PMP · Question #1003
A few stakeholders missed the session that was conducted to validate project alignment with organizational strategy and expected business value. For this reason, their inputs were not collected…
The correct answer is A. Recognize and understand the conflict. To resolve conflicts stemming from missed stakeholder input, the project manager's first step should be to fully understand the nature and underlying causes of the conflict.
Question
A few stakeholders missed the session that was conducted to validate project alignment with organizational strategy and expected business value. For this reason, their inputs were not collected. This is the root cause of some conflicts in the decision-making process. What should the project manager do first to resolve this situation?
Options
- ARecognize and understand the conflict.
- BReschedule the session.
- CApply risk assessment techniques.
- DList alternative courses of action.
How the community answered
(61 responses)- A82% (50)
- B2% (1)
- C5% (3)
- D11% (7)
Why each option
To resolve conflicts stemming from missed stakeholder input, the project manager's first step should be to fully understand the nature and underlying causes of the conflict.
When conflicts arise due to uncollected stakeholder inputs, the project manager's primary responsibility is to first recognize and thoroughly understand the conflict, including its root causes, differing perspectives, and impacts. This foundational understanding is crucial before any effective resolution strategies can be developed or implemented.
Rescheduling the session might be a necessary step, but it is premature before fully understanding the reasons for the conflict and the specific inputs that are missing or contentious.
Applying risk assessment techniques is for identifying and analyzing potential future risks, not the immediate first step for resolving an existing conflict caused by past actions.
Listing alternative courses of action is part of the solution-finding phase, which should only occur after a comprehensive understanding of the conflict has been established.
Concept tested: Conflict resolution, stakeholder management
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok
Topics
Community Discussion
4
Viktor S.Nov 12, 2025A. You cannot fix a conflict you have not properly diagnosed, so recognizing and understanding it is always step one before jumping to fixes like rescheduling or listing alternatives. PMI wants you to acknowledge the problem and its root cause first, then work toward a solution with the stakeholders who were missed.
Hiroshi T.Nov 30, 2025A is correct per the PMI conflict resolution sequence, you have to recognize and understand the conflict before you can address its root cause. The PMBOK Guide is clear that analyzing the conflict source is the prerequisite step, and here that source is the missing stakeholder input from the alignment session.
Mei-Ling H.Nov 20, 2025Going with C because the conflict is already happening, and before the PM can fix anything they need to assess the impact of those missing inputs on the project objectives, which is exactly what risk assessment techniques are for. The word "first" is the key qualifier here, you have to evaluate the exposure before jumping to rescheduling or listing alternatives.
Hiroshi T.Nov 20, 2025A is correct here. Per the PMBOK Guide, when required inputs are missing from a process, the first step is to review the project documents and consult the process asset library to confirm whether the inputs exist elsewhere or can be obtained, before moving to risk assessment or corrective action.