PMI-SP Exam

What are the tools and techniques of Plan Schedule process?

1 Expert Judgement 2 Data Analysis 3 Meetings

What are the tools and techniques of Define Activities?

1 Expert Judgement 2 Decomposition - breakdown project deliverables into smaller parts. 3 Rolling Wave Plan - near term work planned in detail, and future work planned at high level. 4 Meetings

What are the tools and techniques of Sequence Activities?

1 PDM (FS, FF, SS, SF) 2 Dependency Determination and Integration (External Mandatory Dependency & Internal Mandatory Dependency. Discretionary Dependency, which is preferred logic, preferential logic or soft logic. They are established based on knowledge of best practices). 3 Leads - advancement of time for successor activity. Lags - delay of teim for successor activity. NOTE: Dangling or Open activities should not be in the schedule. They occur when the activities do not have a successor or predecessor. 4 Project Information Systems

What are the two types of schedule models?

1. Deterministic Schedule model - networks of activities connected with dependencies, that describing the work to be performed, static duration, and planned date to complete the project, if everything goes according to plan. 2. Probabilistic Schedule Model - network with all elements of a deterministic schedule model, where the activity durations are random, with assigned minimum and maximum, and appropriate probability distribution.

How many outputs are in Plan Risk Management?

1. It is Risk Management plan

What is fixed price with economic price adjustment contract?

A FP-EPA is like a FFP, with one exception, if the product or service is largely reliant on an input with a price that is governed by supply and demand, a seller could increase the price of the overall contract accordingly.

What is a histogram?

A bar chart showing a distribution of variables.

What is a milestone chart?

A chart that identifies the scheduled start or completion of a major deliverable and key external interfaces.

What is a team charter?

A document that establishes the team values, agreements, and operating guidelines for the team.

What is a fixed priced contract?

A fixed-price contract is a type of contract where the payment amount does not depend on resources used or time expended. Used when requirements are well defined and no changes in scope are expected. There are 3 types, firm fixed price, fixed price incentive fee, and fixed price with economic price adjustment.

What is a control chart?

A graphic display of process data over time and against established control limits, which has a centerline that assists in detecting a trend of plotted values toward either control limit.

what is a pareto chart?

A histogram, ordered by frequency of occurrence, that shows how many results were generated by each identified cause.

What is a procurement management plan?

A plan that documents how procurements will be planned, executed, controlled, and closed.

What is a schedule model?

A plan used to execute the project's activities, including durations, dependencies, and other planning information, used to produce a project schedule along with other scheduling artifacts.

What is resource smoothing?

A resource optimization technique in which free and total float are used without affecting the critical path. It is a Resource Optimization T & T of the Develop Schedule process.

What are critical path activities?

Activities on the critical path.

What are critical activities?

Activities vital to the success of the project whether they are on or not on the critical path or critical chain.

What are the formats a project schedule can be presented in?

Bar Charts (aka: Gannt charts) Milestone Charts Project Schedule Network Diagram

Define Bottom-up estimating?

Bottom-up estimating, also called deterministic or detailed estimating are used for cost and resource estimation when detailed project is available. The cost of every resource of every component of the project is estimated as a prelude to rolling up the estimates to higher levels of the WBS. It is recognized to product the most accurate and most reliable estimate, also known as the definitive estimate. You will need the detailed WBS, an activity list and comprehensive directory of project resources.

Define "fast-tracking" a schedule.

Changing the logic by overlapping critical activities, rather than working them in sequence.

What are the outputs of Estimate Cost process?

Cost Estimates Basis of Estimates 3Project Document updates (assumptions log, lessons learned register, risk register)

What are the outputs of Determine Budget process?

Cost baseline Project funding requirements Project documents updates

What is the audience for Management Summary, Level 2?

Customers General Managers Sponsors Program or Project Managers

What are open-ended activities?

Dangling or Open activities should not be in the schedule. They occur when the activities do not have a successor or predecessor.

What are the tools and techniques of Control Schedule process?

