The answer is to facilitate a meeting with both developers to discuss the conflict and agree on coding standards. This is correct because the PMP exam emphasizes the collaborating/problem-solving conflict resolution technique, which seeks a win-win outcome by addressing the root cause directly—here, the undefined coding standards. In a hybrid project environment, where Agile principles like self-organization and team autonomy are valued, the project manager should first enable the team to resolve the issue at the lowest level before escalating. This question tests your ability to apply interpersonal and team skills, specifically conflict resolution between team members, a frequent scenario in the PMP exam’s “People” domain. A common trap is choosing to impose a standard yourself or escalate to management, which undermines team ownership and violates the hybrid approach’s collaborative spirit. Memory tip: think “Facilitate First” — when conflict arises, guide the discussion, don’t dictate the decision.
PMP People — Leading Projects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. Two senior developers have a recurring conflict about coding standards, which is causing delays in code reviews and affecting team morale. What should you do FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
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
✓
Facilitate a meeting with both developers to discuss the conflict and agree on coding standards.
In a hybrid project environment, the project manager should first facilitate a collaborative discussion between the conflicting parties to resolve the issue at the lowest level. This approach aligns with the PMP's emphasis on conflict resolution techniques, specifically 'collaborating/problem-solving,' which seeks a win-win outcome. By directly addressing the coding standards conflict, you preserve team autonomy and ownership, which is critical for maintaining morale and productivity in a hybrid approach where Agile principles like self-organization are valued.
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 functional managers of both developers.
Why it's wrong here
Escalation should be a last resort after direct intervention has failed.
✓
Facilitate a meeting with both developers to discuss the conflict and agree on coding standards.
Why this is correct
Facilitating open communication helps resolve conflicts and reach a consensus.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Reassign the developers to different modules to minimize interaction.
Why it's wrong here
Avoiding the conflict does not resolve the root cause and may reduce team synergy.
✗
Decide on a set of coding standards yourself and mandate them.
Why it's wrong here
Imposing a solution without team buy-in can lead to resentment and further conflict.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PMI often tests the misconception that escalating to management or imposing a decision is faster, but the PMP exam rewards the collaborative approach that builds team cohesion and aligns with servant leadership.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The hybrid approach combines predictive planning with Agile flexibility, meaning the team should have autonomy over technical practices like coding standards. The PMBOK Guide's conflict resolution model prioritizes 'collaborating/problem-solving' as the most effective technique for long-term resolution, as it addresses the root cause rather than symptoms. In practice, a facilitated meeting using techniques like 'active listening' and 'brainstorming' can lead to a documented set of standards that both developers agree to, which can then be enforced via automated linting tools in the CI/CD pipeline.
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: Facilitate a meeting with both developers to discuss the conflict and agree on coding standards. — In a hybrid project environment, the project manager should first facilitate a collaborative discussion between the conflicting parties to resolve the issue at the lowest level. This approach aligns with the PMP's emphasis on conflict resolution techniques, specifically 'collaborating/problem-solving,' which seeks a win-win outcome. By directly addressing the coding standards conflict, you preserve team autonomy and ownership, which is critical for maintaining morale and productivity in a hybrid approach where Agile principles like self-organization are valued.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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 →
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 is leading a global virtual team. A conflict arises between two senior developers from different cultures. One feels the other is not respecting their time zone, while the other accuses the first of micromanaging. What is the best approach to resolve this conflict?
hard
✓ A.Mediate a meeting between the two developers to openly discuss their concerns
B.Escalate the issue to human resources for a formal resolution
C.Assign each developer to separate tasks to minimize interaction
D.Decide on a compromise and inform both parties of the new rules
Why A: Option A is correct because, as a project manager leading a global virtual team, the best approach to resolve a conflict between two senior developers from different cultures is to mediate a meeting where they can openly discuss their concerns. This aligns with the PMP's focus on collaborative problem-solving and emotional intelligence, allowing both parties to express their perspectives on time zone respect and micromanagement, leading to a mutually agreed solution. Mediation fosters trust and understanding, which is critical for virtual team cohesion and productivity.
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Question Discussion
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