Study Hall - Module 5 Team Empowerment

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Questions and Answers

A project team is struggling to collaborate, as some members are reluctant to share knowledge due to concerns about losing their competitive edge. This is impacting team synergy, and knowledge silos are forming. What should the project manager do?

Encourage a knowledge-sharing culture by recognizing contributions and promoting team trust. (correct)
Implement mandatory knowledge-sharing sessions to ensure equal contribution.
Assign documentation responsibilities to specific individuals for accountability.
Allow team members to retain their expertise and share only when necessary.

A newly formed agile team is experiencing conflict over decision-making. Some members believe the scrum master should drive decisions, while others argue for team-based consensus. The disagreement is slowing execution. What should the project manager do?

Default to the scrum master's leadership to expedite decision-making.
Clarify roles and facilitate a decision-making framework that balances structure and team autonomy. (correct)
Allow the team to self-organize and determine their own decision-making style.
Request senior leadership to provide a ruling on the decision-making process.

A highly skilled but dominant team member is overpowering discussions, making it difficult for others to contribute. Some members are hesitant to challenge them, leading to one-sided decision-making. What should the project manager do?

Assign decision-making responsibilities to different members.
Implement structured facilitation techniques to ensure all voices are heard. (correct)
Allow the team to adjust naturally and find its own balance.
Privately request the dominant team member to contribute less.

A team in the storming stage is experiencing increased friction due to competing work styles and communication preferences. Some members prefer detailed planning, while others are more adaptive and flexible. What should the project manager do?

Facilitate discussions to align expectations and establish agreed-upon team norms. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A remote project team has become disconnected, leading to low engagement and ineffective brainstorming. Team members rarely contribute ideas, and decision-making has slowed. What should the project manager do?

Introduce structured virtual collaboration techniques to improve engagement. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A long-running project team has started losing momentum, and team members feel less invested in the project goals. Productivity has declined, and motivation is noticeably lower. What should the project manager do?

Reignite engagement by reinforcing the project's impact and celebrating progress. (C) Signup and view all the answers

A team is transitioning to a self-managed structure, but some members are hesitant to take on leadership responsibilities, fearing they lack the experience. This is slowing progress as decisions remain unresolved. What should the project manager do?

Provide leadership coaching and gradual delegation to build confidence. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A high-performing team is about to be restructured, and members are concerned about losing their established dynamic. Some employees resist the changes, fearing a loss of synergy. What should the project manager do?

Facilitate transition planning while preserving key team strengths. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A team lead has noticed growing tension between two key contributors, affecting team morale and project execution. Other team members are starting to take sides, creating a divisive atmosphere. What should the project manager do?

Address the conflict proactively and mediate a resolution strategy. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A project team is entering the adjourning phase, and members are feeling uncertain about their next assignments. Some team members are concerned about job security, which is affecting morale. What should the project manager do?

Provide clarity on career transitions and ensure proper closure of the project. (D) Signup and view all the answers

A project team is transitioning from a directive leadership structure to a self-organizing model. Some members embrace the shift, while others are uncertain about taking ownership of decision-making. Leadership expects the transition to happen smoothly, but progress is slow. What should the project manager do?

Implement structured coaching to gradually develop team confidence in decision-making. (C) Signup and view all the answers

A key stakeholder frequently challenges team decisions, requesting frequent revisions to align with their vision. The team is frustrated with the constant rework, and deadlines are becoming increasingly difficult to meet. What should the project manager do?

Set clear boundaries on stakeholder influence while ensuring concerns are addressed. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A cross-functional project team is composed of members with vastly different experience levels. Senior members feel they should lead decision-making, while newer employees are hesitant to contribute. This imbalance is reducing team cohesion. What should the project manager do?

Encourage equal participation by structuring discussions and reinforcing inclusive decision-making. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A high-performing project team has been assigned an unexpectedly large scope increase without additional resources. Some members express concern about burnout, while others attempt to push forward despite the risks. What should the project manager do?

Assess scope feasibility and negotiate adjustments to balance workload and delivery expectations. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A team experiencing internal conflict is beginning to form alliances, dividing the group into opposing factions. Tension is affecting collaboration, and some members have stopped engaging in discussions. What should the project manager do?

