PMP · Question #642
During a project's execution phase, two team members are having conflicts with other team members within the team on technical and interpersonal levels. Which two actions should the project manager…
The correct answer is B. Arrange individual meetings with the team members who cannot work together effectively. E. Discuss the conflict early among the affected team members using a direct, collaborative. To address conflicts between team members, the project manager should first engage in individual discussions with those involved, followed by a direct, collaborative meeting focused on resolution.
Question
Options
- APlan to resolve the team members' conflicts after the sprint and focus on achieving the goal.
- BArrange individual meetings with the team members who cannot work together effectively.
- CAddress the conflict during team meetings for the entire team to participate and find solutions.
- DAsk human resources (HR) to intervene before it escalates and affects the team's performance.
- EDiscuss the conflict early among the affected team members using a direct, collaborative
How the community answered
(53 responses)- A11% (6)
- B81% (43)
- C2% (1)
- D6% (3)
Why each option
To address conflicts between team members, the project manager should first engage in individual discussions with those involved, followed by a direct, collaborative meeting focused on resolution.
Delaying conflict resolution until after a sprint is detrimental, as unresolved conflicts can fester, escalate, and severely impact team morale, productivity, and project objectives.
Arranging individual meetings allows the project manager to understand each team member's perspective, concerns, and potential contributions to the conflict in a private, non-confrontational setting, which is crucial for gathering complete information before attempting mediation. This initial step helps build trust and identify the root causes.
Addressing the conflict in a full team meeting without prior individual discussions or focused mediation can make team members feel exposed, defensive, or lead to a less productive discussion, potentially escalating the conflict rather than resolving it.
Involving HR immediately is typically an escalation for severe or sensitive issues (e.g., harassment, legal violations), not the first step for general technical and interpersonal conflicts that a project manager should attempt to mediate.
After understanding individual perspectives, facilitating a direct and collaborative discussion among the affected team members is essential. This approach encourages open communication, mutual understanding, and joint problem-solving, which are key to finding a sustainable resolution and fostering a positive team dynamic.
Concept tested: Conflict resolution strategies in project teams
Source: https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/resolving-interpersonal-conflict-project-teams-8973
Topics
Community Discussion
9
Bao N.Jun 14, 2026B and E are the right picks. PMI wants you to address conflict directly and collaboratively with the involved parties first, so individual meetings plus an early collaborative discussion hit both beats, while C and D jump to group escalation or HR before you have even tried to resolve it yourselves.
Orla P.Jun 14, 2026Agree on B and E, and the one thing I would add is that on exam day watch out for a tweaked version where HR appears as an answer choice, because PMI only routes you there if the conflict involves a policy violation or something you genuinely cannot resolve yourselves.
Grace U.Jun 27, 2026Wanted C first but PMI prefers direct collaborative talks and one on ones.
Luis F.Jun 30, 2026Yeah C is the trap answer for sure, just remember PMI also wants it documented in the issue log first so theres a record before you escalate to face to face.
Zlatan X.Jun 4, 2026B and E are the correct pair here. PMI wants you to address conflict directly and collaboratively at the source, which is exactly what E describes, and B sets up the conditions for that conversation by meeting individually with the affected parties first. C is a trap because airing interpersonal conflict in front of the whole team often makes things worse and destroys psychological safety. D is premature escalation that undermines your authority as the project manager, and A is just avoidance dressed up as focus on delivery. I hit this exact scenario on my exam last spring and almost picked C because it sounded transparent and inclusive. Then I
Orla P.Jun 19, 2026Saw this exact scenario on my exam last month, and B plus E are the ones because PMI wants you meeting with the folks individually first, then bringing them together for a direct collaborative conversation before anything escalates to HR or gets deferred to after the sprint.
Luis F.Jun 21, 2026Yeah B and E showed up on my exam too, the only thing I would add is that the individual meetings in B should be super short, like a quick pulse check, because I totally overthought that part and almost ran out of time on that question.
Luis F.May 25, 2026I'm going with D on this one because when two team members are clashing on both technical and interpersonal levels, that is a volatile mix that can poison the whole team fast. Getting HR involved early prevents it from escalating into something unmanageable, and they have the training to handle interpersonal disputes properly. The question says the conflict is already happening during execution so you need a formal intervention before performance takes a hit. I almost considered B as a second pick but honestly HR is the safer first move here.
Orla P.May 26, 2026B and E are correct here because in PMP land you handle team conflict directly with the involved parties first, not by escalating to HR right out of the gate. D is the trap answer that sounds reasonable in the real world, but the exam wants you to use collaborative problem-solving with the team members and document it in the issue log before jumping to formal escalation.