Diagnostic Test Flashcards
Pass Exam
You are trying to decide whether to lease or buy a Dell Power Edge 400S server for the project. If you lease the server, it will cost you $150 per month. If you buy the server, it will cost you $4000 and $50 per month in maintenance fees. How long will it take for the lease price to be the same as the purchase price? A. 26 months B. 27 months C. 35 months D. 40 months
Correct Answer : D
PG: Planning; KA: Procurement Make-or-buy analysis. Let us assume it takes N months. Then 150 x N = 4000 + 50 x N. Solving for N, 100 x N = 4000. Or N = 40 months.
Ensuring that the physical resources assigned and allocated to the project are available as planned, as well as monitoring the planned versus actual utilization of resources and taking corrective action as necessary are all part of: A. Plan Resource Management B. Acquire resources C. Develop Team D. Control Resources
Correct Answer : D
PG:Controlling KA: Resource Management Control Resources is the process of ensuring that the physical resources assigned and allocated to the project are available as planned, as well as monitoring the planned versus actual utilization of resources and taking corrective action as necessary. The key benefit of this process is ensuring that the assigned resources are available to the project at the right time and in the right place and are released when no longer needed. This process is performed throughout the project.
A formal project management plan has been approved and the project work is being executed. Which one of the following is NOT LIKELY to occur NEXT?
A. Directing the performance of planned project activities
B. The technical aspects of the project directly affect the activities
C. Subdividing the project work into smaller manageable pieces of work
D. Implementing corrective actions approved by the engineering control board
Correct Answer : C
PG: Executing; KA: Integration A, B, and D are all aspects of Direct and Manage Project Execution. C is Create WBS, which is a planning activity completed before the plan is approved
A project manager is planning to purchase services from a vendor. He determines that since the scope is not clearly defined a cost reimbursable contract is appropriate. However, he is concerned about the risks of such a contract. In this contract his BEST option is to:
A. Fix the payment to the vendor for the services delivered
B. Add incentive clauses to account for whenever the seller exceeds or falls below defined objectives
C. Document a buyer-favorable dispute resolution procedure
D. Recognize all costs in cost reimbursable contracts are sunk costs
Correct Answer : B
PG: Planning; KA: Procurement A is a fixed price contract, C is a last resort, D is not true, and B is the best choice since the PM already determined CR is the best contract. To improve vendor performance, consider incentives that are mutually favorable.
The project manager for a certain project is seeing that the majority of the team members are independent and not as open. They are guarded, impersonal, and business-like. Which one of the team development stages are they in? A. Performing B. Adjourning C. Storming D. Forming
Correct Answer : D
PG: Executing; KA: Resources Forming phase is where the team meets and learns about the project and their formal roles and responsibilities. Team members tend to be independent and not as open in this phase
Curtis Benner is thrilled that the final project plan has been approved and is ready to get his entire team to start performing activities to accomplish the work defined in the project management plan. What may Curtis do NEXT?
A. Create centralized configuration management with help from PMO
B. Analyze data and report on completed work results using project management information system
C. Develop quality metrics, checklists, & quality management plan by utilizing commercial databases
D. Collect work performance information on executed activities as part of direct and manage project work
Correct Answer : D
PG: Executing; KA: Integration PMTI Flow Diagram: The project has completed Develop Project Management Plan. A and C are planning activities which have already been completed. In D, work performance information must be generated and collected in executing before it can be sent to B, Report Performance. Only D is done immediately following planning.
Corrective actions are defined as:
A. Documented recommendations that reduce the probability of negative consequences associated with project risks
B. An intentional activity that realigns the performance of the project work with the project management plan
C. An estimate or prediction of conditions and events in the project’s future based on information and knowledge available at the estimation time
D. An intentional activity to modify a nonconforming product or product component
Correct Answer : B
PG: Controlling; KA: Integration B is the definition of corrective action. A is a risk response strategy, C is a forecast, D is a defect repair.
