PCC Conflict Resolution & Negotiation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project controls manager discovers that the schedule baseline was set unrealistically by the client, causing ongoing disputes with the contractor. Which negotiation approach best addresses this structural conflict?
- Ignore the baseline discrepancy and focus on current milestones
- Conduct an interest-based negotiation to revise the baseline collaboratively (Correct answer)
- Escalate to legal counsel immediately
- Issue a unilateral schedule update without client approval
Correct answer: Conduct an interest-based negotiation to revise the baseline collaboratively
Interest-based negotiation focuses on underlying needs rather than positions, enabling collaborative baseline revision that both parties accept.
Question 2: During a project post-mortem, team members blame each other for cost overruns. Which conflict resolution technique should the project controls lead apply first?
- Forcing a single root cause on one party
- Facilitating a structured root cause analysis using objective data (Correct answer)
- Deferring the discussion to the next project
- Dismissing the claims as unproductive
Correct answer: Facilitating a structured root cause analysis using objective data
A structured root cause analysis using objective data depersonalizes the conflict and moves the team toward fact-based resolution.
Question 3: In a fixed-price contract dispute, the contractor claims scope creep while the owner denies any changes were made. What document is the MOST critical evidence in this negotiation?
- The original contract schedule
- The approved change order log and scope baseline (Correct answer)
- The contractor's internal cost tracking spreadsheet
- Meeting minutes from kickoff only
Correct answer: The approved change order log and scope baseline
The approved change order log and scope baseline provide the authoritative record of what was agreed and any authorized modifications.
Question 4: A project controls specialist uses the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument. Which mode involves low assertiveness and high cooperativeness, often used to preserve relationships at the expense of project goals?
- Competing
- Compromising
- Accommodating (Correct answer)
- Collaborating
Correct answer: Accommodating
Accommodating prioritizes the other party's concerns over one's own, which can preserve relationships but may sacrifice project objectives.
Question 5: Two subcontractors are competing for the same limited crane resource, causing schedule conflicts. The project controls manager resolves this by allocating crane time based on critical path priority. This is an example of which conflict resolution approach?
- Avoidance
- Compromise
- Forcing based on objective criteria (Correct answer)
- Smoothing
Correct answer: Forcing based on objective criteria
Using critical path priority as an objective criterion to allocate resources is a form of principled forcing that relies on project logic rather than power.
Question 6: A BATNA in project negotiations refers to:
- The best achievable time-and-cost neutral agreement
- The fallback position a party will accept if no deal is reached (Correct answer)
- A bilateral agreement to terminate a negotiation
- A budget allocation technique for negotiations
Correct answer: The fallback position a party will accept if no deal is reached
BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) defines the minimum acceptable outcome a party will accept before walking away from negotiations.
Question 7: A project controls manager is mediating a dispute between the design team and construction team over drawing release dates. Which behavior should the mediator avoid?
- Summarizing each party's position
- Taking sides and advocating for one party's solution (Correct answer)
- Identifying shared interests between parties
- Keeping discussions focused on project objectives
Correct answer: Taking sides and advocating for one party's solution
A mediator must remain neutral; advocating for one party destroys impartiality and undermines the mediation process.
PCC Conflict Resolution & Negotiation 2
A project controls manager discovers that the schedule baseline was set unrealistically by the client, causing ongoing disputes with the contractor.
Which negotiation approach best addresses this structural conflict?