PMP · Question #861
A project manager works in a startup company and is in charge of a key project that has critical and time-sensitive delivery objectives. One of the project team members missed completing an assigned d
The correct answer is A. Meet with the team member and work on a development plan for them to avoid missed. The project manager should address the missed deliverable directly with the team member to understand the root cause and develop a plan for improvement.
Question
Options
- AMeet with the team member and work on a development plan for them to avoid missed
- BHold a team meeting to discuss team member commitments and communications.
- CRecord the issue, then refocus the team's efforts on delivering the next set of deliverables.
- DGive the team member a formal warning for the negative impact due to failure to deliver and not
How the community answered
(54 responses)- A80% (43)
- B4% (2)
- C7% (4)
- D9% (5)
Why each option
The project manager should address the missed deliverable directly with the team member to understand the root cause and develop a plan for improvement.
Meeting with the team member allows the project manager to understand the underlying reasons for the missed deliverable, offer support, and collaboratively create a development plan to improve performance and prevent future occurrences. This aligns with a supportive leadership style focused on coaching and problem-solving at the individual level.
Holding a team meeting for an individual's issue might embarrass the team member and is not the most direct or sensitive way to address an individual performance problem.
Simply recording the issue and moving on does not address the root cause of the performance problem, potentially leading to recurrence and further schedule impacts.
Giving a formal warning immediately without understanding the situation can demotivate the team member and damage trust, which may not be the most constructive first step.
Concept tested: Individual performance management and coaching
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/manage-project-team
Topics
Community Discussion
4
Mei-Ling H.Jun 14, 2026Picked A here. The key is the phrase "what should the project manager do next" combined with the fact that this is one individual who repeatedly assured on-time completion. Option B is wrong because holding a team meeting punishes everyone for one person's failure, and option D skips straight to escalation without addressing root cause. The PM's immediate next step is a one-on-one to coach and create a development plan, which directly fixes the behavior before it derails the critical delivery objectives again.
Lena V.Jun 15, 2026Agreed on A, but the exam also wants you to flag that the development plan itself should have measurable milestones tied to the remaining delivery dates, not just generic coaching goals.
Viktor S.Jun 20, 2026A is the move here. PMI wants you coaching the individual before escalating to formal punishment or dragging it into a team meeting, and a development plan addresses the root problem instead of just venting about it. C sounds pragmatic but ignores the behavior, and D is too heavy-handed for a first occurrence. Saw this on my exam last March and almost talked myself into B because the startup context made me think team morale. Re-read the stem, caught that it is one person missing commitments, and realized a team meeting would just be public shaming dressed up as process improvement. Landed on A
Lena V.Jul 5, 2026A is the right call because the exam always favors coaching and development over punishment. C is tempting since the deliverable is already late, but PMI wants you to address the root cause with the team member first rather than just logging it and moving on.