Mock Exam 2023

As with predictive project teams, agile teams may work in a collocated or geographically distributed fashion. Which of the following least helps a virtual team work effectively?

Elimination of chairs in daily standup conference areas People - Task 11 - Virtual Teams Daily standup conference areas typically do not have chairs for sitting by design, so that the attendees don't get too comfortable and the meetings run quickly, but this more directly impacts collocated teams, not virtual teams. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.3.7 Overcoming Organizational Silos/p. 47

Which of the following skills will best help agile team members adapt and respond well to changes in product direction and technical changes?

Emotional intelligence People - Task 14 - Emotional Intelligence All team members should work to exhibit initiative, integrity, emotional intelligence, honesty, collaboration, humility and willingness to communicate in various ways so that the team can work well together. These skills will increase the likelihood of team success. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.2.1 Servant Leader Responsibilities/Interpersonal Skills Versus Technical Skills/p. 36

When building an agile team, which concept should be least considered?

Ensure a strong project manager is assigned for decisions and coordination People - Task 6 - Build a Team Agile coaches are not decision makers and do not coordinate the work. Instead, they are focused on building projects around motivated individuals, providing a supportive environment, and trusting the team to meet project deadlines. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/Figure 2-2. The Twelve Principles Behind the Agile Manifesto/Number 5/p. 9

A project has the following characteristics: It is in the planning stage; A key stakeholder will be unavailable for 2.5 weeks during the project. The project manager must decide what to do first, after learning about the key stakeholder's unavailability. What is the correct step to take?

Ensure that the issue log is updated and inform the other stakeholders. Process - Task 15 - Manage Issues The first thing the project manager needs to do is to capture this as an issue and communicate this to the other stakeholders. Until then, no action can or should be taken. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.3.3.3 Issue Log/p. 96

A previously identified technical issue has been resolved and the project is moving forward. The project manager has been warned that the same issue will probably arise on similar projects in the future. What should be done first when responding to this warning?

Ensure that the issue log is updated. Process - Task 15 - Manage Issues The issue log will help the project manager effectively track and manage issues, ensuring that they are investigated and resolved. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4. Project Integration Management /4.3.3.3 Issue Log/p. 96

A product passes 96% percent of the functional requirements defined in the scope. A customer is unwilling to accept the product since it did not pass 100%. A project manager is assessing what could have been done differently to avoid this. What should the project manager have done?

Ensured that the quality metrics were defined Process - Task 7 - Manage Quality Quality metrics are a description of a project or product attribute and how to measure it. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/8.1.3.2 Quality Metrics/p. 287

When working as a project manager there are many things around you that can impact the project's ability to be successful, including the corporate culture, infrastructure, marketplace conditions, the number and type of resources available, workplace attitudes, etc. These are referred to as which of the following?

Enterprise environmental factors Business Environment - Task 3 - Evaluate Scope Changes The question lists just a few of the many enterprise environmental factors listed in the PMBOK Guide. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/2.2 Enterprise Environmental Factors/pp. 38-39

A project manager is uncertain about the duration of a new product development project and consults several groups of subject matter experts (SMEs). They advise that the fastest development could possibly be finished is in 8 days. However, they have also identified some risks that could make the duration up to 32 days. Realistically, using standard development methods, the project should take 14 days. The team agrees that this final estimate is the most likely to occur and should be weighted accordingly. What is the estimated development duration for the new product?

16 Process - Task 5 - Manage Budget and Resources Using the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) method of three-point estimating, the formula is (Optimistic + (4 X Most Likely) + Pessimistic)/6 = (8 + (4*14) + 32)/6 = 16 days. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/7.2.2.5 Three-Point Estimating/p. 245

What is the ideal size of an effective agile team?

3 - 9 members People - Task 6 - Build a Team In practice, the most effective team size is 3 - 9 members. Answer D is partly true but A is the best answer. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.3.1 Agile Teams/p. 39

A project is being planned in a remote area with limited access to vehicles and equipment. The project manager proposes that the company deliver all heavy equipment themselves despite the significant expense. The project manager will take full responsibility for this activity. What type of risk response is the project manager demonstrating?

Accept Process - Task 3 - Manage Risks Risk acceptance is a risk response strategy whereby the project team decides to acknowledge the risk and not take any action unless the risk occurs. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/11.5.2.4 Strategies for Threats/p. 443

Which of the following process(es) best describes why agile is ideal for planning and managing compliance?

Adaptive planning, focus on continuous improvement, and flexibility Business Environment - Task 1 - Manage Compliance Due to the of focus agile on quick delivery of business value through short, timeboxed iterations, the agile team is planning frequently. This allows the team to flex quickly due to any new laws or regulations that may be implemented and adapt accordingly. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/X3.2.2 Continuous Overlapping Phases/p. 668

During a retrospective, your team determines the most of their impediments stem from a single stakeholder who is abusing their authority. The project lead notes this particular stakeholder has never been fond of this project and has been very vocal about it being a bad decision on the sponsor. He also states this will lead the company in the wrong strategic direction. How could this have been avoided?

After conducting an analysis, determined their engagement and build a relationship with the stakeholder to get their buy-in People - Task 9 - Collaborate with Stakeholders By assessing their power, interest, and impact the project manager could then determine the appropriate engagement level required by the stakeholder. Then they must effectively engage them according to the stakeholder engagement plan and communication management plan. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/13.1.2.3

For a software development project, which project life cycle/methodology lends itself best to a mutual understanding of requirements between customers/end users and the project team?

Agile People - Task 10 - Build Shared Understanding When working on a software project, agile is the most often preferred life cycle approach. This allows the team autonomy to self-create and direct, as well as work directly with the customer or end user on the final product outcome. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/3.1 Characteristics of Project Life Cycles/Agile Life Cycles/p. 19

Cost of Quality is defined as?

