PMP Practice Questions
A project activity has the following values for the earliest and latest it can start and the earliest and latest it can be completed. An activity's Late Start (LS) is 5/day and Late Finish is (LF) 10/day. Similarly Early Start (ES) is 3/day and Early finish (EF) is 8/day. What is the float of this activity? 0 days 4 days 2 days -3 days
2 Days Exp: Float for an activity can be calculated using any of the two formula (i.e. Float = LS-ES or LF-EF). In this case, float = 5-3 or 10- 8 or 2 days. Remember, float or slack is the amount of time a task in a project network can be delayed without causing a delay to subsequent tasks (free float) or the project completion date (total float).
Which of the following statements is NOT true about a product lifecycle? 1. It starts with conception of a new product and ends with its withdrawal 2. A product can spawn a single project in its life 3. The five stages of each product lifecycle are product development, introduction, growth, maturity, and decline
2. A product can spawn a single project in its life
A project has a 60% chance of a $100,000 profit and a 40 percent of a US $100,000 loss. The Expected Monetary Value for the project is: $100,000 profit $60,000 loss $ 20,000 profit $40,000 loss
$20,000 profit expected Monitory Value (EMV) is computed by EMV = Probability × Impact. Compute both positive and negative values and then add them: 0.6 × $100,000 = $60,000 0.4 × $100,000 = $40,000 EMV = $60,000 - $40,000 = $20,000 profit
Jenny is the Project Manager and is currently in the initiating process group. She understands that it is critical for project success to identify stakeholders early in the project. Therefore, she is in the process-identify stakeholders; Of the following, which INPUT may not be required? Procurement documents Project Charter Expert Judgment Enterprise environmental factors
- Expert Judgement Explanations: Expert judgment is a tool and technique for the "identify stakeholders" process and is not an input.
As a Project Manager for a pharmaceutical project, you are in the process of stakeholder analysis. You have identified both internal and external stakeholders. Which of the following will be least useful for determining how to engage them? - Using the Influence/Impact matrix - Correctly identifying the internal and external stakeholders - Giving the stakeholders extra incentives to win them over to your side
- Giving the stakeholders extra incentives to win them over to your side
All of the following are functions of the project management office EXCEPT: - Monitoring compliance with project management standards policies, procedures, and templates via project audits - Coaching, mentoring, training, and oversight - Managing shared resources across all projects administered by PMO - Identifying and developing the organization's methodology, administrative practices, and rules
- Identifying and developing the organization's methodology, administrative practices, and rules Explanations: The PMO's role is to identify and develop the project management methodology, best practices, and standards.
Business Documents for Project Performance
- Phase Gates within the project - Actual Performance compared to business docs - Decisions of Comparision
A project team is working on initiating a project. Which of the following options is NOT true about this situation? - The Sponsor is developing the project charter - The Project Manager is developing the project charter - The Project manager is participating in the development of the project charter
- The Project Manager is developing the project charter Explanations: As per the new examination content outline, the Project Manager will not develop the project charter and will only participate in developing the project charter.
Mobile phone chipsets that are obsolete or do not sell are quickly retired from production. The chipsets' lifecycle begins in R and D, extends to manufacturing, and finally ends with phase out. This cycle is often referred to as: 1) Product lifecycle 2) Project lifecycle 3) Feedback loop 4) Product development
1) Product lifecycle A product lifecycle consists of generally sequential, non-overlapping product phases determined by the manufacturing and control need of the organization. For more details on product lifecycle, refer to PMBOK® Guide - Fifth Edition PN 38.
4. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate statement to describe a Project Management Office? 1. It is the center of excellence for project management in an organization 2. It is a group of people working on project management activities for a project 3. PMO provides administrative support to Project Managers in an organization
1. It is the center of excellence for project management in an organization
3. A Project Sponsor appointed a Project Manager to a new project and asked him to get started immediately, even before the charter got approved. What should the Project Manager do? 1. Push to create and approve the charter 2. Start with the team ramp-up and planning 3. Ask some other Project Manager to take over the project
1. Push to create and approve the charter
The optimistic time estimate for an activity is 11 days, pessimistic is 25 days, and most likely is 15 days. What is the expected time for this activity? 16 days 15 days 21 days 18 days
16 days Explanations: Expected time = (O + 4M + P)/6 = 16
A hospital is installing a new management system to computerize the hospital functions. For this purpose, representatives from several departments are selected to create a task force assigned to implement the project. This organization structure is called: Functional Organization Projectized Organization Composite Organization Balanced Matrix Organization
Composite Organization Exp: Many times, even a fundamentally functional organization may create a special project team to handle a critical project. This may have many characteristics of a project team in a projectized organization. The team may include full-time staff from different functional departments, may develop its own set of operating procedures, and may operate outside the standard, formalized reporting structure.
