Practice Test Questions 12/13

One of the tools used for estimating activity resources is the analogous estimating technique. What is another name of this estimate, and which accompanying statement is accurate? A. top-down; not useful if information from a past, similar project is not available or reliable B. bottom-up; useful when the project manager has limited time to perform an estimate C. top-down; relies on historical information and uses a statistical relationship D. bottom-up; relies on information at the bottom of the WBS at the work package level

A

The process that focuses on managing stakeholder expectations and keeping those key stakeholders engaged includes inputs and outputs that are related to issues and changes. From the list of 4 answers, select the answer that is the most accurate concerning inputs and outputs. A. The Issue Log and the Change Log are both inputs and outputs in this process B. Change Requests are an output of Perform Integrated Change Control and an input to this process, and Issue Requests are an output of this process C. Change Requests are an output of Monitor and Control Project Work and an input to this process, and Issue Lists are an output of this process D. The Issue Log is an output of this process, while the Change Log is an input to this process and an updated output of Monitor and Control Project Work

A

The project manager is taking action to develop the team, as they've just kicked off the project. Which of the following tools or techniques is not appropriate for the project manager to use during this process? A. Iteration term performance retrospective B. Interpersonal and team skills C. Using a DISC or Myers Briggs assessment tool to understand the team members better D. Developing a recognition and reward system

A

Which statement is the most accurate description of the purpose of the monitoring and controlling process for procurement management? A. Seller and Buyer must ensure that both parties meet their contractual obligations and that their own legal rights are protected B. Seller must ensure that Buyer does not add to the contractual scope of the work that has been documented and signed by both parties C. Seller and Buyer must ensure that all actions are taken in the best interest of their respective companies, their owners, and their shareholders by law D. Buyer must ensure that Seller abides by the terms of the contract and that deliverables are of acceptable quality

A

A recommended corrective action is: A. An activity that may be carried out by the team in Direct and Manage Project Work B. Anything done to bring future plans in line with the results C. Typically a required specification or deliverable from the project sponsor D. An output of project planning

A Corrective action is making adjustments to how work is performed, materials used, or other factors to avoid future problems in light of current performance. Answer-A is the best choice because it is true that a recommended corrective action may be carried out or implemented by the team IF approved.

Consider the four statements that follow. Which one is true regarding the process that produces the scope baseline and the two processes that validate and control that scope? A. All 3 processes have only 1 or 2 tools B. 2 of the processes result in accepted deliverables C. Control Scope must take place after Validate Scope but it can happen before Create WBS D. Create WBS is an Executing process, while Control Scope and Validate Scope are Monitoring and Controlling processes

A Create WBS has 2 tools - decomposition and expert judgment; Validate Scope has 2 - inspection and decision-making techniques; Control Scope has 1 - data analysis.

The project manager is overseeing construction of a long pedestrian bridge. During the last 3 weeks, the job site has been impacted by some of the highest winds on record, and additional safety measures were put in place. The PM notes that the SPI has ticked up from 1.2 to 1.35 during the same period. How should the PM interpret this data? A. The PM is surprised because the work efficiency of the team improved in spite of the terrible working conditions B. The PM is surprised because the work efficiency of the team declined in spite of the risk mitigation plans the team put in place C. The PM is not surprised because he can point to the decline in work efficiency and blame it on the terrible working conditions D. The PM is not surprised because he can explain to the sponsor that the high winds caused the spike in SPI

A The PM should be puzzled because the two data points don't reconcile. SPI is a measure of work efficiency. The increase in SPI indicates that the team was more efficient in the last period in spite of the extreme working conditions. That is hard to reconcile.

You have inherited a project in the early stages, and the department managers want to meet with you to discuss plans. Specifically, they need to know how your team will develop the schedule, and if they will have the opportunity to provide feedback. Before walking into that meeting, what document should you review closely? A. the schedule management plan B. the project schedule C. the project schedule model D. the scope baseline

A The schedule management plan describes how the project schedule will be developed, monitored, and controlled. As the schedule has not yet been developed, this component of the overall PM Plan is the most useful reference for you.

A team member is reviewing the heat reports and updated dashboards before the monthly meeting with the sponsor. She is tracing a few of the summary statistics back to the defect reports, timesheets, and invoices gathered at a lower level of detail. What is the name of the output this team member is reviewing, and what knowledge area is being described here? A. Work performance reports, Integration B. Key performance information, Communications C. Work performance data, Monitor and Control Project Work D. Work performance information, Stakeholder Management

A The team member is reviewing summary reports (dashboards, heat reports) from various disciplines, including cost management, schedule management, and quality management. That indicates the Integration Management knowledge area - and the process of Monitor and Control Project Work. The major output of this process are these work performance reports that tie together data from many project areas.

The project manager looks forward to meeting with key stakeholders every other week, making sure they are getting the data they need, and responding to any issues. A recent request recommends a change in the number of quality tests the team runs before a quality gate is called complete. The PM remembers that a certain stakeholder was emphatic about those quality tests, but the PM cannot recall who it was. What inputs will be most valuable to the project manager in this process? A. Stakeholder engagement plan and the change log B. Requirements documentation and the issue log C. Change log and the requirements responsibility matrix D. Requirements responsibility matrix and the issue log

A the change log and stakeholder engagement plan. The question describes the Manage Stakeholder Engagement process and asks for the most valuable inputs. From the choices given, the Change Log, the Issue Log, and the Stakeholder Engagement Plan are valid inputs to this process. A is the only accurate combination given. Requirements Documentation and Requirements Traceability Matrix relate to the Collect Requirements process and are not applicable to this process.

