Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Safety Assessment Practice Test

What should teams strictly enforce to minimize conflict?

1. Attendance

2. Arguing

3. Goal setting

4. Facilitator selection

The correct answer is: Arguing

The focus on minimizing conflict within teams is best achieved through effective goal setting. This involves establishing clear, common objectives for the team, which helps align everyone’s efforts and reduces misunderstandings or disagreements about priorities. When team members understand the shared goals and are committed to achieving them, they are less likely to engage in arguments or conflicts, as their energies are focused on cooperation and collaboration. While topics like attendance, facilitator selection, and arguing are relevant to team dynamics, they do not directly address the root causes of conflict in the same way goal setting does. Attendance is about being present but does not inherently minimize conflicts; facilitator selection can help manage discussions but is not as proactive as creating shared goals. Arguing is typically a manifestation of conflict, rather than a means to minimize it. Thus, effective goal setting serves as the foundation for team cohesion and minimizes potential conflicts through shared purpose and clarity.