CW Questions 01 Flashcards

1
Q

What is an organization that controls Project Managers, documentation, and policies called?

(A) Project Management Office
(B) Tight matrix
(C) Functional
(D) Projectized

A

Correct Answer: (A) Project Management Office
Explanation: The Project Management Office (PMO) can control Project Managers, documentation and policies or anything else needed within reason for the management of projects within an organization. [section 3.1 and 3.8]

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2
Q

Which of the following is the least desirable reason to pursue a project?
(A) To increase market penetration for the top two customers by 13%
(B) To increase employee satisfaction by 6%
(C) To provide regulatory compliance
(D) To ensure that all technology in place at key branches is less than three years old

A

Correct Answer: (D) To ensure that all technology in place at key branches is less than three years old.
Explanation: Without additional information, there is no indication that technology in place is unreliable or insufficient for the task. All other answers are desirable, including employee satisfaction. As a general rule, satisfied employees are more productive and less likely to seek other employment opportunities. [section 4.3.3]

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3
Q

What is the most significant benefit of having the project management team’s assistance in creating the work breakdown structure?
(A) It establishes the Project Manager’s authority
(B) It helps generate a more accurate budget
(C) It helps attain buy-in from the team doing the work
(D) It helps generate a more accurate schedule

A

Correct Answer: (C) It helps attain buy-in from the team doing the work
Explanation: Having the project team assist in the creation of the WBS has a number of positive benefits. The most positive benefit is obtaining buy-in from the people doing the work. Though the WBS is reviewed later in the Planning process group to create the budget and schedule, it is the team’s buy-in (and experience) that drives the accuracy of all future documents. As a minor point, schedule and budget are equally important, and thus neither answer by itself could be the “best” answer. Authority comes from the project charter. [section 5.3.1]

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4
Q
Calculate the variance for the following: Pessimistic=12, Optimistic=2, Realistic=5. 
(A) 5
(B) 2.79
(C) 5.67
(D) Not enough information
A

Correct Answer: (B) 2.79
Explanation: The formula for variance is Pessimistic-Optimistic divided by 6, squared. The answer is 2.79. [section 6.8]

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5
Q
Activity A is worth $200, is 100% complete, should have been done on day 1, and actually cost $200.  Activity B is worth $75, is 90% complete, should have been done on day 2, and actually cost $120 so far.  Activity C is worth $200, is 75% complete and should have been done on day 3, and has cost $175 so far.  The total budget is $1,000.  What is the planned value as of day 2?
(A) $275.00
(B) -$417.50
(C) $495.00
(D) -$275.00
A
Correct Answer (A) $275.00
Explanation: The planned value as of day 2 is $275.00.  Obtain this value by adding the planned value of Activity A and B, which should have been done as of day 2 on the project.  [section 7.14.1]
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6
Q

The Project Manager has concerns about the software developer’s project work in terms of quality and has spoken to the developer about this on several occasions. This involvement derives from the relationship between project management and quality management which should complement each other. What specifically is the relationship between the two?
(A) Both focus on management responsibility, fulfillment of requirements, continuous improvement, prevention over inspection, and product excellence
(B) Both focus on management responsibility, continuous improvement, prevention over inspection, and customer satisfaction
(C) Both focus on management responsibility, fulfillment of requirements, continuous improvement, prevention over inspection, and customer satisfaction
(D) Both focus on management responsibility, continuous improvement, prevention over inspection, and product excellence

A

Correct Answer: (B) Both focus on management responsibility, continuous improvement, prevention over inspection, and customer satisfaction
Explanation: The relationship between project management and quality management is that both focus on management responsibility, continuous improvement, prevention over inspection, and customer satisfaction. [section 8.2]

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7
Q

Of the following statements, which is correct?
(A) The key output of the Develop Human Resource Plan is the Human Resource Plan
(B) The key output of the Develop Human Resource Plan is the Staffing Management Plan
(C) The key output of the Acquire Project Team is the Human Resource Plan
(D) The key output of the Acquire Project Team is the Staffing Management Plan

A

Correct Answer: (A) The key output of the Develop Human Resource Plan is the Human Resource Plan
Explanation: The key output of the Develop Human Resource Plan is the Human Resource Plan. [section 9.1]