A consultant is meeting with members of the project team and wants to know how project costs have been estimated. What document would hold this information? A. cost management plan B. cost baseline C. performance measurement baseline D. budget strategy project document

A The cost management plan describes the high-level approach to the other 3 processes in Cost Management. This description includes the approach and strategies used to estimate costs.

Closing a project involves many steps and activities. Select the most important action that a project manager should take in this process. A. Confirm that all project work is complete and that the project met the stated objectives B. Make sure all project records have been updated with the most current information C. Complete performance appraisals for all team members and report those to the members and their functional managers D. Perform a lessons-learned review with as many team members present as possible

A is the best answer. Confirm that all project work has been completed and all objectives met. That captures the goal of this process. Other items on the to-do list may include capturing lessons learned, updating records, completing appraisals, etc. All are important. But, A is the best choice.

The scope management plan addresses the project scope, but it may also touch on the scope of the product. What is the best definition for product scope from the following choices? A. the features and functionality that characterize a product, service, or result B. the work performed to create a deliverable C. the work performed to create a product, service, or result D. the features, specifications, quality measures, and requirements that describe a deliverable

A.

There are a few similarities in the Validate Scope and Manage Quality processes. How would you explain the difference in these two processes? A. Manage Quality is primarily concerned with following the quality standards on the project, and Validate Scope is primarily concerned with acceptance B. Manage Quality is all about correctness, while Validate Scope is all about completeness C. They may be performed in parallel, but Validate Scope should be finished last D. Validate Scope is about correctness, and Manage Quality is about completeness

A. A is the correct answer. This question is a bit misleading by referencing Validate Scope and comparing it with a process in the Quality Management area. The tendency is to compare Validate Scope with Control Quality... not Manage Quality. Manage Quality features the key tool of Audits - ensuring that the quality processes are being followed. Control Quality has the key tool of Inspection - the same tool is featured in Validate Scope. Tricky question!

Of these techniques, which one is not used in Collect Requirements? A. Fibonacci Technique B. Nominal group technique C. a JAD session D. Building a model

A. (Fibonacci Technique) is not a technique of this process defined in the PMI standard. However, you may have heard of it if you are familiar with some Agile methods. NGT is a technique of this process. Answer-C is a JAD session which is a type of facilitated workshop - listed as a technique. Answer-D is referring to modeling or prototyping - a very effective technique used in this process.

The scope baseline will have several parts, including the WBS. Select the false statement about the work breakdown structure from the following choices. A. The WBS results in many work packages that all have a single schedule activity associated with them B. The number of levels in a WBS will vary C. The goal with decomposing the WBS is to keep going until you don't know enough information to continue decomposing or you've reached the work package level D. Once the scope baseline is established, the WBS should represent all the official scope of the project

A. A is the answer that makes an inaccurate statement about the WBS. It implies that each work package will have 1 and only 1 associated schedule activity. That is not true.

In regards to deliverable acceptance from the customer, two processes are closely related . Read the following statements. Select the one that is the least accurate as it relates to these two processes. A. Validate Scope is generally performed before Control Quality B. Control Quality and Validate Scope may be performed in parallel C. Inspection is a tool used by both Control Quality and Validate Scope D. Deliverables are an input used by both Validate Scope and Control Quality

A. Control Quality is generally performed prior to Validate Scope, not the other way around. The output of Control Quality - Verified Deliverables - serves as an input to Validate Scope, which then outputs Accepted Deliverables.

The team is reviewing the flow of work for the last 3 months. They notice frequent late deliveries of important materials to one of the job sites. A team member plots the events on a run chart to determine if the current work authorization system needs to be modified. What process is being performed, and what tool or technique is being used? A. Control Resources, Trend Analysis B. Monitor Risks, Data Representation C. Monitor Risks, Scatter Diagram D. Control Resources, Data Analysis

A. First, let's determine which process is in play in this scenario. It sounds like a risk event may be taking place; however, the scenario describes material deliveries and says the work authorization system may be at fault. That system is responsible for making sure the right materials arrive in the right quantities at the right location at the right time. That signals Control Resources as the process. Now, it gets trickier. Both tool names are technically correct. However, Trend Analysis is more specific (more detailed) than the tool of Data Analysis. Therefore, answer A is the best choice.

For one of the processes in the framework, the key benefit is that the process enables a smooth and effective flow of project information to stakeholders. Review the list of tools and techniques. Which one is not likely to be as useful to the team during this process? A. Influencing Techniques B. Feedback C. Meeting Management D. Political Awareness

A. If you read the question to determine which process is being described, you'll correctly land on Manage Communications. Given the nature of this process, influencing techniques are not as critical as the others listed. All other choices are actual tools or techniques of the Manage Communications process.

You are reviewing the latest batch of change requests, and you are concerned about one change that has the potential of reshaping the project benefits. The sponsor who first identified the business needs and signed the charter has been focused on another initiative. You want to present this change request to the sponsor for input. What engagement level do you hope this sponsor exhibits? A. Leading B. Gatekeeper C. Supportive D. Information Radiator

A. It is essentially asking you to select the most desirable engagement level from the list. These engagement levels are associated with the tool of Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix, used several places in this knowledge area including this monitoring and controlling process. You need to know those levels. They are unaware, resistant, neutral, supportive, and leading. The last two levels are the most desirable, with leading being the best choice.

