Project Management Professional (PMP)® Examination Content OutlinePeopleMedium
A project manager is leading a critical software development project. The team is consistently missing sprint commitments, and morale is visibly low. During retrospective meetings, team members express frustration with a lack of clear direction and frequent changes in priorities. The project manager's primary responsibility in this situation, from a leadership perspective, should be to:
- AConduct individual performance reviews to identify underperforming team members and provide targeted coaching.
- BEscalate the issue to senior management, requesting additional resources or a reduction in project scope.
- CFacilitate a session to re-establish clear project goals and priorities, ensuring team buy-in and understanding.
- DImplement stricter deadlines and monitor individual team member performance more closely to ensure accountability.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Facilitate a session to re-establish clear project goals and priorities, ensuring team buy-in and understanding.
The core issue is a lack of clear direction and changing priorities, leading to missed commitments and low morale. Re-establishing clear goals and priorities directly addresses this root cause and aligns with the project manager's role in guiding the team.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While individual coaching can be beneficial, the problem is described as systemic (lack of clear direction, frequent changes), suggesting a team-level intervention is needed first.
- B. Escalation might be necessary later, but the project manager should first attempt to resolve the issue within the team by clarifying direction.
- D. This approach focuses on symptoms (missed deadlines) rather than the root cause (unclear direction) and can further decrease morale.
Provide Direction
A project manager's responsibility to articulate clear goals, priorities, and expectations to the team, ensuring everyone understands the project's purpose and direction.
- Essential for team focus and alignment.
- Prevents confusion and rework.
- Boosts morale by providing purpose.
Memory trick: The captain charts the course, so the crew knows where to sail.