PMP Practice Questions #39
During a project status meeting, two key team members, Alex and Jamie, engage in a heated argument. Alex believes the current design approach will introduce risks, while Jamie insists it’s the most cost-effective solution. The argument has diverted attention from the main agenda of the meeting. As the project manager, what should be your immediate action to address this situation?
A) Direct Alex and Jamie to resolve their disagreement outside of the team meeting to ensure the project progresses.
B) Remind the team about the meeting agenda and ask them if they prefer to focus on the agenda and take this matter offline.
C) Facilitate a structured discussion between Alex and Jamie during the meeting to understand the root cause of their disagreement.
D) Close the status meeting since it got diverted from its agenda, and schedule a separate session to resolve the conflict.
Analysis
The scenario portrays a situation where a project status meeting is disrupted due to a conflict between two key team members, Alex and Jamie, concerning the design approach. The crux of the matter is striking a balance between addressing the immediate conflict without sidelining the main purpose of the meeting. An ideal solution should prioritize the pre-decided agenda of the meeting, promote a facilitative and servant leadership approach, and ensure that the conflict doesn’t linger unresolved.
Analysis of Options:
Option A: Direct Alex and Jamie to resolve their disagreement outside of the team meeting to ensure the project progresses. This option embodies a more directive approach. While it emphasizes adhering to the meeting’s agenda, it lacks a facilitative touch. Directing team members can sometimes be perceived as aggressive or dismissive, potentially hindering open communication. Given the need for a servant leadership approach, this option might not be ideal.
Option B: Remind the team about the meeting agenda and ask them if they prefer to focus on the agenda and take this matter offline. This option adopts a softer, more inclusive approach. It reminds team members of the primary focus and involves them in the decision-making process about addressing the conflict. This option aligns with a facilitative and servant leadership style, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard. Moreover, it encourages adhering to team ground rules, such as staying on track with the agenda. Thus, this option seems apt for the situation at hand.
Option C: Facilitate a structured discussion between Alex and Jamie during the meeting to understand the root cause of their disagreement. While addressing conflicts head-on is often beneficial, the current context is crucial. Given that the conflict erupted during an ongoing meeting, diverting significant time and resources to mediate might overshadow the main agenda. This approach might come off as too confrontational in a meeting setting, potentially causing further distractions.
Option D: Close the status meeting since it got diverted from its agenda, and schedule a separate session to resolve the conflict. This option leans heavily towards avoidance. Not only does it abruptly end the meeting due to the conflict, but it also does not immediately address the disagreement. It can send a message that conflicts can easily derail proceedings, which might not be the best precedent to set.
Conclusion: Considering the contextual factors of the scenario and the leadership styles mapped to the PMP exam content outline, Option B, Remind the team about the meeting agenda and ask them if they prefer to focus on the agenda and take this matter offline, stands out. It adeptly integrates and emphasises conflict management, facilitation, and servant leadership. Moreover, it reminds the team of established ground rules for efficient meetings, ensuring a balanced approach to handling disruptions.
PMP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
|---|---|
| People | Task 1: Manage conflict |
| People | Task 12: Define team ground rules |
Topics Covered
- Conflict Management
- Facilitation
- Leadership
- Ground Rules
