Which conflict resolution technique produces the most lasting results?

Withdraw/avoid simply postpones dealing with the conflict, which allows the underlying issue to persist or worsen over time - producing no lasting resolution.

Smooth/accommodate emphasizes areas of agreement and downplays differences without resolving them, leading to temporary relief but not a lasting solution.

Compromise/reconcile requires both parties to give up something, resulting in a partial solution that may leave underlying tensions unresolved and prone to recurrence.

The collaborate/problem solve technique requires all parties to openly share perspectives, examine the underlying causes of the conflict, and work together to reach a win-win resolution that fully satisfies everyone involved. Because it resolves the actual source of the disagreement rather than masking it, the outcome is stable and durable. PMBOK identifies this approach as the preferred technique for producing lasting conflict resolution.