PMP Quiz 2 (50 Questions)

1. You are the project manager for a software development project. When you need to get staff from the manager of the QA department, he suggests a few test engineers with performance problems for your team. Which is the BEST response to this situation?

Stop talking to the QA manager

B- You need to figure out the root cause of the problem if you are going to find a lasting solution to it.

Explanation

B- You need to figure out the root cause of the problem if you are going to find a lasting solution to it.

2. Why is it important to have a staff release plan for people within the project team?

It helps people manage their time.

The project protects itself from lawsuit.

It is not important.

The project saves money by releasing people from the project at the right time and morale is also improved.

D - A staff release plan provides a clean break point for an individual and saves the project money in the process.

Explanation

D - A staff release plan provides a clean break point for an individual and saves the project money in the process.

3. In which plan do you define the processes that will be used to keep people informed throughout the project?

Staffing Management Plan

Project Management Plan

Schedule Management Plan

Communications Management Plan

D- The Communications Management Plan defines all of the processes that will be used for communication on the project.

Explanation

D- The Communications Management Plan defines all of the processes that will be used for communication on the project.

4. You are a project manager on a construction project. You have just prepared an RFP to send around to electrical contractors. You get a call from your uncle who owns an electrical contracting company. He wants to bid on your project. You know he's done good work before, and it may be a good fit for your company. How do you proceed?

You disclose the conflict of interest to your company, and disqualify your uncle’s company

You disclose the conflict of interest to your company, and make the selection based on objective criteria

You do not disclose the conflict of interest, and give your uncle the bid

B- Any time there’s a conflict of interest, it’s your duty to disclose it to your company. After that, you should always proceed based on your company’s policies.

Explanation

B- Any time there’s a conflict of interest, it’s your duty to disclose it to your company. After that, you should always proceed based on your company’s policies.

5. A hierarchical structure of resources organized by resource type category and resource type used in resource leveling schedules is known as:

Team structure

Resource Pool

Organization breakdown Structure

Resource Breakdown Structure

D - The Resource Breakdown Structure is a hierarchical structure of resources by resource category and resource type used in resource leveling schedules and to develop resource-limited schedules. This may also be used to identify and analyze project human resource assignments.

Explanation

D - The Resource Breakdown Structure is a hierarchical structure of resources by resource category and resource type used in resource leveling schedules and to develop resource-limited schedules. This may also be used to identify and analyze project human resource assignments.

6. Which of the following is NOT a stakeholder?

A project team member

An attorney from your company’s competitor

A representative from your project team’s union

The project sponsors

B- A stakeholder is anyone who is affected by the cost, time, or scope of your project. And that includes Unions

Explanation

B- A stakeholder is anyone who is affected by the cost, time, or scope of your project. And that includes Unions

7. You have been asked to establish a project charter for your new project. According to PMBOK, who normally has the responsibility to authorize the charter?

Company president or CEO

Project initiator or sponsor

Key project stakeholders

Project manager

B - The project initiator or sponsor external to the project authorizes the project charter. However, a project manager should be involved in the process as early as possible.

Explanation

B - The project initiator or sponsor external to the project authorizes the project charter. However, a project manager should be involved in the process as early as possible.

8. You are the project manager on a construction project. As you're planning out the work your team will do, you divide up all of the work into work packages and create a WBS that shows how they fit into categories. For each one of the work packages, you write down details such as initial estimates and information about what account it should be billed against. Where do you store all of that information?

Scope Management Plan

WBS

WBS Dictionary

Project Scope Statement

C- The WBS Dictionary is the companion document to the WBS. It gives all the details that you know about each work package in the WBS, including estimates and billing information.

Explanation

C- The WBS Dictionary is the companion document to the WBS. It gives all the details that you know about each work package in the WBS, including estimates and billing information.

9. A project manager is just finishing a project that has not gone well. Apart from cost overruns and schedule overruns, there have been a lot of quality defects and the project required a lot of senior management intervention to finally reach completion. The project manager should now:

Mask bad data and only present good data since his performance appraisal will otherwise be impacted.

Document lessons learned from the project and update the lessons learned knowledge database.

D - A project manager has a professional responsibility to conduct lessons learned sessions for all projects with key internal and external stakeholders, particularly if the project yielded less than desirable results.

Explanation

D - A project manager has a professional responsibility to conduct lessons learned sessions for all projects with key internal and external stakeholders, particularly if the project yielded less than desirable results.

10. If you want to have multiple vendors bid on your contract, what is the best way to ensure that all vendors have the same information before bidding?

Issue a standard request for bid and do not allow any questions

Hold a bidder's conference

Communicate only through email

Communicate only through phone calls

B - A bidder's conference is a good way to ensure all bidders have the same information at the same time and to ensure fairness and equity within the bidding process.

Explanation

B - A bidder's conference is a good way to ensure all bidders have the same information at the same time and to ensure fairness and equity within the bidding process.

11. Tom is the project manager of an accounting project. He has just finished defining the scope for the project and is creating the WBS. He goes to his organizational process asset library and finds a WBS from a past project to use as a jumping off point. Which of the following describes the asset that Tom is using?

Decomposition

Delphi Technique

Brainstorming

Templates

D- Tom is using a Template. As your company completes projects, the documents created along the way are stored in an Organizational Process Asset library.

Explanation

D- Tom is using a Template. As your company completes projects, the documents created along the way are stored in an Organizational Process Asset library.

12. A team member approaches you with a change that could cut your schedule down by a month. What is the first thing you should do?

Tell the team member that you’ve already communicated the deadline for the project, so you can’t make any changes now

Figure out the impact on the scope of the work and the cost before you write up the change request

Make the change; it’s going to save time and nobody will want the project to take longer than it should

Write up a change request and see if you can get it approved

C- Just because the change will help the project’s timeline doesn’t mean that it will be an overall benefit to the project. It’s important to check how the project will impact the other two constraints as part of your change request.

Explanation

C- Just because the change will help the project’s timeline doesn’t mean that it will be an overall benefit to the project. It’s important to check how the project will impact the other two constraints as part of your change request.