The project manager is responsible for performance appraisals during project closing and for the team’s performance during develop team. The department manager is responsible for salary increases and the career growth of team members. This means that the project manager is working in a: A. Projectized organization B. Balanced matrix organization C. Functional organization D. Weak matrix organization
Correct Answer : B
Matrix Organization is an organizational structure in which the project manager shares responsibility with the functional managers for assigning priorities and for directing the work of persons assigned to the project. In a balanced matrix, the responsibilities and rights are equally divided.
On a particular project, the project scope statement was well defined, and deliverables were identified and documented. The project manager who started the project left the company, and you were assigned to manage this project. You have completed the project and are formalizing the final acceptance. The project stakeholder says that 2 deliverables are missing. He informs you that he has discussed the deliverables with the previous project manager who agreed to deliver them. However, neither deliverable is listed in the scope statement or on the deliverables list. Based on this, what is the status of the project?
A. Not complete, because customer acceptance is not completed
B. Complete, because you have completed all the approved and documented deliverables
C. Not complete according to local laws and regulations
D. Not complete, because these two deliverables are listed in the WBS
Correct Answer : B
PG: Closing; KA: Integration - Project or phase closure documents consists of formal documentation that indicates completion of the project or phase and the transfer of the completed project or phase deliverables to others, such as an operations group or to the next phase. During project closure, the project manager reviews prior phase documentation, customer acceptance documentation from the Validate Scope process, and the agreement (if applicable) to ensure that all project requirements are completed prior to finalizing the closure of the project. In this situation, all documented deliverables were completed, validated, and accepted.
Your team has just completed cost estimates using WBS. Now you are aggregating the estimated costs of individual activities or work packages to establish an authorized cost baseline. This process is called:
A. Determine budget
B. Cost control
C. Estimate costs
D. Estimate resourcesCorrect Answer : A
PG: planning: KA: Cost Determine Budget is the process of aggregating the estimated costs of individual activities or work packages to establish an authorized cost baseline. The key benefit of this process is that it determines the cost baseline against which project performance can be monitored and controlled.
The concept that the cost of preventing mistakes is less than the cost of correcting them is reflected in which one of the following philosophies?
A. Continuous improvement
B. Cost of quality
C. Prevention over inspection
D. Responsibility over accountability
Correct Answer : C
PG: planning; KA: Quality - Prevention is keeping errors out of the process and inspection is keeping errors out of the hands of the customer. The cost of quality (COQ) includes all costs incurred over the life of the product by investment in preventing nonconformance to requirements, appraising the product or service for conformance to requirements, and failing to meet requirements (rework). Failure costs are often categorized into internal (found by the project team) and external (found by the customer). Failure costs are also called the cost of poor quality. Organizations choose to invest in defect prevention because of the benefits over the life of the product.
In a control chart, the upper and lower specification limits are intended to show:
A. Points at which corrective actions need to be taken
B. Customer expectations, limits, and constraints
C. Customer specifications, limits, and constraints
D. Calculate sigma values and risk factors
Correct Answer : C
PG: Controlling; KA: Quality Control charts are used to determine whether or not a process is stable or has predictable performance. Upper and lower specification limits are based on the requirements and reflect the maximum and minimum values allowed. Upper and lower control limits are different from specification limits.
Estimating schedule activity costs involves developing an approximation of the cost of resources needed to complete project work. This is accomplished in:
A. Control costs
B. Determine budget
C. Estimate costs
D. Estimate scheduleCorrect Answer : C
PG: Planning; KA; Cost - Estimate Costs is the process of developing an approximation of the cost of resources needed to complete project work. The key benefit of this process is that it determines the monetary resources required for the project. This process is performed periodically throughout the project as needed.
Through combined use of communication, conflict management, and negotiation skills, a project manager is attempting to increase support and minimize resistance from stakeholders. What process are they performing?