One of the methods for determining the project budget involves summing cost elements. What is the name of the tool, and what is the logical sequence to take from the lowest to the highest level of detail? A. Cost Aggregation sums from activity to work package to control accounts to total project B. Funding Limit Reconciliation sums from activity to task to control account to work package to summary WBS node to total project C. Cost Summation sums from task to control account to work package to total project D. Cost Aggregation sums from total project to WBS summary node to work package to control accounts

A. Answer-A is the best choice. The tool of Cost Aggregation sums up costs starting at the activity level, up to work package, up to control account, up to total project. Each other answer has a problem in the sequence or the name of the tool.

Which of the following is not a process established by the scope management plan? A. how to manage configuration activities B. how to prepare a scope statement C. how to decompose the WBS D. how to obtain formal approval of the final project deliverable

A. How to manage configuration activities is described in the requirements management plan, which is also an output of Plan Scope Management. The other 3 descriptions are accurate for the scope management plan.

Review the following statements about Define Scope and choose the one that best describes the process. A. The process is about developing a detailed description of the project and product B. The process is about developing a detailed description of the project C. The process is about developing a detailed description of the product D. The process is about bridging or connecting documentation from initiating steps to the schedule baseline

A. The ultimate goal of this Define Scope process is to describe in detail the project AND the product this project will produce. You may think of it as describing the what and how - what the project will produce, and how it will produce it.

In order to have a successful project, the PM must manage the issue log and keep the team and key stakeholders focused on a common understanding of the scope. The scope baseline should capture this definition of the project scope. Efforts to manage to this scope involve some monitoring and controlling. Search the following 4 choices. Find the choice that best names and succinctly describes a relevant process. A. Monitor and Control Scope - process of documenting product acceptance B. Validate Scope - the process of formalizing acceptance of completed deliverables C. Control Scope - the process of documenting accepted deliverables D. Manage Scope - the process of validating project deliverables and documenting change requests

Answer-B is the best choice. The question leaves 2 clues - that we are concerned with the Scope Management topic and specific monitoring and controlling processes. There are 2 M & C processes in this knowledge area: Validate Scope and Control Scope.

Given that WBS stands for work breakdown structure, which of the following is the best explanation of the process called Create WBS? A. Decomposing product requirements into smaller features that are easier to manage B. Decomposing project activities into smaller tasks that are easier to manage C. Subdividing project deliverables into smaller components that are easier to manage D. Subdividing project work packages into smaller components that are easier to manage

Answer-C is the best description or explanation of the Create WBS process.

The project manager is reviewing the process that describes specific steps for successfully closing a project or a phase of a project. What is the name of one of the outputs and the associated items listed under this output that should be updated by the project manager or team? A. The output is deliverables transition and lists the transition of product, service, or result to the customer, whether internal or external B. The output is project management plan updates and lists project documents, closure files, and historical information C. The output is organizational process assets updates and lists project documents, closure documents, operational and support documents, and lessons learned repository D. The output is final product transition and lists the items of historical information, lessons learned, and supporting files

Answer-C is the correct answer. Granted, several of these start to sound the same.

In regards to EVM, what is considered the most critical metric, and why would we want to capture that in the lessons learned register for future reference? A. Cost Performance Index because it reports the value of the work completed compared to the estimated costs that were anticipated to date B. CPI because it measures the cost efficiency of the work completed C. SPI because it measures progress achieved compared to progress planned on the project D. Schedule Performance Index because it reports to key stakeholders a valid snapshot of the work performance of the team to date

B

Sharon is the obvious choice for the role of project manager for the proposed project. Her manager asked Sharon to meet with the heads of other departments who will be impacted by the new project and assess the feasibility of the new service the project would produce. Sharon is not sure if those meetings are warranted at this point. What is the best advice for her, given the following choices? A. Her manager requested the action, so she should meet with the other managers to introduce herself and build rapport. B. She should meet and begin validating constraints and assumptions. C. She should hold off on the meetings until the project charter has been signed. D. She should voice her concern to her manager that they may be wasting company resources and confirm with her manager before meeting.

B

What of the following sequences of project processes is most logical? A. Identify Stakeholders, Define Scope, Collect Requirements, Monitor Communications B. Identify Stakeholders, Create WBS, Monitor Risks, Close Project or Phase C. Identify Stakeholders, Collect Requirements, Develop Project Charter, Close Procurements D. Develop Project Charter, Identify Stakeholders, Create WBS, Define Scope, Close Project or Phase

B

You are the PM for a project that was requested and sponsored by 3 Vice Presidents in your organization. The key objective is to select and implement a customer management system with enhanced capabilities; the old system is a mess and must be replaced. Initial planning is done. The team you are managing is deep into the execution of the work packages and managing the issue log. Today, all 3 VPs have emailed you with separate change requests. To make matters worse, each VP argues that his or her change request is of utmost priority. In this situation, what would be your best course of action? A. Request a meeting of the change control board and turn the 3 requests over to the board B. Look at the 3 change requests, do the necessary research, and prioritize them C. Request a meeting with each VP and explain that the initial planning is done, the team is fully engaged in execution, and the change request will have to wait D. Look at the 3 change requests, meet with your manager, and seek advice on how to prioritize them

B

When it comes to evaluating change requests in light of the project scope, which of the following is the best advice? A. Analyze the KPI from the status reports and determine the impact this change may have on the progress in the project B. Scan the requirements traceability matrix, find the owner of the requirements that may be affected by the change, and discuss the change with them C. Read the configuration management plan and ensure that the change request forms are filled out correctly before moving forward with planning D. Ask a team member to print copies of the staffing management plan and review it with the team to determine that the change request is feasible

B B is your best answer. The question is talking about scope and change requests, pointing to the process of Control Scope. The proposed answers describe inputs that may prove helpful to a project manager.

