PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
You are leading a cross-functional project team. Two team members, Alex and Jamie, have a disagreement over the technical approach for a critical deliverable. The conflict has escalated, and other team members are taking sides, affecting team cohesion. As the project manager, you decide to use a collaborative conflict resolution technique. What is the primary benefit of this approach?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that collaboration is always the best approach, but the question asks for its primary benefit, which is mutual gain and relationship building, not speed or authority.
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
✓
It leads to a win-win solution and strengthens team relationships.
Collaboration is a conflict resolution technique that seeks a win-win outcome by addressing the concerns of all parties. It fosters open communication, builds trust, and strengthens relationships, which are critical for team performance. The other techniques, such as forcing, smoothing, or avoiding, may provide temporary relief but do not achieve the same level of mutual commitment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It ensures that the project manager's authority is respected.
Why it's wrong here
Respecting authority is more aligned with the forcing or smoothing approaches, where the project manager imposes a solution or minimizes differences. Collaboration aims to resolve the conflict by involving both parties in problem-solving, which may not necessarily reinforce authority. The primary benefit is achieving a win-win outcome, not asserting authority.
- ✗
It allows the project manager to make a quick decision and move forward.
Why it's wrong here
A quick decision is characteristic of the forcing or directing approach, not collaboration. Collaboration involves engaging both parties to find a mutually agreeable solution, which may take more time. While speed can be beneficial, it is not the primary benefit of collaboration, which focuses on long-term resolution and relationship preservation.
- ✓
It leads to a win-win solution and strengthens team relationships.
Why this is correct
Collaboration, also known as problem-solving, involves openly discussing the conflict to find a solution that satisfies both parties. This approach builds trust, improves communication, and preserves relationships, which is essential for team cohesion and long-term project success. The other options describe benefits of different conflict resolution techniques.
- ✗
It avoids the conflict temporarily so the team can focus on work.
Why it's wrong here
Avoiding or withdrawing from conflict is a temporary fix that does not address the root cause. While it may provide short-term relief, it often leads to unresolved issues resurfacing later. Collaboration, by contrast, addresses the conflict directly to find a lasting solution, which is not about avoidance.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Team Building and Psychological Safety
Key term
Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution is the process of addressing and resolving disagreements between team members or stakeholders to maintain a productive and collaborative project environment.
Key term
Project Team Management
Project Team Management is the process of leading, coordinating, and supporting a group of people to complete project tasks and achieve project objectives.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PMI exam blueprint
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.