Data Analysis (Earned Value Analysis, Iteration Burndown Chart, Performance reviews, Trend Analysis, Variance Analysis, What-if Scenario Analysis) Critical Path Method Project Management Information System/Scheduling tool Resource optimization Leads and Lags Schedule Compression

What is the format of data date when reporting?

Data to the left of the data date (earlier) is considered historical information. Any data to the right of the data date (later) is the forecast of remaining work.

What its dependency determination?

Dependency determination identifies the order of the project work. It is a tool and technique of Sequence Activities process.

How do you calculate total float?

EF-LF

What is an inspection?

Examining or measuring to verify whether an activity or a component or service conforms to specified requirements.

What are the tools and techniques of Estimate Activity Duration process?

Expert Judgement Analogous Estimating Parametric Estimating Three-Point Estimating Bottom-Up Estimating Data Analysis Alternatives Decision Making Meetings

What are the tools and techniques of Estimate Activity Resource process?

Expert Judgement Bottom-up estimating Analogous estimating Parametric estimating Data Analysis (Alternative analysis) Project Management information system Meetings

What are the tools and techniques of Plan Resource Management knowledge area?

Expert Judgement Data Representation, which will be used to document and communicate team member roles and responsibilities. Organizational theory. It describes the way in which people, teams, and organizational units behave. It may recommend flexible leadership style that adapts to changes in a team maturity level throughout the project life cycle. Meetings

What are tools and techniques of Control Cost process?

Expert Judgement Data analysis (EVA, Variance, Trend, Reserve) To-complete performance index Project management information system

What are the tools and techniques of Estimate Cost process?

Expert judgement Analogous estimating Parametric estimating Bottom-up estimating Three-point estimating Data analysis (alternative analysis, reserve analysis, cost of quality)

What are the tools and techniques of Determine Budget process?

Expert judgement Cost aggregation (cost estimates are aggregated by work packages in accordance w/WBS) Data analysis Historical Information review (assist in developing parametric or analogous estimates) Funding limit reconciliation Financing

What are the tools and techniques of Plan Cost process?

Expert judgement Data analysis (alternative analysis) Meetings

What are contract types?

Fixed Priced Time and Materials Cost-Reimbursable

What are the inputs, tools & techniques and outputs of the Develop Team process?

Inputs 1 PM plan 2 Project documents 3 EEF's OPA's Tools & Techniques 1 Colocation 2 Virtual teams 3 Communication technology 4 Recognition and rewards 5 Training 6. Individual & team assessments 7. Interpersonal skills (conflict management, influencing, negotiation, team building) 8 Meetings Outputs 1 Team performance assessments (formal or informal assessments of project team's effectiveness) 2 Change requests 3 PM plan updates 4 Project document updates (team charter, lessons learned register, project team assignment, resource calendars) 5 EEF's updates 6. OPA updates

What are the inputs, tools & techniques, and outputs of the Control Team process?

Inputs 1 PM plan (resource mgmt. plan) 2 Project documents (issue log, lessons learned register, physical resource assignments, project schedule, RBS, Resource requirements, risk register) 3. Work performance data 4. Agreements 5. OPA's Tools & Techniques 1. Data Analysis (alternatives analysis, cost-benefit analysis, performance reviews, trend analysis) 2. Problem solving (Identify, Define, Investigate, Analyze, Solve, Check Solution 3. Interpersonal and team skills (Negotiation, Influencing) 4. Project Management information system) Outputs 1. Work performance Information 2. Change Request 3. PM plan updates (resource mgmt., schedule baseline, cost baseline) 4. Project documents updates (assumptions log, issue log, lessons learned register, physical resource assignment, RBS, Risk reg)

What are the inputs, tools & techniques and outputs of Acquire Resource process?

