This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 manager is leading a global virtual team. A conflict arises between two senior developers from different cultures. One feels the other is not respecting their time zone, while the other accuses the first of micromanaging. What is the best approach to resolve this conflict?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Mediate a meeting between the two developers to openly discuss their concerns
Option A is correct because, as a project manager leading a global virtual team, the best approach to resolve a conflict between two senior developers from different cultures is to mediate a meeting where they can openly discuss their concerns. This aligns with the PMP's focus on collaborative problem-solving and emotional intelligence, allowing both parties to express their perspectives on time zone respect and micromanagement, leading to a mutually agreed solution. Mediation fosters trust and understanding, which is critical for virtual team cohesion and productivity.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Mediate a meeting between the two developers to openly discuss their concerns
Why this is correct
Facilitating direct communication helps resolve misunderstandings and builds team cohesion.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Escalate the issue to human resources for a formal resolution
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should be a last resort; first attempt to resolve at the team level.
✗
Assign each developer to separate tasks to minimize interaction
Why it's wrong here
Avoidance does not resolve the conflict and may cause work silos.
✗
Decide on a compromise and inform both parties of the new rules
Why it's wrong here
Imposing a solution without collaboration may not be accepted and reduces team ownership.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option D (compromise) because it seems efficient, but the PMP exam emphasizes that collaborative problem-solving (Option A) is superior for long-term team health, especially when cultural differences are involved, as it ensures buy-in and addresses root causes rather than just symptoms.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In global virtual teams, cultural dimensions such as power distance and time orientation (e.g., monochronic vs. polychronic cultures) often drive conflicts like these. Mediation leverages active listening and empathy, which are key components of the PMI Talent Triangle's leadership skills, and it aligns with the 'Manage Conflict' process in the PMBOK Guide, which emphasizes collaborative problem-solving as the most effective conflict resolution technique. Real-world scenarios show that without mediation, such conflicts can escalate into team fragmentation, reduced velocity, and even attrition, especially when time zone differences are compounded by micromanagement perceptions.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PMP 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Mediate a meeting between the two developers to openly discuss their concerns — Option A is correct because, as a project manager leading a global virtual team, the best approach to resolve a conflict between two senior developers from different cultures is to mediate a meeting where they can openly discuss their concerns. This aligns with the PMP's focus on collaborative problem-solving and emotional intelligence, allowing both parties to express their perspectives on time zone respect and micromanagement, leading to a mutually agreed solution. Mediation fosters trust and understanding, which is critical for virtual team cohesion and productivity.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "first". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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