13. If you have an unresolved issue while working on a project, what is the best way to communicate that issue?

Complain to a fellow colleague

Create an issue log

Write an email describing the issue

Assume that someone else is already working on it

C - An issue log allows you to communicate, track, and resolve project issues.

Explanation

C - An issue log allows you to communicate, track, and resolve project issues.

14. A project manager is reporting the final status of the closed contract to the stakeholders. Which form of communication is appropriate?

Informal written

Informal verbal

Formal written

Formal verbal

C- All project reports must be communicated as formal written documents. Not only that, but anything that has to do with a contract DEFINITELY needs to be formal written.

Explanation

C- All project reports must be communicated as formal written documents. Not only that, but anything that has to do with a contract DEFINITELY needs to be formal written.

15. You have just delivered a product to your client for acceptance, when you get a call that some features they were expecting are missing. What's the first thing you should do?

Tell the team to start building the missing features into the product right away

Get your team together and reprimand them for building a product that doesn’t meet user expectations

D- You can’t do anything about the problem until you understand it. You should meet with the client to get a better understanding of what went wrong and why the product is not meeting their needs.

Explanation

D- You can’t do anything about the problem until you understand it. You should meet with the client to get a better understanding of what went wrong and why the product is not meeting their needs.

16. What is the main output of the Define Scope process?

Requirements Documentation

Scope Definition

Scope Dictionary

Project Scope Statement

D- The Project Scope Statement builds defines the scope of work for the project. It’s where everyone comes to a common understanding about the work that needs to be accomplished on the project.

Explanation

D- The Project Scope Statement builds defines the scope of work for the project. It’s where everyone comes to a common understanding about the work that needs to be accomplished on the project.

17. You have recently been assigned to be the project manager for a project that is already underway (the previous project manager has been moved to a different project). As you begin to learn about the project, you realize that a project charter was never established. What should you do?

Complain about the project charter not being completed.

Wait and see if a project charter is needed.

Establish a project charter at the point when you enter the project.

Assume that it is too late and continue without a project charter.

C - Even if done late, a project charter can help establish the legitimacy of a project and should be completed as soon as possible.

Explanation

C - Even if done late, a project charter can help establish the legitimacy of a project and should be completed as soon as possible.

18. Which of the following is NOT a type of communication ?

Formal written

Paralingual

Nonverbal

Noise

D- Noise is something that interferes with communication. It’s not a communication type.

Explanation

D- Noise is something that interferes with communication. It’s not a communication type.

19. Project scope, time, and cost are often referred to as the:

Three-legged stool

Triple constraint

Project drivers

Standard constraints

B - Project quality is affected by balancing project scope, time, and cost. High quality projects deliver the required product, service, or result within scope, on time, and within budget.

Explanation

B - Project quality is affected by balancing project scope, time, and cost. High quality projects deliver the required product, service, or result within scope, on time, and within budget.

20. A notice sent to a subcontractor about the contract is an example of which kind of communication?

Informal verbal

Formal written

Formal verbal

Informal written

B- Anytime you have any communication having to do with the contract, it’s always formal written communication.

Explanation

B- Anytime you have any communication having to do with the contract, it’s always formal written communication.

21. As an external vendor, you are managing a complex software project that has been contracted on Time & Material (T&M). One of your team- members reports a break-through in automating some of the testing activities. This will potentially result in cost savings to the project as well as the project getting completed ahead of schedule by a month. Which of the following actions would you take?

Communicate the current status to the customer and indicate the potential changes to cost and schedule.

C - A project manager should always communicate an accurate statement of the project status. There could be subsequent actions to discuss how the savings could be best utilized, whether there can be any cost sharing etc - but they would need to done following the appropriate procedure.

Explanation

C - A project manager should always communicate an accurate statement of the project status. There could be subsequent actions to discuss how the savings could be best utilized, whether there can be any cost sharing etc - but they would need to done following the appropriate procedure.

22. Midway through a project, a project manager determined that the project was running way behind schedule. If the project manager needs to now shorten the project schedule, without changing the project scope, which of the following schedule compression techniques could be applied?

Last Tracking

Forecasting

Reserve Analysis

Crashing

A - Crashing is the technique that can be applied to compress the project schedule without changing the project scope. The other technique is Fast tracking.

Explanation

A - Crashing is the technique that can be applied to compress the project schedule without changing the project scope. The other technique is Fast tracking.

23. If you want to reduce the number of quality inspections and thus reduce the cost of quality control for your project, which technique should be used?

Pareto Chart

Statistical Sampling

Defect Repair Review

Run Chart

C - Statistical sampling will provide sufficient inspection to ensure a high likelihood of a quality product, while saving money for the project.

Explanation

C - Statistical sampling will provide sufficient inspection to ensure a high likelihood of a quality product, while saving money for the project.

24. Two efficiency indicators that reflect the cost and schedule performance of a project are:

Actual Cost (AC) and Planned Value (PV)

Cost Pricing Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI)

Cost Performance Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI)

Cost Projection Index (CPI) and Schedule Projection Index (SPI)

B - The CPI and SPI are two efficiency indicators in the project to reflect the cost and schedule performance of the project.

Explanation

B - The CPI and SPI are two efficiency indicators in the project to reflect the cost and schedule performance of the project.

25. A project manager is negotiating with a contractor. Neither has a good idea of how long the project will take, or how much the materials will cost. Which contract type is MOST appropriate for this project?

Cost plus fixed fee (CPFF)

Time and Materials (T&M)

Cost plus award fee (CPAF)

Firm fixed price (FFP)

B-Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are used in labor contracts. In a T&M contract, the seller pays a rate for each of the people working on the team plus their material costs.

Explanation

B-Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are used in labor contracts. In a T&M contract, the seller pays a rate for each of the people working on the team plus their material costs.

26. During lunch with a project manager from another department, you are given to understand that it is sufficient to adhere to the applicable Standards for the project. Regulations are not necessarily applicable to projects since they are guidelines and you as PM have the option to decide whether they are applicable or not. Your understanding is that :

Standards are guidelines established by consensus and approved by a recognized body whereas Regulations are mandatory, government-imposed requirements.

