Ethics

Question 1

You are the project manager of the JKN Project. The project customer has requested that you inflate your cost estimates by 25 percent. He reports that his management always reduces the cost of the estimates, so this is the only way to get the monies needed to complete the project. Which of the following is the best response to this situation?

a) Do as the custom asked adding the increase to contingency reserve
b) Do as the custom asked adding increase in each task
c) Do as the custom asked by creating two books
d) Complete an accurate estimate for the project. In addition create a risk assessment on inadequate product budget

Answer 1

d) Complete an accurate estimate for the project. In addition create a risk assessment on inadequate product budget

It would be inappropriate to bloat the project costs by 25 percent. A risk assessment describing how the project may fail if the budget is not accurate is most appropriate.

Question 2

You are the project manager for the BNH Project. This project takes place in a country different from yours. The project leader from this country presents a team of workers who are all from his family. You should do which of the following?

A) Reject the team leader’s recommendations and assemble your own project team
B) Review the resume and qualifications of the proposed project team leader before approving the team
C) Determine whether the country’s traditions include hiring from the immediate family before hiring from outside the family
D) Replace the project leader with an impartial project leader

Answer 2

C) Determine whether the country’s traditions include hiring from the immediate family before hiring from outside the family

The company policies and procedures should guide the project manager regarding the decisions he makes in the foreign country.

Question 3

You are about to begin negotiations on a new project that is to take place in another country. Which of the following should be your guide on what business practices are allowed and discouraged.

A) The Project Charter
B) The Project Plan
C) Company policies and procedures
D) The PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

Answer 3

C) Company policies and procedures

Question 4

One of your project team members reports that he sold pieces of equipment because he needed the money to pay for his daughter’s school tuition. He says he has paid back the money by working overtime without reporting the hours worked so that his theft remains private. What should you do?

A) Fire the project team member
B) Report the team member to his manager
C) Suggest that the team member report his action to human rights
D) Tell the team member you’re disappointed in what he did, and advise him not to do something like this again.

Answer 4

B) Report the team member to his manager

The project manager must respect the delegation of the functional manager.

Question 5

You are the project manager of the SUN project. Your organization is a functional environment, and you do not get along well with the functional manager leading the project. You are in disagreement with the manager about how the project should proceed, the timings of the activities, the suggested schedule, and the expected quality of the work. The manager has requested that you get to work on several of the activities on the critical path even though you and she have not solved the issues concerning the project. Which of the following should you do?

A) Go to senior management and voice concerns
B) complete the activities as requested
C) Ask to be taken off of the project
D) Refuse to begin activities on the project until the issues are resolved

Answer 5

B) Complete the activities as requested

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Question 6

PMI has contacted you regarding an ethics violation of a PMP candidate. The question is in regard to a friend who said he worked as a project manager under your guidance. You know this is not true, but to save a friendship, you avoid talking with PMI. This is a violation of which of the following?

A) The PMI Code to cooperate on ethics violations investigations
B) The PMI Code to report accurate information
C) The PMI Code to report any PMP violations
D) The law concerning ethical practices

Answer 6

A) The PMI Code to cooperate on ethics violations investigations

By avoiding the conversation with PMI in regard to the ethics violation of a friend, you are, yourself, violating the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

Question 7

You are the project manager for the Log Cabin Project. One of your vendors is completing a large portion of the project. You have heard a rumor that the vendor is losing many of its workers because of labor issues. In light of this information, what should you do?

A) Stop work with the vendor until the labor issues are resolved
B) Communicate with the vendor in regard to the rumor
C) Look to secure another vendor to replace the current vendor
D) Negotiate with the labor union to secure the workers on your project

Answer 7

B) Communicate with the vendor in regard to the rumor

The project manager should confront the problem by talking with the vendor about the rumor.

Question 8

You are the project manager for the PMH Project. Three vendors have submitted cost estimates for the project. One of the estimates is significantly higher than similar project work in the past. In this scenario, you should do which of the following?

A) Ask the other vendors about the higher estimate from the third vendor
B) Use the cost estimates from the historical information
C) Take the high cost to the vendor to discuss the discrepancy before reviewing the issues with the other vendors
D) Ask the vendor that supplied the high estimate for information on how the estimate was prepared

Answer 8

D) Ask the vendor that supplied the high estimate for information on how the estimate was prepared

Most likely, the vendor did not understand the project work to be procured, so the estimate is skewed. A clear statement of work is needed for the vendors to provide accurate estimates.

Question 9

You are the project manager of the LKH Project. This project must be completed within six months, but after two months, the schedule has begun to slip. As of now, the project is one week behind schedule. Based on your findings, you believe you can make some corrective actions and recover the lost time over the next month to get the project back on schedule for its completion date. Management, however, requires weekly status reports on cost and schedule. Which of the following should you do?

