Chapter 1: An Introduction To The PMBOK

Question 1

The metrics in the benefits management plan are intended to:

A. Support the definition of the project scope
B. Provide verification of the business value and validation of the project’s success
C. Provide input to the project budget
D. Provide clarification in contract disputes

Answer 1

B. Provide verification of the business value and validation of the project’s success

Question 2

The project business case is:

A. The filing cabinet used to store project documents
B. A documented economic feasibility study
C. A strategically influenced project decision
D. The project change management process

Answer 2

B. A documented economic feasibility study

Question 3

Selection of appropriate project management processes, inputs, tools, techniques, outputs, and life cycle phases is known as:

A. Adapting
B. Flexibility
C. Tailoring
D. Iteration

Answer 3

C. Tailoring

Question 4

The three questions that key stakeholders and the project manager should answer in understanding project success do not include:

A. How will that success be measured?
B. What does success look like for this project?
C. What factors may impact success?
D. How can marketing convince stakeholders of project success?

Answer 4

D. How can marketing convince stakeholders of project success?

Question 5

The performance data collected from various controlling processes, analyzed in context and integrated based on relationships across areas is:

A. Work performance data
B. Work performance results
C. Work performance reports
D. Work performance information

Answer 5

D. Work performance information

Question 6

Which of the following processes is in the executing process group?

A. Estimate activity durations
B. Manage project knowledge
C. Determine budget
D. Monitor stakeholder engagement

Answer 6

B. Manage project knowledge

Question 7

The Project Management Body or Knowledge is known as the standard for management of a project. A standard is not:

A. A mandatory practice enforceable through the legal system
B. Good practice most of the time
C. A methodology
D. A guideline

Answer 7

A. A mandatory practice enforceable through the legal system

Question 8

Jane works for the XYZ construction company which builds condominiums in Toronto and their main function is to undertake construction projects. They are described in the PMBOK as a:

A. Project construction company
B. Project management office
C. Project based organization
D. Functional organization

Answer 8

C. Project based organization

Question 9

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a project:

A. It has a fixed duration
B. It is a temporary endeavour
C. A repetitive process that follows an organization’s existing procedures
D. It creates a unique product or service

Answer 9

C. A repetitive process that follows an organization’s existing procedures

Question 10

The ABC company has a number of projects that it is working on this year. These include projects that will pave the car park, install a CRM system, design and produce a new machine for manufacturing and undertake research on the demand for some new product concepts that they have developed. This group of projects is known as:

A. A project portfolio
B. A project program
C. A subproject
D. A project collection

Answer 10

A. A project portfolio

Question 11

Which of the following is not a function of program management:

A. Resolving issues between component projects and the program level
B. Managing the project team to meet the project objectives
C. Managing change requests within a shared governance framework
D. Allocating budgets across multiple projects within the program

Answer 11

B. Managing the project team to meet the project objectives

Question 12

JKL company is developing a new smartphone that will be significantly more advanced than other smartphones that are currently in the market. This is an example of which strategic consideration:

A. Material issues
B. Strategic opportunity or business need
C. New technology
D. Market demand

Answer 12

C. New technology

Question 13

The document that describes how and when the benefits of the project will be delivered, and describes the mechanisms that should be in place to measure those benefits is:

A. The target benefits management plan
B. The project management plan
C. The project benefits management plan
D. The project scope management plan

Answer 13

C. The project benefits management plan

Question 14

The project life cycle in which the deliverable is produced through a series of iterations that successfully add functionality within a predetermined time frame is:

A. Incremental life cycle
B. Predictive life cycle
C. Iterative life cycle
D. Hybrid life cycle

Answer 14

A. Incremental life cycle

Question 15

Estimate activity resources is a process in:

A. The project cost knowledge area
B. The project resource management knowledge area
C. The initiating process group
D. The executing process group

Answer 15

B. The project resource management knowledge area

Question 16

These processes ensure the effective flow of the project throughout its life cycle. These processes encompass the tools and techniques involved in applying the skills and capabilities described in the Knowledge Areas:

A. Service-oriented processes
B. Product-oriented processes
C. Program management processes
D. Project management processes

Answer 16

D. Project management processes

Question 17

Project managers and their teams should carefully address each process and its inputs and outputs and determine which are applicable to the project they are working on. This effort is known as:

A. Confirming
B. Tailoring
C. Assessing
D. Adapting

Answer 17

B. Tailoring

Question 18

These processes are required to establish the scope of the project, refine the objectives and define the course of action required to attain the objectives that the project was undertaken to achieve:

A. Executing Process Group
B. Planning Process Group
C. Monitoring and Controlling Process Group
D. Initiating Process Group

Answer 18

B. Planning Process Group

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true:

A. Process groups can be applied in any order that is appropriate to a particular project
B. Process groups are always performed in the same order in each project phase
C. Process groups are usually performed in the same order in every project
D. Process groups are always performed in the same order in every project

Answer 19

A. Process groups can be applied in any order that is appropriate to a particular project

Question 20

The RST company has been completing a 5 phase project. At the end of the third phase a review has been undertaken of the work done in the phase and the customer’s acceptance has been sought. Lessons learned have been documented. These activities appear within which project group:

A. Monitoring and controlling
B. Closing
C. Executing
D. Planning

Answer 20

B. Closing

Question 21

Define: Project

Answer 21

1. Has a clear start and finish and is designed to achieve a specific, unique objective. Can be short or long and can end either when the objective has been achieved or when the client decides it is appropriate.
2. Can be used to create products, services, improvements to existing products or services and results; to drive change in organizations, to move them from their current state to a desired state

Question 22

Define: Operational activity

Answer 22

Work that an organization does on a repeatable basis

Question 23

Define: Assets

Answer 23

Projects result in this value to organizations, which can be tangible like money, equipment, and market share, or intangible

Question 24

Define: Portfolio

Answer 24

A group of projects that are designed to together achieve a set of strategic objectives

Question 25

Define: Programs

Answer 25

Subsets of the projects that are intended to achieve elements of the portfolio

Question 26

Define: Project management

Answer 26

“The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements”

• PMBOK 6th edition, pg. 10

Question 27

Define: Organizational project management

Answer 27

Aligns projects with organizational elements like structure, culture, and technology management practices to make these elements more effective

Question 28

Define: Program management

Answer 28

Management of a group of projects that are designed to achieve a specific strategic objective

Question 29

Define: Portfolio management

Answer 29

Management of projects that may not have connections with each other but which together will contribute to overall strategic objectives. Focuses on resource allocation and alignment of project activities with strategic priorities

Question 30

Define: Operations management

Answer 30

Management of the day-to-day operational activities of the business. Concerned with managing operations and outside the scope of PMBOK, although operational stakeholders will often need to be manages as part of project activities

Question 31

Define: Project life cycle

Answer 31

Combined series of phases that make up the whole project

Question 32

Define: Predictive projects

Answer 32

Also called plan-driven projects. These projects place greater emphasis on detailed planning work that is undertaken at the beginning and intended to be follows throughout the project life cycle. This type of project usually uses sequential or overlapping project phases

Question 33

Define: Adaptive life cycle project

Answer 33

1. This type of project is harder to plan at the beginning because there is a higher degree of uncertainty about the work that will be done to meet the project objectives
2. This type of project often uses a more iterative methodology, but usually has very short phases (2-4 weeks) and adapts and modifies project activity regularly as the project proceeds, for each phase after the previous phase has been completed
3. Also called agile projects, the emphasis is on being able to change project activity easily, based on stakeholder demands

Question 34

Define: Iterative and incremental life cycle project

Answer 34

This type of project may use phases that are sequential or overlapping, repeating project phases, and refining the project repeatedly as the project proceeds

Question 35

Define: Generic project life cycle

Answer 35

The elements that exist in all projects

Question 36

Define: Phases

Answer 36

Manageable groupings or project activities that complete one or more project deliverables

Question 37

Define: Process groups

Answer 37

The PMBOK group’s project processes into five of these, called, in order: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing

Question 38

Define: Phase gate

Answer 38

A transition into the next phase, when work completed so far on the project may be reviewed and decisions made about changes to future work, including whether to proceed with the project. Also known as a stage gate, milestone, phase review, or kill point

Question 39

Define: Fast tracking

Answer 39

Used to speed a project up, particularly when there have been delays in the project schedule. Phases may be overlapped

Question 40

Define: Initiating (Process Group)

Answer 40

Processes used to start a project or a part of a project

Question 41

Define: Planning (Process Group)

Answer 41

Processes used at the beginning of the project to start the project and may also be used to undertake preparation as the project proceeds

Question 42

Define: Executing (Process Group)

Answer 42

Processes used to carry out the project work

Question 43

Define: Monitoring and Controlling (Process Group)

Answer 43

Processes used to observe project activity, assess whether it is achieving the project objectives and generate actions where these are needed

Question 44

Define: Closing (Process Group)

Answer 44

Processes used at the end of the project or when elements of the project are completed

Question 45

Define: Knowledge areas

Answer 45

Process grouped by type of project activity: - - Project Integration Management

• Project Scope Management
• Project Schedule Management
• Project Cost Management
• Project Quality Management
• Project Resource Management
• Project Communications Management
• Project Risk Management
• Project Procurement Management
• Project Stakeholder Management

Question 46

Define: Work performance data

Answer 46

Data generated by project activity, including the amount of progress being made on an activity and the dates that work has started and finished. It is raw data that has not been interpreted or manipulated

Question 47

Define: Work performance information

Answer 47

Data that has been analyzed and integrated, which may include the status of the work being done and the progress made, combined in a report

Question 48

Define: Work performance reports

Answer 48

Formal reports of information that are used to support project decisions, perhaps detailing the work that has been completed and recommending decisions based on this

Question 49

Define: Project management business documents

Answer 49

Provide information that is needed to understand the needs of the business that the project is intended to fulfill. They include the project business case and the project benefits management plan

Question 50

Define: Project business case

Answer 50

Usually provided by the business sponsor. Gives the financial and initial justification for the project and often used to assess its success when it is complete. Supported by a detailed assessment of the business’s needs

Question 51

Define: Project benefits management plan

Answer 51

Describes how the benefits that are provided by the project will be achieved, which may include the expected project tangible and intangible results, their effectiveness in contributing to the organization’s strategy, and how they will be measured

Question 52

Define: Project-based organizations

Answer 52

Their main activity is conducting projects