Standards are mandatory requirements created by the project team whereas Regulations are mandatory requirements issued by the Government.

Standards are internally issued guidelines whereas Regulations are government-issued guidelines.

Both are the same. The usage of the term varies depending on the country in which you operate.

A - Standards are seen more as guidelines, developed by a recognized body, established by consensus. In contrast, regulations are government imposed requirements. Ex: Building codes are an example of regulation

Explanation

A - Standards are seen more as guidelines, developed by a recognized body, established by consensus. In contrast, regulations are government imposed requirements. Ex: Building codes are an example of regulation

27. While creating a project charter, you discover a new project management software tool has come onto the market. You spend the weekend taking an online tutorial to learn about it. This is an example of:

An assigned project manager using authority and responsibility

Not paying for copyrighted software

Contributing to the project management body of knowledge

Enhancing personal professional competence

D- The PMP Code of Professional Conduct tells us that an important part of any project manager’s career is enhancing personal professional competence. This means increasing your knowledge and applying it so that you can improve your ability to manage projects.

Explanation

D- The PMP Code of Professional Conduct tells us that an important part of any project manager’s career is enhancing personal professional competence. This means increasing your knowledge and applying it so that you can improve your ability to manage projects.

28. While analyzing a project, the project manager calculated the ratio of the Earned Value (EV) to the Actual Costs (AC) and obtained a value of 1.2. The project manager decided that this was an unfavorable condition to the project and decided to take corrective action. What is your view?

C - The project manager is not correct. CPI = Cost Performance Index, and is the ratio of EV to AC. A value greater than 1 is a favorable condition for the project. The project manager has incorrectly interpreted the situation.

Explanation

C - The project manager is not correct. CPI = Cost Performance Index, and is the ratio of EV to AC. A value greater than 1 is a favorable condition for the project. The project manager has incorrectly interpreted the situation.

29. During a presentation to management, you want to display the project schedule with only the key deliverables displayed. What is the correct tool for this purpose?

Project Schedule Network Diagram

Critical Path Schedule

Milestone chart

Bar chart

C - A milestone chart displays only the key deliverables and is simple and easy to understand.

Explanation

C - A milestone chart displays only the key deliverables and is simple and easy to understand.

30. Which of the following BEST describes the main purpose of the project charter?

It authorizes the project manager to work on the project

It identifies the sponsor and describes his or her role on the project

It contains a list of all activities to be performed

It describes the initial scope of the work

A- The project charter does several important things: it lays out the project requirements, describes
an initial summary milestone schedule, documents the business case, and identifies initial risks, assumptions, and constraints. But the most important thing that a project charter does is that it identifies the project manager, and assigns him or her the authority necessary to get the job done.

Explanation

A- The project charter does several important things: it lays out the project requirements, describes
an initial summary milestone schedule, documents the business case, and identifies initial risks, assumptions, and constraints. But the most important thing that a project charter does is that it identifies the project manager, and assigns him or her the authority necessary to get the job done.

31. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Project Management Plan?

Collection of subsidiary plans

Formal, written communication

A bar chart that shows the order of tasks and their resource assignments

Must be approved by project sponsor

C- The Project Management Plan is not a bar chart (or a Gantt chart). It’s the collection of all of the planning documents you create through all of the knowledge areas within the five process groups.

Explanation

C- The Project Management Plan is not a bar chart (or a Gantt chart). It’s the collection of all of the planning documents you create through all of the knowledge areas within the five process groups.

32. Which of the following is NOT found in a project charter?

The summary budget

High-level requirements

Procedures for managing changes to contracts

Responsibility and name of the person authorized to manage the project

C- The procedure for managing changes to a contract is found in the Contract Management Plan.
The other three answers are all things you typically find in a project charter.

Explanation

C- The procedure for managing changes to a contract is found in the Contract Management Plan.
The other three answers are all things you typically find in a project charter.

33. As a project manager, you are performing various project performance measurements to assess the magnitude of variation. You then attempt to determine the cause and decide whether corrective action is required. This would be known as:

Performance Reporting

Configuration Management

Scope Analysis

Variance Analysis

B - This is known as Variance Analysis. As project manager, you would then attempt to determine the cause of the Variance, relative to the scope baseline and then decide on whether corrective action is required.

Explanation

B - This is known as Variance Analysis. As project manager, you would then attempt to determine the cause of the Variance, relative to the scope baseline and then decide on whether corrective action is required.

34. Project risks should include impacts to project:

Organization and profitability

Project scope

Schedule and cost

Schedule, cost, quality or performance

D - Schedule, cost, quality and performance are often the key factors that risks can impact for a project.

Explanation

D - Schedule, cost, quality and performance are often the key factors that risks can impact for a project.

35. Which of the following statements is correct?

A collection of unrelated programs can constitute a portfolio.

The scope of a portfolio is typically smaller than that of a program.

A program is a group of unrelated projects.

A program need not consist of projects.

A - A portfolio refers to a collection of projects of programs that are grouped together to facilitate their effective management. The projects or programs need not be directly related or interdependent.

Explanation

A - A portfolio refers to a collection of projects of programs that are grouped together to facilitate their effective management. The projects or programs need not be directly related or interdependent.

36. Which of the following is NOT a tool or technique of Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis?

Risk urgency assessment

Expected monetary value analysis

Probability and impact matrix

Risk categorization

B- Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis is all about figuring out prioritizing each risk, and figuring out its probability and impact. It’s an important part of risk planning. But it’s not about coming up with
specific numbers!

Explanation

B- Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis is all about figuring out prioritizing each risk, and figuring out its probability and impact. It’s an important part of risk planning. But it’s not about coming up with
specific numbers!

37. What does a Cost Performance Index (CPI) of more than 1.0 indicate?

The project is over budget.

The project is right on budget.

The project is under budget.

The project is ahead of schedule.

C - The CPI is calculated as the earned value divided by the actual cost. An index of greater than one indicates that you have spent less than you forecasted to this point.

