Domain: People

During a daily standup in a hybrid project, two senior developers begin arguing about the architectural approach for a critical user story. The argument escalates, becoming personal and disrupting the meeting. The team looks uncomfortable. What should the project manager do FIRST?

A project manager takes over a project where the team is demoralized. The previous PM was authoritarian. The team is hesitant to speak up during retrospectives. Which action should the new project manager take FIRST to improve team leadership?

A key stakeholder is unhappy with the product increment delivered in the last sprint, claiming it does not meet business needs. The Product Owner insists the team followed the acceptance criteria. Which TWO actions should the project manager take?

A project team in a matrix organization is struggling. The functional manager keeps pulling key resources away for operational emergencies, causing sprint delays. The project manager has tried discussing this with the functional manager but the behavior continues. What should the project manager do NEXT?

A project manager is leading a virtual team spread across four time zones. Team members report feeling disconnected and isolated, and velocity has dropped. Which action is MOST appropriate to address this?

During a project, a team member approaches the project manager and admits they lack the skills to complete a assigned technical task, which is on the critical path. What should the project manager do FIRST?

A team member is consistently late to the daily standup. The team has established ground rules that include 'Be on time'. The team looks to the project manager for action. What is the BEST response?

A key team member requests a week of leave during a critical phase of the project. This will delay a major milestone. The team member is burnt out and insists on the break. What should the project manager do?

A project manager observes that the team is struggling to reach consensus on technical decisions, leading to long meetings and delays. The team is in the 'Storming' phase. Which leadership style is MOST appropriate?

A project manager is negotiating a contract with a vendor. The vendor proposes a clause that allows them to increase rates by 10% annually. The project budget is fixed. What is the BEST negotiation strategy?

A project manager notices that the Quality Assurance (QA) team and the Development team are constantly blaming each other for defects. The QA team says Developers write bad code; Developers say QA writes bad test cases. What should the project manager do?

Which TWO of the following are primary responsibilities of a Servant Leader in an agile context?

A project manager is facilitating a retrospective. The team is quiet and reluctant to share negative feedback. The PM suggests playing a game where team members write anonymous notes about what went well and what didn't. Which technique is the PM using?

A project manager is leading a project to build a new community center. A group of neighbors complains that the construction noise is disturbing them. The noise levels are within legal limits. What should the project manager do?

A project manager is leading a cross-functional team. A functional manager complains that one of the team members is spending too much time on the project and neglecting their operational duties. The project charter states the team member is 50% allocated to the project. What should the PM do?

Which TWO of the following are characteristics of a 'T-shaped' team member in an agile team?

A project manager is leading a virtual team. During video calls, one team member dominates the conversation, while others remain silent. What should the PM do?

A project manager is leading a project to update a company's HR policy. The project has high stakeholder resistance. The PM decides to use a 'Consultative' decision-making style. What does this mean?

A project manager is leading a team that is geographically dispersed. The PM wants to ensure that the team feels united and shares a common purpose. Which document is BEST suited to help with this?

A project manager is dealing with a difficult stakeholder who constantly criticizes the project in public meetings. The PM decides to meet with the stakeholder privately to ask for their advice on how to improve the project. Which strategy is the PM using?

A project manager is leading a project to build a new factory. The local community is concerned about pollution. The PM holds a town hall meeting to listen to their concerns. Which domain is this primarily mapping to?

A project manager is leading a team that is demotivated because they feel their work has no purpose. The PM arranges for a customer to visit and explain how the product helps them save lives. Which motivation theory is the PM applying?

A project manager is leading a project to implement a new accounting standard. The CFO is the sponsor. The PM realizes that the CFO has not been attending the steering committee meetings and is delaying key decisions. What should the PM do?

A project manager is leading a team that is constantly interrupted by operational requests from other departments. The team's velocity is suffering. What should the PM do?

A project manager is leading a project to build a new school. The project is on schedule. Suddenly, a massive earthquake hits the region, destroying the access roads. The project cannot continue for at least 3 months. What should the PM do FIRST?

A project manager is leading a project to implement a new ERP system. The project affects the Finance, HR, and Sales departments. The Finance Director is the Sponsor. The HR Director is resisting the change. The Sales Director is neutral. Who is the most critical stakeholder to manage to resolve the resistance?

A project manager is leading a team that is distributed across three continents. The PM wants to hold a brainstorming session. Which tool is BEST?

A project manager is leading a team that is experiencing high turnover. New members are joining frequently. What should the PM do to maintain performance?

A project manager is leading a project with a team of experts. The PM notices that the experts are very opinionated and often talk over each other in meetings. The PM decides to use a 'talking stick' rule. What is the PM doing?

A project manager is leading a project with a team that has never worked together. They are polite but guarded. Which stage of the Tuckman ladder are they in?