You are the project manager and need to resolve a conflict that has been impacting performance on the team. Given no further description of the conflict, what method would be your first choice? A. Progressive Elaboration B. Collaboration C. Punishment D. Compromising

B Collaboration and problem-solving are the preferred methods for resolving team conflict on projects. Avoid punishment if possible. And, recognize that compromising often results in a lose-lose scenario.

Ron met with his supervisor to review the process for managing change requests on the project. Both believe they can improve the current process by improving the team's ability to capture, interpret and disseminate tacit knowledge. Assuming that is true, which of the following suggested actions is the best for Ron in regards to his team? A. Improve the emotional intelligence of the team through a focused workshop B. Encourage team members to network, attend meetings, conferences, seminars, or workshops to share best practices C. Enhance the active listening skills and empathy of the team members so that they are better positioned to relate to the customer and the root cause of the change requests D. Request that team members train, learn, and make use of the new online portal established to share best practices

B In this question, the key word is tacit. Tacit knowledge refers to experience or know-how. The best means of sharing (both to learn and to teach) this tacit knowledge is person to person. Answer B is the best, as it offers these options. Answer A and C are not correct, but they offer appealing words or references to soft-skill terms. Answer D is describing explicit knowledge, and the best means of managing explicit knowledge is connecting person to information. Be sure you can differentiate tacit (know-how; person to person) and explicit (person to information source) on the exam.

The project team is preparing the final report to be shared with key stakeholders and to be filed for future reference once this project is closed. From the following choices, what would not be included in the final report? A. Summary of how the project deliverable met the identified business need B. Summary of procurement activities carried out in the project, including a list of contracts that remain open C. Summary of how risks impacted the project, and how they were managed D. Summary of issues encountered on the project, including a list of issues that remain open

B The Final Report is a key output of the Close Project or Phase process. All descriptions are accurate except for answer B. There should be no open contracts - all agreements must be closed prior to closing the project.

Read the following statements and select the one that best describes the successful completion of a project. A. All quality metrics have been validated and accepted B. The team delivers all work packages on time and on budget C. The team has delivered product, service, or results to a customer and avoided legal actions, including arbitration D. Contracts are closed and the customer has expressed satisfaction

B The key factors of project success come back to the big 3 of scope, schedule, and cost. Work packages are the lowest element (most detailed) of the official scope of the project represented in the WBS; therefore, completing the work packages within the schedule and budget constraints of the project environment is the ultimate measure of success. Clearly, these other choices are desirable, as well. It's great to hit quality metrics, have customer acceptance, close contracts, and avoid lawsuits.

In which process group does the team create a service, result, or product? A. Close Project or Phase B. Executing C. Direct and Manage Project Work D. Validate Scope

B The key words in this question are "process group" - the question asks for a process group rather than the name of a process. This type of question can be tricky on the exam - it goes back to the basic PMI process framework. The work packages are completed and results are created during the executing process group.

The project team is trying to reach agreement on the level of influence that one individual has in the customer organization. At the heart of the matter, the team wants to correctly understand where this individual will fit. With this description of the team activity and your understanding of the PMI framework, what Process Group is being described? A. Integration management B. Initiating C. Stakeholder analysis D. Planning

B INT

Ultimately, the PM is responsible for meeting the expectations of stakeholders and communicating with them appropriately. From the following, choose the statement that best describes what this process entails: A. Actively listening to the needs of stakeholders B. Resolving identified issues and addressing concerns that have not yet become documented issues C. Managing the expectations of stakeholders proactively while passively reporting status to the PMO when required D. Documenting and resolving issues with key stakeholders

B description of the process of Manage Stakeholder Engagement of those given.

Which of the following statements about the monitoring and controlling process of Resource Management is not accurate? A. the process name is Control Resources B. the process applies to both physical and human resources C. the process ensures that resources are assigned and released at the right time, right place, and right amount D. Performance Reviews are one of the techniques used by this process

B.

Jamal is the PM for a 9-month project, and the team has completed half the deliverables in the first 3 months. At the end of month 3, Jamal gets called into an emergency meeting with his boss and the project sponsor. The sponsor breaks the news that the prior quarter financials for her organization were not good; as a result, the sponsor is forced to shut down funding for 4 projects, including the project that Jamal is leading. Jamal is very upset - the project is going well and the team is performing excellent work. As he leaves the meeting, Jamal considers what action he should take first. As the Project Manager, what should Jamal do? A. Request a formal, written document from the sponsor that indicates project termination B. Take the steps of administrative closure C. Request a meeting with the sponsor and her management to report on the progress made to date on the project D. Take the steps to close out the contract

B. As a project manager, his first course of action is to begin the administrative closure steps of the Close Project or Phase process.