All costs over the life of the project associated with quality and divided into two categories, conformance, and nonconformance Process - Task 7 - Manage Quality Money spent to avoid failures is the Cost of Conformance, while money spent addressing failures is the Cost of Non Conformance. Expected monetary value can be used to calculate conformance and non-conformance costs; however, it is a quantitative calculation, not a qualitative one. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/8.1.2.3 Data Analysis/Cost of Quality/p. 282

You are an agile coach in an organization that is starting to implement agile. What can be done to ease the transition to agile while beginning to satisfy certain aspects of the organization's current project management governance model?

Alter your project reporting to fit governance expectations Process - Task 14 - Establish Governance As an agile coach, you could alter your agile friendly information (burn up or burn down charts) to the required format (for example, a Gantt chart). Additionally, you could use story points, burn rate, and actual costs to provide earned value metrics. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/1.2.6.4 Project Success Measures/p. 34

Your company's Human Resources department wants to create a new web front end to its benefits system to enable all employees to register for health insurance and other benefits for the upcoming new calendar year. Since the technology is fairly new to the company and time is short, management wants to run the project in an agile fashion, since running it in a predictive fashion will take too long and will miss the registration deadline by several weeks. As the assigned project manager, you are familiar with agile but most of your team is not. Management wants the project completed in 3 weeks, and you have 6 weeks between now and the project deadline. What should you do next?

Arrange for formal agile training for all team members People - Task 5 - Ensure Team is Trained While answer B is a component of servant leadership and will almost certainly be needed for his project, the best thing to do next is arrange for formal agile training for the team. Answer A is likely to be more expensive, and should only be done as a last resort (e.g., you can't get the agile training done in the time available before the project must start). Answer C isn't a viable option because it will miss the enrollment deadline by several weeks. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/3.3 Factors that Influence Tailoring/Table 3-2 Tailoring Options to Improve Fit/p. 32

A project manager needs to ensure that all data security requirements are covered during a data warehouse development project's execution stage. Each of the databases created during different project phases will have a specific data security policy to comply with governmental data security laws. How should the project manager plan to meet these requirements?

Arrange for review of the data security status on a quarterly basis, and recommend remedial steps if noncompliance is found. Business Environment - Task 1 - Manage Compliance The project review is the best opportunity to formally review compliance. These reviews should be scheduled quarterly or at significant milestones. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) 8. Project Quality Management /Tailoring Considerations/p. 276. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/8. Project Quality Management/8.3.1.6 Enterprise Environmental Factors/p. 301

You have just been informed that you have been selected as the new project manager for the XYZ Widget project, which is on a very tight schedule. You recall that previous projects for this customer did not go as smoothly as planned with respect to both the budget and schedule so there is a lot of pressure to meet expectations on this new project. Which of the following should you do first?

Ask for a copy of the project charter so you can review who the major stakeholders are, what the high level budget, schedule, and requirements are and verify your authority as the project manager Process - Task 9 - Integrate Planning A project is not officially authorized until the project charter has been created, so no other activities should be started until it has been created. Since you have already been identified as the new project manager, the project charter has already been created. The scope statement would not be created until after you have defined all of the requirements. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.1.3.1 Project Charter/p. 81

A project manager is working on a software development project. Two customers are repeatedly submitting new feature requests. The completed scope definition for the product's next version release has already been provided to stakeholders. What should the project manager do next?

Assess the scope management plan and iterate it through the scope definition process. Process - Task 8 - Manage Scope The scope management plan is needed to help control the scope of the project. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/5.6 Control Scope/p. 167

Which of the following is not included in configuration management?

Automatic change request approvals Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes Change requests are not and should not be automatically approved. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.6.2.2 Change Control Tools/pp. 118-119

A company has a goal of increasing customer satisfaction within 4 months. A project is initiated to meet this goal. The project manager needs to identify best practices. What should the project manager utilize to accomplish this?

Benchmarking Process - Task 7 - Manage Quality Benchmarking involves comparing actual or planned products, processes, and practices to those of comparable organizations to identify best practices, generate ideas for improvement, and provide a basis for measuring performance. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/8.1.2.2 Data Gathering/Benchmarking/p. 281

You are in the planning stages of a project to build a shopping mall in a small community in a nearby town. You have used bottom-up estimating to determine costs for each activity and have created a cost baseline. Which of the following statements is true?

Bottom-up estimating is the most labor intensive and is more accurate than parametric estimating. Process - Task 5 - Manage Budget and Resources Bottom-up estimating takes the most time but is the most accurate since it aggregates the cost of every activity. There is no such thing as a budget performance baseline. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/6.4.2.5 Bottom-up Estimating/p. 202

A client's employee asks the project manager for an additional, new product feature during a status meeting. To what document should the project manager first refer to find out who has the authority to approve this request?

Change management plan Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes The change management plan describes the process for submitting, evaluating and implementing changes to the project. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.2.3.1 Project Management Plan/p. 88

Which of the following is a leadership tool an agile coach would utilize to improve team performance?

Coaching People - Task 3 - Support Team Performance The benefits of coaching include, but are not limited to, improving team performance, increasing personal and professional development, and enhancing self-awareness. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.2 Servant Leadership Empowers the Team/pp. 33-34

A project manager is faced with two team members who have a conflicting view of how the work on the project should be done. The project manager sits down with the two team members and calmly discusses the options and benefits of each method. At the end of the meeting, they come up with a solution that both agree to. This is an example of what?

Collaborating People - Task 1 - Manage Conflict This is an example of collaborating, also known as problem solving. With collaborating you discuss all options and work through the problem. With compromise you meet in the middle without much real discussion. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/9.5.2.1 Interpersonal and Team Skills/Conflict Management/pp. 348-349

A project was not meeting scheduled dates for some tasks, so the project manager reprioritized a number of subsequent tasks to try to get the project back on track. The reprioritization did not fix the problem and now the project manager needs to escalate the issue to project stakeholders. To escalate the issue, to which plan should the project manager refer?

