- A
Develop a team charter that includes agreed-upon norms for planning and flexibility
A charter can codify a balance that respects both preferences.
- B
Negotiate a compromise where both approaches are used in different phases of the project
A tailored approach can satisfy both preferences and improve collaboration.
- C
Facilitate a team discussion to understand each member's working style preferences
Understanding differences is the first step to finding common ground.
- D
Ignore the conflict and focus on delivering the project on time
Why wrong: Ignoring conflict can lead to escalation and further productivity loss.
- E
Decide on a single working style and enforce it across the team
Why wrong: Imposing a style may alienate some members and not address underlying issues.
Resolving Conflict from Different Working Styles
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 is experiencing conflict due to different working styles: some members prefer detailed plans, while others prefer flexibility. The conflict is affecting morale and productivity. Which THREE 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
Develop a team charter that includes agreed-upon norms for planning and flexibility
Developing a team charter that includes agreed-upon norms for planning and flexibility is correct because it formalizes a shared understanding of how the team will operate, directly addressing the root cause of the conflict—differing working styles. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's emphasis on establishing team ground rules early to prevent and resolve interpersonal conflicts, thereby improving morale 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.
- ✓
Develop a team charter that includes agreed-upon norms for planning and flexibility
Why this is correct
A charter can codify a balance that respects both preferences.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Negotiate a compromise where both approaches are used in different phases of the project
Why this is correct
A tailored approach can satisfy both preferences and improve collaboration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Facilitate a team discussion to understand each member's working style preferences
Why this is correct
Understanding differences is the first step to finding common ground.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ignore the conflict and focus on delivering the project on time
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring conflict can lead to escalation and further productivity loss.
- ✗
Decide on a single working style and enforce it across the team
Why it's wrong here
Imposing a style may alienate some members and not address underlying issues.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose 'Ignore the conflict' (Option D) thinking it's a 'focus on results' mindset, but the PMP exam consistently penalizes avoidance as it fails to address the underlying interpersonal risk, which will likely resurface and worsen.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The team charter is a key artifact in the 'Develop Team' process (PMBOK 9.4) that codifies behavioral expectations, communication protocols, and decision-making norms. In practice, a well-crafted charter might include a 'flexibility window' (e.g., ±10% deviation from plan allowed without re-approval) to balance detailed planning with adaptive execution, reducing friction between structured and agile team members. This approach mirrors real-world hybrid methodologies like Scrum-ban, where fixed sprints coexist with flexible backlog prioritization.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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People — Leading Projects — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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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: Develop a team charter that includes agreed-upon norms for planning and flexibility — Developing a team charter that includes agreed-upon norms for planning and flexibility is correct because it formalizes a shared understanding of how the team will operate, directly addressing the root cause of the conflict—differing working styles. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's emphasis on establishing team ground rules early to prevent and resolve interpersonal conflicts, thereby improving morale 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.
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. A project manager notices that two senior developers have conflicting work styles, causing delays. What is the best approach to resolve this?
easy- A.Escalate to the functional manager for reassignment.
- B.Ask the team to vote on which style to adopt.
- C.Assign them to separate tasks to avoid interaction.
- ✓ D.Facilitate a meeting to discuss and resolve differences.
Why D: Facilitating a meeting to discuss and resolve differences (D) is the best approach because it directly addresses the root cause of the conflict—work style incompatibility—by fostering open communication and collaborative problem-solving. As a project manager, you act as a servant leader, using conflict resolution techniques like 'confronting' or 'problem-solving' to turn the disagreement into a constructive dialogue that aligns the team toward project goals. This approach preserves team cohesion and leverages the developers' expertise without escalating or avoiding the issue.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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