- A
Immediately involve the project sponsor to enforce a decision
Why wrong: Involving the sponsor should be a last resort after trying to resolve at the team level.
- B
Make a decision yourself based on which tasks contribute more to the project objectives
Why wrong: Making a unilateral decision may resolve the resource issue but does not address the conflict and may damage relationships.
- C
Facilitate a meeting with both leaders to discuss priorities and find a compromise
Facilitation helps both parties communicate and find a mutually acceptable solution.
- D
If the conflict cannot be resolved, escalate to the appropriate management level
Escalation is appropriate when the PM cannot resolve the issue.
- E
Review the project schedule and resource allocation to determine the best course of action using objective data
Using data helps depersonalize the conflict and supports a fair decision.
Quick Answer
The correct answer involves reviewing the project schedule and resource allocation to determine the best course of action using objective data, specifically by facilitating a negotiation, reviewing project priorities, and escalating if needed. This approach is grounded in the PMP concept of conflict resolution within resource management, where objective data from the schedule and resource breakdown structure should drive decisions rather than subjective claims of priority. On the PMP exam, this scenario tests your ability to apply the conflict resolution process from the Manage Team and Resource Management knowledge areas, often appearing as a situational question where a common trap is choosing to make a unilateral decision or immediately involving the sponsor. Remember the memory tip: "Negotiate, Prioritize, Escalate" — always start with data-driven discussion, then align on priorities, and only escalate as a final step.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
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.
Your project team includes members from different departments, and there is a conflict between two team leaders over resource allocation. One leader insists their tasks are higher priority. Which THREE actions should you take to resolve this conflict?
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 with both leaders to discuss priorities and find a compromise
Options A, C, and D are correct because facilitating a negotiation, reviewing the project priorities, and escalating if needed are appropriate steps. Option B is incorrect because making a unilateral decision disempowers the leaders and may cause resentment. Option E is incorrect because involving the sponsor should be a last resort after attempting resolution.
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.
- ✗
Immediately involve the project sponsor to enforce a decision
Why it's wrong here
Involving the sponsor should be a last resort after trying to resolve at the team level.
- ✗
Make a decision yourself based on which tasks contribute more to the project objectives
Why it's wrong here
Making a unilateral decision may resolve the resource issue but does not address the conflict and may damage relationships.
- ✓
Facilitate a meeting with both leaders to discuss priorities and find a compromise
Why this is correct
Facilitation helps both parties communicate and find a mutually acceptable solution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
If the conflict cannot be resolved, escalate to the appropriate management level
Why this is correct
Escalation is appropriate when the PM cannot resolve the issue.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Review the project schedule and resource allocation to determine the best course of action using objective data
Why this is correct
Using data helps depersonalize the conflict and supports a fair decision.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
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.
- →
People — Leading Projects — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
People — Leading Projects practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PMP questions
892 questions across all exam domains
- →
Project Management Professional PMP study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PMP practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PMP practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
People — Leading Projects practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to People — Leading Projects.
Process — Managing Technical Aspects practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to Process — Managing Technical Aspects.
Business Environment — Strategy and Value practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to Business Environment — Strategy and Value.
Business Environment: strategy and project benefits practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to Business Environment: strategy and project benefits.
PMP fundamentals practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to PMP fundamentals.
PMP scenario practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to PMP scenario.
PMP troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PMP questions linked to PMP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PMP practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
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: Facilitate a meeting with both leaders to discuss priorities and find a compromise — Options A, C, and D are correct because facilitating a negotiation, reviewing the project priorities, and escalating if needed are appropriate steps. Option B is incorrect because making a unilateral decision disempowers the leaders and may cause resentment. Option E is incorrect because involving the sponsor should be a last resort after attempting resolution.
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 →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.