Communications management plan Process - Task 2 - Manage Communications The communications management plan is developed to ensure that the appropriate messages are communicated to stakeholders in various formats and various means as defined by the communication strategy. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/10.1.3.1 Communications Management Plan/p. 377

A project has the following need: 900 resource hours must be outsourced. Because of internal policies, all providers must comprehend the requirements. Which action should the project manager take to ensure this?

Conduct a bidder conference with the providers. Process - Task 11 - Manage Procurement A bidder conference is a meeting between the buyer and prospective sellers prior to proposal submittal. They are used to ensure that all prospective bidders have a clear and common understanding of the procurement and no bidders receive preferential treatment. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/12.2.2.3 Bidder Conferences/p. 487

A project is in the execution stage. Three necessary changes are brought to the attention of the team. The team members all have differing opinions regarding how to implement the changes. What should the project manager do?

Confirm that all team members and stakeholders understand and follow the change management plan. Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes The team and project manager must follow the documented and agreed upon change management processes. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.2.3.1 Project Management Plan/Additional Components/p. 88; 3. The Role of The Project Manager/3.1 Overview/p. 51

Which of the following best describes Level 3 conflict?

Individuals are more focused on winning than resolving the problem. People - Task 1 - Manage Conflict When at conflict Level 3 - Contest, winning becomes more important than resolving the issue at hand. Over generalizations are made and individuals focus on blaming one another. Coaching Agile Teams (2010) Addison-Wesley Signature Series/Cohn/Figure 9-1

Your team is 50% done with the creation of your bank application. You have been using an adaptive methodology and have a prioritized backlog. The team wants to improve their performance on cost objectives. What is the best way to do this?

Conduct a retrospective People - Task 3 - Support Team Performance A retrospective is used to identify what the team can improve during the upcoming sprint. Collecting lessons learned will document what went wrong, but it is planning improvements for the next iteration of work. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/5.2.1 Retrospectives/p. 50

During a project that is 75% complete you realize team members are starting to become complacent with the collection of information and timeliness of reports. The burndown chart shows that you will most likely be a few story points shy of finishing all 86 as projected. How should you proceed?

Conduct a review of the team charter with the team and verify the integrity of the data People - Task 6 - Build a Team Complacency can be found on any team especially towards the end of a project. Reminding the team of the importance alone does nothing to fix complacency. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/9.1.3.2 Team Charter/pp. 319-320

While completing your schedule model maintenance a team member informs you a stakeholder from another department has stopped sending updates, showing up to meetings, and has begun speaking negatively about the project openly. Based on the stakeholder's position and responsibilities, it is beginning to take a heavy toll on the project. What could the project manager have done to prevent this?

Conducted a stakeholder analysis and monitored stakeholder engagement Process - Task 4 - Engage Stakeholders A stakeholder analysis would have identified their power, interest, and/or influence on the project allowing the project manager to determine the proper engagement level. Monitoring the stakeholder's engagement would have increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the engagement strategies, which are generally determined, in part, by the engagement level of stakeholders. Documenting the stakeholder on the risk register would be more reactionary. The communication management plan is the wrong document use here. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/13.4 Monitor Stakeholder Engagement/p. 530; 13.4.2.1 Stakeholder Analysis/p. 533

During user testing, a client agrees to the final product. One day later the client indicates that the final product may not be acceptable. What should be the first step taken by the project manager for resolving this issue?

Consult the project's acceptance criteria. Process - Task 8 - Manage Scope The definition of acceptance criteria may significantly increase or decrease quality costs and, therefore, project costs. Satisfying all acceptance criteria implies the needs of the stakeholders have been met. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/5.3.3.1 Project Scope Statement/p. 154

You have just been identified as the project manager for a new project within your organization. You have a team with varying experiences and is also riddled with conflict. As the project manager, how should you proceed?

Determine the best approach and have the team create a team charter People - Task 2 - Lead a Team The team charter is created with the team and never for the team. As a new project manager, this is a good way to include the team in the process and will also serve as a team-building event. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/9.1.3.2 Team Charter/p. 319

Which of the following activities would not take place during the close of an agile project?

Create open issue and risk report Process - Task 17 - Manage Closure Creating a list of open issues and risks would not take place during the close of an agile project. However, it should be noted that answers A, B, and C would all be performed at the end of an agile project. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.7.3 Close Project or Phase: Outputs/p. 127

Which of the following is not considered a servant leader responsibility?

Creating the project development approach and processes People - Task 5 - Ensure Team is Trained Servant leadership does not encompass creating the project development approach or processes. However, a few of the responsibilities of a servant leader are: (1) educating stakeholders on the benefits of agile; (2) provide coaching, mentoring, and support; and (3) assisting by performing the technical aspects of project management. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.2.1.4 Consider These Servant Leadership Responsibilities/p. 36

According to agile principle # 4, how often should business people and agile teams work together?

Daily People - Task 9 - Collaborate with Stakeholders According to agile principle number four, business people and developers must work together daily. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/2.2 The Agile Manifesto and Mindset/p. 9

You work for Dream Homes Construction as a project manager and the company has just been awarded a contract to work on a $1.4 million home. After planning is complete the sponsor tells you she wants a profit of $250k from this project. You conduct a quick review of the budget and note this is achievable, but the budget will be tight. What mechanisms could you put in place to measure cost performance?

Earned Value Analysis Process - Task 1 - Deliver Business Value Earned value analysis (EVA) is commonly use to compare actual results to the performance measurement baseline to determine if a change, corrective action, or preventive action is required to maintain planned value. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/7.3 Control Costs/p. 259

You are collecting requirements from all stakeholders during a planning meeting when stakeholders start having conflicting requirements. During the meeting tensions began to rise and people become disruptive to the meeting. The project manager decided to end the meeting earlier than scheduled to maintain relationships. The meeting was rescheduled for the next business day. What is the best way to proceed?

