PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
You are leading a global software development project with team members in three different time zones. Recently, two senior developers from different locations have been in conflict over the design approach for a critical component. The conflict has started to affect team morale and productivity. What should you do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates choose Option B (forcing) because it appears efficient, but PMI prioritizes collaborative resolution to maintain team cohesion and long-term project success, even if it takes more time initially.
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
✓
Schedule a meeting with both developers to discuss the issue and find a mutually agreeable solution.
As the project manager, your first responsibility is to address interpersonal conflicts directly and collaboratively. Scheduling a meeting with both developers to discuss the issue and find a mutually agreeable solution aligns with the PMI's emphasis on conflict resolution techniques like 'collaborating/problem-solving,' which seeks a win-win outcome. This approach preserves team morale and productivity by involving the stakeholders in the decision, rather than imposing a solution or avoiding the problem.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Schedule a meeting with both developers to discuss the issue and find a mutually agreeable solution.
Why this is correct
This option exemplifies the "collaborate/problem-solve" conflict resolution technique, which is highly recommended in project management. By facilitating a direct meeting, the project manager enables open communication, encourages mutual understanding of perspectives, and empowers the team members to jointly develop a sustainable solution. This approach fosters team cohesion and ensures higher commitment to the agreed-upon design, aligning with effective stakeholder engagement.
- ✗
Decide on the design approach yourself to end the conflict quickly.
Why it's wrong here
This approach represents the "forcing" or "directing" conflict resolution technique, which, while quick, is generally detrimental to team morale and long-term project success. Imposing a solution without team input often fails to address the root causes of the disagreement, leading to resentment, reduced ownership, and potential re-emergence of the conflict later. It undermines the team's problem-solving capabilities and can damage the project manager's relationship with the team.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the sponsors and ask them to intervene.
Why it's wrong here
Escalating the issue to project sponsors prematurely is an inappropriate action for a project manager, as it abdicates the PM's responsibility for team conflict resolution. Sponsors are typically involved in strategic decisions and high-level impediments, not routine team disagreements. Such an action can signal a lack of leadership capability, consume valuable sponsor time, and potentially erode the team's trust in the project manager's ability to manage internal issues effectively.
- ✗
Reassign the developers to different tasks to avoid further conflict.
Why it's wrong here
Reassigning developers to different tasks is an "avoiding" or "withdrawing" conflict resolution technique, which merely postpones or sidesteps the core issue rather than resolving it. This approach fails to address the underlying design disagreement, leaving it unresolved and potentially resurfacing in other forms or future projects. Furthermore, it can lead to inefficient resource allocation and may signal to the team that conflicts are to be evaded, rather than constructively managed, hindering team growth.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to the PMP Exam and Project Management Basics
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 Management Plan
A formal, approved document that defines how a project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, serving as the single source of truth for the project team.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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