Chapter 1 Project Basics (Domain 1.0)

Which of the following are conflict resolution techniques? (Choose two.) A. Threatening B. Smoothing C. Storming D. Norming E. Negotiating

B. This stage is a process of establishing who is the most influential, and there is jostling for position.

In what stage of team development do team members begin to confront each other and vie for position and control? A. Forming B. Storming C. Norming D. Performing E. Adjourning

C. When a project, or a portion of a project, must be completed prior to another project beginning, it is an example of an interproject dependency.

Developing the project team involves all of the following, EXCEPT A. Developing a team that lasts longer than the project B. Creating a positive environment for team members C. Creating an effective, functioning, and coordinated group D. Increasing the team's competency levels

A. Although this would be a nice outcome, it is not the purpose of developing a project team.

In which phase is the project kickoff meeting held? A. Initiation B. Planning C. Execution D. Monitor and Control E. Closing

A. This activity also includes measuring the project spending to date.

What aspect of project management is shared with Agile and other approaches? A. Sprint planning B. Self-organized and self-directed teams C. Iterative approach D. Adaptive to new/changing requirements

B, C, D. The scope management includes the process for creating the scope statement, the definitions of how the deliverables will be validated, and the process for creating, maintaining, and approving the WBS. It also will define the process for controlling scope change requests, including the procedure for requesting changes.

Which of the following describes a portfolio? A. A collection of the sample work a project manager has done that should be brought to an interview B. A collection of programs, subportfolios, and projects that support strategic business goals or objectives C. A group of related projects that are managed together using shared resources and similar techniques D. A group of project investments that are maintained to help finance projects

B. A portfolio is a collection of programs, sub-portfolios, and projects that support strategic business goals or objective. Programs and projects within a portfolio are not necessarily related to one another in a direct way, and projects may independently exist within the portfolio.

Which project role is responsible for coordinating resources between projects? A. Project management office (PMO) B. Project coordinator C. Project manager D. Project scheduler

B. A risk becomes an active issue when it is triggered. For instance, if the cost of materials starts to rise, it might trigger a budget risk that gets moved to the issue log to be actively managed.

In what type of organizational structure would resources report solely to the project manager? A. Weak-matrix B. Projectized C. Strong-matrix D. Functional

B. Rather than start-to-deferred, the missing relationship is start-to-start, meaning that one task must wait for a different task to start for work to begin.

A stakeholder has asked to add a change to a project, but the request is rejected by the project manager. What is the likely reason the scope was rejected? A. There is interaction between constraints. B. Scope creep is occurring on the project. C. The request can be handled without the formality. D. The sponsor is on vacation.

B. Remember that a project is temporary in nature, and at times adding too much to the scope changes the temporary aspect of the endeavor. Adding unapproved scope to the project is considered to be scope creep.

All of the following techniques can be used to estimate the duration of an activity, except A. Expert judgment B. Three-point estimating C. Analogous estimating D. Pareto diagramming

B. Team members are responsible for producing the deliverables spelled out in the project charter and scope statement.

Which project role helps to market the need and success of the project and provides a level of control for funding? A. Project sponsor or champion B. Project manager C. Project coordinator D. Project scheduler

C. A program is a group of related projects that are managed together with coordinated processes and techniques. Make sure that you know the difference between a project and a portfolio.

Fast-tracking a project is a technique involving which of the following? A. Performing two tasks in parallel that were previously scheduled to start sequentially B. Looking at cost and schedule trade-offs such as adding more resources C. Moving later deliverables to earlier phases to appease stakeholders D. Removing critical path activities that are unnecessary

C. Deliverables are generated during the Direct and Manage Project Work process, during the Execution phase.

In an Agile approach to project management, what is a backlog? A. Delayed work that is cause by bottlenecks B. Customer prioritized functionality list that still needs to be added to the product C. Inventory not added to the project because of shipping delays D. A daily meeting focusing on three questions

C. If your project spans multiple time zones and/or there are a variety of schedules being used, take these factors into consideration when scheduling the meeting.

What does PMP stand for? A. Preferred master project B. Preferred management plan C. Project management plan D. Project management practice

C. PMP is common shorthand for the project management plan. In the project management world, it can also stand for Project Management Professional, an individual certified from the Project Management Institute (PMI®).

Which of the following is the form in which project schedules are typically displayed? A. PERT B. Calendar C. Gantt chart D. Pareto chart

C. The Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that shows task duration and dependencies.

Which of the following project documents are created during the Execution phase? (Choose two.) A. Project charter B. Communication plan C. Issues log D. Lessons learned E. Action items

D. Project managers can spend up to 90% of their time communicating with the stakeholders and the project team.

Of the following, which are considered key activities of the Monitor and Control phase? A. Performance Measuring and Reporting B. Develop the Quality Plan C. Perform Quality Assurance D. Monitor the BudgetE. Develop the Change Control Plan F. Develop the Project Charter

A, C, D. Performance Measuring and Reporting, Perform Quality Assurance, and Monitor the Budget are all activities associated with the Monitor and Control phase. In addition to these activities, the Monitor and Control phase includes governance activities, monitoring the risk/issues log, and administering the change control process.

Which of the following are tools and techniques used for developing a project team? (Choose three.) A. Team-building activities B. Project requirements C. Recognition and rewards D. Lessons learned meetings E. Setting the ground rules F. Project kickoff meetings

A, C, E. Using team-building activities, using recognition and rewards, and setting the ground rules are some of the tools that you can use to develop an effective project team.

What are the defining characteristics of a project? (Choose two.) A. Has a definitive start and end date B. Is assigned to a portfolio C. Creates a unique product or service D. Is a part of ongoing operational activities D. Is part of an organization's strategic plan

A, C. The two most correct answers are that the project has a definitive start and end date and that it creates a unique product or service. Projects are considered a success when the goals they set out to accomplish are fulfilled and the stakeholders are satisfied with the results.