Establish ground rules, then use an affinity diagram to collect requirements followed by discrete voting applications People - Task 10 - Build Shared Understanding Establishing ground rules is a good practice, but without enforcement they are useless. Brainstorming could lead to the same results even with ground rules. Monte Carlo is a software application that calculates probability. An affinity diagram can be used as a silent information gathering technique that can be used with silent voting to prioritize requirements. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/5.2.2.5 Data Representation/Affinity Diagrams/p. 144

A project is completed, but the project manager and project team members are being asked to do the following: Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues, evaluate new requirements, make minor adjustments. The project manager needs to ensure that the product developed by the project now has operational support. What should the project manager do?

Execute the project hand-off. Process - Task 17 - Manage Closure At project close, the final product, service, or result can be transitioned to a production support team. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.7.3.2 Final Product, Service or Result Transition/p. 127

You are a project manager of a project close to completing the delivery of the final product when an important stakeholder contacts you about a requirement that seems to be missing from the project scope. You schedule a meeting with them to discuss the specifics of the requirement and the possible options for handling it. During the meeting, the conversation becomes somewhat heated when the stakeholder demands to know when the requirement will be completed. What is the ideal way to handle this situation?

Explain that any details on whether the requirement is approved or might be completed would be made by the Change Control Board (CCB) and assist them in completing a change request. People - Task 10 - Build Shared Understanding The Change Control Board (CCB) must review and approve all change requests. Explaining this fact and then assisting with the completion of the change request is the best way to handle this. The technique of smoothing does not involve examining alternatives and is not win-win. Withdrawing during a conflict is never the best option. Agreeing to personally handle the request and to ensure it's completed as soon as possible sets an unrealistic expectation that it is already approved. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.5 Perform Integrated Change Control/p. 115

Your organization recently decided to change from a predictive methodology to agile. During a budget meeting, a colleague does not understand why we have to use this new approach and terminology. They state they will continue to use old definitions and terms to maintain clear communication. As a project manager, what should you do?

Explain the new terminology reminds team members to use the new methodology and promotes change Business Environment - Task 4 - Support Org Change When companies do not change their definitions they are more likely to revert to the old ways of doing things. The agile terminology enforces change, but it must be enforced by the leadership. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/Table X2-1 Tailoring Considerations/p. 123

Project team members are spending a lot of time helping maintenance and operations staff with a recently commissioned project component. The project manager needs to validate that the component was signed off and ownership transferred. Which three documents should the project manager use for this decision?

Final report, project document updates, and organizational process assets updates Process - Task 17 - Manage Closure When closing the project, the project manager reviews the project management plan to ensure that all project work is completed and that the project has met its objectives. The project documents are updated accordingly. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.7.3 Close Project or Phase: Outputs/pp. 127-128

You are managing the implementation of new accounting software at your company. Two of your stakeholders have a disagreement as to when to do the kickoff meeting. One wants to do it before planning begins and the other wants to do it at the end of planning. One stakeholder is senior to the other, however, and so she insists that it will be done at the beginning, and closes the issue. This is best described as which of the following?

Force/Direct People - Task 1 - Manage Conflict Here, the more senior stakeholder used forcing to get what she wanted. Forcing is a win-lose situation because one person gets everything he or she wants, and the other person gets none of what he or she wants. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/9.5.2.1 Interpersonal and Team Skills/Conflict Management/pp. 348-349

A project team has set up an unofficial online communications platform to enhance communication. The project manager was not aware that this platform existed until recently, after learning that it was being used inappropriately. Which action should the project manager take?

Have the project team stop using the platform, and then review the communications management plan. Process - Task 2 - Manage Communications Since this platform was not part of the original communications plan, it should not be used. The project manager needs to refer the team members back to the approved project communications plan. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/10.1.3.1 Communications Management Plan/p. 377

A project is 7 months into execution. The project manager determines that the cost performance index (CPI) is .80. According to a trend analysis, the CPI has a downward trend. What is the next step that the project manager should take?

Issue a change request for cost re-baselining. Process - Task 5 - Manage Budget and Resources Since the project is over budget and the trend analysis show that will continue, the best course of action is to re-baseline the cost of the project and manage to that. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/7.3.3.1 Cost Baseline/p. 254

A project is in the development stage. During this stage, there will be sensitive client data to handle. The compliance manager raises an issue of project non-compliance. What is the first document the project manager should review?

Issue log Process - Task 15 - Manage Issues After a new issue is raised, the issue log should be reviewed prior to taking action. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.3.3.3 Issue Log/p. 96

What is the main purpose of the work breakdown structure (WBS) dictionary?

It contains additional information about each work breakdown structure (WBS) component Process - Task 8 - Manage Scope The main purpose of the work breakdown structure (WBS) dictionary is to store additional information about each work breakdown structure (WBS) component. This can include things like work package name, ID, responsible organization, schedule milestones, quality requirements, cost estimates, required resources, code of accounts identifier, etc. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/5.4.3.1 Scope Baseline/WBS Dictionary/p. 162

In agile, what is the most important reason to build, test, and review small increments?

It evaluates and delivers continuous benefits and value Business Environment - Task 2 - Evaluate/ Deliver Benefits By building, testing, and reviewing small increments, business value is evaluated and delivered continuously. The first agile principle is about delivering business value early and continuously. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/2.2 The Agile Manifesto and Mindset/p. 8; 2.4 Uncertainty, Risk, and Life Cycle Selection/p. 16

When protecting one's own group becomes a primary focus, what level of conflict do you need to navigate through?

Level 4 - Crusade People - Task 1 - Manage Conflict When conflict is considered level 4 (crusade), the focus is no longer on resolving the issue. Instead, the parties involved take sides and are focused on protecting their group. Coaching Agile Teams (2010)Addison-Wesley Signature Series/Cohn/Figure 9-1

In agile, which of the following is not considered essential when negotiating agreements?

Locking in contractual positions as quickly as possible People - Task 8 - Negotiate Agreements In an agile context, it is considered best practice, when negotiating, to avoid locking in to contractual positions prematurely. Answers A, B, and D are all important when negotiating during agile projects. One of the four values of the Agile Manifesto is "customer collaboration over contract negotiation." The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/2.2 The Agile Manifesto and Mindset /p. 8

As an agile coach, what would you not do to improve team empowerment?