Inputs 1. Project Management Plan (resource management, procurement management and cost baseline) 2. Project Documents (calendars, schedules, requirements & stakeholder reg.) 3. EEF's 4. OPA's Tools and Techniques 1 Decision Making, using multicriteria decision analysis which is used to rate and score potential resources 2 Interpersonal and team skills (negotiating for the right resources 3. Pre-assignment (resources determined in advance) 4. Virtual teams Outputs 1 Physical Resource Assignments 2 Project team assignments 3 Resource calendars 4 Change request 5 PM plan updates 6 Project doc updates 7. EEF's 8 OPA's

What are the inputs, tools & techniques and outputs of the Manage Team process

Inputs PM plan (resource management plan 2. Project Documents (Issues log, Lessons learned register, project team assignments, team charter.) 3 Work Performance reports 4 Team performance assessments 5. EEF's 6. OPA's Tools & Techniques 1. Interpersonal and team skills (conflict mgmt., decision making, emotional intelligence, influencing, leadership) 2. Project Management Information system Outputs 1. Change Requests 2. PM plan updates (resource mgmt plan, schedule baseline, cost baseline) 3. Project Document updates (Issues log, Lessons register, Project team assignments) 4. EEF's

What are some communication methods used to share information among project stakeholders?

Interactive. Communication is between 2 or more parties performing multidirectional exchange in real time, like videoconferencing, instant messages, phone calls). Push. Communication is sent or distributed directly to recipients who need to receive the information. Common use is letters, memos, reports, emails, press releases. Pull. Pull communication requires users to access content at their own discretion subject to security procedures. Used for large complex info. sets or large audiences. Common users are intranet sites, e-learning, lessons learned databases, knowledge repositories.

What is happens during the Acquire Resources process?

Is it the process of obtaining team members, facilities, equipment, materials, supplies and other resources necessary to complete the project work.

What is the communication management plan?

It describes how project communication will be planned, structured, implemented, and monitored for effectiveness. In this plan, you can find: 1 the stakeholder communication requirements 2 Info to be communicated, including format and level of detail 3 Reason for distribution of info. 4 Timeframe and frequency of info 5. Person responsible for communicating info 6. Person responsible for authorizing release of confidential info 7. Who receives information 8 Methods or technologies used 9 Glossary of common terms 10 Flowcharts of information flow in the project. 11. Organizational constraints.

What is a Schedule Management Plan.

It is a collection of processes, approaches, templates, and tools that comprise the project's execution strategy an objectives as reflected in the project's schedule model. IT is comprised of requirements defined by the project scope documents. It also defines how the schedule model will be developed, updated, progressed and shared.

What is the cost management plan?

It is a component of the project management plan and describes how the project costs will be planned, structured, and controlled. The cost management processes and their associated tools and techniques are documented in the cost management plan.

What is critical path?

It is the sequence of activities that predicts or defines the longest path and shorted duration calculated for the project. It determines the duration of the project.

What is negative float?

It means dates are not feasible without changing the plan.

Define the resource management plan.

It provides guidance on how project resources should be categorized, allocated, management and released. It may be divided between the team management plan and physical resource management plan according to the specifics of the project. It includes but not limited to: 1 Identification of resources 2 Acquiring resources (guidance on how to do this) 3 Roles and responsibilities (role, authority, responsibility and competence) 4 Project org charts 5 Project Team Resource management 6 Training 7 Team development 8 Resource control (how to ensure resources are available for the life of the project) 9 recognition plan (rewards and recognitions)

What is the purpose of the Manage Team process?

It's purpose is to track team member performance, providing feedback, resolving issues, and managing team changes to optimize project performance.

What is a cost reimbursable contract?

Its when you get money you spent back for carrying out the work. You get your money back plus an additional fee. There is: 1. Cost plus fixed fee - you get your money back for all the work and get a fixed fee payment 2. Cost plus incentive - you get your money back for all the work plus an incentive, if you do a really good job. If the costs are less or more than estimated, then the buyer and seller share the cost based on a renegotiated cost sharing formula. 3. Cost plus award fee - its when you get all your money back but majority of the award fee is based on if they are satisfied.

What are the processes of the Project Procurement Management knowledge area?

Plan Procurement Conduct Procurements Control Procurements

Name the process that make up the Resource Management knowledge area?

Plan Resource Management Estimate Activity Resources Acquire Resources Develop Team Manage Team Control Resources

What are example product analysis techniques?

Product breakdown Requirements analysis Systems analysis Value analysis Value engineering

What is the audience for Publication schedule, Level 3?

