Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict between business and technical teams
Theme: Conflict Resolution Role: Business Analyst Function: Technology
Interview Question for Business Analyst: See sample answers, motivations & red flags for this common interview question. About Business Analyst: Analyze business processes and requirements to propose technology solutions. 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 Conflict Resolution with the key points that need to be covered in an effective response. Customize this to your own experience with concrete examples and evidence
- Conflict between business & technical teams: Provide a brief overview of the conflict and the teams involved
- Understanding the perspectives: Explain how you sought to understand the concerns and motivations of both teams
- Facilitating communication: Describe how you facilitated open and effective communication between the teams
- Identifying common goals: Discuss how you identified common goals and areas of agreement between the teams
- Finding a compromise: Explain how you worked towards finding a compromise that addressed the concerns of both teams
- Implementing the solution: Describe how you implemented the agreed-upon solution and monitored its effectiveness
- Lessons learned: Reflect on the experience and highlight any lessons learned or improvements made for future conflicts
Underlying Motivations
What the Interviewer is trying to find out about you and your experiences through this question
- Conflict resolution skills: Assessing my ability to handle conflicts between business and technical teams
- Collaboration skills: Evaluating my capability to work effectively with different teams
- Communication skills: Understanding how well I can bridge the gap between business and technical teams
- Problem-solving skills: Determining my approach to finding solutions in challenging situations
Potential Minefields
How to avoid some common minefields when answering this question in order to not raise any red flags
- Blaming: Avoid blaming either the business or technical team for the conflict. Instead, focus on finding a solution and promoting collaboration
- Lack of Communication: Do not highlight a situation where the conflict arose due to poor communication between the teams. It may indicate a lack of interpersonal skills
- Inflexibility: Avoid mentioning instances where you were inflexible or unwilling to compromise. It may raise concerns about your ability to adapt and work in a team
- Lack of Problem-Solving Skills: Do not share a story where you were unable to effectively resolve the conflict or failed to find a satisfactory solution