PMP · Question #1058
A project manager for an IT company starts a project with members distributed across five different countries and four different time zones. In the first meetings with the sponsor and some stakeholder
The correct answer is C. Set up a team communications management plan for the company and team members to follow. To improve communication among a geographically and temporally distributed team facing connectivity and language barriers, the project manager should establish a clear team communications management plan.
Question
A project manager for an IT company starts a project with members distributed across five different countries and four different time zones. In the first meetings with the sponsor and some stakeholders, the project manager notices that people do not join the meetings on time, have internet connection issues, or experience language barriers during some conversations. What should the project manager do to improve communication among the team?
Options
- AArrange for some initial face-to-face team meetings for the project team to meet each other
- BExplain the benefits of common working hours to aid better communication among the project
- CSet up a team communications management plan for the company and team members to follow
- DShare a contact log document for all the team members to make communication easier
How the community answered
(36 responses)- A11% (4)
- B6% (2)
- C78% (28)
- D6% (2)
Why each option
To improve communication among a geographically and temporally distributed team facing connectivity and language barriers, the project manager should establish a clear team communications management plan.
Arranging face-to-face meetings might help team bonding but is not a sustainable or scalable solution for ongoing communication issues across five countries and four time zones and does not address technical or language barriers long-term.
Explaining the benefits of common working hours is a good suggestion, but it is a directive that might not be feasible for all team members across time zones, and it does not establish a complete communication framework for diverse issues.
Setting up a comprehensive team communications management plan is the most effective first step. This plan defines how, when, and by whom information will be shared, addresses communication channels, protocols for virtual meetings, strategies for language barriers, and ensures all team members understand their roles and responsibilities in communication, directly tackling the identified issues.
Sharing a contact log document is a basic communication tool, but it doesn't address the systemic problems of meeting attendance, internet connectivity, or language barriers that require a more robust communications strategy.
Concept tested: Project communications planning for distributed teams
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/project-communications-management/plan-communications-management
Topics
Community Discussion
4
Orla P.Nov 25, 2025C is correct here. The stem describes multiple distinct communication problems: scheduling across time zones, connectivity issues, and language barriers. A communications management plan is the artifact that addresses all of these holistically, laying out meeting guidelines, preferred tools, and protocols. The other options each tackle only one slice of the problem or skip the planning step entirely. On exam day, when you see a mix of logistics and cultural issues across a distributed team, look for the option that establishes a governing plan rather than a single tactical fix.
Prof. SaraDec 24, 2025I first leaned toward A because getting a distributed team in the same room seems ideal for breaking down language and connection barriers, but the stem focuses on meeting logistics and communication rules, which maps directly to Domain 1, People, and the Team Charter or Communications Management Plan. C wins because it establishes the protocols for time zones, language handling, and connectivity expectations rather than just hoping a face-to-face fixes ongoing issues.
Viktor S.Dec 6, 2025C is right but the wording is sloppy, it should be the team charter or ground rules, not a full comms management plan which is a broader project document. A is the tempting trap since face-to-face kickoff sounds great in theory, but across five countries and four time zones that is a logistical nightmare and does not fix the ongoing connection and language issues.
Luis F.Dec 16, 2025C is the right call here because you literally need a communications management plan to sort out all this chaos with time zones, language barriers, and connection issues. I was tempted by A at first since face-to-face meetings sound great for team building, but thats not always realistic with people spread across five countries. The plan in C covers ground rules, communication methods, and expectations all in one place instead of just hoping everyone figures it out. D is way too basic, a contact log doesnt solve the actual communication problems the PM is seeing.