Some stakeholders missed the session to validate the project's alignment with organizational strategy and expected business value, so their input wasn't collected and conflicts arose in decision-making. What should the project manager do first to resolve this?

The first step in conflict resolution is always to acknowledge that a conflict exists and to understand its nature and underlying causes. This involves active listening and gathering information from all parties involved to grasp their perspectives and concerns. Without this initial understanding, any attempt to resolve the conflict would be premature and likely ineffective. Rescheduling the session (B) might be a subsequent step, but it doesn't address the immediate conflict that has already arisen. Using risk assessment techniques (C) is a proactive planning tool, not a direct conflict resolution step. Listing alternative courses of action (D) is part of developing solutions, which comes after understanding the conflict.