CW Questions 05 Flashcards
Project A is two months long, has three stakeholders, and has completed the Planning process group. Project B is 12 months long, has 10 stakeholders, and is in the Monitoring and Controlling process group. Project C is 12 months long, has three stakeholders, and is in the Planning process group. Which project is most likely to experience scope creep?
(A) Project A (B) Project B (C) Project C (D) Not enough information
Correct Answer: (B) Project B
Explanation: Project B is tied for the longest project but has the most stakeholders. The longer the project and the greater the number of stakeholders involved, the more an environment is prone to scope creep. The process group is noise. [section 5.3]
The project to market a new herbal remedy is in planning. The team is creating a network diagram. What tools and techniques can be used to create this?
(A) Dependency determination, applying leads and lags, expert judgment, precedence diagramming method (B) Precedence determination, applying leads and lags, schedule network templates, precedence diagramming method (C) Dependency determination, applying leads and lags, schedule network templates, precedence diagramming method (D) Precedence determination, applying leads and lags, expert judgment, precedence diagramming method
Correct Answer: (C) Dependency determination, applying leads and lags, schedule network templates, precedence diagramming method
Explanation: The tools and techniques for the Sequence Activity process are dependency determination, applying leads and lags, schedule network templates, and the precedence diagramming method. The other answers are noise. [section 6.2]
Which of the following shows the rate at which the project is progressing compared to what was planned?
(A) Schedule variance (B) Gantt chart (C) Variance report (D) Schedule performance index
Correct Answer: (D) Schedule performance index
Explanation: The schedule performance index (SPI) shows the rate at which the schedule is progressing. The SPI is established by showing the ratio between work done, also known as earned value (EV) and work scheduled, also known as planned value (PV). The schedule variance (SV) is the difference between work done, also known as earned value (EV) and work scheduled, also known as planned value (PV). The Gantt chart shows the schedule of the project. A variance report shows the difference between two items being measured. [section 7.15]
The computer manufacturer is putting a policy in place to use Just-in-Time manufacturing. It feels this policy will help minimize excess inventory cost and improve efficiency. The amount of inventory needed for this type of process is what?
(A) There is insufficient information to determine the answer (B) .27% (Three sigma) or .0003% (Six Sigma) (C) Zero plus predefined organizational buffer (D) Ideally, zero with supplies obtained only when the product is being built
Correct Answer: (D) Ideally, zero with supplies obtained only when the product is being built
Explanation: The amount of inventory needed for Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory is optimally zero with supplies being obtained only when product is being built. [section 8.8.8]
The Project Manager is taking a leave of absence and the company has just designated his replacement. The new Project Manager is known as a visionary. Of the following, which best describes negative characteristics of this type of manager?
(A) This style of management is not proactive and may fail to avert issues in a timely manner (B) This style of management is focused more on the big picture than the details and may let details slip that impact the timeliness of the project (C) This style of management is focused on specific activities and goals and may fail to see opportunities that arise in the project (D) This style of management is focused on helping employees take on new skills and roles which may create quality issues
Correct Answer: (B) This style of management is focused more on the big picture than the details and may let details slip that impact the timeliness of the project
Explanation: The visionary is focused more on the big picture than the details and may let details slip that impact the timeliness of the project. The facilitator is not proactive and may fail to avert issues in a timely manner. The director is focused on specific activities and goals and may fail to see opportunities that arise. The mentor is focused on helping employees take on new skills and roles which may create quality issues. [section 9.1.8]
The project has eight people on it. Two more are added. What is the total number of communication channels added to the project?
(A) 45 channels (B) 17 channels (C) 28 channels (D) 10 channels
Correct Answer: (B) 17 Channels
Explanation: To calculate this result, you need to calculate the number of communication channels with eight people. The formula is N*(N-1)/2. This means that with eight people, there are 28 channels of communication. Next, add the two additional people for a total of ten people and use the communication channel formula. This shows that there are 45 communication channels with ten people on the project. Subtract 28 from 45 for a difference, and the answer of 17 communication channels. [section 10.4.3]
The Project Manager is discussing risk with a risk-averse stakeholder on the market expansion project. The stakeholder has been exposed to project management concepts, but wants to know more about contingency reserves. The Project Manager explains that contingency reserves are created specifically for…
(A) Risk events you know can occur on the project (B) Risk events you cannot logically forecast for the project (C) Risk events that do occur with a cumulative cost greater than the amount set aside in management reserves (D) Risk events that do occur with a cumulative cost greater than the amount set aside in contingency reserves
Correct Answer: (A) Risk events you know can occur on the project
Explanation: Contingency reserves are created for known unknowns: risk events you know can occur during the project. Management reserves are created for unknown unknowns: risk events you cannot forecast for the project. The other answers are noise. [section 11.6]
You are the Project Manager on a defense project. The buyer wants to get an idea of how much he will pay for cost overruns. With the following variables, calculate the point of total assumption: Expected Cost=$120,000; Expected Profit=$30,000; Target Price=$150,000; Buyer/Share Ratio=75/25%; Ceiling Price=$156,000; Maximum Overrun=125%.