Two members of a team are disagreeing about the right electric parameters for testing a newly designed chipset. Who is in the best position to help resolve this issue? Project Manager Project Sponsor Functional Manager Customer
Functional Manager Explanation: The issue requires functional expertise and hence the Functional Managers are best able to assist in this matter.
A Project Manager is working on planning a project that requires review and oversight for a number of technically complex tasks. Who should identify the specific resources for performing the reviews? The Project Manager The Project Sponsor Functional Managers Customer
Functional manager Exp: Since nothing is given about the organization structure, we have to assume that it is a matrix or functional organization where the resources are owned by the functional managers and they would provide and identify these resources
A Project Manager is identifying relevant enterprise and environmental factors in a project. Which of the following is NOT a valid example? a. Organizational culture and processes b. Stakeholder risk tolerances c. Employee performance review records d. Historical lessons learned knowledge base
Historical lessons learned knowledge base Exp: OPA
17. A Project Manager has defined the key deliverables of the project based on the business and compliance requirements and is now identifying and documenting high-level risks, assumptions, and constraints based on current environment, historical data, and/or expert judgment to identify project limitations and propose an implementation approach. Which process group is the Project Manager in? Initiating Planning Executing
Initiating It is during the initiating process group that you identify and document high-level risks, assumptions, and constraints to identify project limitations and thereafter propose an implementation approach.
Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding the initiating process group? - Risk is lowest during the Initiating process group - The project has the highest probability of project success during the Initiating process group - The Project Manager and team are always identified as part of the Initiating process group - Initiating process group includes the develop project charter and identify stakeholders process
Initiating process group includes the develop project charter and identify stakeholders process
A key responsibility of the Project Manager is to ensure the proper assimilation of the project management processes and coordinate the process phases through the project management cycle. The Project Manager also has to ensure that all areas of the project come together to successfully deliver the project. This involves balancing the basic aspects of scope, cost, and schedule in addition to managing quality, communication, customer satisfaction, etc. The role of the Project Manager can be best described as: Integrator Leader Communicator Differentiator
Integrator Exp: The role of a Project Manager is the combination of all the options, but the one that is most critical to the project's success is that of an Integrator.
One phase is planned at any given time, and the planning for the next is carried out as work progresses on the current phase and deliverables. Which of the following correctly defines the above text? Overlapping relationship Sequential relationship Multi-phase relationship Iterative relationship
Iterative relationship Explanations: An iterative relationship is where one phase is planned at any given time and the planning for the next is carried out as work progresses on the current phase or deliverable.
Harry has been assigned the flyover construction project, and he is in the process of initiating the project. In order to meet the customer's project expectations based on the business and compliance requirements, which of the following should Harry define FIRST? Key deliverables Project schedule Project Statement of Work Product Statement of Work
Key Deliverables Explanations: According to PMI's classification, the Project Manager should define the key deliverables of the project based on the business and compliance requirements to meet the customer's project expectations.
Which of the following is NOT TRUE for stakeholders? a. Stakeholders can be customers, sponsors, and the performing organization b. Stakeholders cannot exert influence over the project, its deliverables, or team members c. Stakeholder identification is a continuous process d. A project can be perceived as having both positive and negative results by the stakeholders
NOT TRUE: Stakeholders cannot exert influence over the project, its deliverables, or team members Explanations: This statement is wrong as stakeholders can exert influence over the project, its deliverables, and team members.
As a Project Manager, you are in the process of establishing the total scope of the effort in the project to define project objectives. For this purpose, you include relevant stakeholders and explore all the aspects of scope, cost, time, risk quality, etc. Which process group of the project are you currently in? Initiation Planning Execution Monitor and Control
Planning Exp: Explanations:The planning process group consists of processes performed to establish the total scope of the effort, define the objectives, and develop the course of action required to attain those objectives. For this purpose, a Project Manager should include relevant stakeholders and explore all the aspects of scope, cost, time, risk, quality, etc. The result of this planning process group is the project management plan.
5. A manager who manages a collection of projects grouped together to facilitate effective management to meet strategic business objectives is called a:
Portfolio Manager
You are working on a project to build a hybrid car which would run on both diesel and electricity. This car would have a 1000 cc engine and work on a regenerative braking system. It should be able to seat four passengers including a driver and comply with Euro 4 emission norms. In which of the following documents should this information be captured? Product Scope Project Scope Scope baseline Requirements Management Plan
Product Scope Exp: The above statements describe the features, functions, and requirements which are part of defining product scope. Project scope: the work that needs to be accomplished to deliver a product, service, or result with the specified features and functions. The product scope describes the function or service that will exist as a result of your project.