A. change control
B. Develop team
C. Manage team
D. Manage stakeholder engagementCorrect Answer : D
PG: Executing; KA: Stakeholders - Manage Stakeholder Engagement is the process of communicating and working with stakeholders to meet their needs and expectations, address issues, and foster appropriate stakeholder involvement. The key benefit of this process is that it allows the project manager to increase support and minimize resistance from stakeholders. This process is performed throughout the project.
Which one of the following technique requires the formation of an integrated baseline of scope, cost, and schedule to assess and measure project performance and progress?
A. Critical chain schedule technique
B. Earned value management technique
C. Variance analysis technique
D. Qualitative risk analysis technique
Correct Answer : B
PG: Controlling; KA: Cost - Earned value management uses three key measures to measure and monitor project progress and performance - earned value, planned value, and actual cost. EVM integrates the scope, cost and schedule baselines into a single performance measurement baseline against which progress is measured.
In his book, Human Motivation, David McClelland described the following human motivational needs:
A. Physiological, safety, social, and self-esteem
B. Expectation that one will be rewarded for work completed
C. Confrontation, smoothing, and compromising
D. N-ACH: Achievement, N-POW: Power, N-AFFIL: Affiliation
Correct Answer : D
PG: Executing; KA: Resources - David McClelland’s Theory of Needs - Definition
Karl is an excellent programmer who has worked on many projects with his current company. You, as the project manager, have gone through his past project records and have concluded that Karl's defect rates will be no more than 6% on your current project. You based your judgment on:
A. Trend analysis
B. Forecast analysis
C. Defect analysis
D. Project analysisCorrect Answer : A
PG: Controlling; KA: integration - Trend analysis examines project performance over time to determine if performance is improving or deteriorating. Graphical analysis techniques such as trend analysis are valuable for understanding performance to date and for comparison to future performance goals. Trend analysis is a data analysis technique for forecasting future outcomes based on historical results. Options B and D are unrelated to this issue. C is used to analyze a defect after it has been identified.
You have been hired to direct and manage the project work of a complex IT project that interacts with eight departments, including quality assurance, architecture, hardware infrastructure, and a PMO. You have provided your team members with the project plan information, and they have been reporting task completion status to you. Among the following, which one of the activities are you least likely to carry out while executing the project:
A. Determine the feasibility of completing the project within time and budget
B. Hire, coach, and manage team members assigned to your project
C. Obtain, manage, and use resources including people and material
D. Collect information of completed work activities for future analysis
Correct Answer : A
PG: Executing;KA: Integration - According to the description, the project is in executing. B, C, and D are all aspects of executing. A is performed in Initiating
Regression analysis, sensitivity analysis, SWOT, simulation, trend, what-if-scenario analysis are examples of:
A. Data representation tools and techniques
B. Data gathering tools and techniques
C. Decision making tools and techniques
D. Data analysis tools and techniques
Correct Answer : D
PG: Controlling;KA: Integration - Data Analysis Techniques are techniques used to organize, assess, and evaluate data and information. Data Gathering Techniques are techniques used to collect data and information from a variety of sources. Data Representation Techniques are graphic representations or other methods used to convey data and information. Decision-Making Techniques area techniques used to select a course of action from different alternatives. The examples provided help with data analysis
The issue log (or action-item log) is a tool that can be used to document and monitor the resolution of issues. An issue in the issue log is clarified and stated in such a way that it can be resolved. Your project team always updates and uses an issue log. During a face-to-face meeting with your stakeholder, you were able to resolve some issues from the issue log and come up with an approved corrective action. Which one of the following processes has occurred in this situation?
A. Develop team
B. Information distribution
C. Manage stakeholder engagement
D. Monitoring and controlling process group
Correct Answer : C
PG: Executing;KA: Stakeholders - Manage Stakeholder Engagement is the process of communicating and working with stakeholders to meet their needs and expectations, address issues, and foster appropriate stakeholder involvement. The key benefit of this process is that it allows the project manager to increase support and minimize resistance from stakeholders. This process is performed throughout the project. Communication methods and issue logs are tools & techniques of manage stakeholder engagement. B involves making information available to stakeholders in a timely manner, but not resolving issues.