Program or Project Managers Supervisors.

What are the inputs of Plan Resource management process?

Project Charter Project Management plan (Quality Management plan, Scope Baseline) Project documents (Project Schedule, Requirements documentation, Risk Register, Stakeholder Register) Enterprise Environment Factors Organizational Process Assets

What is the audience for Execution Planning, Level 4 report?

Project Managers Supervisors responsible for accomplishing activities.

What are the inputs of Estimate Activity Resources process?

Project management plan (Resource Management plan & Scope baseline) Project documents (Activity attributes, Activity list, assumptions log, cost estimates, resource calendar, risk register) Enterprise environment factors Organizational Process assets

What is a RFP?

Request for Proposal. It is used when there is a problem in the project and solution is not easy to determine. This is the most formal of the "request for" documents and has strict procurement rules for content, timeline and seller responses. It is a bid document.

What are the outputs of Estimate Activity Resources process?

Resource requirements Basis of estimates Resource breakdown structure Project Document Updates (Activity attributes, Assumptions log & lessons learned register)

What are resource loading curves?

Resource-loading curves and reports allow management to look at the resulting projections to determine whether the plan is achievable or whether the end data should be adjusted. It is not required for the schedule model, but is a good practice.

What are the tools and techniques of Develop Schedule process?

Schedule Network Analysis Critical Path Method Resource Optimization Data Analysis (What-if Scenario Analysis) Leads and Lags Schedule Compression Project Management Info System / Scheduling tool Agile Release Planning

What is earned value analysis

Schedule performance measurements, such as schedule variance (SV)and schedule performance index (SVI) used to assess the magnitude of variance to original baseline.

What is the audience for the Executive Summary report, Level 1?

Seniors Executives General Managers Customers

What is a scatter diagram?

Shows the relationship between two variables.

What is a run chart?

Shows trends in the variation of a process over time.

Define "crashing" a schedule.

Speeding up the critical path, often by adding additional resources or employing existing resources for longer hours and/or more days per week. This typically increase project cost by some factor. It only works for activities that are effort driven and should only be done on activities that yield the most cost effective result.

What is the audience for the Project Summary report, Level 0?

Strategic Partners Sr. Executives, Portfolio/Program Managers Operations Managers

What is the free float formula?

Successor ES - Activity ES - Duration Activity

What are the audience for Detailed Planning, Level 5?

Supervisors Team Members responsible for performing the work.

What are the data analysis techniques?

Techniques used to organize, assess, and evaluate data and information.

What is free float?

The amount of time an activity's early finish date may be delayed without affecting any successor activity's early start date.

What is total float?

The amount of time an activity's early start date or early finish date may be delayed w/out impacting the project end point.

What are the outputs of the Plan Cost process?

The cost management plan.

What is flowcharting?

The depiction in a diagram format of the inputs, process actions, and outputs of one or more processes within a system.

What is data date?

The point at which scheduling and performance measurement analysis are conducted/recorded.

What is Level 1 Executive Summary report?

The report is a high-level schedule that includes key milestones and summary activities, by major phase, stage or project being executed. They are used to assist in decision making process, like go/no-go and criticality of projects. It is typically represented in bar chart format and supported by a schedule with integrated work evolutions over project life cycle.

What is a Firm Fixed Price contract?

The seller is paid a set price without regards to cost. It is the most commonly used and is not subject to change unless there is a change in scope.

What is a fixed price incentive fee contract?

The total price is fixed but an additional amount may be paid for exceeding performance criteria determined in advance.

What are communication models?

They represent the communication process in basic linear form (sender and receiver) or more interactive form (sender, receiver, feedback).

What is level 0 Project Summary report?

This report is a single line representing the entire project and is used for comparing projects in a program or portfolio.

What is Level 3 Publication Schedule report?

This report is generally prepared to communicate the execution of the deliverables for each of the contracting parties. The schedule should also reflect the interfaces between key work groups, disciplines, or crafts involved in the execution of the project in a bar chart or CPM network format. It identifies critical paths and activities that could potentially affect the outcome of a stage or phase of work. They allow for mitigation and course correction while allowing for complete reporting period reports. These reports include monthly reports, commodity curves and histograms.

