- A
Facilitate a meeting where both developers can present their approaches and work towards a consensus
Facilitating collaboration aligns with PMI's conflict resolution techniques.
- B
Escalate the issue to the functional managers
Why wrong: Escalation should be a last resort; the PM should first try to resolve within the team.
- C
Ignore the conflict as it may resolve on its own
Why wrong: Ignoring conflict can worsen the situation and cause further delays.
- D
Encourage the developers to compromise on a hybrid approach that incorporates elements from both
Compromise or collaboration is a valid conflict resolution technique.
- E
Decide the technical approach yourself and impose it on the developers
Why wrong: Imposing a solution may not be effective and can reduce team ownership.
Quick Answer
The answer is to encourage the developers to compromise on a hybrid approach that incorporates elements from both technical perspectives. This is correct because PMI’s framework for conflict resolution between team members over a technical approach prioritizes early intervention through collaboration and problem-solving, not avoidance or forcing a decision. By facilitating a structured discussion and guiding the team toward a consensus-based hybrid solution, the project manager transforms a destructive conflict into a constructive one, preserving team cohesion while addressing the root cause of the delay. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your ability to apply the “Collaborate/Problem-Solve” conflict resolution technique, which is the most effective but often the least chosen by test-takers who mistakenly pick “Smooth/Accommodate” or “Compromise.” A common trap is confusing compromise (both lose something) with collaboration (both gain something), so remember that PMI wants you to integrate ideas, not just split the difference. Memory tip: “Hybrid heals the rift” — when technical approaches clash, blend them to build consensus.
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
Your project team is encountering conflict between two senior developers over the technical approach. The conflict is causing delays. As the project manager, which TWO actions should you take to resolve the situation?
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 where both developers can present their approaches and work towards a consensus
PMI recommends addressing conflict early through collaboration and using techniques like problem-solving. The PM should facilitate a discussion and help the team reach a consensus.
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.
- ✓
Facilitate a meeting where both developers can present their approaches and work towards a consensus
Why this is correct
Facilitating collaboration aligns with PMI's conflict resolution techniques.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the functional managers
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should be a last resort; the PM should first try to resolve within the team.
- ✗
Ignore the conflict as it may resolve on its own
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring conflict can worsen the situation and cause further delays.
- ✓
Encourage the developers to compromise on a hybrid approach that incorporates elements from both
Why this is correct
Compromise or collaboration is a valid conflict resolution technique.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Decide the technical approach yourself and impose it on the developers
Why it's wrong here
Imposing a solution may not be effective and can reduce team ownership.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Ignoring conflict can worsen the situation and cause further delays.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Facilitate a meeting where both developers can present their approaches and work towards a consensus — PMI recommends addressing conflict early through collaboration and using techniques like problem-solving. The PM should facilitate a discussion and help the team reach a consensus.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on PMP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You are managing a project where the team is experiencing conflict between two senior developers over technical approach. The conflict is affecting team morale and productivity. Which TWO actions should you take? (Select exactly two.)
medium- ✓ A.Escalate the conflict to the functional managers of the developers
- B.Ignore the conflict and hope it resolves on its own
- ✓ C.Facilitate a meeting between the developers to discuss and resolve the technical disagreement
- D.Reprimand both developers publicly for causing disruption
- E.Reassign one of the developers to another project
Why A: The PM should first address the conflict directly by facilitating a discussion to find common ground (B). If the conflict cannot be resolved, the PM may escalate to the functional manager (A). Publicly reprimanding (C) is not constructive; ignoring (D) is not proactive; reassigning (E) should be a last resort after other efforts fail.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This PMP practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 PMP exam.
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