A project manager is leading a project to develop a new software application. The team is using Agile. The PM wants to ensure that the team is self-organizing. What should the PM do?

A project manager leading a hybrid project notices that two senior engineers are constantly arguing about the architectural approach for the new module. The arguments are technical but have become personal, affecting team morale. The project is in a critical phase with a tight deadline. What should the project manager do FIRST?

During a retrospective, an agile team expresses frustration that a stakeholder frequently interrupts their work with 'urgent' requests, bypassing the Product Owner. This is causing the team to miss sprint goals. Which TWO actions should the project manager take?

Two team members have a fundamental disagreement about a technical approach. Both options are viable, but they have different long-term maintenance implications. The project is in the early stages, and relationships are important. Which conflict resolution technique is MOST appropriate?

A project manager discovers that a vendor has been contacting team members directly to offer gifts in exchange for favorable reviews of their deliverables. This violates the company's code of conduct. What should the project manager do FIRST?

A key stakeholder is unhappy with the project's progress and is verbally aggressive towards the project manager during a status meeting. The team is present and looks uncomfortable. What is the BEST response?

A project manager takes over a high-performing agile team. The previous PM was very directive. The team is currently meeting all goals but seems hesitant to make decisions without approval. Which leadership style should the new PM adopt to transition them to higher self-organization?

A team is comprised of junior members who are enthusiastic but lack experience. The project has a strict regulatory deadline. Which leadership approach is MOST appropriate initially?

A project manager notices that a highly skilled team member is disengaged. The team member mentions feeling that their work is repetitive and lacks challenge. According to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, which TWO actions should the PM consider?

A global project team has members from cultures with high power distance and low power distance. The low power distance members frequently challenge the PM's ideas, causing discomfort for the high power distance members who view this as disrespectful. How should the PM handle this?

A project manager focuses on the growth and well-being of team members, shares power, and puts the needs of others first. This leadership style is known as ________ leadership.

An agile team's velocity has dropped for three consecutive sprints. The team members are working long hours and morale is low. What should the project manager do FIRST?

A team member consistently submits deliverables that meet the minimum requirements but lack attention to detail, causing rework for others. The project manager has a feedback session scheduled. What is the BEST approach?

A project manager wants to support the growth of a high-potential team member who aspires to a leadership role. Which TWO actions are most appropriate?

During a project, the team realizes they lack the specific technical skills required for an upcoming critical task. The timeline does not allow for external hiring. What is the BEST course of action?

An agile team asks the project manager to assign tasks to them during sprint planning because they are used to a directive environment. How should the PM respond?

A project manager is leading a large project with multiple workstreams. The PM is overwhelmed by the volume of minor decisions required daily. What is the MOST effective way to address this?

A team member complains that they are unsure what they are responsible for versus what the project manager handles. Which TWO documents/tools should the PM utilize to clarify this?

A project manager needs to make a decision about a change in the project management information system. The change affects the daily work of all team members. Which decision-making style is MOST appropriate to ensure buy-in?

A project manager observes that a team member, who is excellent at data analysis, is struggling with a task requiring public speaking and stakeholder negotiation. The task is critical. What should the PM do?

A project manager is planning a project that requires a new programming language. The team has no experience with it. The deadline is fixed and aggressive. What is the BEST training strategy?

A project manager identifies a skills gap in the team regarding risk management. The budget for external training is zero. Which TWO options are viable?

A stakeholder is resisting the adoption of a new project management tool, claiming it is too difficult to use. The PM suspects this is due to a lack of training. What should the PM do?

To determine if training was effective, a project manager measures the results. According to the Kirkpatrick Model, the highest level of evaluation which measures the business impact is Level ________.

A project manager is building a team for a new project. The project requires highly specialized skills that are scarce in the market. The PM has secured budget but cannot find candidates. What should the PM do?

A newly formed team is arguing about roles and the project approach. Productivity is low. The sponsor is concerned. How should the PM explain this to the sponsor?

A team has been working together for six months. They trust each other, adjust their work habits to support one another, and require minimal supervision from the PM. Which Tuckman stage are they in?

A key technical lead is leaving the project in two weeks. The project is halfway through. Which TWO actions should the PM take to ensure knowledge transfer?

During the Daily Scrum, a developer reports that they cannot proceed because the test server is down. This is the third time this week. What should the project manager (acting as Scrum Master) do?

A project team identifies five distinct impediments during a meeting. Resources are limited. How should the PM determine which impediment to address first?

A regulatory change has just been announced that blocks the release of the product. The team is unsure how to interpret the new regulation. Which TWO actions should the PM take?

A team member is blocked because they are waiting for a software license approval from the finance department. The request has been pending for a week. The PM knows the Finance Director personally. What is the BEST approach?