In what project artifact would you find information relating to the quality and availability of resources? A. Project schedule B. Organization chart C. Resource calendar D. Risk register

A, D, F. When there is no harmony within the team, team- building exercises can assist in restoring morale. When a phase is completed, it can be beneficial to celebrate the progress on the project and recognize the contributions of the team. Any kind of change in the team dynamic can impact the project, especially when the leadership is new.

Which of the following steps are important in the development of the project schedule? (Choose three.) A. Determine tasks B. Set the quality plan C. Set the communication plan D. Sequence the tasks E. Construct a Pareto diagram F. Identify the critical path

A, D, and F. Some of the important steps required in the development of the critical path include determining the tasks, determining task start/finish dates, determining task durations and milestones, putting them in sequential order by identifying predecessors and setting dependencies, and identifying the critical path. Scheduling activities also address the allocation of resources, setting baselines, and quality/governance gates.

What is the indication of how fast a project is spending its budget? A. Fast-tracking B. Expenditure tracking C. Crashing D. Burn rate

A, D. The project manager is responsible for managing the team, communication, scope, risk budget, and time of the project, as well as project artifacts and quality assurance.

All of the following are phases of a project, EXCEPT A. Planning B. Closing C. Development D. Execution

A. A change control board (CCB), in conjunction with the change control process, will approve or reject changes to the scope of the project.

What are governance gates? A. A checkpoint between project phases where approval is obtained to move forward B. A checkpoint where quality is checked against a previously established criterion C. Checkpoints at the beginning and end of the project only D. After a project governor is appointed, unplanned interruptions from this project sponsor

A. A governance gate is a checkpoint between project phases where approval is obtained to move forward. Usually, project reports are sent to a steering committee to help ensure accountability on the project for time, money, and scope.

Where would the following information be found: types of contracts the project will use, authority of the project team, and information on how multiple vendors will be managed? A. Budget B. Procurement plan C. WBS D. Detailed risks

A. A more solid organization that is working with a fixed budget or other constraints would be best suited for more traditional project management approaches.

What elements are explained in a business case? A. Justification by identifying the organizational benefits B. Alternative solutions C. Alignment to the strategic plan D. All of the above E. AandC

A. All projects are constrained by what is typically referred to as the "triple constraints," which include time, budget, and scope as they pertain to quality. Typically, you can manipulate two elements and will have to live with how they constrain the third element. You can have cheap, feature rich, or fast: pick two of three.

Which project role outlines the consequences of nonperformance? A. Project manager B. Project coordinator C. Project scheduler D. Project management office

A. Construction would come after the blueprinting is approved.

Teams normally go through a similar development cycle. Which is the correct order of those stages? A. Norming, Forming, Storming, Adjourning, Performing B. Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning C. Forming, Norming, Performing, Storming, Adjourning D. Norming, Storming, Forming, Adjourning, Performing

A. Daily standup meetings are typically used with an Agile methodology. As such, a daily standup meeting would not have a governance body in attendance and would normally be attended by project team members.

What are project requirements? A. A measure of the distance traveled on a project B. Characteristics of deliverables that must be met C. Checkpoints on a project to determine Go/No-Go D. Major events in a project used to measure progress

A. Define activities, sequence activities, estimate resources, and estimate duration are all key activities that must occur in order to develop the project schedule

A project team member is not meeting deadlines, and she is starting to be tardy in showing up for work. The project manager meets with her and inquires as to what is going on. The team member replies that she wants to do good work, but that she doesn't seem to have the skills needed for certain tasks. They agree to get the team member a mentor for those tasks. This is an example of what type of conflict resolution? A. Smoothing B. Forcing C. Compromising D. Confronting E. Avoiding In terms of resource assignments, which best describes how resources are assigned in a projectized environment? A. Resources are assigned on an ad hoc basis. B. Resources are assigned from a functional area to the project. C. Resources must be outsourced. D. Resources must not be collocated.

A. Due to the temporary nature of projects, resources are not permanently assigned to any one project or function.

Earned value is an indication of which of the following? A. The actual cost of completing work in a specific timeframe B. The cost of work that has been authorized and budgeted C. The value of the work completed to date compared to the budgeted amount D. The total sum of sales earned at project completion

A. Fast tracking is a schedule compression technique that involves completing two tasks in parallel that were previously scheduled to start sequentially. This can come with a higher cost and with increased risk, but it will help the project be completed faster.

A project stakeholder has which of the following responsibilities? A. Documentation and administrative support, estimation of task duration, soliciting task status from resources, expertise B. Vested interest, providing input and requirements, project steering, expertise C. Documentation and administrative support, providing input and requirements, project steering, expertise D. Vested interest, providing input and requirements, cross- functional coordination, expertise

A. In this case, Jenny is considered to be a project stakeholder. Remember that a team member is also a form of a stakeholder.

A project has a key contributor who is absent from meetings, not meeting deadlines, and affecting the morale of other individuals on a team. There is no other person within the company with the expertise needed to perform the tasks assigned to this team member. Which of the following would be the appropriate action for the project manager? A. Bring the team member in for a counseling session. B. Leave the employee alone and distribute work to other team members. C. Remove the team member from the project and seek a replacement. D. Relocate the team member to a different facility.

A. In this scenario, working with the team member to get the desired result is the best course of action. Removing or replacing a team member is not always an option, and thus is incorrect.

Jenny works for a company undertaking a project. She will ultimately benefit from the service created and would like to share her thoughts and input on how it should be created. She is also a subject-matter expert in the product area. Jenny is most likely which of the following? A. Project stakeholder B. Project champion C. Project sponsor D. Member of the PMO

A. Project sign-off occurs in the Closing phase, not the Initiation phase.

The project team is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT A. Providing governance on the project B. Contributing to the deliverables according to the schedule C. Contributing expertise to the project D. Estimating costs and dependencies

A. Providing governance on the project is the responsibility of a project management office, not the project team. The project team is responsible for contributing expertise to the project, contributing deliverables according to the schedule, estimating task duration, and estimating costs and dependencies.

