PMP Practice Questions #44
Samantha, as a project manager, leads a software development team employing an adaptive approach. Lately, the team debates what tasks merit visualization on the kanban board versus those that can be directly undertaken without visualization. This discord disrupts the team’s productivity and concentration. To amicably settle this disagreement and underline the need for clear accountability, what should Samantha do FIRST?
A) Enforce a stringent rule mandating every task, irrespective of its magnitude or significance, to be displayed on the kanban board.
B) Convene a team session to jointly establish guidelines for task visualization on the kanban board, accentuating the essence of clarity and answerability.
C) Propose a guideline suggesting tasks extending beyond a day’s duration should invariably appear on the kanban board for better transparency.
D) Assume the responsibility of managing the kanban board herself, ensuring comprehensive task updates.
Analysis
This question revolves around Samantha, a project manager, leading a software development team using an adaptive approach. The team faces a challenge with deciding which tasks should be visualized on the kanban board. This dilemma is causing disruptions in productivity and focus. The question seeks the most effective first action for Samantha to resolve this disagreement and reinforce clear accountability.
Analysis of Options:
Option A: Enforce a stringent rule mandating every task, irrespective of its magnitude or significance, to be displayed on the kanban board. This option suggests a directive approach by enforcing a strict rule to display every task on the Kanban board. It may appear too rigid and could hamper the team’s flexibility, which is crucial in an adaptive environment.
Option B: Convene a team session to jointly establish guidelines for task visualization on the Kanban board, accentuating the essence of clarity and answerability. This option promotes a collaborative approach. It involves the team in establishing guidelines for task visualization, which can help in reaching a consensus and ensuring clarity in accountability. It fosters team engagement and adherence to mutually agreed principles.
Option C: Propose a guideline suggesting tasks extending beyond a day’s duration should invariably appear on the kanban board for better transparency. It suggests a specific guideline for visualizing tasks based on their duration. While it provides a clear criterion, it might not address all aspects of the team’s confusion and may lack the flexibility needed in an adaptive setting.
Option D: Assume the responsibility of managing the kanban board herself, ensuring comprehensive task updates. This option indicates a centralized approach with the project manager managing the kanban board. It risks creating a bottleneck and undermines the self-organizing principle of the team, reducing their autonomy and engagement.
Conclusion: Considering the need for a solution that balances clarity, accountability, and team autonomy, Option B is the most appropriate. It encourages a collaborative environment where the team can jointly establish guidelines for the kanban board, ensuring clarity in task visualization and maintaining the team’s adaptive approach. This option fosters team ownership and engagement, aligning well with the principles of an empowered, self-organizing team in an adaptive project environment.
PMP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
|---|---|
| People | Task 4 Empower team members and stakeholders |
| People | Task 12 Define team ground rules |
| Process | Task 2 Manage communications |
Topics Covered
- Fostering Empowerment in Team Dynamics
- Establishing Effective Ground Rules
- Manage Communication
- Practicing Servant Leadership
- Utilizing Information Radiators for Transparency
- Optimizing Kanban Board Workflow
