team's collective intelligence and diverse experiences.
- ✗
Send a memo reminding the team to be respectful during meetings
Why it's wrong here
Sending a general memo reminding the team to be respectful is a passive communication strategy that is largely ineffective for addressing specific behavioral challenges in diverse teams. This approach lacks the direct intervention and active facilitation required to change established meeting dynamics or encourage participation from all members. True behavioral change and inclusive engagement necessitate proactive techniques and direct coaching, not merely a written reminder of expected conduct.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
Key term
Project Management Plan
A formal, approved document that defines how a project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, serving as the single source of truth for the project team.
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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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.