Can you provide an example of a project where you had to manage multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities?
Theme: Stakeholder Management, Conflict Management Role: Technical Project Manager Function: Technology
Interview Question for Technical Project Manager: See sample answers, motivations & red flags for this common interview question. About Technical Project Manager: Manage technology projects from inception to completion. This role falls within the Technology function of a firm. See other interview questions & further information for this role here
Sample Answer
Example response for question delving into Stakeholder Management, Conflict Management with the key points that need to be covered in an effective response. Customize this to your own experience with concrete examples and evidence
- Project Overview: Provide a brief overview of the project, including its objectives, scope, and duration
- Stakeholder Identification: Identify the key stakeholders involved in the project and their respective roles and responsibilities
- Conflicting Priorities: Explain the conflicting priorities among the stakeholders, highlighting the specific areas of disagreement or conflicting interests
- Communication & Alignment: Describe the strategies and techniques used to communicate with and align the stakeholders, ensuring their concerns and priorities were understood
- Negotiation & Compromise: Discuss the approach taken to negotiate and find compromises among the stakeholders, balancing their conflicting priorities
- Conflict Resolution: Explain any conflicts that arose during the project and how they were resolved, including any escalation processes or interventions used
- Successful Outcome: Highlight the successful outcome achieved by effectively managing the multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities, such as delivering the project on time and within budget
- Lessons Learned: Share any lessons learned from this experience, including any improvements or adjustments made to stakeholder management strategies for future projects
Underlying Motivations
What the Interviewer is trying to find out about you and your experiences through this question
- Conflict resolution skills: The interviewer wants to assess your ability to handle conflicting priorities and manage multiple stakeholders effectively
- Communication skills: The interviewer wants to gauge your communication skills in managing and aligning stakeholders with different priorities
- Problem-solving skills: The interviewer wants to understand your approach to resolving conflicts and finding solutions that satisfy all stakeholders
Potential Minefields
How to avoid some common minefields when answering this question in order to not raise any red flags
- Lack of specific example: Not providing a specific project where multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities were managed
- Inability to handle conflict: Demonstrating difficulty in managing conflicting priorities and resolving conflicts among stakeholders
- Lack of communication skills: Failing to highlight effective communication strategies used to manage multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities
- Lack of adaptability: Not showcasing the ability to adapt and find solutions when faced with conflicting priorities from stakeholders