PMP Practice Questions #41
Amara, the project manager for a citywide Wi-Fi installation project, faces stringent timelines. While she is content with the overall team’s achievements, she has observed that Rohan, a key team member, consistently falls short of his set objectives. This underperformance could jeopardize the on-time delivery of the project’s upcoming phase. What should Amara do FIRST?
A) Ask the team to support Rohan more frequently to ensure on-time delivery.
B) Organize a team appreciation event to foster motivation and a collaborative environment.
C) Engage Rohan in a one-on-one discussion to understand any challenges or obstacles he’s encountering.
D) Request the team to provide feedback on Rohan’s performance during the past duration.
Analysis
In this scenario, Amara, as a project manager, is presented with a challenge that requires immediate and effective management to ensure the project stays on track. The question asks for the first action she should take to address the underperformance of a critical team member, Rohan, whose inability to meet his objectives could adversely impact the project timeline
Analysis of Options:
Option A: Ask the team to support Rohan more frequently to ensure on-time delivery. This option presumes that Rohan’s underperformance is due to a lack of support from the team. However, without understanding the root cause of Rohan’s issues, this solution may be premature.
Option B: Organize a team appreciation event to foster motivation and a collaborative environment. While this might be a positive action, the specific situation with Rohan may or may not be related to motivation or lack of recognition. The question doesn’t provide enough evidence to suggest that an appreciation event would address the immediate issue with Rohan’s performance.
Option C: Engage Rohan in a one-on-one discussion to understand any challenges or obstacles he’s encountering. This is a direct and proactive approach. It focuses on understanding the underlying issues before jumping to solutions. This option aligns with the principle of engaging with team members to support their performance, and growth, and to provide appropriate feedback.
Option D: Request the team to provide feedback on Rohan’s performance during the past duration. This indirect approach might bring insights but could also cause discomfort or embarrassment for Rohan, potentially affecting team dynamics negatively. It is less direct than option C and might not be the best first step.
Conclusion: The most suitable first action would be option C, where Amara engages directly with Rohan to understand his challenges. This approach is aligned with PMP best practices, where a project manager should first seek to understand the issue from the team member’s perspective before taking further action. It supports the development of team members through direct communication and the application of emotional intelligence, which is crucial in leadership roles.
PMP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
|---|---|
| People | Task 3 Support team performance |
| People | Task 2: Lead a team |
| People | Task 14: Promote team performance through the application of emotional intelligence |
Topics Covered
- Team Member Performance Management
- Sharing Constructive Feedback
- Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
- Effective Communication Strategies
- Servant Leadership in Project Management