Explanation

C - The CPI is calculated as the earned value divided by the actual cost. An index of greater than one indicates that you have spent less than you forecasted to this point.

38. If you want to compress a project schedule, what are two of the recommended alternatives to consider?

Fast Tracking and Schedule Network Analysis

Crashing and Fast Tracking

Resource Leveling and What-If Scenario Analysis

Crashing and Schedule Network Analysis

B - Crashing and fast tracking can increase the project's schedule when necessary, but might come at a higher cost and rework potential.

Explanation

B - Crashing and fast tracking can increase the project's schedule when necessary, but might come at a higher cost and rework potential.

39. A project manager's primary professional responsibility is towards:

The performing organization

The project sponsor

All stakeholders

Customers

C - The project management team's professional responsibilities are not limited to any one of the stakeholders. The other choices are correct but not complete by themselves.

Explanation

C - The project management team's professional responsibilities are not limited to any one of the stakeholders. The other choices are correct but not complete by themselves.

40. Which of these is NOT a risk diagramming technique?

System or process flow charts

Cause and effect diagram

RACI chart

Influence diagrams

C - Risk diagramming techniques can include: cause and effect diagrams (also known as fishbone diagrams), flowcharts, and influence diagrams.

Explanation

C - Risk diagramming techniques can include: cause and effect diagrams (also known as fishbone diagrams), flowcharts, and influence diagrams.

41. You are managing a construction project that is currently being initiated. You met with the sponsors, and have started to work on identifying stakeholders. You've documented several key stakeholders and identified their needs. Before you can finish initiating the project, your company guidelines require that you make a rough order of magnitude estimate of both time and cost, so that the sponsor can allocate the final budget. What's the range of a rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate?

-10% to +10%

-50% to +50%

-50% to +100%

-100% to +200%

B- A rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate is an estimate that is very rough. According to the PMBOK® Guide, you should expect a ROM estimate to be anywhere from half (-50%) to one and a half times (+50%) the actual result. That means that if your ROM estimate for a project is six months, then you should expect the actual project to be anywhere from three months to nine months.

Explanation

B- A rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate is an estimate that is very rough. According to the PMBOK® Guide, you should expect a ROM estimate to be anywhere from half (-50%) to one and a half times (+50%) the actual result. That means that if your ROM estimate for a project is six months, then you should expect the actual project to be anywhere from three months to nine months.

42. Which quality control technique or tool should be used when trying to determine the cause of a major defect?

Fishbone diagram

Histogram

Control Chart

Pareto Chart

D - A fishbone diagram, also called a cause and effect diagram, helps identify potential causes of an issue or problem.

Explanation

D - A fishbone diagram, also called a cause and effect diagram, helps identify potential causes of an issue or problem.

43. What is the advantage of preparing an estimate of costs by an outside professional estimator?

To determine if a lump sum contract should be used

To determine the project funding limits

To hold vendors accountable to a certain price

To serve as a comparison point for incoming estimates

D - An estimate of costs will serve as a benchmark on proposed responses. Any significant differences in cost estimates can be an indication that the procurement statement of work was deficient, ambiguous or the prospective sellers failed to understand the work.

Explanation

D - An estimate of costs will serve as a benchmark on proposed responses. Any significant differences in cost estimates can be an indication that the procurement statement of work was deficient, ambiguous or the prospective sellers failed to understand the work.

44. You have just been authorized to manage a new project for your company. Which of the following BEST describes your first action?

Create the work breakdown structure

Develop the project management plan

Start working on the project charter

Figure out who has a stake in the project

D- Since the project charter is what authorizes a project manager to work on a project, it means that the Develop Project Charter process has just been performed. So which of the processes in the list comes next? The other Initiating process: Identify Stakeholders.

Explanation

D- Since the project charter is what authorizes a project manager to work on a project, it means that the Develop Project Charter process has just been performed. So which of the processes in the list comes next? The other Initiating process: Identify Stakeholders.

45. A project manager is planning the staffing levels that will be needed through the course of her project. She figures out the number of people that will be needed in each role over time and displays that information in a chart as part of her staffing management plan. What is that chart called?

Gantt chart

RACI matrix

Organization chart

Resource histogram

D- A resource histogram is just a way to visualize the number of people in each role that you will need on your project as time goes on.

Explanation

D- A resource histogram is just a way to visualize the number of people in each role that you will need on your project as time goes on.

46. You have been hired by a contractor, who wants you to manage a construction project for one of their clients. The project team has been working for six weeks. You need to determine whether the team is ahead of or behind schedule. Which of the following tools and techniques is the BEST one for you to consult?

Bottom-Up Estimating

Schedule Change Control System

Project Management Software

Performance Measurement

A- Performance measurement is what you’re doing when you look at the work that the team is performing in order to determine whether the project is ahead or behind schedule.

Explanation

A- Performance measurement is what you’re doing when you look at the work that the team is performing in order to determine whether the project is ahead or behind schedule.

47. Which of the following BEST describes the records management system?

A system to store contracts and project records for future project managers to reference

A library that stores the lessons learned for past projects

A filing system to store paid invoices

A system to store human resource records, salary information and work performance history

A- The records management system is one of the tools that you use in the Close Procurements process. It’s what you use to store your contracts and any related documents, so that future project managers can refer to them in future projects.

Explanation

A- The records management system is one of the tools that you use in the Close Procurements process. It’s what you use to store your contracts and any related documents, so that future project managers can refer to them in future projects.

48. A project manager wishes to expand an existing list of sellers. Which of the following techniques should she consider?

Networking

Outsourcing

Expert Judgment

Advertising

D - Advertising is a good avenue to expand existing lists of sellers. Advertisements can be placed in general circulation publications in order to achieve this.

Explanation

D - Advertising is a good avenue to expand existing lists of sellers. Advertisements can be placed in general circulation publications in order to achieve this.

49. Customer satisfaction should be measured at the end of the project to maintain long-term relationships. Which of the following is NOT always an aspect of customer satisfaction?