Project Business Documents
Project Business Case Project Charter Project Benefits Management Plan Benefits Managment Plan
6. A project sponsor is studying the project contract and going through the narrative description of products and services to be supplied under contract. The project sponsor is also meeting key stakeholders and subject matter experts to evaluate whether the project is worth the required investment. Which of the following documents would be created as an output in the process? - Project Statement of Work - Project Charter - Project Management Plan - Organizational Process Assets
Project Charter
1. A typical title for a Project Manager in a weak matrix structure is:
Project Coordinator
A key stakeholder from the quality department wants to know more on how the process tailoring was done by the project team. Additionally, the stakeholder would like to know the rationale for selecting processes, their implementation level details, and how they will be used to manage the interdependencies. Which document should the Project Manager refer the stakeholder to? Project Statement of Work Project Scope Statement Project Management Plan Work performance Information
Project Management Plan Explanations: The results of the process tailoring by the project team are captured in the project management plan, along with all the other information required by the stakeholder.
You are being hired to manage a highway construction project for a contractor working for XYZ. The sponsor is a project officer who works for the XYZ municipal government. You have three separate teams working all three shifts with a separate manager for each team. Each team has members from two different unions, and each union has its own representative. Who is the BEST person to approve the project charter? Project Manager Union representatives Project Officer who works for XYZ Team Managers
Project Officer who works for XYZ Explanations: Since the Project Officer who works for XYZ is the sponsor, he is responsible for approving and signing the charter.
A Project Manager is in the process of documenting and defining a stakeholder's needs to meet project objectives. What is the output of this process? Stakeholder Register Stakeholder Management Strategy Requirements Documentation Issue Log
Requirements Documentation Exp: The Project Manager is in the process of "collect requirements" which has the output requirements documentation. This document describes how individual requirements meet the business need for the project.
You are managing a project which would provide e-learning solutions to your customer. The requirements of this project are not clearly defined in the beginning, and there would be modifications based on customer feedback as the project evolves. You decide to plan as much as you can and begin to create work while continuing the planning. Which of the following techniques would be the most helpful while defining activities for the project? Rolling Wave Planning Templates Extreme Programming Just in Time
Rolling Wave Planning
Your development team is waiting for the design team to finish its work. As a Project Manager, you have decided to use this approach to reduce uncertainty in the project. Which of the following relationship does this describe? Iterative relationship Sequential relationship Overlapping relationship Common relationship
Sequential relationship
You are a Project Manager of a highly visible and critical project in your company. This project was initiated with much fanfare, and you have some of the best technical experts as a part of the project team. You are in the process planning and detailing the scope of the project when you hear the project is being terminated. What could be the MOST likely cause? a. The senior management didn't approve the project charter b. The project team didn't have required technical expertise c. The project sponsor failed to support the project d. The project contract was not signed off by the customer
The project sponsor failed to support the project Explanations: The answer to this question can be reached by the process of elimination. Since the project is already initiated and is in the planning stage options A, and D can't be true. There is no evidence to believe option B, and the most probable explanation could be the failure to support the project by the sponsor.
Which of the following is NOT true about the initiating process group? - Large projects may divide the projects into phases - The project team members are committed - Initial scope and financial resources are committed
The project team members are committed
Project Manager John and his team have finished creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Work Breakdown Structure dictionary. Then, he prepares a detailed and itemized documentation of all of the schedule activities that are part of the project. What should he do NEXT? a. Create Network Diagram for the project b. Determine quality standards, processes, and metrics c. Determine high-level project assumptions and constraints d. Conduct project progress meeting
a. Create Network Diagram for the project Exp: The Project Manager has created a WBS, a WBS dictionary, and an activity list in the planning stage. The next step would be to create a network diagram for the project.
You are a Project Manager working on a critical project. You track the project schedule closely. While going through the critical path, you realize that the project is showing negative float. What is your BEST response to the situation? a. Use a schedule compression technique b. Reduce the number of resources from the project c. Reduce the number of noncritical activities in the project d. Revisit the risks and do a risk analysis of the project
a. Use a schedule compression technique Exp: The best option is to compress the project schedule because the critical path activities can be delayed thus resulting in a negative float. In this case, the Project Manager should use a schedule compression technique such as fast tracking or crashing.
