PMP Practice Questions #53
You are the project manager for a project involving the launch of a new technology product. A significant conflict has arisen between two key stakeholders: the marketing department is pushing for a full-featured product launch to maximize market share, while the development team is advocating for a leaner approach with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This disagreement is causing project delays.
Which approach would be the MOST effective in resolving this conflict and ensuring the success of the project?
A) Facilitate a collaborative workshop with all key stakeholders to understand the merits and risks of both approaches, leading towards an understanding of the MVP strategy.
B) Propose a phased approach where an MVP is launched first, followed by iterative additions of features based on market feedback, addressing concerns of both stakeholders.
C) Arrange a joint meeting with both stakeholders to discuss the advantages of MVP with the Project Sponsor, emphasizing the MVP’s potential for early market entry and iterative improvement.
D) Suggest a compromise where a more feature-rich MVP is developed, balancing the needs for market impact and the benefits of a lean, iterative approach.
Analysis
The scenario involves a project manager handling a conflict between the marketing and development teams regarding the product launch strategy for a new technology product. Marketing wants a full-featured product to maximize market share, while development advocates for a leaner Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach. This disagreement is causing delays in the project. The challenge is to find an effective resolution that aligns both teams and ensures project success.
Analysis of Options:
Option A: Facilitate a collaborative workshop with all key stakeholders to understand the merits and risks of both approaches, leading towards an understanding of the MVP strategy. This approach promotes open dialogue and understanding among all stakeholders, not just the conflicting parties. It allows for a holistic view of the project and encourages a shared understanding, which could lead to a consensus on the best approach. It is effective for creating a common ground and resolving conflict through comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
Option B: Propose a phased approach where an MVP is launched first, followed by iterative additions of features based on market feedback, addressing concerns of both stakeholders. While this suggests a practical solution, it leans towards the development team’s perspective and doesn’t fully address the marketing team’s concerns. It’s more of a direct solution rather than a conflict resolution strategy. Potentially effective but may not completely resolve the underlying conflict between stakeholders.
Option C: Arrange a joint meeting with both stakeholders to discuss the advantages of MVP with the Project Sponsor, emphasizing the MVP’s potential for early market entry and iterative improvement. Similar to Option A, but more focused on advocating for the MVP strategy. This might be seen as partial towards one side of the argument and could potentially overlook other valid concern It is useful for promoting MVP but may not be as inclusive as Option A in resolving the conflict.
Option D: Suggest a compromise where a more feature-rich MVP is developed, balancing the needs for market impact and the benefits of a lean, iterative approach. It attempts to find a middle ground, but compromise in high-stakes situations might not always lead to the best project outcomes. It might not fully satisfy either party and could lead to suboptimal project decisions. So it is not the most effective, as it may not address the core issues of the conflict and could result in a half-hearted project approach.
Conclusion: Option A appears to be the most effective approach. It focuses on creating a shared understanding and agreement among all key stakeholders, not just the conflicting parties. This inclusive and holistic approach is likely to lead to a more sustainable resolution that aligns with the overall goals of the project. It fosters collaboration and understanding, which are crucial for resolving conflicts and ensuring successful project outcomes.
PMP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
|---|---|
| Process | Task 1: Execute project with the urgency required to deliver business value |
| People | Task 10: Build shared understanding |
| People | Task 1: Manage conflict |
Topics Covered
- Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
- Engaging Stakeholders
