CAPM Business Analysis Frameworks Practice Question
During a requirements workshop, two key stakeholders disagree on a critical requirement. The project manager asks the business analyst to facilitate a resolution. Which approach is most effective?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a prioritization matrix to evaluate trade-offs.
A prioritization matrix enables objective comparison of requirements based on predefined criteria such as value, cost, and urgency, facilitating a data-driven consensus. Option A is wrong: asking the sponsor to decide bypasses stakeholder collaboration and may not address the underlying disagreement. Option B is wrong: proceeding with both requirements can lead to scope creep and resource conflicts. Option C is wrong: a vote may not resolve deep disagreements and can alienate minority stakeholders.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ask the project sponsor to decide.
Why it's wrong here
Escalating to the sponsor removes the analyst's facilitation role and settles the requirement by authority rather than analysis of underlying interests. It is tempting because sponsors own scope decisions, and escalation would be correct when the disagreement breaches tolerances or exceeds the analyst's authority.
- ✗
Document both requirements and proceed with both.
Why it's wrong here
Documenting both requirements leaves the conflict unresolved, inflating scope and deferring the decision to build time. It is tempting because it preserves stakeholder harmony and captures everything, and it would be correct for genuinely independent requirements that can coexist without conflicting constraints.
- ✗
Hold a vote among all stakeholders.
Why it's wrong here
Voting resolves by headcount, not by which requirement satisfies business need, and can silence the stakeholder whose constraint matters. It is tempting because it appears democratic and quick, and voting would be correct for prioritising a backlog of many independent items where consensus is unnecessary.
- ✓
Use a prioritization matrix to evaluate trade-offs.
Why this is correct
A prioritisation matrix scores competing requirements against agreed criteria such as value, cost and risk, exposing trade-offs objectively. This lets the two stakeholders see which requirement delivers most benefit, resolving their disagreement on evidence rather than opinion or escalation.
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