PMP · Question #181
A team has had issues with behavior on an ongoing project, which is causing conflicts. As a result, the team is losing momentum and falling behind in its sprints. How should the project manager handle
The correct answer is C. Revisit the ground rules and team communication protocols, and discuss what is happening.. To resolve conflicts and restore momentum, the project manager should revisit the team's ground rules and communication protocols, then facilitate a discussion about the ongoing behavioral issues.
Question
Options
- AEngage a counselor to reconcile the situation between the team members affected.
- BControl backlog assignments and reduce direct communications between team members.
- CRevisit the ground rules and team communication protocols, and discuss what is happening.
- DRequire team members experiencing the conflicts to take a day off from work.
How the community answered
(28 responses)- A14% (4)
- B4% (1)
- C75% (21)
- D7% (2)
Why each option
To resolve conflicts and restore momentum, the project manager should revisit the team's ground rules and communication protocols, then facilitate a discussion about the ongoing behavioral issues.
Engaging an external counselor is an escalation that may be considered later if internal attempts fail, but the PM should first try to resolve the conflict using established team management techniques.
Controlling backlog assignments or reducing direct communications avoids addressing the root cause of the conflict and can further hinder collaboration and productivity.
When team conflicts arise due to behavioral issues, the most effective first step for a project manager is to bring the team together to revisit and reinforce the established ground rules and communication protocols. This provides a structured framework to discuss the problematic behaviors, address misunderstandings, and collaboratively find solutions, helping to restore cohesion and momentum.
Requiring team members to take a day off is a punitive or temporary measure that does not resolve the underlying behavioral issues or foster a healthy team environment.
Concept tested: Team conflict resolution and ground rules
Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/get-started/collaboration-communication
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Yuki V.Jun 18, 2026C is correct. Ground rules are your go-to for behavioral conflicts, and discussing them openly with the team fixes the root cause instead of just patching the symptoms.
Zlatan X.Jun 18, 2026Agreed on C, but at the program altitude you also want to log recurring ground-rule breaches as interdependency risks, because one team's behavioral dysfunction cascades into integration points across components.
Mei-Ling H.Jun 12, 2026I first leaned toward A because bringing in a counselor sounds like it addresses the conflict directly, but the word "ongoing" plus the fact the team is losing momentum means this is a process issue, not a one-time incident. C is correct because revisiting ground rules and communication protocols is the proactive step the PM owns, and discussing what is happening gets the team back on track.
Orla P.Jun 1, 2026Got C on my exam last October. The ground rules keyword is the giveaway because PMI wants you to address behavior issues through the team charter and open discussion, not by sending people home or shutting down communication.
Zlatan X.May 28, 2026C is correct but A tempts you since behavioral issues sound HR-ish.