One of the ways would be to discuss the project with the entire R&D team who are involved in the particular project and make notes or minutes of the meeting. This MoM can be circulated among the people of this team and periodically review the progress and further add in the MoM and re-circulate. This will keep the whole team on the same page.

In my experience, I’ve found that it’s best to identify the root cause of the conflict. At times this means getting both sides of the story from each individual separately. Afterwards we have a meeting with a neutral party and identify the issue and detail steps towards resolution. In addition, having regular check ins or team building activities helps decrease the level of conflict.

Understanding the reasons behind misunderstandings is highly valuable. The causes can vary, and so do the solutions. If the issues are straightforward, they can often be addressed, identified, and resolved in joint meetings. However, if the problems stem from deeper causes, such as strategic ambiguities, group meetings may not be effective. In such cases, resolution may require one-on-one discussions or escalation to a higher level.