Make overarching project decisions based on team input People - Task 4 - Empower Team As an agile coach, you do not make decisions for the team. Decisions are obtained from the self-directed agile team. As an agile coach, to improve team empowerment, you would mentor team members, encourage them to take responsibility for the work to be performed, and utilize coaching opportunities to improve team performance. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.2 Servant Leadership Empowers the Team/p. 33

Which of the following is not considered a servant leader's responsibility when mentoring?

Making the best decisions for the project team People - Task 13 - Mentor Stakeholders Making the best decisions for the project team is not a servant leadership responsibility. Agile teams are self-directing and make their own decisions. Answers A, B, and C are all responsibilities of a servant leader. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.2 Servant Leadership Empowers the Team /pp. 33-34

You are managing a project that will move your company's data to a new state-of-the-art data center. The biggest risk your team has identified is the risk of losing important customer records data during the move. Fortunately, most of the data is also stored on paper forms. However the cost to input the records would be very high. To address this risk you create a backup of the entire customer database as of last week, and purchase an insurance policy to pay for the cost to input data for the past 7 days. Which types of risk response strategies are you using?

Mitigate and transfer Process - Task 3 - Manage Risks Creating a backup of the data is an example of mitigation. Mitigation in this context is a plan you'll implement if things go wrong, to make sure the impact is minimized. The insurance policy is an example of transfer. The risk of the cost to input that data is being transferred to a third party. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/11.5.2.4

McClelland's Theory of Needs states that people fit into categories and are motivated by three types of needs. Managers should determine which of the 3 categories an employee fits into and manage them accordingly. Which of the following is not one of McClelland's 3 needs?

Money People - Task 3 - Support Team Performance McClelland's Theory of Needs states that people are either motivated by power, affiliation, or achievement. Managers should determine which category an employee falls into and manage them accordingly. People Skills for Project Managers (2001) Management Concepts/Flannes & Levin/4 Motivating Team Members/Achievement Needs Theory/pp. 144-145

Your organization specializes in making, selling, and shipping steel used to build skyscrapers in major cities across the United States. Your shipments of steel are sent monthly based on a firm fixed-price contract with economic price adjustments (EPA). The end of the fiscal year is approaching and a new contract has just been negotiated to account for EPA. You later find out new tariffs are placed against steel and the cost to manufacture and ship steel skyrocket. Your customers will most likely do what is most cost-effective for them and leave your organization. How could this have been avoided?

Monitor enterprise environmental factors and develop solutions ahead of time Business Environment - Task 3 - Evaluate Scope Changes Companies are expected to practice efficient project management practices. This will allow them to respond to the impact of business environment changes on a project by appropriately adjusting the project management plans. In this case, monitoring the enterprise environmental factor (EEF) of market conditions and regulatory frameworks, their customers could have allowed for adjustments earlier to avoid this situation. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/2.2.2 Enterprise Environmental Factors External to the Organization/p. 39

In which of the following team-building stages does the team begin to work together and build good working relationships?

Norming People - Task 6 - Build a Team Tuckman's five stages of team development are Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. Forming is where the team is initially brought together; Storming is where the team has disagreements; Norming is where the team begins to work together; Performing is where the team reaches optimal performance; Adjourning is where the team disbands and is sometimes referred to as "mourning". PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/9.4 Develop Team/pp. 337-338

Your team has been together for a few years and is known as a highly efficient team throughout the organization. A team member who is new to the team lacks the tacit knowledge required to create some of the features. It is late in the work day and you notice the employee struggling with some work. How should you proceed?

Offer your assistance with the creation of the feature People - Task 4 - Empower Team Servant leadership is the virtue of a project manager or scrum team. We should always support the team through mentoring, encouragement, support, and on-the-job training if required. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.2.1 Servant Leader Responsibilities/pp. 34-37

Which of the following is not an approach an agile coach would use to accelerate cultural compatibility for agile?

Onboarding individuals with agile experience Business Environment - Task 4 - Support Org Change To accelerate a change in organizational culture to sustain and benefit from agile, an agile coach would focus on: (1) communication and coaching; (2) implementing agile practices slowly to create buy-in and transfer knowledge; and (3) adopt the agile methodology only for projects that would be best suited by that methodology. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/6.1.2 Readiness for Change/p. 74

You are a project manager for a new medical device. Current market demand requires the new device to be capable of being used in various conditions, by differing levels of user expertise, be made available in different languages all over the world, and other external factors. Which of the following would best be utilized to analyze or identify risks for all of these factors?

PESTLE Analysis Business Environment - Task 3 - Evaluate Scope Changes Of the options presented, a PESTLE analysis is used to identify the external business environment factors that can affect the value and desired outcomes of a project. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/11.2.2.5 Prompt Lists/p. 416

One of your vendors has not completed the work required on the project and you have exhausted all other options to resolve the dispute. Which of the following is not an appropriate option?

Procurement audit Process - Task 11 - Manage Procurement If you have exhausted all other options to resolve the dispute, then your procurements specialists may consider mediation, arbitration, or even a lawsuit to resolve the dispute. A procurement audit is just a structured review of the entire procurement process as a whole, which would not be helpful to resolve a dispute. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/12.3.2.5 Audits/p. 498

Where are requirements captured and documented in agile projects?

Product backlog Process - Task 8 - Manage Scope A product backlog contains all requirements in the form of user stories. A sprint backlog is a refinement of the collection of user stories selected for a specific iteration or sprint. Scope statement and requirements traceability matrix are more suitable for predictive projects. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/5 Project Scope Management/Key Concepts/p. 131; Considerations for Agile and Adaptive Environments/p. 133

Which of the following would be most helpful in determining the total duration of your project?