What is Level 2 Management Summary report?

This report is generally prepared to communicate the integration of work throughout the life cycle of a project. It is typically represented in a bar chart. It provides high-level information that assist in project decision making and is rolled up from more detailed schedule data. It also may reflect interfaces between key deliverables and project participants.

What is Level 5 Detailed Planning report?

This report is prepared to communicate task requirements for completing activities in the schedule. It is usually considered a working schedule that reflects hourly, daily, or weekly work requirements. Depending on these requirements, they are usually prepared 1 day or 1 week in advance. The period covered is usually 1 day to 1 week, supporting the milestones and durations represented in Level or Level 4 schedules. It is presented in an activity-listing format without time-scaled graphical representation of work to be accomplished. They are used to plan and schedule use of resources for each task.

What is Level 4 Execution Planning report?

This report is prepared to communicate the production of work evolution at the deliverable level. The schedule should reflect interfaces between key elements that drive the completion of activities. Represented in a bar chart or CPM network format and usually provide enough detail to plan and coordinate multidiscipline/craft activities. The period covered by this report is usually 1 week to 1 month, supporting the milestones and durations represented in a level 3 schedule. The basis of Level 4 is the layouts defined in a database of work packages, lists or other detailed diagramming method where detailed steps, deliverables and actions can be communicated over the life of the scheduled items.

Define Ratio Estimation.

This technique is interchangeably called equipment ratio or capacity factor. The premise of this technique is that there is a linear relationship between the cost of a project with one or more of the basic features of it's deliverable. It is a common analogous estimating technique.

How many processes are in Project Communication Management knowledge area?

Three. Plan Communication Management Mange Communications Monitor Communications

How many processes are in Project Quality Management knowledge area?

Three. Plan Quality Management Manage Quality Control Quality

Why would text based format be used to document and communicate team member roles and responsibilities?

To document the detailed responsibilities of a team member.

Define range estimating.

To increase the reliability and usability of the early estimates, the estimator should provide the most likely value along with the full range of all possible values for the final cost of the project.

What is product analysis?

Used to define products and services. It includes asking questions about a product or services and forming answers to describe use, characteristics, and the relevant aspects of what is going to be delivered. It is used in the define scope process.

What is the law of diminishing returns?

When one factor is used to determine the effort required for work is increased while other factors remain fixed. This is a factor to consider when Estimating Activity Durations.

What is Monte Carlo analysis?

When risks and other sources of uncertainty are used to calculate possible outcomes for the total project.

Define affinity grouping

When the number of items the team needs to estimate is large, using affinity grouping technique where team members simply group items together that they perceive are like-sized.

What is resources leveling?

When you adjust the start data and finish date based on resource constraints and which may affect critical path. It is a Resource Optimization T & T of the Develop Schedule process. Once the float values have been calculated, conduct resource leveling to minimize resource overallocation or reduce resource fluctuation.

Describe hierarchical charts used to communicate team roles and responsibilities?

Work Breakdown Structure, which shows how deliverables are broken into work packages as well as high-level areas of responsibility. Organizational Breakdown Structure, which shows the arrangement of the organization units, teams and departments with project deliverables or work packages listed under each department. Resource breakdown structure, which is a list of team and physical resources related by category and resource type that is used for planning, managing & controlling project work. Each descending level representing an increasingly detailed description of the resource, until it is smaller enough to be used in conjunction with the WBS. Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM,) which show the project resources assigned to each work package. It illustrates connections between work packages or activities and project team members. An example is a RACI.

What are outputs of Control Cost Process?

Work Performance information Cost forecasts Change requests Project management plan updates (Cost management plan, Cost baseline, Performance measurement baseline) Project documents updates (assumption log, basis of estimates, cost estimates, lessons learned register, risk register)

Are variance typically negative numbers?

Yes. They are not percentages.

What is a Time and Materials contract?

a cross between fixed and cost-reimbursable. Both parties agree on a specific unit rate, but the total cost will depend on the amount of time spent.