I went straight to 'set up a meeting and align' which felt too safe in hindsight.
Show that you prioritize the company's goals over team silos by first understanding the root cause of the duplication, then facilitating a collaborative resolution that leverages both teams' work. Emphasize transparent communication, data-driven decision-making, and a blameless approach to avoid conflict.
Pro tip: Frame the situation as an opportunity to improve cross-team collaboration processes, not just a one-time fix. Mention that you would document lessons learned to prevent future duplication, showing you think systemically.
Gather facts about what each team is building, their goals, timelines, and why the duplication occurred. Avoid making assumptions or assigning blame.
Evaluate the cost of duplication (effort, resources, technical debt) and identify possible resolutions: merge efforts, split scope, or choose one solution. Consider technical and strategic factors.
Bring both teams together (or their leads) to share findings and discuss options transparently. Focus on the best outcome for the company, not team ownership.
Drive consensus on a single approach, define clear ownership and next steps, and ensure communication to stakeholders. Offer to help coordinate if needed.
Propose process improvements such as better cross-team visibility, regular syncs, or shared roadmaps. Document and share lessons learned.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.