Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Project and Team Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Black Belt notices that two team members consistently disagree during meetings, slowing progress. Which conflict resolution approach is MOST appropriate for a Black Belt to use first?
- Escalate to the project sponsor immediately
- Facilitate a structured dialogue to surface underlying interests (Correct answer)
- Remove one team member from the project
- Ignore the conflict and let it resolve naturally
Correct answer: Facilitate a structured dialogue to surface underlying interests
Facilitating structured dialogue to surface underlying interests addresses root causes of conflict rather than symptoms.
Question 2: Which document formally authorizes a Lean Six Sigma project and grants the Black Belt authority to use organizational resources?
- SIPOC diagram
- Project charter (Correct answer)
- Control plan
- Communication plan
Correct answer: Project charter
The project charter formally authorizes the project and defines scope, goals, timeline, and resource authority.
Question 3: A team member from finance is resistant to process changes because they fear additional workload. Which stakeholder management strategy is BEST?
- Exclude the finance team from change decisions
- Use data to show the change reduces their workload over time (Correct answer)
- Mandate compliance through senior leadership
- Redesign the project to avoid finance involvement
Correct answer: Use data to show the change reduces their workload over time
Using data to address the stakeholder's specific concern (workload) converts resistance by targeting their personal interest.
Question 4: In a RACI matrix, what does the 'C' (Consulted) role mean?
- The person who must approve all decisions
- The person whose input is sought before decisions are made (Correct answer)
- The person who performs the actual work
- The person kept informed after decisions are made
Correct answer: The person whose input is sought before decisions are made
Consulted means two-way communication occurs and input is gathered before decisions or actions are finalized.
Question 5: A Black Belt's project is at risk of missing its deadline due to scope creep. What is the FIRST action to take?
- Request additional budget from the sponsor
- Conduct a scope review with the project charter and negotiate with the sponsor (Correct answer)
- Add more team members immediately
- Reduce quality standards to meet the timeline
Correct answer: Conduct a scope review with the project charter and negotiate with the sponsor
Reviewing scope against the charter and negotiating with the sponsor ensures decisions are made transparently with appropriate authority.
Question 6: Which project management tool is BEST for visualizing task dependencies and critical path in a Six Sigma project?
- Pareto chart
- Gantt chart with network dependencies (Correct answer)
- Box plot
- Spaghetti diagram
Correct answer: Gantt chart with network dependencies
A Gantt chart with network dependencies displays task sequencing, durations, and critical path in a visual timeline format.
Question 7: During a team meeting, one vocal member dominates the discussion and others stay silent. Which facilitation technique BEST addresses this?
- Ask the vocal member to lead all future meetings
- Use structured techniques like round-robin or silent brainstorming (Correct answer)
- Hold separate meetings for quiet team members
- Let the vocal member's ideas drive the project
Correct answer: Use structured techniques like round-robin or silent brainstorming
Structured techniques like round-robin or silent brainstorming equalize participation and surface diverse perspectives.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Project and Team Management 2
A Black Belt notices that two team members consistently disagree during meetings, slowing progress.
Which conflict resolution approach is MOST appropriate for a Black Belt to use first?