Project Schedule Network Diagram Process - Task 6 - Manage Schedule The project schedule network diagram displays the relationships among activities, and would therefore be the most helpful in determining the total duration of the project. The schedule management plan would tell you how to go about schedule planning, but it would not contain information about project duration. The work breakdown structure (WBS) and scope statement would contain information about project scope, but lack sufficient detail about individual activities to determine the project duration. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/6.5.3.2 Project Schedule/Project Schedule Network Diagram/p. 218

Who is responsible for approving the project management plan?

Project manager, sponsor and key stakeholders Process - Task 9 - Integrate Planning The project management plan is the master plan from which a predictive project will be executed. It is the responsibility of all key parties (project manager, sponsor, and key stakeholders) to approve the project management plan. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/1.2.6.3 Project Charter and Project Management Plan/p. 34; 1.2.6.4 Project Success Measures/p. 34

Which of the following statements is true regarding risk management?

Project risks are uncertain events Process - Task 3 - Manage Risks Risks are always uncertain events and need to be considered whether they are positive or negative. Even risks that involve perceived rewards should be analyzed. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/Glossary/Definitions/p. 720

Who is responsible for orchestrating and integrating all planning activities for an agile project?

Project team Process - Task 9 - Integrate Planning Agile teams are self managing, and thus make all planning decisions. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4. Project Integration Management/Considerations for Agile and Adaptive Environments/p. 74

A major problem with your organizational structure is that when the project is finished, the team often has no other work to do and must be let go. What type of organization structure does this refer to?

Project-oriented Process - Task 13 - Determine Methodology In a project-oriented (sometimes called projectized or composite/hybrid) organizational structure the project team reports to only one boss and is tasked with working solely on the one project. One major problem with this type of structure is what to do with the team members when the project is completed. One way this is handled is to terminate the employment of all team members. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/2.4.4 Organizational Structure Types/pp. 45-49

Which of the following will best help an agile coach ensure team success?

Removing team impediments People - Task 7 - Remove Obstacles Removing impediments is a key characteristic of servant leadership. Answers A and C are indicative of a "command and control" leadership style which is not well-suited in an agile environment. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.2.1 Servant Leader Responsibilities/p. 34

You are a project manager in the Information Technology department. Your company is new to agile concepts, and while most of your department is familiar with and on board with agile, most of the business units are not. Since key stakeholders will now become part of agile teams, you realize that you will need to mentor and coach them during sprints to help "sell" them on the benefits of agile to help keep them properly engaged. Which of the following would not be a typical benefit of using agile?

Requirements will be fully defined at the beginning of each sprint People - Task 13 - Mentor Stakeholders Requirements are often not fully known or defined at the beginning of agile sprints, but rather are refined during them. Projects with highly definable work lend themselves better to more predictive life cycle approaches, whereas agile is more applicable to high-uncertainty work. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/3.1 Characteristics of Project Life Cycles/pp. 18-19

In which meeting(s) would issues be typically reviewed?

Retrospectives and daily stand-ups Process - Task 15 - Manage Issues Project issues are reviewed during retrospectives and daily stand-up meetings. Issues in agile, like in any other project, need to be tracked and dealt with as soon as possible. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/5.2.1 Retrospectives/pp. 50-51; 5.2.4 Daily Standups/p. 53

A retiring project manager hands over all materials to a new project manager. The project appears to be running smoothly, until the new manager learns that a critical component has failed during testing. What is the appropriate first step when responding to this issue?

Review the risk register to identify whether this risk and accompanying response strategies have been captured. Process - Task 3 - Manage Risks The risk register is the document the project manager should review as it shows the identified, individual project risks, their associated strategy, contingency plans, fallback plans, triggers, any identified secondary or residual risk, as well as any specific actions to implement a chosen response strategy. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/11.5.3.3 Project Documents Updates/Risk Register/p. 448

Which of the following would be considered agile's highest priority?

Satisfying the customer Process - Task 1 - Deliver Business Value The first principle outlined in the Agile Manifesto states the highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software. While answers A, C, and D are each important agile principles, they are not the highest priority. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/Figure 2-2. Twelve Principles Behind the Agile Manifesto/p. 9

You are a project manager producing several identical components for an aerospace project. You are supposed to be producing 2 units per month worth $250,000 per unit. After 3 months you have only produced an average of 1.2 units per month. You use a formula to determine what the difference is between what you planned to do and what you actually got done. What is the formula you used?

Schedule Variance (SV) Process - Task 5 - Manage Budget and Resources The question is talking about calculating a schedule variance (SV), which is the difference between what you produced (Earned Value) and what you were supposed to complete (Planned Value). PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/7.4.2.2 Data Analysis/Earned Value Analysis/p. 261

You have been hired as a new project manager for the new football team for your state. You have taken over a project that is 50% complete, but you notice the work being done does not match what is written in the scope baseline. The sponsor informs you that many changes have occurred and to just roll with it. What most likely is the cause of this?

Scope creep has most likely happened due to the lack of formal change control procedures Process - Task 10 - Manage Changes Formalized change control procedures reduce the chance of scope creep. A good process identifies how changes will be documented, implemented, approved, and validated. They also will conduct configuration management to ensure updates to the versions of the documents are available to all stakeholders. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/5.6 Control Scope /p. 168

Which of the following project life cycle methods is most suitable for delivering business value in the shortest timeframe?

Scrum Process - Task 1 - Deliver Business Value Scrum is one of several agile methods (The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/2.2 The Agile Manifesto and Mindset/Figure 2-4. Agile is a Blanket Term for Many Approaches/p. 11). Agile delivers value in short increments, typically 2 weeks to 1 month in duration. All other methods typically take more time. Waterfall is a predictive approach. Six Sigma focuses on process improvement. Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) focuses on maturity assessment.

A project that is nearing completion has the following characteristics: It is very large, it contains functional groups in five different countries, closeout documents are being prepared, the project manager needs to gain acceptance of the project deliverables. What should the project manager do?