A project manager is told by a senior executive to skip a mandatory safety inspection to meet the deadline. The team cannot proceed without this inspection or the waiver. What should the PM do?

A project manager is negotiating a service level agreement (SLA) with a vendor. The vendor is insisting on a price that is 10% over budget. The PM knows the vendor wants to enter this new market segment. What is the BEST negotiation strategy?

An agile team is struggling to reach an agreement on the Definition of Done (DoD). The testers want strict criteria, while developers argue it will slow them down. How should the PM facilitate this negotiation?

A project manager is preparing for a complex negotiation with a client regarding a scope change. Which TWO actions should the PM take during the preparation phase?

In negotiation, the acronym BATNA stands for Best Alternative to a ________ Agreement.

A project manager takes over a project where the stakeholders are disengaged and skeptical because the previous PM ignored their input. What should the new PM do FIRST to rebuild collaboration?

A project manager realizes that a key stakeholder has a different understanding of the project's success criteria than the project team. The project is 50% complete. What is the BEST way to align expectations?

A project involves a diverse group of stakeholders: some prefer detailed data, others prefer high-level visuals, and some only want face-to-face updates. Which TWO actions should the PM take to collaborate effectively?

The Product Owner (PO) is frequently absent from sprint planning and reviews, causing the team to guess at requirements. The PO claims they are too busy with customers. What is the PM's BEST response?

A project manager notices that during technical discussions, the marketing representative stays silent. Later, the marketing rep complains that the product won't meet customer needs. What is the likely root cause of this misunderstanding?

An agile team needs to decide on a database schema. Three members want Option A, two want Option B. The debate is circling. What technique should the PM suggest to reach a shared decision?

A project manager is kicking off a complex partnership project. Which TWO activities will BEST help build a shared understanding of the project goals among all partners?

A team member nods and says 'yes' to every request but frequently fails to deliver what was expected. The PM suspects a cultural communication difference. Which communication technique should the PM use to verify understanding?

A virtual team is struggling with low engagement during video calls. Most keep cameras off and stay silent. What is the BEST way to improve engagement?

A project manager leads a team across three time zones: London, New York, and Tokyo. The Tokyo team complains they always have to stay late for meetings. What should the PM do?

Which TWO practices are most effective for building trust in a newly formed virtual team?

A virtual team member in a remote location has stopped contributing to the shared document repository and is slow to respond to emails. The PM suspects isolation. What is the BEST first step?

A new agile team is forming. The project manager wants to ensure the team has a clear set of behavioral expectations. What should the PM do?

A team established a ground rule to 'be on time for meetings'. However, the senior architect is consistently 10 minutes late. The team is annoyed but says nothing. What should the PM do?

Which TWO elements are typically included in a Team Charter?

Midway through a project, the team complains that the daily stand-up is taking too long and isn't valuable. What should the PM do?

A junior project manager asks a senior PM for advice on how to handle a difficult stakeholder. The senior PM spends an hour listening, asking guiding questions, and helping the junior PM discover their own solution. This is an example of:

A project manager notices that a client stakeholder is struggling to understand the agile reporting metrics (Burnup charts). This is causing anxiety and excessive email queries. What is the BEST mentoring opportunity here?

A project manager wants to establish a culture of peer mentoring within the team. Which TWO actions should the PM take?

A new team member is highly experienced technically but struggles with the organization's complex political landscape. The PM is new to the organization as well. What is the BEST mentoring approach?

A project manager feels a surge of anger when a stakeholder criticizes the project publicly. The PM takes a deep breath, pauses, and chooses to ask a clarifying question instead of snapping back. Which EI component is this?

A project manager notices that the team is unusually quiet and tense after a company announcement about restructuring. The PM cancels the planned agenda and opens the floor for the team to discuss their concerns. This demonstrates:

A team member is going through a difficult divorce and their performance has dropped. They confide in the PM. Which TWO actions demonstrate high emotional intelligence?

A project manager uses personality assessments (e.g., MBTI, DiSC) with the team. What is the PRIMARY purpose of this in the context of the People Domain?

In a multi-cultural project team, a misunderstanding regarding the definition of 'Done' has led to quality issues. The team members from one region believe testing is a separate phase, while others believe it is part of development. What should the project manager do to build a shared understanding?

A project manager is leading a hybrid project. During a sprint review, a key stakeholder angrily rejects a deliverable, stating it does not meet the business requirements defined in the initial project charter. The product owner argues that the team built exactly what was in the user story. The argument is escalating. What should the project manager do FIRST?

A high-performing team member on an agile team has recently become withdrawn and is missing daily standups. This behavior is impacting the team's velocity. The project manager suspects a personal issue. Which approach aligns BEST with emotional intelligence principles?

A project manager is taking over a project where the team is demotivated due to micromanagement by the previous manager. The project uses a hybrid approach. Which TWO actions should the project manager take to empower the team?