The product meets its stated and unstated requirements

The project is profitable

The product is high quality

The customer’s needs are met

B- Customers can be satisfied even when a project is not profitable—customer satisfaction isn’t always about money.

Explanation

B- Customers can be satisfied even when a project is not profitable—customer satisfaction isn’t always about money.

50. Which of the following is NOT a tool or technique of Estimate Costs?

Bottom-up

Parametric

Cost aggregation

Analogous

C- Cost Aggregation is used to build your budget, but it is not a tool for cost estimation. Bottom-up,
Parametric, and Analogous estimation techniques are used for both cost and time estimates.

Explanation

C- Cost Aggregation is used to build your budget, but it is not a tool for cost estimation. Bottom-up,
Parametric, and Analogous estimation techniques are used for both cost and time estimates.

51. Paul is a project manager for an industrial design project. The project has a 60% chance of making the company $230,000 over the next year. It has a 40% chance of costing the company $150,000. What's the project's EMV?

$138,000

$60,000

$78,000

$230,000

C- $230,000 x 0.70 = $ 138,000 savings, and $150,000 x 0.40 = -$60,000 expenses. Add them together and you get $78,000.

Explanation

C- $230,000 x 0.70 = $ 138,000 savings, and $150,000 x 0.40 = -$60,000 expenses. Add them together and you get $78,000.

52. In a cause and effect diagram, which of these is not a potential cause?

Material

Time

Effect

Personnel

B - The potential causes of a specific effect fall into these categories: time, machine, method, material, energy, measurement, personnel, and environment.

Explanation

B - The potential causes of a specific effect fall into these categories: time, machine, method, material, energy, measurement, personnel, and environment.

53. Which document describes the project's deliverables and the work required to create those deliverables?

Project authorization document

Project scope statement

Project scope management plan

Project charter

B - The project scope statement is the correct response. This document describes the project's deliverables in details and the work that is required to create those deliverables. It also forms the baseline for evaluating whether requests for changes are within or outside the project's boundaries.

Explanation

B - The project scope statement is the correct response. This document describes the project's deliverables in details and the work that is required to create those deliverables. It also forms the baseline for evaluating whether requests for changes are within or outside the project's boundaries.

54. A project team member finds that the color scheme of the webpage he is designing appears too gaudy and decides to change it to a mellowed down color scheme. The independent testing team flags this as a defect and there is a heated discussion between the team member and the testing team. What is your view?

B - The testing team is correct in their findings. Even though the new color scheme might be a better choice than the old one, all changes need to follow the change management process and go through the appropriate change and approval process.

Explanation

B - The testing team is correct in their findings. Even though the new color scheme might be a better choice than the old one, all changes need to follow the change management process and go through the appropriate change and approval process.

55. One way the Close Project or Phase process differs from Close Procurement is:

Procurement closure involves verification that all work and deliverables are acceptable, where Close Project or Phase does not

Close Project or Phase is only a subset of Close Procurement

Procurement closure is performed by the seller; Close Project or Phase is performed by the buyer

C- When you’re performing the Close Procurements process, you’re closing out work done by a seller for a contract. To do that, you do a few things: you verify that all of the work and deliverables are acceptable, you finalize any open claims, and in case of early termination, you follow the termination clause in the contract.
On the other hand, when you’re performing the Close Project or Phase process, you’re finalizing all of the various activities that you do across all of the process groups, and you’re also verifying that the work and deliverables are complete.

Explanation

C- When you’re performing the Close Procurements process, you’re closing out work done by a seller for a contract. To do that, you do a few things: you verify that all of the work and deliverables are acceptable, you finalize any open claims, and in case of early termination, you follow the termination clause in the contract.
On the other hand, when you’re performing the Close Project or Phase process, you’re finalizing all of the various activities that you do across all of the process groups, and you’re also verifying that the work and deliverables are complete.

56. Which of these is an input to the Collect Requirements process?

Requirements management plan

Risk register

Scope statement

Project charter

D - The project charter is an input to the Collect Requirements process. The other choices are not valid. Requirement management plan is an output of the Collect Requirements process. [Project Integration

Explanation

D - The project charter is an input to the Collect Requirements process. The other choices are not valid. Requirement management plan is an output of the Collect Requirements process. [Project Integration

57. While identifying risks for a new construction project, you discover that a chemical you are using on your building cannot be applied in rainy conditions. You also learn that your project will be ready for the chemical application around the time when most of the rainfall happens in this part of the country. Since the project can't be delayed until after the rainy season and you need to make sure the building gets the chemical coating, you decide that your team will just have to allow enough time in the schedule for non worked rain days. This is an example of which strategy?

Mitigate

Exploit

Accept

Transfer

C- This is an example of accepting a risk. The team can’t do anything about the weather, so the project manager has accepted the fact that they could end up being delayed by it.

Explanation

C- This is an example of accepting a risk. The team can’t do anything about the weather, so the project manager has accepted the fact that they could end up being delayed by it.

58. The scope baseline consists of:

The Scope Management Plan, the Project Scope Statement, and the WBS

The Scope Management Plan, Requirements Documents, and the WBS

The Scope Management Plan, the WBS, and the WBS Dictionary

The Project Scope Statement, the WBS, and the WBS Dictionary

D- The scope baseline is made up of the Project Scope Statement and the WBS and the WBS Dictionary. The WBS Dictionary is considered a supporting document to the WBS, so if the WBS were to change, then the dictionary would, too.

Explanation

D- The scope baseline is made up of the Project Scope Statement and the WBS and the WBS Dictionary. The WBS Dictionary is considered a supporting document to the WBS, so if the WBS were to change, then the dictionary would, too.

59. You are managing an accounting project when a new CFO is hired at your company. He'll be affected by all accounting projects in your company. What's the BEST thing for you to do?

Show him the Project Charter so that he knows that you are in charge of the project

Work with him to understand the current requirements and determine if he has new ones to add to the project

Keep working on the project and get his feedback when he can review the finished product

Add him to the communications plan

B- Since the CFO is affected by your project, that means he’s a stakeholder. The best thing you can do in this situation is get the new stakeholder’s opinion incorporated in the project up front.