You are managing a project for YellowCard, a US-based company that outfits soccer referees and officials with specialized gear, including whistles, timers, waterproof notebooks, shoes, and the like. YellowCard has been growing steadily, and the company is looking to expand into schools and universities in Mexico and Canada. Suppliers and reliable, affordable shipping are a big concern for the expansion. Your internal team is producing a gap assessment and will present a final deliverable of reports and findings to the COO and other senior management. This week, the focus of the team is to define the scope of the project with the COO and her core team. Which tool of the Define Scope process is least likely to be valuable to you and the team in this situation? A. Decomposition; the nature of gap analysis makes it difficult to get down to work packages B. Product analysis; the deliverable for this project is more of a service or result C. Facilitated workshop; one key to success with those sessions is to have the decision-makers in the room; the COO is very busy and she may not be available D. Expert judgment; your team will have a hard time finding people with experience with this type of international business

B. B is the best choice from this difficult question. First, determine if the tool listed in the answer is valid for the Process. That eliminates answer A - decomposition is not a tool of Define Scope. All others listed are valid. Taking this to the next level, determine the tool that will prove least applicable for this described project. Answer-B lists product analysis - that is a valid tool listed in the PMBOK Guide. However, this tool of product analysis will not align well with this project aimed at identifying gaps and producing reports as a deliverable. That makes B the best choice as the least effective technique to use.

The Kaycon Project has recently migrated to the Rollout Phase. The development team cleared the final quality gates, documentation was completed, and all results and responsibilities have been passed on to the team. Most of these team members are new to the project. Jan was the project manager for the prior effort. She is bringing Frank up to date on the prior work and status. Frank will lead this rollout phase. Jan and Frank are reviewing the charter to validate that the project constraints still apply. What process are they performing? A. Project justification and funding B. Develop Project Charter C. Validate Scope D. Close Project or Phase

B. The Develop Project Charter process is used to validate or refine decisions made during the prior phase or iteration of this process. So, even the process that produces the Charter may be revisited, especially if the project has more than 1 phase. Answer-D is the second best choice, but B is clearly the best choice.

Two department heads are working together to manage a corporate initiative that will take 3 years to complete. One manager will oversee the first portion of the development. Then, the work results will transfer to the second group for the next portion of the initiative. The two managers meet to discuss that transition even though it will not take place until the next fiscal year. The process that best describes the meeting that the two department heads are having is called what? A. Control Scope B. Close Project or Phase C. Define Schedule D. Define Activities

B. The key word in the question is transfer. They are discussing the transition steps - how the first group will transfer the work product or deliverable to the second group for completion. This question describes a multi-phase project. The two are discussing how to Close the Phase from the first group and transition to the second group to manage.

Key stakeholders, including the project sponsor, are keenly interested in the ability of the team to deliver results that meet or exceed specifications. The project team is busy performing quality assurance for the current phase of the project. Why are the team and key stakeholders most interested in the quality control measurements? A. These measurements are compared against the plan to see if the deliverables are of acceptable quality B. These measurements are the results of quality activities so they indicate if the plan is being followed C. These measurements are compared with the quality metrics and the Customer is asked to sign off on those that pass inspection D. These measurements help the team find quality issues, initiate change requests, and implement correction action

B. Remember that the focus on Manage Quality is carrying out the quality plans that have been made. So, quality control measurements are the proof or evidence that quality activities are occurring. Assurance that quality steps are taking place. The team and key stakeholders can see the results of inspections, sampling, control charts, and the like and have confidence that quality plans are being carried out. The other answers lean to the understanding of the next process - that of Control Quality, where we focus on the product, not the process

The team is reviewing, tracking, and reporting the overall progress made on the project. What technique is most likely to give the team an early warning of deviation from the plan? A. Monte Carlo analysis B. Trend analysis C. Earned value analysis D. Cost-benefit analysis

B. The key words in the question are "early warning", making answer B the best choice. Trend analysis is a Data Analysis technique that forecasts future performance based on past results. This technique leads to early warnings of expected performance that does not align with the plan.

Just before determining the duration of each activity, the project team must complete a prior process. An output of that process is the RBS - what does RBS represent? A. Risk Breakdown Structure B. Resource Breakdown Structure C. Responsibility Breakdown Structure D. Role Breakdown Structure

B. The similarity of the answers can be troublesome. In this case, think about what must occur just before estimating the durations of each task or scheduled activity. First, the team must know which resources will be used - they types, skill-level, ability, and quantities of these resources. The Resource Breakdown Structure categorizes those resources, such as labor, materials, equipment, and supplies. A is a legitimate response (risk breakdown structure), but B is a better answer for this question.

The project manager is preparing the final report. She is summarizing the results of the customer survey that was just completed. What should she compare those results against? A. Requirements Traceability Matrix B. Communications Management Plan C. Stakeholder Engagement Plan D. Project Management Plan

C

The cost of quality is a consideration for a project manager in determining appropriate and valuable quality steps and activities. What impact should a quality audit have on the cost of quality? A. Increased cost of quality as the performing organization makes an investment in either internal or external resources to conduct the audits B. No impact on the cost of quality, which is directly tied to product failure C. Lower cost of quality and an increase in customer acceptance of the product of the project D. Lower cost of quality but have no direct correlation with customer acceptance of the product of the project

C It correctly states that quality audits (a tool of Manage Quality) help to reduce the cost of quality and increase the likelihood that the Customer or Sponsor will accept the output of the project - the quality will meet the specifications.

