Project Management Professional (PMP)® Examination Content OutlinePeopleMedium
A project manager is leading a new product development project. The team is composed of highly skilled but independent engineers who prefer to work autonomously. The project manager observes that while individual tasks are completed efficiently, interdependencies are often missed, leading to integration issues later in the cycle. What is the MOST effective strategy for the project manager to improve team collaboration and reduce integration risks?
- AImplement a strict daily stand-up meeting requirement for all team members to report progress.
- BAssign a dedicated integration lead to review all individual work and ensure compatibility.
- CProvide training on individual task management and time-blocking techniques to improve personal efficiency.
- DIntroduce a collaborative planning session where team members collectively map out interdependencies and commit to shared outcomes.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Introduce a collaborative planning session where team members collectively map out interdependencies and commit to shared outcomes.
The core issue is a lack of understanding and ownership of interdependencies among independent team members. A collaborative planning session directly addresses this by fostering shared understanding and collective commitment to how their individual pieces fit together.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Daily stand-ups report progress but don't inherently foster a deep understanding or ownership of interdependencies among highly autonomous individuals.
- B. Assigning an integration lead creates another bottleneck and doesn't empower the team to self-organize or take ownership of integration issues themselves.
- C. The problem states individual tasks are completed efficiently, so personal efficiency training would not address the missed interdependencies or collaboration gap.
Lead a Team
The project manager's role in guiding, motivating, and enabling the project team to achieve project objectives, often involving coaching, conflict resolution, and fostering a collaborative environment.
- Involves setting direction and providing support.
- Focuses on maximizing team potential.
- Requires adapting leadership style to team needs.
Memory trick: When solo efforts clash, map out the links as a team.