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. A team member from a high-context culture is perceived by others as not being direct enough, causing misunderstandings. What should you do to improve team cohesion?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Provide diversity and inclusion training to the entire team
Option A is correct because providing diversity and inclusion training addresses the root cause of the misunderstanding—cultural differences in communication styles—by educating the entire team on high-context vs. low-context cultures. This aligns with the PMP's focus on fostering a collaborative team environment through mutual understanding, rather than singling out or forcing change on one individual. It promotes team cohesion by building awareness and respect for diverse communication norms, which is essential for leading projects in a global context.
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.
✓
Provide diversity and inclusion training to the entire team
Why this is correct
Training promotes understanding and leverages diversity as a strength.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Assign a mentor to coach the team member on being more direct
Why it's wrong here
This singles out one person rather than addressing team dynamics.
✗
Ask the team member to adapt their communication style to match the majority
Why it's wrong here
This disregards diversity and may alienate the team member.
✗
Send a memo clarifying preferred communication styles
Why it's wrong here
A memo is insufficient to change deep-seated communication patterns.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option B or C, mistakenly believing that the fastest path to cohesion is to 'fix' the minority team member's behavior, rather than recognizing that PMP best practices require a systemic, team-wide solution that respects cultural diversity and avoids marginalization.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In project management, team cohesion is built on trust and mutual respect, which requires addressing both explicit behaviors (e.g., directness) and implicit cultural assumptions. High-context cultures (e.g., Japan, Arab countries) rely on non-verbal cues and shared understanding, while low-context cultures (e.g., Germany, USA) prefer explicit verbal communication. Diversity and inclusion training, as recommended by PMI's 'Leading Projects' domain, should include interactive exercises that simulate cross-cultural scenarios, helping team members recognize their own biases and develop adaptive communication strategies without forcing conformity.
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: Provide diversity and inclusion training to the entire team — Option A is correct because providing diversity and inclusion training addresses the root cause of the misunderstanding—cultural differences in communication styles—by educating the entire team on high-context vs. low-context cultures. This aligns with the PMP's focus on fostering a collaborative team environment through mutual understanding, rather than singling out or forcing change on one individual. It promotes team cohesion by building awareness and respect for diverse communication norms, which is essential for leading projects in a global context.
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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