Seek sign off from the project sponsor. Process - Task 14 - Establish Governance The project charter determines who will sign off on the project, but of the given options, the sponsor is the best answer due to their role. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.7 Close Project or Phase/p. 124

There are three deliverables in the project manager's IT transformation project: Deliverable 2 has strictly scheduled milestones, with no expected variation in the timeline. The project manager expects that Deliverable 3 will see quickly changing requirements during development. Which lifecycle model should be used to meet the project's requirements?

Select a hybrid project model, where Deliverable 2 is positioned as a single waterfall phase embedded in an overall agile project. Process - Task 1 - Deliver Business Value In this project, two deliverables have unknown durations or changing requirement sets appropriate for agile. The migration deliverable 2 requires tight schedule control and external dependencies appropriate for a waterfall project. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/1.2.4.1 Project Development Life Cycles/p. 19; The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/3.1.9 Largely Agile Approach with a Predictive Component/p. 28

You are called to a bidder conference to bid on part of a telecommunications project. Your job as project manager will be to manage the hardware installation piece of the project. At the conference, you see a former colleague that is bidding on the wiring part of the job. You know that the integration between the wiring and the hardware can be a bit tricky and all firms competing for these two pieces of work will have to pad their bids due to the increased risk. You decide to work with your former colleague and submit one combined bid that is lower than others. This is an example of what type of risk response strategy?

Sharing Process - Task 3 - Manage Risks This is an example of sharing. The new job you are bidding on is an opportunity. You decide to share the opportunity with your former colleague's company to ensure you get the work. Both companies will benefit from getting the job. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/11.5.2.5 Strategies for Opportunities/p. 444

On your project, a deliverable was recently created but had to be reworked due to a defect. You traced the root cause to an employee who was operating off an old version of the project management plan. As a project manager, how should you proceed?

Show the employee where to find the most up-to-date copy of the plan and verify they are receiving updates Process - Task 12 - Manage Artifacts As the project manager, you want to ensure the employee is receiving updates and they know how and where to retrieve them from. Terminating the employee is an extreme measure that will add risk to your project. The change control board (CCB) does not dictate version control, they approve or reject changes. Conducting training for the entire team is a vague statement that may not identify the root cause of the problem. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/10.3.2.4 Interpersonal and Team Skills/Observation and Conversation/p. 392

When negotiating contracts with customers involving agile projects, a collaborative approach is recommended, since it emphasizes win-win between the buyer and seller vs. win-lose arrangements. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a collaborative approach?

Single document contract People - Task 8 - Negotiate Agreements A multi-tiered contract structure provides for a master agreement to cover fixed items such as warranties and remedies, and including other elements that are more subject to change in other documents (e.g., schedule of services). The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/6.3 Procurement and Contracts/p. 77

Which of Maslow's hierarchy of needs involves the need for friends, family and affiliation? Also, what is the level just below that?

Social, Safety People - Task 3 - Support Team Performance The rung on Maslow's pyramid that is marked by an individual's need for friends, family, and affiliation is the Social level. The level just below that is Safety. The five levels in order from bottom to top are physiological, safety, social, esteem and self-actualization. Project Manager's Portable Handbook, 3rd Ed (2010) /5. Project Leadership /5.7 Motivating the Project Team /5.7.2 Maslow /Figure 5-8. Maslow's Order of Priority of Human Needs

When an organization is considering which project life cycle methodology is appropriate to use for a given project, a suitability filter spider web diagram or model is useful. Which of the following factors is not considered when using this type of model?

Sponsorship Process - Task 14 - Establish Governance The three broad factors include culture, project and team. Trust is one of the factors under culture, criticality is under project, and team size is under team. Sponsorship is important for supporting organizational change, but it is not part of the model. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/Figure X3-1. Model for Suitability Approach/p. 127

Agile is built upon communications, including feedback loops. Which of the following would least be considered a feedback loop?

Sprint Process - Task 2 - Manage Communications Pair programming, the daily scrum meeting, and retrospectives are examples of feedback loops. Information is exchanged and allows changes to be made if required. The sprint is the timebox where the agreed-upon work to obtain the sprint goal is performed. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/A3.2 Scrum/p. 101

During which stage of team development is it crucial for team members to work on tolerance and patience with one another?

Storming People - Task 6 - Build a Team This question is focused on the stages of team development (Tuckman's Ladder: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning). During the storming phase, individuals need to be focused on tolerance and patience. If these two objectives are not met, the team may flounder and remain in the storming stage. A team in the storming phase is not a high-performing team. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/9.4 Develop Team/pp. 337-338

You are leading a project to create a degree plan for a regionally accredited university. The new degree is highly specialized and requires the approval of curriculum by governing body of electrical engineers. The program already has students enrolled, but they will not start until the fall which is three months away. If the program fails to meet the standards mandated by the Society of Electrical Engineers it would be public relations nightmare. What should the project manager do to ensure all requirements are met?

Tailor quality management processes to any specific quality standards and regulatory constraints Business Environment - Task 1 - Manage Compliance Tailoring considerations include standards and regulatory compliance to quality standards, governmental, legal, or regulatory constraints that must be considered. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/8. Project Quality Management/Tailoring Considerations/p. 276

What is the social contract that outlines group norms, ground rules, and team values?

Team charter People - Task 12 - Ground Rules The team charter is a social contract between project team members that outlines, among other things, team values, working agreements, ground rules, group norms, etc. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/5.1 Charter the Project and the Team/pp. 49-50

You are a project manager who has recently had a team member leave because of an illness. While searching for a replacement you identify a person who has been a stakeholder of the project and has the correct skills you were looking for. You decide she will be the perfect replacement for the lost team member and hire her. Your team has recently agreed on how the team will operate and lately has been requiring less external supervision. What is the next stage of development your team will enter after the new team member comes on board?

The addition of the new team member will cause the team to enter the Forming stage. People - Task 3 - Support Team Performance According to Tuckman's 5-stage model of group development, anytime a new member joins the team, the process starts anew with the Forming stage. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/9.4 Develop Team/p. 338

Who decides what work gets done in an agile team?