Mediate the situation by identifying the root cause and facilitating constructive discussions. (D) Signup and view all the answers

A remote project team has failed to establish clear expectations on how to escalate concerns. Some members avoid bringing up issues until they become critical, leading to last-minute crises. What should the project manager do?

Develop a structured escalation process that encourages early issue identification. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A company-wide restructuring has left project team members unsure about their future roles, leading to reduced engagement. Some employees are actively seeking external opportunities, while others are hesitant to commit fully to the project. What should the project manager do?

Provide transparency about the transition while reinforcing project continuity. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A team in the performing stage has recently been assigned a new project manager with a different leadership style. Some team members feel disoriented by the shift, and performance has temporarily declined. What should the project manager do?

Adapt leadership strategies to align with the team's established strengths and working style. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A project sponsor has increased their involvement, frequently overriding team decisions without consulting them. While the sponsor's guidance is well-intended, it has lowered team confidence in their own ability to make decisions. What should the project manager do?

Clarify decision-making roles while ensuring the sponsor's input remains constructive. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A team in a high-pressure project has started making shortcuts in documentation and risk tracking to meet deadlines. Some members argue that speed is the priority, while others are concerned about compliance risks. What should the project manager do?

Reinforce risk management while optimizing efficiency to prevent unnecessary delays. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A high-performing team has been assigned a highly ambiguous project, and members are struggling with uncertainty due to lack of clear objectives. Some team members have begun making independent decisions, while others are waiting for leadership guidance. What should the project manager do?

Facilitate a structured planning session to define scope and align expectations. (C) Signup and view all the answers

A recent project success has led leadership to assign the same team to another high-priority initiative, but team members are fatigued from the previous effort. Some are concerned about burnout, while leadership expects continued high performance. What should the project manager do?

Assess workload capacity and propose a phased approach to balance engagement. (D) Signup and view all the answers

A new project manager has taken over a long-running project, and the team is skeptical about changes in leadership. Some members resist new directives, while others are uncertain how their roles will be affected. What should the project manager do?

Build trust by acknowledging previous team efforts while aligning on future goals. (C) Signup and view all the answers

A cross-functional project team is composed of members with competing priorities from different business units. Some are fully committed, while others struggle to balance project work with operational demands. What should the project manager do?

Negotiate workload expectations with stakeholders to ensure project alignment. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A team in the norming stage has started becoming too risk-averse, avoiding innovation in order to maintain stability and predictable execution. Some team members worry that pushing boundaries may lead to mistakes, while others feel growth is stagnating. What should the project manager do?

Encourage responsible experimentation while maintaining project stability. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A newly assigned executive sponsor has requested frequent involvement in project decisions, slowing down execution. Some team members believe the sponsor is interfering too much, while others feel their guidance is valuable. What should the project manager do?

Clarify the sponsor's role and set structured checkpoints for their involvement. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A remote project team has struggled with maintaining alignment, as different members operate at different paces. Some finish tasks early, while others consistently need extensions, causing workflow disruptions. What should the project manager do?

Adjust work distribution while reinforcing realistic time management expectations. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A team lead is reluctant to delegate responsibilities, believing that handling key tasks personally ensures better results. Other team members are disengaged, feeling they lack opportunities to contribute meaningfully. What should the project manager do?

Encourage delegation while reinforcing the benefits of shared ownership. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A conflict between two highly skilled employees is starting to disrupt project progress. While both provide valuable contributions, their inability to collaborate effectively is slowing execution. What should the project manager do?

Mediate the conflict while ensuring both employees remain aligned on objectives. (C) Signup and view all the answers

A team nearing project completion is becoming less engaged, as many members are already focusing on their next assignments. Some are disengaging early, and others are deprioritizing final project tasks. What should the project manager do?

Maintain engagement by reinforcing the importance of project closure activities. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Encourage Knowledge-Sharing

Promote a culture where sharing knowledge is valued and team members trust each other, improving overall team performance.

Clarify Roles and Decision-Making

Establish clear roles and a balanced decision-making framework to resolve conflicts and speed up execution within the team.

Implement Structured Facilitation

Use organized techniques in discussions to make sure everyone has a chance to share their ideas equally.

Facilitate Expectations Alignment

Organize conversations to bring expectations into alignment and agree on standards that the team will follow.