A) Report that the project is one week behind schedule but will finish on schedule based on cited corrective actions
B) Report that the project is on schedule and will finish on schedule
C) Report that the project is off schedule by a few days but will finish on schedule
D) Report that the project is running late

Answer 9

A) Report that the project is one week behind schedule but will finish on schedule based on cited corrective actions

The project manager should report an honest assessment of the project with actions on how he plans to correct the problem.

An honest and accurate assessment of the project work is always required.

Question 10

As a contracted project manager, you have been assigned a project with a budget of U.S. $1.5 million. The project is scheduled to last seven months, but your most recent EVM report shows that the project will finish ahead of schedule by nearly six weeks. If this happens, you will lose $175,000 in billable time. What should you do?

A) Bill for the entire $1.5 million since this was the approved budget.
B) Bill for the $1.5 million by adding more work at the end of the project.
C) Report to the custom the project status and completion date
D) Report to the customer the project status and completion date, and if they’d like to add any features to account for the monies not spent.

Answer 10

C) Report to the custom the project status and completion date

An honest and accurate assessment of the project work is always required.

Question 11

You are the project manager of the PMH Project. You have been contracted to design the placement of several pieces of manufacturing equipment. You have completed the project scope and are ready to pass the work over to the installer. The installer begins to schedule you to help with the installation of the manufacturing equipment. Which of the following should you do?

A) Help the installer place the equipment according to the design documents
B) Help the installer place the equipment as the customer sees fit
C) Refuse to help the installer since the project scope has been completed.
D) Help the installer place the equipment, but insist that the quality control be governed by your design specifications

Answer 11

C) Refuse to help the installer since the project scope has been completed.

When the project scope is completed, the contract is fulfilled and the project is done. Any new work items should be sent through the proper channels within an organization to create a new project or work order. In this instance, the contract change control system should be used or a new contract should be created.

Question 12

You are the project manager of the 12BA Project. You have completed the project according to the design documents and have met the project scope. The customer agrees that the design document requirements have been met; however, the customer is not pleased with the project deliverables and is demanding additional adjustments be made to complete the project. What is the best way to continue?

A) Complete the work as the customer has requested
B) Complete the work at 1.5 times the billable rate
C) Do nothing, the project scope is completed
D) Do nothing. Management from the performing organization and the customer’s organization will need to determine why the project failed before adding work.

Answer 12

C) Do nothing, the project scope is completed

When the project scope has been completed, the project is completed. Any additional work, without a contract change or new contract, would be dishonest and would betray the customer or the project manager’s company.

And the project has not failed.

Question 13

You are the project manager of the AAA Project. Due to the nature of the project, much of the work will require overtime between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Many of the project team members, however, have requested vacation during that week. What is the best way to continue?

A) Refuse all vacation requests and require all team members to work
B) Allow vacation requests only for those team members who are not needed during that week
C) Divide tasks equally among the team members so each works the same amount of time
D) Allow team members to volunteer for the overtime work
D)

Answer 13

D) Allow team members to volunteer for the overtime work

D is the best choice for this scenario because it allows the project team to be self-led and is sensitive to the needs of the project team.

Question 14

You are a project manager for your organization. Your project is to install several devices for one of your company’s clients. The client has requested that you complete a few small tasks that are not in the project scope. To maintain the relationship with the client, you oblige her request and complete the work without informing your company. This is an example of which of the following?

A) Effective Expert Judgement
B) A Violation of Ethics
C) Contact Change Control
D) Integrated Change Control

Answer 14

B) A Violation of Ethics

When the project manager completes activities outside of the contract and does not inform the performing organization, it is essentially the same as stealing. The PMP must be held accountable for all the time invested in a project.

Question 15

You are completing a project for a customer in another country. One of the customs in this country is to honor the project manager of a successful project with a gift. Your company, however, does not allow project managers to accept gifts worth more than $50 from any entity. At the completion of the project, the customer presents you with a new car in a public ceremony. Which of the following should you do?

A) Accept the car since it is a custom of the country. To refuse it would be an insult to your hosts
B) Refuse to accept the car because it would result in a conflict with your organization to accept it
C) Accept the car and then return it to the customer in private
D) Accept the car and then donate the car to a charity in the customer’s name

Answer 15

B) Refuse to accept the car because it would result in a conflict with your organization to accept it

Although this solution may seem extreme, it is the best answer because to accept the car in public would give the impression that the project manager has defied company policy. In addition, accepting the car would appear to be a conflict of interest for the project manager.

Question 16

A project team member is sabotaging your project because he does not agree with it. Which of the following should you do?