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8
Q

Which of the following is a key input of the Plan Communications process?
(A) Communications technology which documents the communication vehicles available for the project
(B) Communication models which documents the coding/decoding techniques available for project documentation
(C) Project charter which indicates business areas and individuals associated with the project
(D) Stakeholder register which contains a list of stakeholders and their needs

A

Correct Answer: (D) Stakeholder register which contains a list of stakeholders and their needs
Explanation: The stakeholder register is a key input to the communications management plan. The other answers are tools and techniques or noise. [section 10.4]

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9
Q
Calculate EMV from the following: 0.4 probability of $6,500, 0.3 probability of -$3,200, 0.2 probability of $2,000, 0.1 probability of $1,000. 
(A) $10,500
(B) $2,700
(C) $2,140
(D) $2,500
A

Correct Answer: (C) $2,140
Explanation: To calculate the expected monetary value (EMV), multiply each probability by its dollar amount and add the products of all multiplication. The result is a value of $2,140. [section 11.5.3]

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10
Q

The project is using a company to provide the technicians for a national network upgrade project. Presently, the buyer is having issues with the seller accomplishing the work of the project according to the contract schedule. The buyer lets the seller know that it is in default for failure to execute per terms of the contract. The buyer also decides to stop payment for work already accomplished until the issue is resolved. What most accurately describes this situation?
(A) The buyer is right in stopping payment until the issue is resolved
(B) The buyer is wrong in stopping payment until the issue is resolved
(C) Both sides appear to be in default of the contract
(D) The seller is wrong and needs to correct the situation

A

Correct Answer: (C) Both sides appear to be in default of the contract
Explanation: A seller who fails to perform as defined in the contract is in default of the contract. The buyer choosing to stop payment creates a default situation as well. Two wrongs do not make a right in this case. The buyer is not right in stopping payment just because the other side is in default. The other answers are both accurate, but they are not the best answer. [section 12.1.4]

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11
Q

You are a Project Manager involved in the procurement of $2,000,000 of infrastructure equipment. As negotiations begin between your company and the vendor, you are approached by the vendor’s sales representative who offers you a trip to Jamaica if you can “help” the process along. What is your professional and social responsibility?
(A) Decline the trip until after the contract has been signed
(B) The work you have put in on the project has been demanding, and you deserve the trip
(C) Decline the trip and have it offered to your manager
(D) Decline the trip because it is not in the best interest of the company

A

Correct Answer: (D) Decline the trip because it is not in the best interest of the company
Explanation: According to professional and social responsibility, a Project Manager must refrain from offering or accepting inappropriate payments, gifts, or other forms of compensation. Both accepting the trip and declining the trip until after the contract has been signed break the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Declining the trip and having it offered to your manager creates a conflict of interest for your manager. [section 13.4.1]

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12
Q
You are brought into a planning meeting by senior management at your company.  They inform you that you have been selected to be the Project Manager for a new project that will help the company create a new product line to be introduced about four years from now.  This project is the result of what type of planning?
(A) Portfolio planning
(B) Program planning
(C) Strategic planning
(D) Product life cycle planning
A

Correct Answer: (C) Strategic planning
Explanation: Strategic planning is typically done three to five years in advance. It is very common for projects to be driven by strategic initiatives at a company. Product life cycle involves the entire life cycle from “cradle to grave” for a product. The other answers are noise. [section 3.1.1]

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13
Q
Sign-off has just occurred on the project charter.  There are items in the project charter that mandate a specific vendor and describe the maximum amount of physical and computer storage space available to the team.  These are examples of what? 
(A) Assumptions that impact the project
(B) Constraints that impact the project
(C) Risks of the project
(D) Activity resource requirements
A

Correct Answer: (B) Constraints that impact the project
Explanation: Constraints are variables that limit the team’s options. They typically deal with resources, time, or money. Assumptions are educated guesses made on the project about items that are not known. Risks deal with varying degrees of unknowns which may generate risks. Activity resource requirements are generated later in the Planning Process Group. [section 4.4.3]

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14
Q

The approval of the project charter has been delayed for weeks due to market fluctuation. Upon approval, you are assigned as the Project Manager and senior management wants you to begin the Planning process group immediately. When will you schedule Verify Scope?
(A) At the end of every phase on the project
(B) After the sponsor defines what they want the project to create
(C) When the project management plan is awaiting signoff
(D) When the work of the project is done