The agile team as a whole, which is self-managing People - Task 4 - Empower Team The team should be self-managing. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.3.1 Agile Teams/p. 39

Which of the following would be the team facilitator's least concern when building an agile team?

The level and amount of agile experience People - Task 11 - Virtual Teams The level and amount of agile experience is not something a team facilitator would concern themselves over the other three answers. Successful agile teams have dedicated personnel, are made up of a team of generalists and specialists, should be colocated for better knowledge sharing and improved team dynamics, and should have a stable work environment. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/Table 4-1 Attributes of Successful Agile Teams/p. 40

During the design phase of a construction project, two team members do not agree with an estimating technique used for cost. The situation was not resolved and has escalated into a bigger problem that is beginning to impact project objectives. How could this problem have been avoided?

The project manager should have documented the problem on the issue log Process - Task 15 - Manage Issues Since this situation indicates something has already happened - it is an issue and not a risk. The issue log will help the project manager effectively track and manage issues, ensuring that they are investigated and resolved. The risk register is for events that pose a threat to the project, but have not yet occurred, and the team proactively attempts to manage them. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/4.3.3.3 Issue Log/p. 96

Developing an accurate project schedule is an important part of the planning process. You have used the Critical Path Method to ensure that you identify the critical path within your schedule network. Which of the following statements is true?

The project schedule is often a graphical representation showing activities, start and finish dates and is used to show what has actually happened with regards to the scheduled work Process - Task 6 - Manage Schedule The project schedule is often a graphical representation showing activities, start and finish dates and is used to show what has actually happened with regards to the scheduled work. The baseline is described in Answer B. Answers C and D are there as distractions, as we can build a schedule with the use of software. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/6.5.3.2 Project Schedule/p. 218

Which of the following is considered the project vision?

The reason the project is being performed People - Task 10 - Build Shared Understanding Why the project is being performed is considered the vision. However, who benefits and how, may occasionally be considered part of the vision. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/5.1 Charter and the Project Team/p. 49

You have noticed that a few of your team members have personal animosity against each other, but it has not hindered their performance or affected the team. Who is responsible for addressing this problem in the first instance?

The team members in question People - Task 2 - Lead a Team Such problems should ideally be resolved by the team members themselves so long as the team and the work are not being affected. If that fails, the project manager will have to become more actively involved. The project champion is not necessarily part of the team but is someone who helps garner and sustain support for the project. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/9.5.2.1 Interpersonal and Team Skills/Conflict Management/p. 348

A $3.2 million contract has been awarded to your company and you have been identified as the project manager. During a review of the project charter with the sponsor you both determine additional training is required. There are 12 people on your team and the finance department only has enough to fund training for half of the team. As the project manager, how should you proceed?

Train key members and have them mentor others People - Task 5 - Ensure Team is Trained Training can be formal or informal. By sending key members of the team to training we ensure the expertise required is available and also continuously develop the team through training and mentorship. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/9.4.2.6 Training/p. 342

Your company is fairly new to agile. You've just been assigned to an agile project that will likely consist of multiple 2-week sprints to deploy a functionality for a new project benefit tracking system. Your team has been trained, but most of the key stakeholders have never heard of agile, much less participated in an agile project. Which of the following would be least helpful in this situation?

Update the Stakeholder register to indicate which stakeholders have agile experience People - Task 9 - Collaborate with Stakeholders You might still do answer C, but the others are more helpful in terms of actually engaging with stakeholders, which is essential for all projects--especially agile projects. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/4.3 Team Composition/p. 38

A project has the following characteristics: -A quality management plan is in place. -The quality management plan states that project deliverables must be reviewed, at a minimum, 1.5 weeks before the deadline. -Four deliverables have missed this quality requirement. What is an appropriate step for the project manager to take?

Use a cause-and-effect diagram for root cause analysis. Process - Task 7 - Manage Quality By understanding the root cause of the issue, the project manager may avoid this type of problem later on in this and other projects. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/8.2.2.3 Decision Making/p. 293

After a project delay, the project manager determines that a change is needed to the product deliverables in order to ensure quality. The project manager takes the following steps: 1. A formal change request is issued. 2. The project manager communicates the change to all stakeholders. 3. The project manager receives feedback that the communications approach did not meet stakeholder expectations. What should the project manager do next?

Use the communications management and stakeholder engagement plans. Process - Task 14 - Establish Governance These two plans help establish how communication will be managed and how the stakeholders will be engaged. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/13.2.3.1 Project Management Plan/p. 518

A project manager is creating an agenda and presentation materials for a kick-off meeting that will involve stakeholders across multiple geographic regions who will be working on a global project. How can the project manager work to ensure that the stakeholders are engaged?

Verify that all required participants or their delegates will be available to attend. Process - Task 2 - Manage Communications None of the other options are viable without ensuring that all stakeholders are attending the project kick off meeting. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/13.3 Manage Stakeholder Engagement/p. 524

According to the Continuum of Life Cycles, when is the agile methodology best suited?

When the frequency of delivery is high and degree of change is high Process - Task 13 - Determine Methodology The Continuum of Life Cycles indicates that agile is best suited when the degree of change and frequency of delivery is high. The Agile Practice Guide (2017) PMI/PMI/3.1 Characteristics of Project Life Cycles/p. 19

You are the project manager for a large pharmaceutical company that recently partnered with another organization that reduces packaging costs for your organization under the auspice of a cost-reimbursable contract. After a risk workshop meeting, you find out two team members do not agree on a proposed solution for a risk to cost. You decide to let them come to a resolution on their own, but you document it on the issue log. What conflict management technique did you implement?

Withdraw/Avoid People - Task 1 - Manage Conflict Withdraw/Avoid is retreating from the conflict. The project manager is allowing the team members to resolve the issue themselves. By putting it on the issue log they are ensuring they will follow up on the conflict to make sure it is resolved. PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition (2017) PMI/PMI/9.5.2.1 Interpersonal and Team Skills/Conflict Management/pp. 348-349