PMP · Question #989
A project manager is happy to have a motivated, highly talented team working together in a cheerful atmosphere. However, many members of the team are distracted by their telephones during meetings…
The correct answer is C. Remind the team of the ground rules in the next meeting. Despite a cheerful atmosphere, persistent disruptions like phone use and interruptions indicate a deviation from expected meeting conduct, so the project manager should first remind the team of the established ground rules in the next meeting. This reinforces professional…
Question
Options
- AIncentivize the team members with a monetary punctuality reward.
- BSpeak separately to the team members causing the disruptions.
- CRemind the team of the ground rules in the next meeting.
- DAsk the team to discuss frustrating meeting experiences from past projects.
How the community answered
(23 responses)- A13% (3)
- B9% (2)
- C74% (17)
- D4% (1)
Why each option
Despite a cheerful atmosphere, persistent disruptions like phone use and interruptions indicate a deviation from expected meeting conduct, so the project manager should first remind the team of the established ground rules in the next meeting. This reinforces professional behavior and meeting etiquette without singling out individuals initially.
Incentivizing punctuality with monetary rewards is often a short-term fix and doesn't address the broader issues of professionalism, respect, or focus during meetings.
Speaking separately to individuals might be necessary if the behavior persists after a general reminder, but it should not be the first step, as a collective reminder respects the team's shared responsibility.
The most immediate and appropriate first step is to gently remind the entire team of the agreed-upon ground rules or team working agreements during the next meeting. This approach reinforces expected professional behavior and meeting etiquette for everyone, allowing the team to self-correct in a non-confrontational manner and re-establish a productive meeting environment.
Discussing past frustrating experiences is a reflective exercise that might follow a reminder, but the immediate problem requires addressing the current behavior directly through established team norms.
Concept tested: Team ground rules and meeting facilitation
Source: https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/team-building-activities-01
Topics
Community Discussion
4
Samuel O.Jun 13, 2026C is the right call here. After twenty years of running teams I can tell you that going one-on-one with individuals before you have reinforced the ground rules just makes you look like you skipped a step, and the PMI mindset wants you to address the whole team first when the issue is a shared behavioral norm that was already agreed to.
Mei-Ling H.Jun 15, 2026Agree on C but watch the wording in the stem: if it says a team member rather than the team, the answer flips to D because PMI wants you to address the individual privately first in that case.
Toby R.Jun 8, 2026Sat for PMP three weeks ago and got a near identical scenario. I first leaned toward B because addressing the disruptors directly seemed like the obvious move, but the key word in the stem is "first" and PMI wants you to reinforce existing ground rules with the whole team before escalating to individual conversations.
Mei-Ling H.Jun 23, 2026Saw this on my exam last month, "first" means go to ground rules, not one-on-ones.