A

Correct Answer: (A) At the end of every phase on the project

Explanation: It is better to schedule Verify Scope more frequently on a project instead of simply waiting until the end. Such verification makes it possible to detect issues early in the project, facilitating adjustment of work as the project evolves. Scheduling the process after the sponsors define what they want the project to create is too early in the project to do Verify Scope. [section 5.4]

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15
Q

Crosswind Custom Homes is planning a project that will create a new subdivision on land purchased ten years ago. At the time, the location was too far away from good roads and facilities, but with the expansion northward from the city, the time is right. The project team is defining activities. What tools and techniques are they most likely to use?

(A) Rolling wave planning, expert judgment, and decomposition

(B) Templates, rolling wave planning, expert judgment, and decomposition

(C) Activity lists, rolling wave planning, expert judgment, and decomposition

(D) Activity lists, templates, rolling wave planning, expert judgment, and decomposition

A

Correct Answer: (A) Rolling wave planning, expert judgment, and decomposition

Explanation: The keys tools and techniques for the Define Activities process are rolling wave planning, expert judgment, and decomposition. [section 6.1]

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16
Q

The project team is developing rules for reporting updates on the project. The majority of the activities are greater than two reporting periods long. Which format is best to use in this case?

(A) Fixed formula progress reporting

(B) Weighted milestone

(C) Earned value

(D) Forecast reporting

A

Correct Answer (B) Weighted milestone

Explanation: The weighted milestone approach is ideal when an activity is over two reporting periods in length. Fixed formula uses a partial credit approach such as 50/50 and is ideal when an activity is short, such as less than two reporting periods long. Earned value shows the status of the scope, time, and cost of the project. Forecast reporting focuses on what is getting ready to be done on the project. [section 7.10]

17
Q

The Project Manager of a natural gas discovery software development project is known for his adherence to Deming’s Total Quality Management philosophy. What can the project team expect him to espouse in his approach to quality?

(A) Be proactive, not reactive

(B) Utilize leadership and accountability

(C) Constant improvement

(D) All the answers

A

Correct Answer: (D) All the answers

Explanation: Deming’s Total Quality Management philosophy advocates an approach to quality that is proactive, that utilizes leadership and accountability, and that promotes continuous improvement. [section 8.3]

18
Q

Of the following, which are the key tools and techniques of the Develop Project Team process?

(A) Team-building activities, co-location, training, ground rules, management skills, and recognition and reward

(B) Team-building activities, co-location, training, ground rules, interpersonal skills, and recognition and reward

(C) Team-building activities, co-location, training, ground rules, communication skills, and recognition and reward

(D) Team-building activities, co-location, training, ground rules, scheduling skills, and recognition and reward

A

Correct Answer: (B) Team-building activities, co-location, training, ground rules, interpersonal skills, and recognition and reward

Explanation: Team-building activities, co-location, training, ground rules, interpersonal skills, and recognition and reward are the key tools and techniques of the Develop Project Team process. [section 9.3]

19
Q

The Project Manager and his team spend a great deal of time in meetings. Which of the following is not a good reason to cancel a meeting?

(A) The agenda wasn’t published until right before the meeting

(B) A key team member had to attend a different meeting

(C) A Functional Manager wanted to meet with the Project Manager at the same time

(D) The topic partially changed and the presentation material wasn’t complete yet

A

Correct Answer: (C) A Functional Manager wanted to meet with the Project Manager at the same time.

Explanation: The Functional Manager’s decision to meet with the Project Manager at the same time as an existing team meeting is not a good reason to cancel a meeting. The Project Manager should offer to schedule a meeting for a different time with the Functional Manager because project-related work has a higher priority. [section 10.5.5]

20
Q

In defining a risk trigger, which of the following is most accurate?

(A) A trigger is an indicator that a risk event will occur

(B) A trigger is the same as a risk

(C) A trigger is an indicator that a risk event has occurred

(D) A trigger is an indicator that a risk event could occur

A

Correct Answer: (D) A trigger is an indicator that a risk event could occur.

Explanation: A trigger is an occurrence which can imply that a risk event could occur. Just because a trigger occurs, don’t automatically assume that a risk will occur. [section 11.3.3]