The answer is to meet with each developer separately to understand their perspectives before facilitating a joint discussion. This is correct because it applies the PMI conflict resolution principle of collaborate/problem-solve, which prioritizes gathering individual viewpoints privately to uncover the underlying technical merits of each argument without group bias or emotional escalation. On the Project Management Professional PMP exam, this scenario tests your understanding that the first step in conflict resolution is always to listen and gather facts, not to impose a solution or escalate; a common trap is choosing to immediately hold a joint meeting, which can amplify tension before each party feels heard. A useful memory tip is “Private before public”—always collect individual perspectives in private as the conflict resolution first step, then facilitate a collaborative discussion to merge the best technical ideas.
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.
Two senior developers on your project have a heated disagreement about the technical approach for implementing a key feature. They both have strong arguments, and the conflict is delaying the sprint. As the project manager, what is the BEST first step 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
✓
Meet with each developer separately to understand their perspectives before facilitating a joint discussion
Option B is correct because it follows the PMI conflict resolution principle of 'collaborate/problem-solve' by first gathering individual perspectives privately before facilitating a joint discussion. This approach ensures each developer feels heard, reduces emotional tension, and allows the project manager to identify the underlying technical merits of each argument without group bias. It is the best first step because it addresses the root cause of the conflict—differing technical opinions—before attempting any resolution or escalation.
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.
✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for a decision
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should be a last resort after the PM has attempted resolution.
✓
Meet with each developer separately to understand their perspectives before facilitating a joint discussion
Why this is correct
Gathering information from each party first helps identify the root cause and enables a collaborative solution.
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.
✗
Tell the developers to set aside their differences and move forward with the current plan
Why it's wrong here
Avoiding the conflict does not address the underlying issue.
✗
Choose the approach that aligns with the project's objectives and instruct the team to implement it
Why it's wrong here
Imposing a solution without team buy-in may lead to resentment and does not resolve the conflict.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option A (escalate) or Option D (decide unilaterally) because they mistake a technical conflict for a decision that requires authority, rather than recognizing that the PM's best first step is to facilitate collaboration and gather information before any decision is made.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In agile teams, technical disagreements often stem from trade-offs between short-term velocity and long-term maintainability, such as choosing between a microservices architecture versus a monolithic approach for a key feature. The project manager's role is to facilitate a structured discussion where both developers present their arguments with evidence—like performance benchmarks, scalability metrics, or integration complexity—so the team can make an informed decision. This mirrors the 'Integrating' style in the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, which is most effective for complex technical decisions where both perspectives have merit.
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: Meet with each developer separately to understand their perspectives before facilitating a joint discussion — Option B is correct because it follows the PMI conflict resolution principle of 'collaborate/problem-solve' by first gathering individual perspectives privately before facilitating a joint discussion. This approach ensures each developer feels heard, reduces emotional tension, and allows the project manager to identify the underlying technical merits of each argument without group bias. It is the best first step because it addresses the root cause of the conflict—differing technical opinions—before attempting any resolution or escalation.
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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