Nyssa works for Wigitcom and has been assigned to a project. She wants to take a week off for a family reunion, which conflicts with a project deadline. The project manager denied her leave request, but her functional manager lets her attend the family reunion. What type of organizational structure is Wigitcom using? A. Projectized B. Strong-matrix C. Balanced-matrix D. Weak-matrix

A. Stakeholder expectations having been met is the most critical factor involved when determining whether a project is a success.

A project management office (PMO) has which of the following responsibilities? (Choose three.) A. Markets the project across the business B. Provides governance for projects C. Manages the team, communication, scope, risk, budget, and time of the project D. Maintains standard documentation and templates E. Establishes key performance indicators and parameters F. Develops and maintains the project schedule

A. The "champion" role of the sponsor is really important both initially and as the project commences in order to keep the energy and focus of the whole organization committed to its success.

All of the following are cost-estimating techniques, EXCEPT A. Bottom-upestimating B. Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) C. Parametric estimating D. Analogous estimating

A. The cost performance index (CPI) is EV/AC. Therefore, 900 / 1100 = .84.

A construction company is in the middle of a project to build a guest room on a house. The EV value for the project is $7,000, and the actual cost for the project is $9,500. Select the CV for the project and its meaning. A. $2,500 and the project is under budget B. −$2,500 and the project is under budget C. $2,500 and the project is over budget D. −$2,500 and the project is over budget

A. The primary purpose of the Closing phase is to document the formal acceptance of the project work and to hand off the completed product to the organization for ongoing maintenance and support.

Which component of the project charter describes the characteristics of the product produced by the project? A. Project description B. Business case C. Deliverables D. Quality plan

A. The project description explains the attributes of the product, service, or result of the project.

When does an item move from the risk register to the issue log? A. As soon as the risk as identified B. When the risk is triggered C. Never D. In the creation of the project plan

A. The project manager is attempting to make the conflict appear less important than it really is by implying that they would have to work on the upcoming weekend if they didn't stay that night. No attempt is made to see if there was another solution, like coming in early the next day.

All of the following are ways to determine whether a project is completed, EXCEPT A. When the project manager declares the project is complete B. When the project is canceled C. When it has been determined that the goals and objectives of the project cannot be accomplished D. When the objectives are accomplished and stakeholders are satisfied

A. The project manager is not the critical role in this answer. Unless it falls into one of the other three phases, this does not hold true.

Which of the following is the main activity of the Execution phase? A. Performance measuring and reporting B. Creating and verifying deliverables C. Key stakeholder identification D. Determining needed project resources

A. This information would generally be found in a responsibility assignment matrix instead of the WBS dictionary.

Which conflict resolution technique produces a win-lose result for the parties? A. Forcing B. Confronting C. Avoiding D. Attacking

A. This is where one party gets their way, and the other party's interest is not represented.

All of the following are examples of project resources, EXCEPT A. Team members B. Equipment C. WBS D. Materials

A. Top-down estimating, or analogous estimating, is when high-level project cost estimates are used by comparing to a similar project from the past.

A startup company is attempting to compete in an emerging product market. There are constant disruptive technology changes, and the market is shifting in their product tastes. This type of situation would be best served by which of the following? A. Agile approach B. Projectized environment C. Functional environment D. Traditional, or waterfall

A. When requirements are changing, an Agile approach allows an organization to be readily able to adapt to the environment.

What does a change control board (CCB) do to support the project? A. Helps vet and manage changes to the scope B. Provides an accounting structure for tasks C. Sets the standards and templates for the project D. Sets the costs of quality for the project

A. While not listed, this function could also be done by a program or portfolio within those units only. The PMO performs this function across the organization.

A building project requires the following steps: construction, purchasing the build site, blueprinting, and inspection. Construction has what relationship to blueprinting? A. It is a successor task. B. It is a mandatory task. C. It is a predecessor task. D. It is a discretionary task.

B, C, E. The three types of organizational structures are functional, matrix, and projectized. In a functional organization, decisions and control are driven by the specialized function (IT, accounting, HR, and so on). With a projectized organization, the project manager has decision-making authority and control over resources. A matrixed organization is a blended model between functional and projectized.

The Closing phase of a project serves what critical purpose? A. Formal acceptance and turnover to ongoing maintenance and support B. Performing governance activities and turnover to ongoing maintenance and support C. Formal acceptance and producing deliverables D. Performing governance activities and producing deliverables

B, D, E. The PMO provides guidance to project managers and helps present a consistent, reliable approach to managing projects across the organization. Responsibilities include providing governance for projects, maintaining standard documentation and templates, and establishing key performance indicators and parameters.

What are the defining characteristics of a project? (Choose two.) A. group of related tasks B. Temporary in nature C. Operational activities D. Reworking of an existing project E. Creation of a unique product or service

B, E. A project can be summarized as having the following properties: It is temporary in nature, it creates a unique product or service, it has a definite start and finish, it contains a reason/purpose, and it may be part of a program or portfolio. A group of related tasks is not necessarily a project but could be a to-do list of any kind. Operational activities are activities that take place after a project has been completed. Reworking an existing project is not creating a new product or service, and it doesn't meet the properties of a project.

When breaking down project deliverables, what is the lowest level that is recorded in a WBS? A. Daily work schedules B. High-level requirements C. Work package D. Majormilestones

B, E. Smoothing and negotiating are conflict resolution techniques. Storming and norming are stages of group development that were first proposed by Bruce Tuckman. Threatening is an interpersonal response that typically leads to conflict.

What is a list of all things to be completed, whether technical or user-centric in nature, which are in the form of user stories, known as? A. Requirements B. Backlog C. Risk register D. Stakeholders

B. A backlog is the artifact that is used within an Agile methodology to keep track of all the elements that need to be included in a project but may not be a part of this sprint.