The project manager asks you to estimate the costs to perform the portion of the work assigned to you. She prefers that you use the triangular distribution. What conclusion can you reach based on this information? A. The PM wants you to build an estimate based on sound historical information using a parametric estimate B. The PM prefers that you cost aggregate from the lowest level of the iron triangle C. The PM is looking for an estimate that is based on a range of responses and computed with no weighting D. The PM assumes you have the normally distributed data required to perform accurate reserve analysis

C The answers are actually more difficult to understand than the question. Answer C is describing a Three-Point Estimating technique found in the process that estimates costs for each activity. The reference to a triangular distribution highlights that tool that offers two formulas... triangular distribution has no weighting, and beta distribution is weighted.

In the following, note the statements that pertain to resource requirements. Which of those statements is not accurate? A. The team can determine the resources needed for a work package by aggregating the resource requirements B. Resource requirements result from Estimate Activity Resources and identify the types of resources required for each activity C. The quantities of resource requirements are determined in the process of Estimate Activity Durations D. Including the basis for these estimates and any assumptions made in developing them is considered a good practice

C is the correct answer - a false statement about resource requirements.

Collecting requirements involves many considerations. Consider the following statements about this process of collecting project requirements. Which one is not accurate? A. Requirements documentation resulting from this process becomes an input to other processes B. You should be able to tie each work package back to a requirement that was defined in this process C. Those involved in this process use the project charter, the stakeholder register, and the scope statement to conduct this process to document requirements D. This process is all about understanding, documenting, and managing customer expectations

C is the correct answer as it describes a false statement. It is very close to true - it has 1 false element in it that invalidates the statement. The scope statement is not used to Collect Requirements because it will be developed later. Define Scope uses Requirements Documentation as an input.

What tool is most closely associated with the concept of communication channels, and what is the related knowledge area? A. Communication Model Analysis; Stakeholder Management B. Communication Technology Analysis; Stakeholder Management C. Communication Requirements Analysis; Communications Management D. Communication Methods Analysis; Communications Management

C is the correct answer. Communication channels are mentioned in the Plan Communications Management tool called Communication Requirements Analysis. Given all that background, C is the best choice and the correct listing of knowledge area!

When it comes to the conflict resolution technique of confronting or problem-solving, which of the following statements is not accurate? A. Confronting looks at alternatives and treats conflict as a problem to solve B. Problem-solving requires open communication C. Problem-solving focuses on the common points of agreement rather than areas of difference D. Confronting requires both sides to work together

C is the correct choice. All other descriptions are accurate representations of confronting or problem-solving. C is not true - problem-solving focuses on the points of difference and looks to find resolution.

The project manager is performing planning activities early in the project to determine the type and number of resources to pull from various departments. In which project environment will this be the most challenging, based on these organizational types? A. Hierarchical Matrix B. Plurality-Based Organization C. Functional D. Blended Matrix

C, Getting committed resources on your project can be a challenge. The most challenging environment for the project manager would be a functional organization where department managers have more authority than project managers. The next "worse case" would be a weak matrix. Most of these answers are made-up names, and answer C is the best choice.

Members of the team just brought an urgent matter to the project manager. The work product of a vendor has failed the quality gate, and progress has stalled, creating some uncertainty for the remaining schedule. The PM agrees that this situation calls for immediate corrective action and decides to issue a formal change request. In which process is the project manager involved? A. Perform Integrated Change Control B. Plan Quality Management Assurance C. Monitor and Control Quality D. Monitor Risks

D

The project manager is distributing status, updates, and other project information to the stakeholders. Which of the following methods is not a valid means for the project manager to push data to these stakeholders? A. Phone calls B. Emails C. Press release D. Knowledge database

D

The project manager notices that the sponsor has not opened the last three status reports for the project and investigates. The sponsor explains that she feels a bit disconnected from the project, and states that the reporting file type is not supported by their IT department. What should the project manager do? A. Trace the root cause back to the communications plan and post it in the issue log B. Issue a change request to create a custom set of reports for the sponsor C. Offer to contact the IT department and resolve the issue directly with them D. Find out what formats work best for the sponsor and confirm that the report contents are valuable to the sponsor

D

The remaining team members are busily updating the final versions of project documents before the project officially closes at the end of the quarter. The team is capturing information, such as the accuracy of the business case, risk and issue management incidents, stakeholder engagement performance, and other useful data. What is the most accurate name or label for this type of final project data? A. Lessons learned repository B. Work Performance Information C. Organizational process assets D. Lessons learned register

D

The team is meeting with the representatives of other departments who will be the internal customers for this project. The goal is to ask questions of these people to determine and document their expectations for the project - how they will contribute - what they are excited about - what fears they have about the project. Given this description, what process is being conducted, and what process group is correct? A. Collect Requirements, Planning B. Develop Project Charter, Initiating C. Plan Communications Management, Planning D. Identify Stakeholders, Initiating

D

At what point in the risk management knowledge area should a project manager and the project team establish protocols for the application of contingency reserve? A. As an output of Plan Risk Responses B. As an output of Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis C. As an output of Identify Risks D. As an output of Plan Risk Management

D Plan Risk Management results in the risk management plan which includes protocols or guidelines for future use of contingency reserves. Those actual dollar amounts are not known until later - after Plan Risk Responses. However, the protocols are defined up front in the first planning process of this knowledge area.

