Learn how a risk manager should handle conflict between external stakeholders who overemphasize project risk impacts. Get expert PMI RMP exam advice.
Table of Contents
Question
During a risk reassessment workshop with the project team and some external stakeholders, two key external stakeholders are overemphasizing the impact of a few project risks. This has led to a conflict.
How should the risk manager handle this situation?
A. Request for a skilled facilitator to help resolve conflicts that have arisen.
B. Use the assumption analysis techniques to validate the assumptions.
C. Refer to the team’s ground rules on how to resolve conflicts.
D. Run a sensitivity analysis to check which risks have the most impact.
Answer
C. Refer to the team’s ground rules on how to resolve conflicts.
Explanation
As a risk manager, when faced with a conflict between external stakeholders who are overemphasizing the impact of certain project risks during a risk reassessment workshop, the best approach is to refer back to the ground rules that were established by the team at the beginning of the project on how to resolve conflicts.
Every project should have a set of ground rules that define expected behaviors, communication protocols, decision-making processes, and importantly, methods for resolving conflicts and disagreements that arise. These ground rules are typically documented in the project charter or team operating agreement.
By referring to the agreed upon conflict resolution process, the risk manager demonstrates leadership and professionalism while avoiding taking sides in the disagreement. This allows the discussion to proceed in a constructive manner according to the team’s established norms.
The other answer choices, while relevant, are not the most appropriate initial steps:
A) Requesting a skilled facilitator may eventually be needed if the conflict continues to escalate, but referring to ground rules should be tried first as an initial attempt to resolve the issue within the team. External facilitation is usually a last resort.
B) Assumption analysis is a useful technique for validating assumptions related to risks, but it doesn’t directly address resolving stakeholder conflicts. The immediate priority should be conflict resolution.
D) Sensitivity analysis helps determine which risks have the greatest potential impact, but conducting this analysis won’t necessarily resolve the conflict between the stakeholders. It may even reinforce their disagreement if the risks they are arguing about are shown to be high impact.
In summary, when stakeholders are in conflict about risks, the risk manager should first aim to resolve the disagreement constructively by referring to the conflict resolution protocols captured in the team’s ground rules. Facilitating discussion according to agreed ways of working together is usually the most efficient initial approach.
PMI RMP certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the PMI RMP exam and earn PMI RMP certification.