Explanation

B- Since the CFO is affected by your project, that means he’s a stakeholder. The best thing you can do in this situation is get the new stakeholder’s opinion incorporated in the project up front.

60. A company is about to begin work on a large construction project to build four new buildings for a bank that wants to open new branches. The sponsor is writing a project charter. She recalls that a previous project the company performed for another bank ran over budget because the team had underestimated the effort required to install the reinforced walls in the vault. The previous project manager had documented the details of the lessons learned from this project. Where should the sponsor look for these lessons learned?

The project records management system

The company’s organizational process assets

The project’s work performance information

B- Lessons learned from past projects are always part of a company’s organizational process.

Explanation

B- Lessons learned from past projects are always part of a company’s organizational process.

61. At the close of your project, you measure the customer satisfaction and find that some customer needs were not fully met. Your supervisor asks you what steps you took on your project to improve customer satisfaction. Which subsidiary plan would you consult to determine this information?

Quality management plan

Communications management plan

Staffing management plan

Risk management plan

A- Customer satisfaction is an important part of modern quality management. Remember, customer satisfaction is about making sure that the people who are paying for the end product are happy with what they get.

Explanation

A- Customer satisfaction is an important part of modern quality management. Remember, customer satisfaction is about making sure that the people who are paying for the end product are happy with what they get.

62. Which of the following statements is not true about a subproject?

A subproject is a manageable component of a project.

A subproject is the smallest unit of a project and cannot be broken down further.

A subproject may be created from a project depending on human resource skill requirements.

A subproject can be contracted to an external enterprise or another functional unit in the performing organization.

B - A subproject is not necessarily the smallest unit. On very large projects, the subproject can further consist of a series of even smaller projects.

Explanation

B - A subproject is not necessarily the smallest unit. On very large projects, the subproject can further consist of a series of even smaller projects.

63. You're managing an industrial design project. Your project is currently in the Initiating phase. The project charter has been created, and you are working on identifying the stakeholders. Which of the following is NOT something that you should do?

Review lessons learned from prior projects

Perform a stakeholder analysis

Review procurement documents

Create the change control system

D- You don’t create the change control system in the Initiating phase—that’s something that you do as part of your project planning activities.

Explanation

D- You don’t create the change control system in the Initiating phase—that’s something that you do as part of your project planning activities.

64. Which of the following is NOT an input of the Close Project or Phase process?

Project Management Plan

Project Management Methodology

Accepted Deliverables

Organizational Process Assets

B- The project management methodology describes the process (or lifecycle) that you use to manage your project. It really doesn’t have anything to do with closing a project or phase.

Explanation

B- The project management methodology describes the process (or lifecycle) that you use to manage your project. It really doesn’t have anything to do with closing a project or phase.

65. Which is the BEST description of project scope?

All of the features and deliverables your project will deliver

All of the products your project will make

All of the people involved in your project

All of the work you will do to build the product

D- Product scope means the features and functions of the product or service being built.

Explanation

D- Product scope means the features and functions of the product or service being built.

66. Organizations can be categorized according to their operations style. Which two types of organizational systems are recognized by the PMBOK?

Project -based and Non-project based

Management driven or revenue driven

Mature or immature

Project management or program management

A - Project-based organizations are those whose operations consist primarily of projects. Non-project based organizations often may lack management systems designed to support project needs efficiently and effectively.

Explanation

A - Project-based organizations are those whose operations consist primarily of projects. Non-project based organizations often may lack management systems designed to support project needs efficiently and effectively.

67. You are initiating project that has a virtual team. Half of your team members will be located in another country, where they are working for a subcontractor. The subcontractor's team members speak a different dialect of English than your team does. After a conference call to review the project charter, two of your team members make jokes about the way your subcontractor's team members speak. What is the BEST way to handle this situation?

Do nothing, because discrimination against people with different dialect is a cultural norm in the subcontractor’s country.

Update the project charter to add a requirement that teams expect cultural differences.

Promote another team member, but find a different way to reward the person for the work.

A- Sexism, racism, or other discrimination should never be tolerated, no matter what the circumstances.

Explanation

A- Sexism, racism, or other discrimination should never be tolerated, no matter what the circumstances.

68. When are the most expensive defects most likely to be introduced into a product?

When the product is being assembled

When the product is being designed

When the quality management plan is being written

B- The most expensive defects are the ones introduced when the product is being designed.

Explanation

B- The most expensive defects are the ones introduced when the product is being designed.

69. You are developing the project scope statement for a new project. Which of the following is NOT part of creating a project scope statement?

Verify Scope

Using the Project Charter

Alternatives Identification

Obtaining Plan Approval

A- Verify Scope is the Monitoring & Controlling process for the Scope Management knowledge area. It doesn’t have anything to do with planning out the scope of the project—you do it as you complete
each project phase to make sure that your team has completed all of the project work.

Explanation

A- Verify Scope is the Monitoring & Controlling process for the Scope Management knowledge area. It doesn’t have anything to do with planning out the scope of the project—you do it as you complete
each project phase to make sure that your team has completed all of the project work.

70. On obtaining the project charter, the project manager of a project immediately put together the project team to execute the project. Is this correct?

Yes. Acquisition of the project tam is primarily an Initiating Process Group activity.

Yes. The project manager needs to get the team together as soon as the project starts.

No. It is the responsibility of the Project sponsor to provide the team for execution.

No. Acquisition of the project team is primarily an Executing Process Group activity.

D - No, the project team is not acquired immediately after signing of the project charter. Acquisition of a project team starts with HR planning in the Planning process group, followed by the Acquisition of the team in the Execution phase. The other answers are wrong because the Acquisition of the project team is mentioned in the wrong phase. It is also not the responsibility of the Project Sponsor to provide the team for execution.

Explanation

D - No, the project team is not acquired immediately after signing of the project charter. Acquisition of a project team starts with HR planning in the Planning process group, followed by the Acquisition of the team in the Execution phase. The other answers are wrong because the Acquisition of the project team is mentioned in the wrong phase. It is also not the responsibility of the Project Sponsor to provide the team for execution.

