PMP · Question #1402
A project manager has been assigned to a hybrid project that must receive approval from a government regulator. During the daily standups, one member reported an impediment that requires…
The correct answer is A. Check the expert's availability within the organization on an as-needed basis. When an impediment requires an expert from another project, the project manager should first check the expert's availability within the organization to facilitate collaboration and resolve the issue efficiently.
Question
A project manager has been assigned to a hybrid project that must receive approval from a government regulator. During the daily standups, one member reported an impediment that requires collaboration from an expert who is assigned to another project. What should the project manager do first in this situation?
Options
- ACheck the expert's availability within the organization on an as-needed basis
- BReview the project's key performance indicators (KPIs) to determine the impact of this
- CAsk the project sponsor to assign a new resource with the necessary expertise to the team
- DDevelop the team member's capacities through mentoring and training
How the community answered
(26 responses)- A73% (19)
- B8% (2)
- C4% (1)
- D15% (4)
Why each option
When an impediment requires an expert from another project, the project manager should first check the expert's availability within the organization to facilitate collaboration and resolve the issue efficiently.
As a servant leader in a hybrid project, the project manager's primary responsibility is to remove impediments for the team. The first step when an external expert is needed is to proactively ascertain that expert's availability and facilitate their involvement, leveraging existing organizational resources.
While understanding impact is important, the immediate first step for an impediment needing an external resource is to address the resource constraint, not to analyze KPIs, which comes later if the impediment persists or is significant.
Asking the project sponsor for a new resource is a more drastic step and should only be considered if the required expert is unavailable or if their project responsibilities prevent collaboration.
Developing the existing team member's capacity through mentoring and training is a long-term strategy for skill development, not an immediate solution for an urgent impediment requiring specific expert collaboration.
Concept tested: Impediment removal in hybrid/agile projects
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/resource-management
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Wesley A.Apr 26, 2026Failed my first PMP attempt and this type of agile scenario tripped me up because I kept thinking we needed to escalate or solve the skill gap permanently. The correct answer is A because in a daily standup the scrum master or project manager is supposed to clear impediments quickly, and checking internal availability for a quick consultation is the fastest way to unblock the team. Option C is the trap I picked the first time since it sounds like a solid long-term fix, but escalating to the sponsor for a new resource is way too slow for a daily standup issue. You want the least disruptive
Mateus R.Mar 26, 2026I first leaned toward C since pulling in a new resource sounds like a quick fix, but the question asks what to do first. You check if the expert can help on an as-needed basis before escalating, like seeing if your neighbor can lend you a ladder before buying one.
Zlatan X.Mar 28, 2026Agreed on C, and the neighbor analogy is spot on, but frame it on the exam as resource optimization within existing program capacity before triggering a governance escalation to acquire new components.
Zlatan X.Apr 8, 2026Confirmed A. In a hybrid setup the PM coordinates cross-component resource dependencies rather than escalating or retraining, and checking as-needed availability is the leanest governance move before the impediment cascades into schedule risk.
Brenda K.Apr 19, 2026C, skip the rest. Blocking impediment, expert on another project, sponsor escalates it fast.
Wesley A.Apr 21, 2026Actually it is A, not C. The key word is "impediment" which maps directly to the impediment log, and the real trap here is that C sounds right because blocking issues often do get escalated, but the question is asking where it gets tracked first, not where it ends up if it cannot be resolved. I picked C my first time too and it cost me.