During the implementation of a network transformation to improve efficiency and ROI, a conflict develops between the head of the network and the transformation manager. How should the project manager handle this?

The project manager's first step in conflict resolution should always be to understand the root cause and context of the issue. Analyzing the context allows the project manager to gather necessary information, identify underlying problems, and determine the most appropriate resolution strategy. Without this understanding, any attempted solution, such as leading to a compromise, might be ineffective or temporary. While evaluating influence is part of understanding the context, it's not the initial, comprehensive step. Escalating to the sponsor is a last resort, used only after attempts at resolution at the project level have failed or if the conflict is beyond the project manager's authority.