When is a project considered to be a success? A. Stakeholder expectations have been met. B. The phase completion has been approved. C. All project phases have been completed. D. The vendor has been released from the project.

B. A deliverable can be any tangible or intangible product or service produced as the result of a project.

A software company has a project team working to establish a new platform. What mechanism would the company use to protect their intellectual property? A. OBS B. NDA C. IMS D. COQ

B. A nondisclosure agreement (NDA) helps protect an organization's intellectual property when the project is completed or if there is turnover on the project.

Which type of cost estimating is done by assigning a cost estimate to each work package in the project? A. Top-down estimating B. Bottom-upestimating C. Parametric estimating D. Three-point estimating

B. A work package represents the lowest level of decomposition within the work breakdown structure (WBS). By beginning at the work package level of the WBS, the cost for each activity is calculated and assigned to that work package.

Marcus works for Wigitcom, and he has been assigned to work on a project. Marcus's regular boss pulls him back to work on assignments and will conduct his performance review. What type of organizational structure is Wigitcom using? A. Agile B. Functional C. Matrix D. Projectized

B. All of the authority in this example rests with the functional manager who is pulling Marcus back to work on other assignments rather than the project. In a functional organizational structure, resources typically report to a functional manager and the project manager has limited or no authority.

Which project role is responsible for all project artifacts like project plans, meeting minutes, and project delivery? A. Project coordinator B. Scheduler C. Project team D. Project manager

B. Characteristics of deliverables that must be met are known as requirements. Distance traveled on a project is good information for expense tracking and reporting. Checkpoints are gate checks on a project. Major events to track progress are milestones.

A project manager meets with upset team members to listen to their concerns. After hearing their concerns, the project manager makes some of the team members' recommendations in exchange for the team members accepting other rules. This is an example of which of the following? A. Forcing B. Compromising C. Confronting D. Smoothing

B. Compromising is when each party gives up something to reach a solution in a conflict.

A project has an earned value of $2,500 and an actual cost of $2,275. The cost variance for this project would be which of the following? A. $2,275 B. $225 C. $2,500 D. $−225

B. Cost Variance is Earned Value − Actual Cost, or $2,500 − $2,275 = $225.

The high-level scope definition should be included in which project document? A. Communication plan B. Project schedule C. Project charter D. Lessons learned

B. Creating and verifying deliverables is the key output of the Execution phase. Performance measuring and reporting occurs during Monitor and Control, whereas key stakeholder identification and determining project resources occur during planning.

The characteristics of the lower-level WBS include all of the following, EXCEPT A. WBS components are a further decomposition of project deliverables. B. WBS components should always happen concurrently with determining major deliverables. C. WBS components should be tangible and verifiable. D. WBS components should be organized in terms of project organization.

B. Identification of lower-level WBS components occurs after the major deliverables have been identified.

The EV for a project is 900 and AC is 1100. The CPI for the project would be which of the following? A. .82 B. 1.22 C. -200 D. 200

B. In a projectized organizational structure, the project manager has the most authority, and resources report directly to the project manager.

April works for Wigitcom and has recently been assigned to a project. She was given assignments from both her functional manager and the project manager, but was directed to do the project work. When April requested leave, it was granted by her functional manager, but then denied by the project manager. What type of organizational structure is Wigitcom using? A. Projectized B. Strong-matrix C. Balanced-matrix D. Weak-matrix

B. In this scenario, all of the power and authority are present with the project manager and not the functional manager, which is indicative of a strong-matrix organizational structure.

Which soft skills are important for a project manager? A. Time management, earned value calculation, listening, critical path diagrams B. Leadership, time management, team building, listening C. Time management, earned value calculation, leadership, critical path diagrams D. Leadership, following, independence, listening

B. Leadership, time management, team building, and listening are soft skills that are important for a project manager. Critical path diagrams are an artifact, and the creation of them would be considered a hard skill, so answers A and C are incorrect. Following and independence are soft skills, but not typically associated with project management, so D is also incorrect.

All of the following are used in an Agile approach to project management, EXCEPT A. Burndown charts B. WBS C. Continuous requirements gathering D. Sprint planning

B. Outsourcing is where work is transferred from employees within the organization to contractors or vendors.

During the Closing phase of the project, what two activities are conducted? A. Accept project deliverables and perform quality assurance. B. Finalize project work and close all vendor contracts. C. Manage stakeholder expectations and close all vendor contracts. D. Finalize project work and perform quality assurance.

B. Performing quality assurance would take place during Monitor and Control, and managing stakeholder expectations should occur throughout the project. The Closing phase is responsible for transition/integration plan, project sign-off, archiving project documents, lessons learned, releasing of resources, and closing of contracts.

In what step would the make-or-buy decision occur? A. During the design of the product or service B. In the creation of the procurement plan C. In the execution of the project plan D. During the kickoff meeting

B. Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a statistical tool used to analyze and represent tasks, not costs.

In what project phase are the majority of the processes and project documents created? A. Initiation B. Planning C. Execution D. MonitorandControl E. Closing

B. The Planning phase is where the majority of the project documents get created. This is where the project goals, objectives, and deliverables are refined and broken down into manageable units of work, such as within the work breakdown structure.

A project has task A, which will take 2 days; task B which will take 3 days; task C, which will take 2 days; task D, which will take 2 days; and task E, which will take 3 days. Task A is a predecessor for task B and for task C. Task C is a predecessor for task D. Both task B and task D are predecessors for task E.

B. The critical path has A (2 days), C (2 days), D (2 days), and E (3 days), for a total of 9 days.

What are the three types of estimates used in three-point estimates? A. Fastest Schedule, Least Resources, Most Desirable B. MostLikely,Optimistic,Pessimistic C. Most Likely, Least Resources, Fastest Schedule D. Fastest Schedule, Optimistic, Most Desirable

B. The formula is (Most Likely + Optimistic + Pessimistic) / 3.

A company is expanding and has several projects underway. One project is building a new wing on the headquarters building, and the other is installing a new high-speed fiber network. The framing of the new building must begin before the installation of the new network can begin. This is an example of what type of logical relationship? A. Finish-to-finish B. Start-to-start C. Finish-to-start D. Start-to-finish

B. The framing of the walls must begin before the installation of the network cabling can begin, leading to a start- to-start relationship. The wiring must be in place before dry walling and insulation can begin.

