PMP · Question #173
A local company is developing a new product and, for the first time, using a remote team for the programming tasks of features. The design for the product comes from the local team. During the third s
The correct answer is A. Determine the communication needs, environment, and tools to get the message across.. The project manager should address the remote team's lack of understanding by assessing and optimizing communication methods, environment, and tools to ensure clear requirement conveyance.
Question
A local company is developing a new product and, for the first time, using a remote team for the programming tasks of features. The design for the product comes from the local team. During the third sprint review, the product owner has concerns about the project's outcomes. The remote development team is complaining that they do not clearly understand the requirements conveyed in the daily standup meetings. How should the project manager address this situation?
Options
- ADetermine the communication needs, environment, and tools to get the message across.
- BDocument the risk in the risk management plan and use contingency reserves to hire a local
- CEvaluate and reassign the developing tasks to a local vendor who has worked on previous
- DReview lessons learned from previous projects and organizational process assets (OPAs).
How the community answered
(48 responses)- A83% (40)
- B2% (1)
- C4% (2)
- D10% (5)
Why each option
The project manager should address the remote team's lack of understanding by assessing and optimizing communication methods, environment, and tools to ensure clear requirement conveyance.
The core issue is a communication breakdown regarding requirements for a remote team. Determining the appropriate communication needs, environment (e.g., time zones, cultural context), and tools (e.g., video conferencing, collaboration platforms) is the most direct and proactive way to resolve the misunderstanding and improve clarity.
Documenting the risk and hiring a local team is an extreme, costly, and premature escalation when the root cause (communication) has not been adequately addressed.
Reassigning tasks to a local vendor is a drastic measure that avoids addressing the current team's communication issues and might lead to further delays and increased costs.
While reviewing lessons learned and OPAs can provide insights, it is a secondary action; the immediate problem requires a direct intervention to improve current communication practices for the remote team.
Concept tested: Managing remote team communication
Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/devops/plan/set-up-communication-plans
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Samuel O.Jan 16, 2026A is the right call here. In my experience, when a remote team says they don't understand requirements from daily standups, the communication method itself is the problem, so you need to step back and figure out what tools and environment will actually get the message across clearly before the gaps derail the whole sprint.
Ola B.Jan 1, 2026Leaned toward D, but remote team misunderstanding = fix communication needs first, so A.
Dervla O.Jan 25, 2026A is correct. Remote teams require tailored communication, so assess needs and tools first.
Yuki V.Jan 25, 2026Agreed on A, and remember that assessing communication needs falls under Plan Communications Management, so if the question had said the project is already underway with active issues, you might be looking at Manage Communications instead.
Yuki V.Feb 4, 2026A is correct, saw this on my exam last month, the remote team clue screamed communication needs.