Human Resource Management

Correct Answer: Team members are not effectively collaborating and coordinating.

The scenario describes a situation where individual team members are achieving their own goals, but the overall project is still behind. This situation suggests that there is a disconnect in terms of team collaboration and coordination, hence the answer 'Team members are not effectively collaborating and coordinating.' is the most appropriate answer. The other answers can be ruled out for the following reasons: For the answer 'Team members are not skilled enough.' it is mentioned in the question they are achieving their individual goals which implies they have requisite skills. So, their skills are not the real problem. The response 'Goals set for team members are not difficult enough.' doesn't make sense because even if individual goals were made more difficult, that still doesn't guarantee improved collective project progress. The factor of 'Project management tools are inefficient.' could potentially be a cause, but given the information provided, it's less likely than the coordination issue. It's stated that individual goals are being met, suggesting tools may not be the issue.

Correct Answer: Review the project charter and plan, to understand the goals, objectives and plans of the project

The appropriate first step as a new project manager who has just joined a project midway, would be to review the project charter and plan to understand the goals, objectives, and plans of the project. This allows the project manager to gather critical information about the project, understand its scope, current progress and identify possible challenges or areas needing attention. It sets a clear vision for direction moving forward. Requesting upper management to replace the team could be seen as an extreme measure, particularly if the project manager has not yet fully understood the project or the team's strengths and weaknesses. Beginning by assigning tasks immediately to show leadership may result in ineffective outcomes if the manager is not yet fully aware of the project specifics or team abilities. Changing the project plan without discussing it with the team can lead to misunderstanding, miscommunication, and potential opposition from team members. It's vital to involve the team in discussions about significant changes to ensure buy-in and shared understanding.

Correct Answer: Facilitate a discussion between the team members to understand the root cause of the conflict and work towards a mutually acceptable solution.

The best approach is to facilitate a discussion between the conflicting team members to understand the root cause of the issue and work towards a mutually acceptable solution. This allows the project manager to address the problem directly and professionally, while maintaining team unity and productivity. Assigning tasks to minimize interaction between the conflicting members does not address the underlying issue and may hinder collaboration and communication within the team. Holding a team meeting to publicly reprimand the members is unprofessional and can further damage team morale and trust in the project manager's leadership. Removing the conflicting team members from the project should be a last resort, as it may lead to a loss of valuable skills and knowledge, and could be seen as unfair or biased treatment.