You would expect the WBS dictionary to contain all of the following information, EXCEPT A. Explanations of team member's roles and responsibilities B. Description of the work of the component C. Quality requirements D. Required resources

B. The procurement plan explains the decisions made on what will be made and what will be purchased by the organization.

Work produced in the high-level risk assessment should be documented in which of the following? A. Work breakdown structure B. Project charter C. Risk register D. Quality control plan

B. The project charter is where high-level risks should be documented, which occurs in the Initiation phase.

What factors should be considered when scheduling a video or telephone conference? A. Ensure meeting room has sufficient seating. B. Check whether team members are introverted or extroverted. C. Recognize the different time zones/schedules being used. D. Make writing materials available in the room.

B. The project management office's responsibilities include setting standards and practices for an organization, providing tools such as previous project documentation, and delivering standardized documentation and templates.

In an Agile methodology, what is a user story? A. Key information about stakeholders and their jobs B. Short stories about someone using the product or service C. Customer survey results after product release D. Visual representation of product burndown

B. The user story helps focus on how the product is going to be used to help shape how it is designed.

What is a work breakdown structure? A. A task-oriented decomposition of a project B. A deliverable-oriented decomposition of a project C. A graphic representation of tasks and their sequence D. A high-level outline of milestones on a project

B. The work breakdown structure is a deliverable-oriented decomposition of a project. It is one of the fundamental building blocks of project planning, such as scheduling activities, and it is used as an input to numerous other planning processes.

When should employee performance expectations be set on a project? A. Lessons learned meeting B. Employee performance review C. Stakeholder identification meeting D. First meeting with a new team member

B. The work breakdown structure is characteristic of a more deliberate, up-front requirements gathering, when many of the requirements are identified early in the project.

Deliverables are an output of which of which phase? A. Initiation B. Planning C. Execution D. MonitorandControl E. Closing

B. There are not enough resources for the task, leading to overallocation. An individual's workload becomes more severe, leading to longer hours and a higher potential for burnout.

Robert is assigned to work on a project. One of his tasks is to reach out to resources and solicit task status on the progress of the project. Robert is most likely which of the following? A. Project manager B. Project team member C. Project scheduler D. Project coordinator

B. This can be recorded through the use of user stories or short descriptions of the functionality.

Wigitcom has a project where cost is the most important consideration for the sponsor. Which personnel model would make the most sense for the project? A. Premium team assignments B. Collocation C. Virtual teams D. Videoconferencing

B. This document details how the procurement process will be managed.

Resource allocation, including assigned equipment, team members, and money to support a project, occurs in which project phase? A. Initiation B. Planning C. Execution D. Monitor and Control E. Closing

B. This includes identifying both what resources are needed and when they will be needed.

A company decides to bring in a team from outside the organization to assist on the project, instead of using company employees. This is an example of which of the following? A. Insourcing B. Outsourcing C. Layoffs D. Collocation

B. This is the model that was developed by Dr. Bruce Tuckman, and it is known as the stages of team development.

Project managers should spend how much of their time communicating? A. Up to 40% B. Up to 50% C. Up to 75% D. Up to 90%

B. Vested interest, providing input and requirements, project steering, and expertise are examples of stakeholder responsibilities. Stakeholder expectation setting and engagement are key elements to project success.

Wigitcom has a project where quality is the most important consideration for the sponsor. Which personnel model would make the most sense for this project? A. Outsourcing B. Collocation C. Virtual teams D. Videoconferencing

B. When quality is a key concern, it means that it is more important than cost. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have the team collocated so that the communication is quicker, corrections are more timely, and the team is not disrupted by time-zone differences.

Which type of cost estimation uses a mathematical model to compute costs? A. Top-down estimating B. Bottom-upestimating C. Parametric estimating D. Three-point estimating

C, E. The issues log and action items are created during the Execution phase. The project charter is created during the Initiation phase. The communication plan is created during the Planning phase. Lessons learned are generally done in the Closing phase, but some projects may choose to do them during Monitor and Control.

Predecessor and successor tasks can have four possible logical relationships. Which of the following is not one of them? A. Finish-to-finish B. Start-to-deferred C. Finish-to-start D. Start-to-finish

C. A traditional waterfall methodology will be progressively iterative, similar to the iterative approach used with the Agile methodology.

Not including time off, holidays, or nonproject work, the total time involved for an individual to complete a task is known as which of the following? A. Analogous estimating B. SWAG C. Work effort estimate D. SPI

C. Also known as a person-hour estimate, this is used in the creation of cost estimates.

When the project team is dependent on an entity outside the organization, like a product vendor delivering equipment, this is known as what type of dependency? A. Discretionary B. Mandatory C. External D. Financial

C. An external dependency is where an entity or condition outside of the project drives the scheduling for that task.

This role supports the project manager, performs cross- functional coordination, conducts time and resource scheduling, and checks for quality. What role is it? A. Project sponsor or champion B. Project manager C. Project coordinator D. Project scheduler

C. Cost Performance Index (CPI). The formula is CPI = Earned Value (EV) / Actual Cost (AC).

The creation of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich has the following steps: ServeGather bread, peanut butter, and jelly Place bread on a plateGet a knifeSpread peanut butter on one slice of bread Put both slices of bread together Spread jelly on the other slice of bread What is the correct sequence for this project? A. Serve; put both slices of bread together; gather bread, peanut butter, and jelly; get a knife; spread peanut butter on one slice of bread; place bread on a plate; spread jelly on the other slice of bread. B. Gather bread, peanut butter. and jelly; get a knife; spread peanut butter on one slice of bread; place bread on a plate; spread jelly on the other slice of bread; serve; put both slices of bread together. C. Gather bread, peanut butter, and jelly; get a knife; place bread on a plate; spread peanut butter on one slice of bread; spread jelly on the other slice of bread; put both slices of bread together; serve. D. Gather bread, peanut butter, and jelly; get a knife; place bread on a plate; spread peanut butter on one slice of bread; spread jelly on the other slice of bread; serve; put both slices of bread together.

