PMP · Question #714
A project team member is having difficulty delivering assigned tasks for a project that is at risk of being delayed. The main issue is that the team member does not understand a new system that was…
The correct answer is D. Assign an experienced resource to support the team member. To address a team member's difficulty with a new system that is delaying the project, the project manager should assign an experienced resource to provide support and mentorship. This facilitates knowledge transfer and helps the struggling team member quickly overcome the skill…
Question
Options
- AAsk the team member to learn the new system as on-the-job training.
- BIssue a change request to extend the project schedule.
- CEscalate the team member's performance to the project sponsor.
- DAssign an experienced resource to support the team member.
How the community answered
(21 responses)- A5% (1)
- B10% (2)
- C5% (1)
- D81% (17)
Why each option
To address a team member's difficulty with a new system that is delaying the project, the project manager should assign an experienced resource to provide support and mentorship. This facilitates knowledge transfer and helps the struggling team member quickly overcome the skill gap.
While on-the-job training is valuable, simply asking the team member to learn it themselves while project tasks are at risk of delay is not sufficient proactive support and may exacerbate the problem.
Issuing a change request to extend the project schedule is a reactive measure that should be a last resort, only after attempting to resolve the issue more directly and efficiently.
Escalating the team member's performance to the project sponsor is an inappropriate first step; the project manager should first attempt to resolve team-level issues through support and development before escalation.
When a team member lacks understanding of a new system, assigning an experienced resource to support them is an effective and proactive way to address the skill gap. This provides direct mentorship and knowledge transfer, enabling the team member to get up to speed quickly and prevent further project delays, aligning with the project manager's role in developing the team.
Concept tested: Team Development and Skill Gap Management
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/develop-team
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Bao N.Jan 2, 2026D is the pick here, and I confirmed it on exam last week. The stem points to a skills gap on a new system, not a performance problem, so pairing the team member with an experienced resource fixes the root cause instead of just extending the schedule or escalating prematurely.
Yuki V.Jan 2, 2026Agreed on D, and the key word in the stem is definitely "new system" which signals training over discipline, though I would also flag that you want to document the pairing arrangement in the resource management plan so it does not quietly fade out after a couple weeks.
Yuki V.Dec 8, 2025D showed up on my exam almost word for word last month. PMI wants you to fix the problem at the team level before escalating or blowing up the schedule, so pairing the struggling member with someone who knows the system is the move.
Lena V.Dec 22, 2025D is the right call but the wording is softer than what you'd actually do on the job. A is the trap because on-the-job training sounds reasonable until you remember the project is already at risk of being delayed, so you can't afford the learning curve. Pair the person with someone who knows the system and keep things moving.
Imani T.Dec 11, 2025Going with B here. The system was recently implemented which means it is a new external factor impacting the schedule, so a change request to extend the timeline is the proper PMI move rather than expecting someone to just figure it out on the fly.
Lena V.Dec 12, 2025D is correct here. A newly implemented system affecting the schedule is an external issue you document and process through the Perform Integrated Change Control process, which is exactly what option D describes.