You are developing the project charter for the new project assigned to you. Which of the following is NOT a part of the enterprise environmental factors? a. Lessons learned from previous projects b. Work authorization system c. Government and industry standards that affect your project
a.Lessons learned from previous projects Explanations: Lessons learned are part of the organizational process assets.
A Project Manager wants to determine the variance for an activity estimate using a three-point estimate with the following data. Pessimistic=14, Optimistic=2, and Realistic=5. What is the variance? 5 2 4 Not enough information
4 The formula for variance = [( Pessimistic-Optimistic)/6]squared. The answer is 4.
Which of the following is NOT true about the project charter? 1) It provides the Project Manager the authority to assign organization resources 2) It formally authorizes the project 3) It details the business justification of the project 4) It states what the project is, what the project will deliver, and how all the processes will be managed
4) It states what the project is, what the project will deliver, and how all the processes will be managed Explanations: Project Charter provides the high-level project description and product characteristics. It authorizes the project and provides the Project Manager the authority to assign organization resources.
Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to manage activities to meet the project requirements. Which of the following is NOT true about managing a project? 1) It involves identifying requirements 2) It involves addressing the various needs, concerns, and expectations of the stakeholders as the project is planned and carried out 3) It involves balancing the competing project constraints such as scope, quality, schedule, budget, resources, and risk 4) The specific project will not influence the constraints on which the Project Manager needs to focus
4) The specific project will not influence the constraints on which the Project Manager needs to focus
As a Project Manager you are estimating the duration of your project activities using PERT technique (Program Evaluation and Review technique). For a particular project activity, your optimistic estimate is 41 days, pessimistic estimate is 89 days, and most Likely estimate is 60 days. What would be the expected duration and range of the estimate for this activity? 61.67 +/- 8.00 31.27 +/-8.00 61.67 +/-3.00 31.27 +/-3.00
61.67 +/- 8.00 Explanations: PERT allows the estimator to include three estimates: optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely, given by the equation Expected Duration = [P + 4(ML) + O]/6. Range is +/- standard deviation = (P-O)/6, where P is the pessimistic estimate, ML is the most likely estimate, and O is the optimistic estimate. Using this method, the correct answers comes out to be 61.67 days and range (+/-Standard Deviation) is 8.00.
Which of the following statements about critical path is TRUE? - It is the shortest path from start to finish - All the activities on the critical path do not have any float - A project will have only one critical path - A critical path takes into consideration logical as well as resource dependencies
All the activities on the critical path do not have any float exp: Critical path activities do not have any float. If any activity on the critical path is delayed, the completion of the project will be delayed by an equal amount. To determine the critical path, you have to add the amount of time estimated for the duration of each activity to the previous activity.
An activity cannot be started until the predecessor also starts. This is an example of: finish-to-Start Finish-to-Finish Start-to-Start Start-to-Finish
Start-to-Start
ou have taken over as a Project Manager of a complex and technically challenging project. To add to the problems, your team is from diverse cultures and lacks bonding. You want the team to participate and take ownership of the project activities, as well as understand the overall project deliverable (big picture of the project). Which of the following activities would be most helpful? a. Use colocation to help team bond better which in turn would maximize productivity b. Create Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) c. Develop Responsibility Assignment Matrix to describe roles and responsibilities of every team member d. Conduct knowledge sessions where each member appraise the team about his culture
b. Create Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Exp: The Project Manager wants the team to take ownership as well as understand how its individual project activities affect the overall project deliverable (the big picture). The Project Manager also wants the team to develop bonding. All these objectives are met when the team gets involved in creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and WBS dictionary
Which of the following statements is true? a. Cost and staffing levels are high at the start b. The ability to influence the final characteristics of the product without impacting the cost is highest at the start c. Uncertainty is the least at the start of the project
b. The ability to influence the final characteristics of the product without impacting the cost is highest at the start
A Project Manager is in the process of analyzing activity sequences, durations, resources requirements, and schedule constraints to create an approved project schedule. What should the Project Manager do NEXT? a. Determine Resource Requirement for each activity in the project b. Use techniques like Critical Path method and What-if Analysis to calculate optimum duration of the project c. Use this approved schedule duration as a baseline and start tracking the project d. Create a Network diagram of the project using one of the diagramming methods
c. Use this approved schedule duration as a baseline and start tracking the project Explanations: The Project Manager is in the process develop schedule. Since the project schedule has already been approved, it implies Option A, B, and D are already completed as part of the processes estimate activity resources, develop schedule, and sequence activities. The next step would be to treat this estimate as a schedule baseline and start tracking the project as part of the process control schedule.