C. Determining activity sequence is an important part of project management, and you will probably see a question like this on the test. For this question, the correct order is: gather bread, peanut butter, and jelly; get a knife; place bread on a plate; spread peanut butter on one slice of bread; spread jelly on the other slice of bread; put both slices of bread together; serve.

Nestor is a project manager assigned to build a new branch office for a bank. The branch office will be of a similar size and design as another branch office. He has been asked to create cost and schedule estimates and to follow the bank's best practices for projects. Whose responsibility is it to help Nestor with this effort? A. Project sponsor B. Project management office C. Project team D. Project scheduler

C. Developing the project charter and stakeholder identification are the two activities that occur during the initiation phase. Other activities, like holding a project kickoff meeting and creating the project plan, will take place during the planning and execution phases.

Which of the following is the measure of the cost efficiency of budgeted resources, expressed as a ratio? A. AC B. EV C. CPI D. SPI

C. In a balanced-matrix organization, the project manager and the functional manager both control the budget and share power and authority.

What are the standard project phases? A. Discovery,Planning,Building,QualityCheck,Closing B. Initiation, Preparing, Building, Monitor and Control, Wrap-up C. Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitor and Control, Closing D. Discovery,Preparing,Execution,QualityCheck,Wrap-up

C. Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitor and Control, and Closing are the standard project phases. The project phases are tightly linked, and outputs from one phase usually become inputs of another phase.

Which role of the project is responsible for working to create the deliverables according to the project schedule? A. Project stakeholders B. Project team members C. Project scheduler D. Project coordinator

C. Parametric estimating often uses a quantity of work multiplied by the rate formula for computing costs.

Which type of cost estimating uses a mathematical model to compute costs? A. Top-down estimating B. Bottom-up estimating C. Parametric estimating D. Three-point estimating

C. Parametric estimating often uses a quantity of work multiplied by the rate formula for computing costs.

The Closing processes include all of the following, EXCEPT A. Archiving of project documents B. Release of project members C. Review of lessons learned D. Monitoring of the risks and issues log

C. The WBS is a project artifact, not resources in the resource management context.

All projects are constrained by which three elements as they affect quality? A. Time, budget, scope B. Time, risks, budget C. Cost, benefits, scope D. Cost, risks, scope

C. The charter gives formal authorization to begin and to commit resources to the project. Accordingly, project team selection and procurement can begin at this point.

In which project phase is the kickoff meeting typically held? A. Initiation B. Planning C. Execution D. Monitor and Control E. Closing

C. The kickoff meeting is where the project team members and stakeholders are introduced, and it's held at the beginning of the Execution phase.

The project manager has the following responsibilities (choose two): A. Managing quality assurance B. Setting key performance indicators and parameters C. Estimating task duration D. Managing the team, communication, scope, risk, budget, and time

C. The project charter sets the scope, assumptions, budget, and constraints at a high level for the project. As the project advances through the phases, this information will become more precise.

What are critical elements that need to be included in the project schedule? A. Define activities, sequence activities, estimate resources, estimate duration B. Define activities, budget activities, estimate resources, estimate completion C. Budget activities, estimate resources, determine milestones, estimate completion D. Develop schedule, determine completion date, check stakeholder assumptions, conduct feasibility assessment

C. The project kick-off meeting is held after the project charter is signed and approved. The project kickoff meeting normally introduces the project team. Project team creation doesn't happen until the Execution phase. Note: In the real world, a kickoff meeting can happen in any of the first three phases, but for the test know that it is the Execution phase.

A company is expanding and has several projects underway. One project is constructing a new wing on the headquarters building, and the other is installing a new high- speed fiber network. The framing of the new building must be completed before the installation of the new network can begin. This is an example of which of the following? A. Interproject resource contention B. Start-to-Finish relationship C. Interproject resource dependencies D. Dedicated resources

C. The project scheduler gets status updates on the tasks and then communicates the updated timeline and changes to the project team.

A building project requires the following steps: construction, purchasing the build site, blueprinting, and inspection. Purchasing the build site has what relationship to construction? A. It is a successor task. B. It is a mandatory task. C. It is a predecessor task. D. It is a discretionary task.

C. The purchasing of the build site must occur before the construction activity begins.

What is the duration of the critical path? A. 7 days B. 9days C. 10days D. 11 days

C. The resource calendar will also let you know the dates resources are active or idle.

Determining the burn rate and measuring costs to the baseline are elements of what activity? A. Expenditure tracking B. Spending plan C. Parametric estimating D. Cost accounting

C. The sprint planning meeting establishes what can realistically be accomplished during the sprint.

In terms of project management, what is a program? A. A listing of all individuals involved in the project, including key stakeholders B. The software package used to enter and track project management aspects C. Related projects that are coordinated and managed with similar techniques D. A collection of projects and subportfolios that support the strategic goals of the business

C. These are all roles performed by a project coordinator.

After the project charter is signed, what meeting is held to introduce the project team and stakeholders as well as outlining the goals for the project? A. Lessons learned meeting B. Project introductory meeting C. Kickoff meeting D. Team building lunch

C. This is where the project team members and stakeholders are introduced and the goals for the project are outlined.

A government agency is working to launch a new service. Members of the project team are required to report to both the project manager and their functional manager, who share authority for the resources. What type of organizational structure is this? A. Projectized B. Strong-matrix C. Balanced-matrix D. Weak-matrix

C. This lowest level recorded in the WBS is the work package. This is the level where resources, time, and cost estimates are determined.

