PMP · Question #228
A project manager is assigned to a technical research project. The project team has already been assigned, and the main subject matter expert (SME) sends the project manager a list of the technical sk
The correct answer is C. Meet with the project team to understand their skills and identify potential gaps and training. The project manager should meet with the assigned team to assess their current skills against the requirements and identify any potential gaps or training needs.
Question
A project manager is assigned to a technical research project. The project team has already been assigned, and the main subject matter expert (SME) sends the project manager a list of the technical skills required for the execution of this project. What should the project manager do next?
Options
- ADiscuss the list with the project sponsor to confirm that the resources have the required skills.
- BAsk the functional manager to review the resource pool and recommend the right individuals to
- CMeet with the project team to understand their skills and identify potential gaps and training
- DSend the list to the project team and ask them to get training on the required skills.
How the community answered
(25 responses)- A4% (1)
- B4% (1)
- C80% (20)
- D12% (3)
Why each option
The project manager should meet with the assigned team to assess their current skills against the requirements and identify any potential gaps or training needs.
Discussing with the project sponsor at this stage is premature; the project manager should first understand the team's capabilities directly.
The team has already been assigned, and the current task is to assess the assigned team's readiness, not to re-evaluate the resource pool for recommendations.
Before making assumptions or seeking external intervention, the project manager's primary responsibility is to understand the capabilities of the assigned team. Meeting with the team members directly allows for a comprehensive assessment of their existing skills, identification of any gaps, and planning for necessary training or development to meet project requirements.
Simply telling the team to get training without first assessing individual skills and needs is inefficient and could lead to unnecessary or irrelevant training.
Concept tested: Resource skill assessment and gap analysis
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok
Topics
Community Discussion
4
Carlos M.Jul 5, 2026C is correct. You already have the team assigned so the next move is to meet with them, assess current skills against what the SME listed, and figure out where the gaps are before jumping to training or escalating to anyone else.
Olusegun A.Jul 6, 2026C is right but frame it as acquire versus develop: assessing skills against requirements is Acquire Resources closure, and the gap analysis feeds directly into Develop Team where training actually gets planned and executed.
Olusegun A.Jul 4, 2026Leaned A first but PM owns gaps directly: meet team, assess skills, C.
Samuel O.Jun 29, 2026C is right. In practice, does the PM ever defer to the SME on skill gaps?