* According to the PMBOK Guide, 6th edition, section 9.4.2.3, the project manager should use conflict management techniques to resolve conflicts among team members and stakeholders.3
* Some of the conflict management techniques are: problem solving, compromising, smoothing, forcing, and withdrawing.3
* In this scenario, the project manager has tried problem solving (holding a meeting to work out a permanent solution) and compromising (asking them to find a way to resolve the issues), but these techniques were unsuccessful.4
* The project manager should not use smoothing (emphasizing areas of agreement and avoiding areas of disagreement), forcing (imposing a solution), or withdrawing (avoiding or postponing the conflict), as these techniques may not address the root cause of the conflict or may worsen the situation.4
* Therefore, the project manager should escalate the issue to a higher authority, such as the functional manager, the sponsor, or the steering committee, who have more power and influence in a weak matrix environment.4
* Escalating the issue to a higher authority may help to resolve the conflict, protect the project objectives, and maintain the team performance and morale.4 The references for this answer are:
1: PMP Exam Questions | 100% Free PMP Example Questions 2: PMP Practice Exam 1 | Free PMP Exam Questions 3: PMBOK Guide, 6th edition, Project Management Institute, 2017, pp. 349-350. 4: [Conflict Management Techniques for the PMP Exam - PM Study Circle] : [PMP Exam Prep: Project Human Resource Management - Simplilearn]