A project team is distributed across three different time zones. Communication has been disjointed, and misunderstandings are frequent. The project manager wants to improve collaboration. What should be done FIRST?

During a project negotiation with a vendor, the vendor states they cannot meet the required delivery date without a 20% cost increase. The project budget is fixed, but the schedule has some flexibility. What is the BEST negotiation strategy for the project manager?

A project manager identifies that a junior team member lacks the specific technical skills required for an upcoming critical task. No other resources are available. What should the project manager do FIRST?

An agile team is struggling to reach a consensus on the estimation of user stories during planning poker. The debate is consuming too much time. Which TWO actions should the project manager (acting as Scrum Master) take?

A key stakeholder is refusing to approve the project management plan because they believe the communication strategy is insufficient. The project manager has already explained the plan twice. What should the project manager do NEXT?

Which of the following scenarios BEST describes when a project manager should use a 'Servant Leadership' style?

During a daily standup in a hybrid project, two senior developers begin arguing about the architectural approach for a critical module. The argument escalates, consuming the entire 15-minute timebox and preventing other team members from providing updates. The team is visibly frustrated. What should the project manager do FIRST?

A project manager has taken over a project where the team morale is low. Team members feel their suggestions are ignored by the previous manager and they lack autonomy. The project is using a predictive approach, but the organization is shifting toward agile. What is the BEST leadership style for the project manager to adopt to improve performance?

A high-performing team member in an agile project requests to attend a specialized training course that costs $3,000 and requires three days off work during a critical sprint. The training is relevant to the project's future phases but not the current sprint. Which TWO actions should the project manager take?

A project manager is leading a virtual team spread across four different time zones. Communication has been disjointed, and some team members complain that decisions are made while they are asleep. What should the project manager do FIRST to address this?

During a negotiation with a vendor for a critical component, the vendor states they cannot meet the required delivery date due to supply chain issues. This component is on the critical path. The vendor offers a 10% discount if the deadline is extended by two weeks. What is the BEST course of action for the project manager?

A project manager observes that a team member, who is an expert in their field, is constantly interrupting others during meetings and dismissing their ideas. The team's psychological safety is deteriorating. What should the project manager do FIRST?

A project manager is leading a hybrid project with a distributed team. During a virtual sprint retrospective, two senior developers begin arguing about the architectural approach for the next release. One insists on a refactor to reduce technical debt, while the other argues for a quick patch to meet the deadline. The argument escalates, and other team members disengage. What should the project manager do FIRST?

A project manager has just taken over a project where the team morale is low. The previous PM was authoritarian. The team is hesitant to speak up during meetings or take initiative. Which leadership style should the new project manager adopt to BEST improve team performance?

A high-performing team member in an agile project has recently started missing deadlines and withdrawing from team activities. The project manager suspects a personal issue or burnout. Which TWO actions should the project manager take?

A project manager is leading a cross-functional team where decision-making has been slow because team members constantly seek the PM's approval. The PM wants to empower the team to make their own decisions. What is the BEST approach?

A project team is transitioning from predictive to agile. During the first sprint, the PM notices the team is struggling to break down user stories and estimate points effectively. The budget for formal training was cut. What should the PM do?

A project manager is building a team for a high-stakes project. The functional managers have offered resources who are available but lack the specific niche skills required. The project has a strict deadline. What is the BEST course of action?

During a Daily Scrum, a developer reports that a critical server update managed by the IT operations department is delayed, blocking the team's progress. The IT manager has not responded to emails. What should the project manager do FIRST?

A project manager is negotiating a service level agreement (SLA) with a vendor. The vendor insists on a 48-hour response time, but the project stakeholders require a 24-hour response time to minimize downtime risks. Negotiations have stalled. What is the BEST strategy?

A key stakeholder is consistently critical of the project's progress in monthly steering committee meetings, despite the project being on track. This behavior is damaging the team's reputation. What should the project manager do?

In a multi-cultural project team, a misunderstanding regarding the definition of 'Done' has led to quality issues. The team members from one region believe testing is a separate phase, while others believe it is part of development. What should the project manager do to build a shared understanding?

A virtual team is struggling with low engagement during conference calls. Team members often multitask and silence is common when questions are asked. What is the MOST effective way to improve engagement?

During a project kickoff, the team creates a team charter. Two months later, a senior team member consistently interrupts others and dominates discussions, violating the agreed-upon ground rules. The team looks to the project manager for help. What should the PM do?

A junior project manager is struggling to manage a complex stakeholder group. The program manager (their mentor) notices the junior PM is agreeing to every stakeholder request to avoid conflict. What is the BEST mentoring approach?

A project manager notices that a usually reliable team member is making errors. The PM knows the team member is going through a divorce. Which TWO actions demonstrate the application of emotional intelligence?