PMI-ACP Practice Questions #52
You are managing a distributed team spread across three locations. Team members have reported feeling disconnected, leading to delays in decision-making and misunderstandings in project execution. As a leader, what would be the most effective step to improve collaboration and alignment across these locations?
A. Assign a designated communication coordinator at each location to streamline updates.
B. Develop and implement a comprehensive communication management plan to clarify protocols and expectations.
C. Facilitate rotational visits where team members from one location spend time with teams at other locations to build trust and strengthen connections.
D. Invest in advanced project management tools to track progress across all locations
Analysis
When managing a distributed Agile team across multiple locations, communication gaps and lack of alignment can lead to misunderstandings and delays. The ideal approach should foster collaboration, build trust, and encourage direct communication between team members rather than relying on rigid structures or additional layers of coordination.
A good Agile leader should:
- Encourage direct interaction rather than adding intermediaries.
- Create an environment for shared understanding, such as cultural exchange or face-to-face interactions.
- Utilize Agile practices like rotating ambassadors to strengthen team connections across locations.
- Invest in collaboration tools (but not just for tracking progress).
Analysis of Options:
A: Assign a designated communication coordinator at each location to streamline updates.
This is not an ideal Agile solution. While having a coordinator may seem like an effective way to manage updates, it adds an unnecessary layer between team members, potentially creating bottlenecks and slowing down direct communication. Agile teams should self-organize and collaborate directly, making this approach less effective.
B: Develop and implement a comprehensive communication management plan to clarify protocols and expectations.
This option leans toward a plan-driven approach, which is not fully aligned with Agile principles. While having clarity in communication protocols is beneficial, Agile teams should collaboratively define their working agreements rather than having a leader impose a structured plan. A better approach would be to involve the team in defining flexible communication norms rather than enforcing rigid protocols.
C: Facilitate rotational visits where team members from one location spend time with teams at other locations to build trust and strengthen connections.
This is the best option because it promotes individual interactions and direct collaboration, which are core Agile values. Agile encourages practices like rotating ambassadors, where members spend time in different locations, fostering empathy, cultural understanding, and stronger team cohesion. This approach enhances collaboration and builds trust, addressing the root cause of the problem rather than just treating the symptoms.
D: Invest in advanced project management tools to track progress across all locations.
This option is partially beneficial but misaligned with the question’s main concern. While tools can help facilitate collaboration, the focus here is on tracking progress, which does not directly resolve communication gaps or team alignment issues. If the option had mentioned tools for better collaboration rather than tracking, it could have been a stronger candidate. However, human interactions are more effective than relying solely on tools in Agile environments.
Conclusion
The correct answer is Option C, as rotational visits and ambassador programs align with Agile principles of collaboration, trust-building, and direct communication. This approach effectively addresses both the communication gap and cultural misunderstandings, leading to improved team alignment across locations.
The correct answer is Option B, as it effectively tackles both key concerns: cultural differences and asynchronous collaboration. By promoting cultural awareness and flexible communication, this approach aligns with Agile values of transparency, collaboration, and inclusivity.
PMI – ACP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
| Mindset | Build Transparency |
Topics Covered:
- Distributed Agile Team Collaboration: Addressing disconnection, decision-making delays, and misunderstandings in geographically dispersed teams.
- Building Trust and Stronger Team Bonds:
- Rotational visits to allow team members to experience different work cultures, enhancing empathy and shared understanding.
- Encouraging face-to-face interactions to develop stronger professional relationships.
- Direct Communication Over Bureaucracy:
- Avoiding unnecessary intermediaries (e.g., communication coordinators) that could create bottlenecks.
- Promoting self-organizing teams and direct interaction to enhance transparency.
- Agile Leadership and Team Empowerment:
- Facilitating cultural exchanges to bridge gaps between locations.
- Encouraging cross-location collaboration and alignment for better decision-making and execution.
- Transparency and Adaptability:
- Encouraging open communication and shared decision-making across all locations.
- Fostering a collaborative mindset rather than relying on rigid management structures.
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