An organization that has a fixed budget and offers a stable environment would be best suited for which type of project management approach? A. Traditional, or waterfall B. Projectized environment C. Agile approach D. Functional environment

C. This may be an activity during either the planning or execution phase, depending on the nature of the industry the project is in.

Money actually spent for a specific timeframe for complete work is known as which of the following? A. Cost variance B. Plannedvalue C. Actual cost D. Earnedvalue

C. This may include both direct and indirect costs, but it must correspond to the budget for the activity. Actual cost is an example of project cost control.

Analogous estimating is also referred to as which of the following? A. Top-down estimating B. Bottom-upestimating C. Parametric estimating D. Three-point estimating

C. This number is expressed as a percentage.

A project manager is having problems with one team member who is being insubordinate. The project manager approaches the team member to find out what is going on and determines that a change can be made now that the facts are known. This is an example of which of the following? A. Forcing B. Avoiding C. Confronting D. Smoothing

C. This technique may also be called problem solving, and it is a superior way to resolve a conflict. The correct solution to a problem can reveal itself, and the facts will contribute to discovering the solution.

Analogous estimating is where the cost-estimate is developed by which of the following? A. Using a mathematical model to compute costs for the project B. Calculating the cost of each activity in the work breakdown structure C. Using a similar, past project to develop a high-level estimate D. Averaging three different estimates of the project cost

C. This type of estimating can also be called an order-of- magnitude estimate.

In what stage of team development do the members stop working with one another and return to their functional jobs? A. Forming B. Storming C. Norming D. Performing E. Adjourning

C. When cost is the most important element of the project, virtual teams can help keep costs lower. It can come at the cost of communication efficiency and potentially make quality more difficult to realize.

A project has task A, which will take 2 days; task B, which will take 3 days, task C, which will take 2 days; task D, which will take 2 days; and task E, which will take 3 days. Task A is a predecessor for task B and for task C. Task C is a predecessor for task D. Both task B and task D are predecessors for task E. What is the task sequence for the critical path? A. A=>B=>E B. A=>B=>C=>D=>E C. A=>B=>D=>E D. A=>C=>D=>E

D. A => C => D => E. The critical path has task A (2 days), task C (2 days), task D (2 days), and task E (3 days) for a total of 9 days.

The types of organizational structures include which of the following? (Choose three.) A. Agile B. Functional C. Matrix D. Colocation E. Projectized

D. A positive cost variance (CV) means that the project is under budget, and a negative CV means that the project is over budget. $7,000 − $9,500 = −$2,500; therefore, the project is over budget.

A project schedule serves what function? A. Determines the project cost accounting codes B. Creates a deliverable-based decomposition of the project C. Lists the actions that should be resolved to fulfill deliverables D. Determines start and finish dates for project activities

D. A project schedule determines start and finish dates for project activities and will also have activity durations and order of precedence.

High-level risk identification is the responsibility of which of the following? A. Project sponsor B. Project manager C. Project coordinator D. Project team

D. Although many roles are responsible for identifying risk, the project team plays a key role because they are more likely to recognize risk as subject-matter experts.

The following deliverables/activities all occur in the Initiation phase, EXCEPT A. Project sign-off B. Project charter C. Business case D. High-level risks

D. Although many roles are responsible for identifying risk, the project team plays a key role because they are more likely to recognize risk as subject-matter experts.

A scope management plan contains which of the following elements? (Choose three.) A. Process for creating the schedule B. Process for creating the scope statement C. Definition of how the deliverables will be validated D. Process for creating, maintaining, and approving the WBS E. Process for creating the budget

D. Confronting is also called problem solving, and it is the best way to resolve conflict. By setting out on a fact-finding mission, the correct solution to the problem will present itself to the parties.

In what organizational structure does a project manager have the most limited authority? A. Weak-matrix B. Projectized C. Strong-matrix D. Functional

D. In a functional organization, the authority resides with the functional manager, not the project manager.

What key milestone is triggered when the project charter is signed? A. A project sponsor can now be chosen. B. Key stakeholders are freed from project communication. C. The project is authorized to begin. D. Project resources are released from the project.

D. In addition to archival of project documents, release of team members, and review of lessons learned, Closing consists of the following: transition/integration plan, training, closing of contracts, and project sign-off. Monitoring the risks and issues log is considered to be a process within the Monitor and Control phase.

All of the following are types of dependencies, EXCEPT A. Mandatory B. Discretionary C. External D. Backlog

D. In the Agile methodology, tasks can get recorded and identified in a backlog, but it is not a dependency important to task sequencing.

What are milestones? A. A measure of the distance traveled on a project B. Characteristics of deliverables that must be met C. Checkpoints on a project to determine Go/No-Go decisions D. Major events in a project used to measure progress

D. Milestones are major events in a project used to measure progress.

A large, well-established organization that has been in business for many decades would likely have which organizational structures? A. Weak-matrix B. Projectized C. Strong-matrix D. Functional

D. More established organizations with mature processes and tenured staff would most likely have a functional organizational structure centered around specialties.

Where would an organization document the results of their buy versus build analysis? A. WBS B. Budget C. Change management plan D. Procurement plan

D. Pareto diagramming, or producing a Pareto chart or diagram, is a tool used to focus attention on the most critical issues. It is not used to estimate activity duration.

What plan determines the information needs of the stakeholders, format of information delivery, delivery frequency, and the preparer? A. Stakeholder Analysis Plan B. Project Charter C. Human Resources Plan D. Communications Plan

D. The Communications plan is where all of the elements of the who, what, when, where, and why of communication needs are documented.

Which of the following is the sprint planning meeting used to do? A. Get a head start on the work needed for the project B. Prepare the project charter and kickoff meeting C. Set a realistic backlog of items completed during this iteration D. Set the communication and quality plans for the project

D. The burn rate is how fast the project is spending its allotted budget, or how fast the rate money is being expended over a period of time.

