Project Management Professional (PMP) — Question 329

Two members of a new project team disagree on the best approach to solve a problem. The conflict has been going on for 1 week. The two members are tense around each other and are taking everything personally.
What should the project manager do?

Answer options

• A. Help the team members to resolve the conflict in a way that results in the best team performance.
• B. Offer a compromise that is acceptable to both team members, even if it may not be the best solution.
• C. Understand each team member's argument and select the one that results in less risk to the project.
• D. Send both team members to the human resources (HR) department for an acceptable resolution.

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is A because helping team members resolve their conflict in a constructive way fosters better collaboration and team dynamics, ultimately leading to improved performance. Option B may lead to a suboptimal solution that doesn't address the root cause of the conflict. Option C risks favoring one argument over the other without resolving the interpersonal issues. Option D may escalate the situation unnecessarily instead of promoting direct communication and resolution among the team members.