When the project manager and team are performing stakeholder identification, which of the following statements is not accurate about what that process should accomplish? A. Identify stakeholders who may be impacted negatively by the project result or work B. Identify internal and external stakeholders, including vendors or sellers performing work for the project team C. Identify stakeholders who should be involved in defining the project scope baseline D. Identify stakeholders should be conducted and closed out soon after project initiation

D The first 3 answers are correct. Answer-D is very close but becomes a false statement with the inclusion of closed out in the phrase. Identify Stakeholders is a continuous process - it takes place early and should be revisited throughout the project. Answer-D is the best choice.

What component of the project management plan is most useful to a project manager while she works to manage the expectations of project stakeholders? A. Change management plan B. Configuration management plan C. Communications management plan D. Stakeholder Engagement Plan

D the fact remains that the Stakeholder Engagement Plan is the vital component here and best answer. Another important part of the overall plan is the communications management plan. However, that component of the plan is the second-best choice for this question about the process of Plan Stakeholder Engagement.

Consider the list of elements found in a cost management plan. Which of the following is not a valid element? A. units of measure B. level of precision and accuracy C. control thresholds and rules for performance measurement D. control accounts tied back to nodes on the WBS

D Answer D is the best choice, because this answer goes into too much detail for the cost management plan. This plan will not link directly to control accounts on the work breakdown structure. The plan may address an approach for making that connection, but not the actual accounts and nodes. The first 3 answers are accurate descriptions.

Carl is assigned 20 hours per week to the project you lead; however, Carl is still working in the engineering department the remainder of the week. Your team tagged Carl as the logical owner for a technical risk that has a low likelihood of taking place, but the impact would be great if it happens. Carl is reporting 20 hours a week to your project, as planned, but you don't believe he is nearly engaged enough. Your concern is both for the work Carl should be contributing plus for the risk tracking and planning he should be carrying out. What should you do? A. Meet with Carl, clearly list your expectations, and offer him a bonus if he will meet them B. In the next team meeting, ask Carl if he is committed to the project and the team C. In the next team meeting, ask each risk owner to provide a summary of risks, tracking, and response plans D. Meet with Carl, review his responsibilities on your project, and ask for his feedback and commitment

D is the best way to deal with Carl. PMI favors a direct approach, conducted face-to-face, privately.

The project team has completed a first pass at qualitative risk analysis, and the risk register reflects those results. The team agrees that a few of the risks should be explored further to quantify the likelihood and impact at a lower level of detail. Which of the following actions would not be recommended? A. Create a decision-tree diagram and calculate EMV B. Perform sensitivity analysis to learn more about these risks and the impacts they may have C. Use probability distributions if possible to model and simulate the risk events D. Compute impact and probability assessments for each of these risks

D is the correct answer. This tool does not belong in the process described. Risk probability and impact assessment is carried out in the prior process of qualitative analysis - not here in quantitative analysis. The other 3 choices are valid tools of this process of quantitative analysis.

The team is excited. After several weeks, the team has finally chased down a quality issue to the underlying cause. As it turns out, a team member discovered the quality problem was directly related to a new product feature that no one suspected previously. What tool most likely would have led the team to this discovery? A. 5 Why Technique B. Root Cause Analysis C. Inspection D. Scatter Diagram

D. The keyword in the question is "related" - indicating that the quality issue was related to another factor. Scatter diagrams are used to show correlations or relationships between 2 factors.

A new team member joins your project at the half-way point of the schedule. Before this new member joins next week's meeting with you and the project sponsor, you want to make sure the new guy understands the needs and expectations of the sponsor. You don't have time this week to go over it. What two documents would you point the new guy to read and review? A. The communications management plan and the stakeholder management strategy B. The WBS and the project charter C. The communications management plan and the scope statement D. The stakeholder engagement plan and the stakeholder register

D. The needs of the sponsor should be documented in both the stakeholder register and the stakeholder engagement plan.

Which of the following outputs is not a result of initiating a project? A. Project Charter B. A list of stakeholders C. A strategy for managing the stakeholders D. Benefits Management Plan

D. D is the best choice here. This is a difficult question for a couple of reasons. First, initiating a project involves the two processes of Develop Project Charter and Identify Stakeholders. You have to consider the outputs from both processes. Those 2 major outputs are the Project Charter and the Stakeholder Register. The PMBOK Guide states that the Stakeholder Register includes a strategy for managing stakeholders, as well as a classification and assessment of each stakeholder. The second element that made this a tough question is the subtle naming or reference of the answers. The stakeholder register is just a list of stakeholders. Whereas, D sounds correct - it sounds like a portion of the Project Management Plan. The Benefits Management Plan is actually an input (not an output) to Develop Project Charter. Therefore, D is the correct answer here.

The project manager is thinking of approaches she wants to take in risk identification with the team and a few, outside resources. A couple of the team members have strong personalities that could influence the others, so the project manager is considering starting the process with a technique that keeps ideas anonymous. What is the name of this approach? A. Nominal Group Technique B. Plurality Voting Technique C. Fibonacci Voting Technique D. Delphi Technique

D. The Delphi Technique is a means of gathering data used in the Identify Risks process. The word anonymous provides the clue - the Delphi Technique treats responses from experts anonymously and does not share a list of participants with the group. That practice encourages the experts to give a true opinion, one that is not influenced or biased by other participants.

