Leadership

Correct Answer: Facilitate a conflict resolution session between those members

The best initial step when dealing with internal team conflicts affecting productivity is to facilitate a conflict resolution session between the disagreeing members. This approach allows you to directly tackle the issue causing disruption without stirring additional resentment or dissatisfaction in the team. The option of ignoring the situation may allow for the problem to escalate, further affecting productivity. Choosing one team member over the other does not resolve the underlying conflict and may lead to favoritism, which in turn can create an unhealthy working environment. Replacing the team members immediately is an extreme measure that should only be considered when all other conflict resolution methods have been tried and failed.

Correct Answer: Utilize a RACI matrix to clearly define roles and responsibilities.

Utilizing a RACI matrix to clearly define roles and responsibilities is the best action because it directly addresses the issue of team members being uncertain about their roles. A RACI matrix helps clarify who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for each task or deliverable. By implementing this tool, you ensure that all team members understand their specific responsibilities, which reduces overlap, prevents tasks from being duplicated, and minimizes delays. The other options may not effectively resolve the root cause of the confusion, which is the lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities.

Correct Answer: Develop a collaborative plan with the team to prioritize tasks, allocate resources efficiently, and identify areas where additional support or adjustments to the project timeline may be needed, while actively listening to team members' concerns and providing regular feedback and recognition.

The most effective leadership approach in this situation would be to develop a collaborative plan with the team. By actively involving team members in prioritizing tasks, allocating resources, and identifying areas where adjustments may be needed, the project manager demonstrates a supportive and empathetic leadership style. This approach helps to address the team's concerns, reduces stress, and fosters a sense of ownership and commitment to the project. A top-down approach that focuses on communicating the importance of meeting deadlines and closely monitoring progress may further increase stress and lead to resentment among team members. Encouraging team members to manage their stress independently fails to address the root causes of the issue and may lead to burnout. While team-building activities can improve morale, they do not directly address the underlying problems of overwork and tight deadlines.