PMP · Question #1119
A project team consists of eight resources working on a complex project. The chief technical designer prefers to work alone and seldom talks in meetings, but produces good designs. The technical lead
The correct answer is C. Encourage the chief technical designer to engage more with the team.. To improve overall team performance, the project manager should encourage the quiet but effective chief technical designer to engage more with the team, leveraging their expertise to foster collaboration and shared knowledge.
Question
A project team consists of eight resources working on a complex project. The chief technical designer prefers to work alone and seldom talks in meetings, but produces good designs. The technical lead is always energetic, has lots of opinions about the project, and constantly clarifies their thoughts in discussions. What should the project manager do to improve overall team performance?
Options
- AAsk the chief technical designer to provide their feedback by email.
- BLet the team dynamics continue as is since the current team mix works well.
- CEncourage the chief technical designer to engage more with the team.
- DAsk the technical lead to drive the project s technical discussions.
How the community answered
(37 responses)- A5% (2)
- B11% (4)
- C59% (22)
- D24% (9)
Why each option
To improve overall team performance, the project manager should encourage the quiet but effective chief technical designer to engage more with the team, leveraging their expertise to foster collaboration and shared knowledge.
Asking for feedback via email is a passive approach that doesn't foster direct interaction or integrate the designer more effectively into team discussions, thus limiting overall team learning.
Letting dynamics continue might maintain individual productivity but misses opportunities for synergistic team improvement, knowledge transfer, and better problem-solving that comes from diverse perspectives.
While the chief technical designer produces good designs, their isolation limits opportunities for knowledge sharing, mentorship, and broader team contribution. Encouraging them to engage more will leverage their expertise across the team, improve communication, and foster a more collaborative and well-rounded team performance.
Asking the technical lead to drive discussions might further marginalize the chief technical designer's input in live discussions and doesn't address the goal of improving *overall* team performance by integrating all members.
Concept tested: Team development and interpersonal skills management
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/project-resource-management
Topics
Community Discussion
7
Fatima Z.Jul 5, 2026C is the answer. Think COMBINE: Coach the Outlier, Mix the Brains, Integrate New Energy. The PM wants everyone sharing ideas, so pulling the quiet designer into the conversation beats letting them hide behind email or letting the loud lead run the show.
Lena V.Jul 5, 2026First leaned toward A since email lets the designer contribute without changing their style, but the question asks about improving overall team performance, not just accommodating one person. PMP wants you to develop the team, and encouraging engagement is the active coaching move the exam consistently rewards over workarounds.
Orla P.Jul 6, 2026Agreed on B for the team development angle, but watch the stem wording on your exam because if it says the designer is actively refusing the tool rather than just preferring email, the coaching conversation shifts to a direct approach option instead.
Orla P.Jun 28, 2026C is correct. The PM wants to move a group of individuals toward true collaboration, and letting the designer stay isolated prevents that Tuckman stage progression, so gently pulling them into the conversation is the right logistics move.
Prof. SaraJul 5, 2026C is the PMP answer because the exam favors collaboration over isolation, even when an introvert produces good work. Think of the mnemonic IDEAS for team development: Integrate, Discuss, Engage, Align, Share, which all point to pulling the quiet designer into the conversation rather than letting them hide behind email. One thing I always wonder about this scenario: does the technical lead's constant talking actually suppress the designer's participation, and would the exam answer change if the designer's solo work was failing quality checks?
Yusuf A.Jul 5, 2026Going with D here. One of the senior PMs at my company showed me how leaning into people's natural strengths instead of forcing them out of their comfort zone gets way better results, and letting the technical lead drive discussions frees the designer to just focus on producing solid work.
Orla P.Jul 6, 2026C is correct here because the question is about the Scrum Master role and servant leadership, not delegation to a technical lead. The Scrum Master facilitates and removes impediments rather than handing off discussion control, so C aligns with what the exam expects.