Consider the list of elements found in a cost management plan. Which of the following is not a valid element? A. units of measure B. level of precision and accuracy C. control thresholds and rules for performance measurement D. control accounts tied back to nodes on the WBS

D. Answer D is the best choice, because this answer goes into too much detail for the cost management plan. This plan will not link directly to control accounts on the work breakdown structure. The plan may address an approach for making that connection, but not the actual accounts and nodes. The first 3 answers are accurate descriptions.

The project manager meets with the sponsor to review project results and verify that the project team is fulfilling the quality requirements established by the sponsor. These actions and steps are best described by what process? A. Plan Quality Management B. Control Quality C. Control Procurements D. Manage Quality

D. Audit is being described here which is a tool in Manage Quality.

The project manager is leading efforts to implement the new initiative as quickly as possible while still adhering to the quality policies of the company. Given the projectized environment of this organization, who should be directing the performance of the planned project activities? A. The project manager B. The project manager and members of the quality assurance team C. The project manager and functional managers D. The project manager and members of the project team

D. It's true that a project manager has the most authority in a projectized environment; however, the scenario describes the work performed in executing the project plan. The project manager PLUS team members should be directing and managing tasks. The project manager has overall authority, but team members will be directing work at various lower levels, making technical decisions, and managing performance in those areas.

Capturing lessons learned on the current project, while considering historical data are both important to project team members. This tool is the most effective means of creating and connecting people to simple, codified, unambiguous information or explicit knowledge. What is the name of this tool? A. Communications Management Plan B. Requirements Documentation Matrix C. Knowledge Management D. Information Management

D. The question describes the tool of Information Management. In the process of Manage Project Knowledge, there are two tools that require differentiation. Knowledge Management is about tacit knowledge - know-how and experience. Associate know-how with Knowledge Management. Whereas, Information Management is about explicit knowledge - facts, metrics, simplified data.

Monitoring and controlling processes examine the outputs of project activities to determine potential variances. Where are these actual results generated, and what do we call them? A. Manage project execution; Work performance measurements B. Monitor communications; Performance reports C. Monitor and Control Project Work; Work performance data D. Direct and Manage Project Work; Work performance data

D. WPD or work performance data is a common input to monitoring and controlling processes, often compared to the project plan to determine variances. WPD is the result of the Direct and Manage Project Work process.

The team is arguing over who should be allowed to approve changes in project scope. The project manager states that the answer can be found in the project management plan. What components of the overall PM plan are most useful and should be reviewed? A. The scope management plan and the requirements management plan B. The scope baseline C. The scope management plan and the change management plan D. The scope management plan, the configuration management plan, and the requirements management plan

D. is the best choice. This is one of those examples of a question where the answer with the most correct elements is the best choice. Answer D is accurate - all 3 components of the PM Plan would be useful in this case.

The project manager is not happy with a team member. This team member has circumvented the change control process for a third time, and now other team members are questioning if the process is truly necessary. What should the project manager do? A. Hold a meeting with the entire team and describe the benefits derived from the change control system B. Meet with the team member who is causing the issues, request a change in behavior, and set clear expectations and consequences C. Meet with the team member who is causing the issues and your resource manager, describe the behavior, and place the team member on a formal performance improvement plan D. Hold a meeting with the team member who is causing the issues and describe the benefits derived from the change control system

Leadership can be difficult, don't you agree? In this scenario, we don't know if the project manager has directly confronted the maverick team member or not. Given the information presented, B is the best choice.

There are 49 Processes - and almost all of them result in more than one output. One of the outputs of the executing process in Integration Management is: A. The deliverables B. The work authorization system C. Approved change requests D. The key performance information

The deliverables are the primary output of the executing process called Direct and Manage Project Work - that's why we do projects! Answer-A is correct.

What is a work authorization system?

The project manager's system for authorizing the start of work packages or activities It ensures work is done at the right time and in the proper sequence. work authorization system is responsible for making sure the right materials arrive in the right quantities at the right location at the right time

As a project manager, there are many opinions to consider and many people to involve in project communications. From the following, what is the best list of stakeholders for the project manager to engage? A. The customer, the team members, his manager, the project sponsor, and members of the community who are impacted by the projectB. Team members, his manager, his sponsor, and the customerC. The project management office, his sponsor, the primary point of contact with the customer, the vendors, and the president of the local PMI chapterD. The project management office, the customer rep, and the team

a

Choose the statement that best represents the responsibility of the project manager in regards to change requests. A. The project manager should influence, define, and establish the change control board, driving the standards by which change control meetings will be carried out B. The project manager should communicate status of change requests to all stakeholders on a regular basis C. The project manager must assure that only approved change requests are incorporated into the revised baseline D. The project manager must act quickly and decisively regarding change requests to set a proactive tone for the team and the customer

c

The project manager and team are responsible for capturing lessons learned throughout the life of the project. Looking at the overall framework, what is the name of the knowledge area where a process is dedicated to this activity? A. Closing B. Executing C. Integration D. Scope

c The question makes reference to the Integration Management process called Manage Project Knowledge.

You are frustrated. It appears that your team does not have all the talent required for the tasks this project demands. You are reading over the Resource Management Plan to determine what constraints you have on making project staff assignments. Fortunately, you have not come across any big constraints. However, your organization does not have the talent required, and this is making you nervous. Which technique will be most helpful to fill in names in your RACI Chart? A. RAM Assignments B. Resource Leveling C. Acquisition D. Training

c. Acquisition is the obvious choice, given that you need resources and skills your organization cannot provide. RAM Assignments may sound appealing as it relates to a RACI Chart.