PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
A project manager is leading a cross-functional team that includes members from different departments. Two senior developers have a conflict about the technical approach for a critical component. The conflict is causing delays. What should the project manager do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse 'making a decision to move forward' (Option B) with strong leadership, but the PMP exam prioritizes team empowerment and consensus-building over unilateral action in technical disputes.
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
✓
Facilitate a meeting between the developers to discuss the pros and cons of each approach and reach consensus
The project manager's first responsibility in a technical conflict is to facilitate collaboration and consensus-building among the team members, leveraging their expertise to resolve the disagreement. By guiding the developers to discuss pros and cons, the PM enables a data-driven decision that respects the team's autonomy and technical judgment, which is essential for maintaining ownership and commitment to the chosen approach.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the functional managers of the developers
Why it's wrong here
Escalating the issue to functional managers is premature and undermines team autonomy and the project manager's role in internal conflict resolution. This approach can disempower the team, reduce their sense of ownership over technical decisions, and potentially create inter-departmental friction rather than fostering collaborative problem-solving within the project team. A project manager should exhaust internal team-level resolution strategies before resorting to external escalation.
- ✗
Make the decision for the team to move forward
Why it's wrong here
Imposing a technical decision on the team, particularly when developers are divided, can severely reduce team buy-in and commitment to the chosen approach. This autocratic style fails to leverage the collective expertise of the technical team members, potentially leading to a suboptimal solution and fostering resentment or disengagement among those whose input was disregarded. A project manager's role is to facilitate, not dictate, technical solutions unless there's an urgent, critical need for a directive.
- ✗
Ask the team to vote on the technical approach
Why it's wrong here
Asking the team to vote on a technical approach is generally unsuitable for complex technical decisions, as it prioritizes majority preference over the objective technical merits and potential risks of each option. This method can polarize the team into 'winners' and 'losers,' failing to address the underlying technical disagreements and potentially leading to a technically inferior solution if the majority lacks the most relevant expertise. Technical decisions require reasoned discussion and consensus, not a simple democratic vote.
- ✓
Facilitate a meeting between the developers to discuss the pros and cons of each approach and reach consensus
Why this is correct
Facilitating a dedicated meeting for developers to openly discuss the pros and cons of each technical approach is the most effective strategy. This encourages direct collaboration, leverages the collective technical expertise of the team, and allows for a thorough evaluation of options. By guiding them towards consensus, the project manager fosters a sense of shared ownership and commitment to the chosen solution, ensuring higher quality and smoother implementation.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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