PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
You are managing a software upgrade project. During a team meeting, two senior developers get into a heated argument over the best technical approach for a critical component. The disagreement is delaying progress. As the project manager, what should you do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume the project manager should either avoid involvement (Option B) or assert authority (Option D), but the PMP exam emphasizes that the project manager's role is to facilitate collaborative conflict resolution, not to dictate technical decisions or escalate prematurely.
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
✓
Facilitate a meeting with both developers to reach a consensus
As the project manager, your first responsibility is to facilitate conflict resolution among team members to keep the project on track. By mediating a meeting between the two senior developers, you encourage collaborative decision-making, leverage their technical expertise, and maintain team cohesion without imposing a top-down solution that could damage morale or overlook critical technical nuances.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Facilitate a meeting with both developers to reach a consensus
Why this is correct
Facilitating a meeting with both developers to reach a consensus is the most effective approach for a Project Manager. This strategy directly addresses the conflict by encouraging open communication and collaborative problem-solving, allowing the team members to take ownership of the solution. The PM acts as a neutral party, guiding the discussion to ensure a mutually agreeable resolution that maintains team cohesion and commitment to the project's objectives, rather than imposing a potentially resented decision.
- ✗
Allow them to resolve the conflict on their own without intervention
Why it's wrong here
Allowing developers to resolve a conflict on their own without intervention is inappropriate when the disagreement is actively delaying project progress. A Project Manager has a responsibility to proactively identify and remove impediments to ensure the project stays on schedule and within scope. Unaddressed conflicts can escalate, leading to prolonged delays, decreased productivity, and potential damage to team morale, necessitating timely PM intervention to mitigate these risks.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the functional managers of the developers
Why it's wrong here
Escalating the issue directly to functional managers should be considered a last resort, not an initial response to a team conflict. The Project Manager's primary role includes directly resolving team-level issues and empowering the project team to find solutions. Premature escalation undermines the PM's authority, can demotivate team members by bypassing their autonomy, and may strain relationships between project and functional management, indicating a failure to manage internal team dynamics effectively.
- ✗
Decide on the approach yourself and assign tasks accordingly
Why it's wrong here
Deciding on the approach yourself and assigning tasks accordingly, while seemingly efficient, often fails to resolve the underlying conflict and can be counterproductive. Imposing a solution without team member input can lead to a lack of buy-in, resentment, and demotivation, as the developers may not feel their perspectives were valued or understood. This approach risks superficial compliance rather than genuine commitment, potentially causing the conflict to resurface or manifest in other forms, negatively impacting project quality and team morale.
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 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 by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.