71. Defining the requirements for a new product is what type of activity?

Initiating process group

Planning process

Scope management process

Control process

A - The Initiating process group consists of the processes performed to define a new project or a new phase of an existing project by obtaining authorization to start the project of phase.

Explanation

A - The Initiating process group consists of the processes performed to define a new project or a new phase of an existing project by obtaining authorization to start the project of phase.

72. Which of the following is NOT a tool in Identify Risks?

Brainstorming

Risk Urgency Assessment

Delphi technique

SWOT Analysis

B- Risk Urgency Assessment is a tool of Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis. Identify Risks is all about finding risks. Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis is about ranking them based on what your team thinks their impact and probability will be for your project.

Explanation

B- Risk Urgency Assessment is a tool of Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis. Identify Risks is all about finding risks. Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis is about ranking them based on what your team thinks their impact and probability will be for your project.

73. Which of the following is inaccurately represented by the term Progressive elaboration?

Changes to project scope

Rolling wave planning

Detailing out the product requirements which were developed during the initiation process.

Production of fabrication and construction drawings from the design drawings for a chemical plant.

A - The distinction between Progressive elaboration and Scope Creep needs to be understood since the two terms are different. The changes to scope (especially in an uncontrolled manner) are called scope creep. In contrast, Progressive elaboration involves building on, or elaborating the output of a previous phase.

Explanation

A - The distinction between Progressive elaboration and Scope Creep needs to be understood since the two terms are different. The changes to scope (especially in an uncontrolled manner) are called scope creep. In contrast, Progressive elaboration involves building on, or elaborating the output of a previous phase.

74. Which enterprise environmental factor defines how work is assigned to people?

RACI matrix

Project Management Information System (PMIS)

Resource histogram

Work authorization system

D- The work authorization system is a part of your company’s Enterprise Environmental Factors, and it’s generally part of any change control system.

Explanation

D- The work authorization system is a part of your company’s Enterprise Environmental Factors, and it’s generally part of any change control system.

75. Configuration Status Accounting is an activity that is performed as part of which process?

Perform Integrated Change Control

Collect Requirements

Monitor and Control Project Work

Close Project or Phase

D - Configuration Status Accounting is a key configuration management activity and is done as part of the Perform Integrated Change Control process

Explanation

D - Configuration Status Accounting is a key configuration management activity and is done as part of the Perform Integrated Change Control process

76. A project manager is working in a country where it is customary to pay the police for private protection services, and those costs have increased the AC. This has affected his earned value calculations. When he reviews the budget with his company's management, his supervisor tells him that in another country, those costs would be considered a bribe, and questions whether they should be added to the budget. What is the BEST way for the project manager to proceed?

Initiate cost control to update the cost baseline.

Consult the Cost Management Plan about payment

Pay the police for private protection services, because it is customary in the country they are operating in

Do not pay the police for private protection services, because that would be a bribe

B- Some questions on the exam might ask you about how to operate in another country. In this case,
the question is about whether or not something is a bribe. Clearly, if it’s a bribe, you can’t pay it. But is it? If a payment to a government official (or anyone else) is customary, then it’s not a bribe. You
should go ahead and pay the police—as long as it’s acceptable and legal in that country.

Explanation

B- Some questions on the exam might ask you about how to operate in another country. In this case,
the question is about whether or not something is a bribe. Clearly, if it’s a bribe, you can’t pay it. But is it? If a payment to a government official (or anyone else) is customary, then it’s not a bribe. You
should go ahead and pay the police—as long as it’s acceptable and legal in that country.

77. Which of the following contracts has the MOST risk for the buyer?

Cost plus fixed fee (CPFF)

Time and Materials (T&M)

Cost plus award fee (CPAF)

Fixed price (FP)

B- Of all of the contract types listed in the question, the Time & Materials (T&M) contract is the riskiest kind of contract for the buyer, because if the cost of the materials gets really high then they’re passed along to the buyer—and the seller doesn’t have any incentive to keep them down!

Explanation

B- Of all of the contract types listed in the question, the Time & Materials (T&M) contract is the riskiest kind of contract for the buyer, because if the cost of the materials gets really high then they’re passed along to the buyer—and the seller doesn’t have any incentive to keep them down!

78. Fill in the blank: _______________ means developing in steps and continuing by increments.

Progressive management

Iterative elaboration

Waterfall development

Progressive elaboration

D - Progressive elaboration is a characteristic of projects that allows a project management team to manage it to a greater level as the project evolves.

Explanation

D - Progressive elaboration is a characteristic of projects that allows a project management team to manage it to a greater level as the project evolves.

79. Joe is a project manager on an industrial design project. He has found a pattern of defects occurring in all of his projects over the past few years and he thinks there might be a problem in the process his company is using that is causing it. He uses Ishikawa diagrams to come up with the root cause for this trend over projects so that he can make recommendations for process changes to avoid this problem in the future. What process is he doing?

Plan Quality

Perform Quality Assurance

Perform Quality Control

Qualitative Risk Analysis

B- Joe is doing root-cause analysis on process problems: that’s Perform Quality Assurance.

Explanation

B- Joe is doing root-cause analysis on process problems: that’s Perform Quality Assurance.

80. Which of the following is not a general management technique used to generate different approaches to execute and perform the project work?

Lateral thinking

Six Thinking Hats

Map Out

Brainstorming

C - Alternatives Identification concerns itself with identifying techniques to generate different approaches to execute and perform the work of the project. Map-Out is not a valid technique - the other three namely Brainstorming, Lateral thinking and Six Thinking Hats are techniques used to generate ideas for different approaches.

Explanation

C - Alternatives Identification concerns itself with identifying techniques to generate different approaches to execute and perform the work of the project. Map-Out is not a valid technique - the other three namely Brainstorming, Lateral thinking and Six Thinking Hats are techniques used to generate ideas for different approaches.