A project sponsor would be responsible for all of the following, EXCEPT A. Developing high-level requirements for the project B. Functioning as the approval authority and removing roadblocks C. Marketing the project across the organization D. Estimating the costs and dependencies of the project activities E. Serving to help control the direction of the project

D. The business case can include justification, alternative solutions, alignment to the strategic plan, recommended solution, and a feasibility study.

What elements are explained in a business case? A. Justification by identifying the organizational benefits B. Alternative solutions C. Alignment to the strategic plan D. All of the above E. AandC

D. The business case is a written document or report that helps executive management and key stakeholders determine the benefits and rewards of the project. It can include justification, alternative solutions, and alignment to the strategic plan.

The high-level scope definition describes which of the following? A. High-level deliverables of the project B. Objectives of the project C. Reason for the project D. All of the above

D. The high-level scope definition is documented in the project charter, setting the big picture work that the project hopes to complete.

The project charter is prepared and agreed to in which project phase? A. Planning B. Closing C. Execution D. Initiation

D. The project charter is prepared and agreed to in the Initiation phase of a project. This document provides formal approval for the project to begin and authorizes the project manager to apply resources to the project.

Kayla works for Wigitcom, and she has been assigned to work on a project. Kayla's project manager gives her direction, and consistently prevents Kayla's regular supervisor from giving her any assignments. At the end of the project, the project manager will conduct Kayla's performance review. What type of organizational structure is Wigitcom using? A. Agile B. Functional C. Matrix D. Projectized

D. The project manager has the authority to task team resources and conduct performance evaluations, making this a projectized organizational structure.

Which of the following project documents are created during the Planning phase of a project? (Choose three.) A. Status reports B. Communication plan C. Organizational chart D. Lessons learned E. Project schedule F. Action items

D. The project manager is responsible for all artifacts produced during the course of doing project work.

Which of the following in an example of a deliverable? A. The date work on the project begins B. The design for a new product C. Time and materials applied to the project D. PMO

D. The project sponsors' responsibilities include helping define and develop the high-level requirements for the project, functioning as the approval authority, removing roadblocks, marketing the project across the organization, controlling the direction of the project, and defining the business case for the project.

In which of the following situations would team-building efforts provide the most impact on a project? (Choose three.) A. Team discord B. Schedule changes C. Missed deliverables D. Project phase completion E. Lessons learned meeting F. Change in project manager

D. The space constraints for this organization will force the team to use remote or virtual teams.

All of the following are aspects of an Agile sprint, EXCEPT A. It is limited to a timeframe such as two weeks. B. A planning meeting is held to figure out what the team can accomplish. C. A small feature set is taken to completion. D. The team works at an incredible pace for the entire time.

D. There is no heroic effort that occurs during an Agile sprint, which is a short burst of activity on a project focusing on a few tasks and working them to a completed state.

During the initiation phase, what are two activities that should be performed? A. Developing the project charter and project kickoff meeting B. Holding the project kickoff meeting and identifying the stakeholders C. Developing the project charter and stakeholder identification D. Creating the project plan and develop the project charter

D. This document will include the approach to obtaining outside products and services and the rational for choosing whether to insource or outsource the effort.

In the development of project schedule, the need to set governance gates is important. All of the following are examples of governance gates, EXCEPT A. Daily standup meetings B. Client sign-off C. Management approval D. Legislative approval

D. This helps keep roles like the project manager and project team accountable from a more strategic standpoint.

In what stage of team development are teams the most productive and trust levels the highest among team members? A. Forming B. Storming C. Norming D. Performing E. Adjourning

D. This is the ideal state teams are shooting for, where the team is productive and effective. Not all teams are able to achieve this stage of development.

During an Agile daily stand-up meeting, what are three questions that are asked and answered? A. What did I accomplish yesterday? What will I do today? What are the necessary next steps? B. What did I accomplish today? Who will I be working with today? What obstacles are preventing progress? C. What did I accomplish yesterday? Who will I be working with today? What obstacles are preventing progress? D. What did I accomplish yesterday? What will I do today? What obstacles are preventing progress?

D. What did I accomplish yesterday? What will I do today? and What obstacles are preventing progress? These are the three questions asked during a stand-up, or SCRUM, meeting.

A team member is upset about having to stay late because he will miss a Scouts meeting with his son. He approaches the project manager, who lets him know that it is a one-time thing, and if they work that night they will not have to come in on the weekend. Though upset, the team member stays and finishes his work. This is an example of what type of conflict resolution? A. Smoothing B. Confronting C. Compromising D. Avoiding E. Forcing

D. Whenever a team member joints the project, or at the beginning of the project when multiple people join, is when expectations should be set, including roles, due dates, norms, and team interactions.

An organization needs to add vendor resources to a project, but they do not have the physical space to house the team. What approach should the organization use for their personnel management? A. Deploy projectized teams B. Deploy functional teams C. Use in-house teams D. Use remote teams

D. While Nyssa is assigned to the project, it is clear that the power rests with the functional manager, undercutting the project manager's authority.

In what project phase is the influence of stakeholders the least effective? A. Initiation B. Planning C. Execution D. MonitorandControl

D. While stakeholders start out with a lot of influence, it decreases as the project advances because the execution of the project solidifies deliverables at the expense of stakeholders being able to change their minds.

What does a resource shortage mean? A. There is a shortage of things for team members to work on. B. Not enough resources are available for the task, leading to over allocation. C. There are too many resources, leading to under- allocation. D. There is an abundancy of things for team members to work on.

E. Adjourning refers to the dissolving of the team when work has been completed.

Chase is a project manager, and he has released all of the team members from the project, closed vendor contracts, and archived project documents. In what phase is the project? A. Initiation B. Planning C. Execution D. Monitor and Control E. Closing

E. Other closing activities would include getting project sign-off, gathering and documenting lessons learned, and conducting training as a part of the transition/integration plan.