This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of project management concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A project team is experiencing conflicts between two key members. The project manager wants to resolve the issue quickly to avoid delays. Which conflict resolution technique involves the project manager making a decision without discussion?
Collaborating
Why wrong: Collaborating seeks consensus through discussion.
Compromising
Why wrong: Compromising involves give-and-take.
Forcing
Forcing is a quick, unilateral decision-making technique.
Smoothing
Why wrong: Smoothing focuses on areas of agreement, not unilateral decision.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Forcing
The forcing technique (also known as 'competing') involves the project manager imposing a decision unilaterally without input or discussion from the conflicting parties. This approach is appropriate when a quick resolution is needed to avoid project delays, as the question states. It does not seek consensus or compromise but rather asserts authority to move forward.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Collaborating
Why it's wrong here
Collaborating seeks consensus through discussion.
Compromising
Why it's wrong here
Compromising involves give-and-take.
Forcing
Why this is correct
Forcing is a quick, unilateral decision-making technique.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Smoothing
Why it's wrong here
Smoothing focuses on areas of agreement, not unilateral decision.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the distinction between forcing and compromising, where candidates mistakenly choose compromising because they think it is the 'fairest' approach, but the key phrase 'without discussion' directly points to forcing.
Detailed technical explanation
In project management, conflict resolution techniques are part of the 'Manage Team' process under the PMBOK Guide. Forcing is often used in crisis situations or when a quick, decisive action is required, but it can lead to resentment if overused. Real-world scenarios include a project manager overriding a technical disagreement on a critical path activity to meet a regulatory deadline, where discussion would cause unacceptable schedule slippage.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the PK0-005 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Project Management Concepts — This question tests Project Management Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Forcing — The forcing technique (also known as 'competing') involves the project manager imposing a decision unilaterally without input or discussion from the conflicting parties. This approach is appropriate when a quick resolution is needed to avoid project delays, as the question states. It does not seek consensus or compromise but rather asserts authority to move forward.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This PK0-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PK0-005 exam.
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