PMP · Question #1274
A geographically distributed project team working on an iterative project adopts a new mode of communication following changes in health protocols. The colocated team members are finding themselves…
The correct answer is D. Organize a team meeting to resolve the communication challenges. When a distributed team faces new communication challenges, the project manager should facilitate a team meeting to collaboratively find solutions.
Question
Options
- AAdd collaboration tools to the communications management plan.
- BAllow collaboration to smooth out communication between team members.
- CEscalate these communication challenges to the project sponsor.
- DOrganize a team meeting to resolve the communication challenges.
How the community answered
(35 responses)- A14% (5)
- B3% (1)
- C6% (2)
- D77% (27)
Why each option
When a distributed team faces new communication challenges, the project manager should facilitate a team meeting to collaboratively find solutions.
Simply adding tools to the plan without understanding the specific communication breakdowns or getting team buy-in won't necessarily resolve the underlying challenges in understanding verbal communication and collaboration methods.
Passively 'allowing collaboration to smooth out' is a reactive approach that leaves critical communication issues unaddressed and hopes they will resolve themselves, which is unlikely and risky for project progress.
Escalating to the project sponsor is premature; the project manager should first attempt to resolve team-level issues internally with the team before involving higher management.
When communication and collaboration methods are challenging, especially after a change, the most effective first step is to organize a team meeting. This allows the team members to openly discuss the specific issues they are facing with verbal communication and collaboration, brainstorm solutions together, and agree upon new, more effective practices or tools as a cohesive unit.
Concept tested: Team communication problem-solving
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Dervla O.Apr 12, 2026D is correct here. The stem twice points to a team-level collaboration problem, not a missing tool or a governance gap, so the move is to bring the team together and resolve it directly. A is the trap because adding tools to a plan sounds proactive, but a document update does not fix people struggling to understand each other in real time. C is overkill for something the PM owns, and B just hopes the problem disappears. Time-box a retro-style session, surface the specific breakdowns, and agree on ground rules before you touch the plan.
Orla P.May 10, 2026Saw this one on my exam last month. D is the right call because the PM needs to bring the team together and figure out the communication issues directly, not just document tools or wait for things to fix themselves.
Carlos M.Apr 25, 2026D. A tempts you because updating the plan sounds right but talk it out first.
Toby R.May 2, 2026Picked D on my exam last month. Does anyone know if A would ever come first before the team meeting?
Carlos M.May 3, 2026A can come first if the incident is severity 1 and you need that initial comms out before the full team sync, but D is the safer default for the exam.