(A) $106,400.00 (B) $128,000.00 (C) $117,600.00 (D) $100,800.00
Correct Answer: (B) $128,000.00
Explanation: The formula for point of total assumption (PTA) is as follows:
((Ceiling Price-Target Price)/Buyer Share)+Target Cost.
$128,000.00 = (($156,000 - $150,000)/0.75) + $120,000
[section 12.1.8]
As a Project Manager, your first priority is to accomplish the work of the project. After this work is achieved, you exercise professional and social responsibility by helping project team members gain experience and knowledge based on the work and activities on the project. What is the best method you can use to help them gain this experience and knowledge?
(A) Review and discuss historical information with the team (B) Analyze and discuss lessons learned with the team (C) Review the assumptions used on the project with the team (D) Thoroughly discuss the project constraints with the team
Correct Answer: (B) Analyze and discuss lessons learned with the team
Explanation: Determining and discussing lessons learned allow team members to understand what successes and failures were encountered on the project, thereby helping the team grow and develop as it relates to experience and knowledge of future projects. Reviewing and discussing historical information from previous projects does not have the immediacy or depth of determining and discussing lessons learned. Assumptions and constraints are noise. [section 13.1.3]
Which of the following is the definition of program management?
(A) Managing related or similar projects in a coordinated way (B) The process of computer program management (C) Managing a television program (D) Done for a purpose
Correct Answer: (A) Managing related or similar projects in a coordinated way
Explanation: Program management utilizes a coordinated management of related projects. Done for a purpose is a characteristic of a project. The other answers are noise. [section 3.1, section 3.8]
The team has just completed the work on a project that contracted with a number of vendors. A contract file was created during the procurement process. What items must be contained in this file?
(A) For each contract, the bidding documentation, the contract, the approved changes, and the formal acceptance (B) For each contract, the contract, the approved changes, and the formal acceptance (C) For each contract, the bidding documentation, the amended contract, and the formal acceptance (D) For each contract, the amended contract and the formal acceptance
Correct Answer: (B) For each contract, the contract, the approved changes, and the formal acceptance
Explanation: For each contract, the contract, the approved changes, and the formal acceptance must be contained in the contract file. The other answers are noise. [section 4.8.1]
The project to create a new database system is approximately halfway complete when a senior manager says that a major change needs to occur with the scope of the project or the system will not function in his department when it’s rolled out. He further explains this change is going to delay the anticipated finish date of the project. After he explains the details of the proposed change in scope, what do you do first?
(A) Let him know what the delay to the project will be. (B) Implement change control to incorporate the new work. (C) Tell him "no" because it will change the finish date of the project. (D) Meet with the team to determine the impact.
Correct Answer: (D) Meet with the team to determine the impact
Explanation: Meet with the team to determine the impact to the project plus solutions and any violation of the finish date that was defined in the project charter, and then pass solution options to senior management and the sponsor so they can select the best one. Per PMI, you should never tell a senior manager or sponsor “no.” Instead, you should let them know the options and impact associated with the request. You cannot explain a project delay until the team helps determine what the project impacts are. Change control of this size is not likely to be implemented by a Project Manager, but more likely by the senior management or sponsor. [section 5.5]
The Project Manager and her team have just completed the Define Activities process. What did they create as a result of this process?
(A) Activity list, dependencies, milestone list, and activity duration estimates (B) Activity list and milestone list (C) Activity list, milestone list, and activity duration estimates (D) Activity list, dependencies, and milestone list
Correct Answer: (B) Activity list and milestone list
Explanation: The key outputs of the Define Activities process are the activity list and the milestone list. [section 6.1]
Which process aggregates estimated costs from the individual work packages or activities to create a summary and detailed breakdown of project costs?
(A) Control Costs (B) Estimate Costs (C) Determine Budget (D) Earned Value Management
Correct Answer: (C) Determine Budget
Explanation: Determine Budget applies costs from the individual work packages or activities to establish an authorized cost baseline. This could be at a summary or detailed level depending on the needs of the project at the time. Estimate Costs approximates the costs needed to complete project activities. Control Costs manages the cost of the project. “Earned value management” is noise. [section 7.13]
To counteract a perception in the marketplace that RM Manufacturing designs products with defects, the company hires a new Project Manager to head the key design project in its new initiative. The Project Manager’s commitment to quality has earned her industry-wide respect. One of the techniques she utilizes to ensure quality results is flowcharting. Of the following, which is the best description of this technique and in what process is it typically used?
(A) A technique used during the Plan Quality process to define the components of a process and the order in which they should be performed (B) A technique used during the Perform Quality Control process to determine variance and trends (C) A technique used during the Perform Quality Control process to define the components of a process and the order in which they should be performed (D) A technique used during the Plan Quality process to determine variance and trends
Correct Answer: (A) A technique used during the Plan Quality process to define the components of a process and the order in which they should be performed
Explanation: Flowcharting is a technique used during the Plan Quality process to define the components of a process and the order in which they should be performed. The other answers are noise. [section 8.8.18]
