Handle two teams duplicating work

You find out that two separate teams are each tackling the same project — or the same problem — in isolation, unaware that the other is doing the same work. How would you respond?

Explain what you would actually do, step by step, and why: who you would talk to and when, how you would decide what happens to the duplicated effort, how you would settle who owns what going forward, and what you would change so the same overlap does not quietly reappear on the next initiative. Be specific about the trade-offs you would weigh, and say what you would do if you are not able to resolve it yourself.

Assume you may have to work through people you do not manage. The interviewer is interested in your reasoning and judgment, not just your final recommendation — expect follow-up questions that probe the parts of your answer you leave vague.

Interview Notes

This is a behavioral leadership question. It is used to assess how you communicate across teams, align stakeholders, prioritize competing workstreams, and resolve conflict. What counts as a strong response is collaboration, ownership, and sound judgment.