81. Which of these tools is NOT part of the Seven Basic Tools of Quality?

Scatter Diagram

Flowcharting

Statistical Sampling

Control Chart

B - The seven basic tools of quality are: cause and effect diagrams, control charts, flowcharting, histograms, pareto charts, run charts, and scatter diagrams.

Explanation

B - The seven basic tools of quality are: cause and effect diagrams, control charts, flowcharting, histograms, pareto charts, run charts, and scatter diagrams.

82. Which of the following is NOT a tool of the Define Scope process?

Facilitated Workshops

Constrained Optimization

Alternatives Identification

Product Analysis

B- Constrained Optimization doesn’t have anything to do with Define Scope—it’s a kind of benefit selection method.

Explanation

B- Constrained Optimization doesn’t have anything to do with Define Scope—it’s a kind of benefit selection method.

83. You are managing a software project. You are partway through the project, and your team has just delivered a preliminary version of part of the software. You are holding a weekly status meeting, when one of the team members points out that an important stakeholder is running into a problem with one of the features of the current software. The team member feels that there is a risk that the stakeholder will ask for a change in that feature, even though that change would be out of scope of the current release—and if the stakeholder requests that change, there is a high probability that the change control board would approve the change. What is the BEST action to take next?

Add the risk to the issue log and revisit it when there is more information

Add the risk to the risk register and gather information about its probability and impact

Schedule a meeting with the stakeholder to discuss the risk

C- Your risk register is one of the most important project management tools that you have—that’s why you review it and go over your risks at every meeting.

Explanation

C- Your risk register is one of the most important project management tools that you have—that’s why you review it and go over your risks at every meeting.

84. As project manager, you would like to show the relationship between two variables to help your project team understand the quality impacts better. Which tool should be used?

Scatter Diagram

Run Chart

Fishbone Diagram

Pareto Chart

A - A scatter diagram plots several occurrences of two variables (one on each axis). A relationship can then often be determine between the two variables based on how closely they fit a geometric model.

Explanation

A - A scatter diagram plots several occurrences of two variables (one on each axis). A relationship can then often be determine between the two variables based on how closely they fit a geometric model.

85. The date through which the project has provided actual status and accomplishments is called:

Data Date (DD)

Due Date (DD)

Project Date (PD)

Reporting Date (RD)

A - The date through which the project has provided actual status and accomplishments is called as Data Date. It is also known as as-of Date or status Date

Explanation

A - The date through which the project has provided actual status and accomplishments is called as Data Date. It is also known as as-of Date or status Date

86. Which is NOT an example of cost of quality?

The cost of inspecting your product to be sure that it meets requirements

The cost of reviewing documents used to produce your product to be sure that they do not have defects

The cost of training your team on techniques that will help them avoid defects

The cost of contracting another company to build part of the product

D- Any activity that helps you find, prevent or fix defects in your product is included in the cost of quality.

Explanation

D- Any activity that helps you find, prevent or fix defects in your product is included in the cost of quality.

87. When is the BEST time to have project kickoff meetings?

At the beginning of the project

When each deliverable is created

At the start of each phase

When the Communications Management plan is approved

C- If your project is broken up into phases, you should have a kickoff meeting at the start of each phase.

Explanation

C- If your project is broken up into phases, you should have a kickoff meeting at the start of each phase.

88. Where would you find a detailed list and description of specific project assumptions associated with the project?

Project management plan

Project scope statement

Project configuration document

Change management plan

B - The Project scope statement lists and describes the specific project assumptions associated with project scope and the potential impact of those assumptions if they prove to be false. The assumptions listed in the detailed project scope statement are typically more numerous and detailed than the project assumptions listed in the project charter.

Explanation

B - The Project scope statement lists and describes the specific project assumptions associated with project scope and the potential impact of those assumptions if they prove to be false. The assumptions listed in the detailed project scope statement are typically more numerous and detailed than the project assumptions listed in the project charter.

89. Which of these is not one of the tools and techniques recommended in the Control Schedule process?

Schedule compression

Variance Analysis

Expert Judgment

Performance Measurement

B - Expert Judgment is not used as a tool and technique in the Control Schedule process since the focus is on current project performance.

Explanation

B - Expert Judgment is not used as a tool and technique in the Control Schedule process since the focus is on current project performance.

90. When do you perform stakeholder analysis?

When managing communications on your project

When developing the project charter

When creating the project management plan

When putting changes through change control

A- Stakeholder Analysis is one of the tools and techniques of the Identify Stakeholders process.

Explanation

A- Stakeholder Analysis is one of the tools and techniques of the Identify Stakeholders process.

91. Which of the following is not a tool or technique of the Perform Quality Control process?

Statistical sampling

Pareto charts

Quality audits

Inspection

B- Quality audits are when your company reviews your project to make sure that you are following all of the processes in your company correctly. They are a tool of the Perform Quality Assurance process.

Explanation

B- Quality audits are when your company reviews your project to make sure that you are following all of the processes in your company correctly. They are a tool of the Perform Quality Assurance process.

92. The terms of union contracts are considered ______________ in your project plan.

Assumptions

Constraints

Requirements

Collective bargaining agreements

B- When you work with a union then the union contract can have an impact on your project. That means you need to consider the union itself a stakeholder, and when you do your planning you need to make sure any union rules and agreements are considered as constraints.

Explanation

B- When you work with a union then the union contract can have an impact on your project. That means you need to consider the union itself a stakeholder, and when you do your planning you need to make sure any union rules and agreements are considered as constraints.

93. Which of the following is NOT one of the most common sources of project conflict?

Schedules

Priorities

Resources

Costs

D- It’s important to know that resources, schedules, and priorities cause 50% of project problems
and conflicts.

Explanation

D- It’s important to know that resources, schedules, and priorities cause 50% of project problems
and conflicts.

94. Which of the following is NOT an input to Perform Quality Control?

Validated Changes

Quality Checklists

Work Performance Measurements

Deliverables

D- The most important part of the Perform Quality Control process is that your team has to inspect each deliverable in order to verify that it meets its requirements.

Explanation

D- The most important part of the Perform Quality Control process is that your team has to inspect each deliverable in order to verify that it meets its requirements.