A) Fire the project team member
B) Present the problem to management
C) Present the problem to management with a solution to remove the team member from the project
D) Present the problem to management with a demand to fire the project team member

Answer 16

C) Present the problem to management with a solution to remove the team member from the project

The project team member who is causing the problems should be discussed with management along with a solution to remove the team member from the project. Remember that whenever the project manager must present a problem to management, she should also present a solution to the problem.

Question 17

You are the project manager of a project in Asia. You discover that the project leader has hired family members for several lucrative contracts on the project. What should you consider?

A) Cultural Issues
B) Ethical Issues
C) Organizational Issues
D) Political Issues

Answer 17

A) Cultural Issues

The project manager should first determine what the country’s customs and culture call for when hiring relatives. It may be a preferred practice in the country to work with qualified relatives first before hiring other individuals to complete the project work.

Question 18

Of the following, which one achieves customer satisfaction?

A) Completing the project requirements
B) Maintaining the project cost
C) Maintaining the project schedule
D) Completing the project with the defined quality metrics

Answer 18

A) Completing the project requirements

The largest factor when it comes to customer satisfaction is the ability to complete the project requirements.

B, C, and D are incorrect because achieving these factors, while satisfying to the customer, is not as complete as achieving the project requirements, which may include the cost, schedule, and quality expectations.

Question 19

A PMP has been assigned to manage a project in a foreign country. Which of the following describes the disorientation the PMP will likely experience as he gets acclimated to the country?

A) The Saphir-Whorf hypothesis
B) Time Dimension
C) Ethnocentricism
D) Culture Shock

Answer 19

D) Culture Shock

Culture shock is the typical disorientation a person feels when visiting a foreign country.

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that an individual can understand a culture by understanding its language.

Question 20

You are the project manager for an information technology project. It has come to your attention that a technical problem has stopped the project work. How should you proceed?

A) Measure the project performance to date and account for the cost of the technical problem
B) Rebaseline the project performance to account for the technical problem
C) Work with the project team to develop alternative solutions to the technical problem
D) Outsource the technical problem to a vendor

Answer 20

C) Work with the project team to develop alternative solutions to the technical problem

When problems arise that stop project tasks, the project manager should work with the team to uncover viable alternative solutions

Question 21

A PMP has been assigned to manage a project in a foreign country. What should be done to ensure that the project’s success is not hindered by the fact that the project manager is working in a foreign country?

A) Teach the project manager about the customs and laws of the foreign country
B) Find a project manager from that country
C) Assign the project manager a guide to the foreign country
D) Allow the project manager to travel home on weekends

Answer 21

A) Teach the project manager about the customs and laws of the foreign country

Training the project manager on the laws and customs of the foreign country is the best choice to ensure the project’s success is not jeopardized.

Question 22

Your company does not allow project managers to accept gifts of any kind from vendors. A friend who you have known for years now works for a vendor that your company may be doing business with. Your friend from the vendor asks you to lunch to discuss an upcoming project, and you accept. When the check arrives at the lunch table, your friend insists on paying. You should do which of the following?

A) Allow your friend to buy because you’ve been friends for years
B) Allow the friend to buy because lunch isn’t really a gift
C) Don’t allow the friend to buy because your company does not allow any gifts from vendors
D) Insist that you purchase your friend’s lunch and your friend’s buys yours

Answer 22

C) Don’t allow the friend to buy because your company does not allow any gifts from vendors

Although you have been friends for years, the friend is now working with a vendor, and it would be inappropriate for the friend to buy your lunch. This would clearly be a violation of your company’s policies because you and your friend are discussing an upcoming project.

Question 23

You are a project manager on a construction project. Your project needs an experienced mason to repair and restore an old chimney that the customer wants to keep as part of the project. Your brother, as it happens, is an expert at restoring historical chimneys, and you award the work to him. This is an example of what?

A) Networking
B) A conflict of interest
C) Poor procurement
D) Acceptable practice, because your brother is an expert

Answer 23

B) A conflict of interest

This is a conflict of interest—or it may appear to be a conflict of interest to others on the project. The project manager can do several things in this scenario: excuse himself from the decision because of the relationship with the brother, create a weighted scoring model, allow several vendors to participate, and so on.

Question 24

While studying for your PMP exam, you are invited to participate in a study group. At your first meeting, another attendee announces that he has “real, live questions” from the PMP exam. What should you do?

A) Examine the questions
B) Report the study group to PMI
C) Leave the study group
D) Ask where the person got the questions so you can report the testing center to PMI

Answer 24

C) Leave the study group
You should not participate in the study group.

For D: There isn’t any clear and factual evidence that the questions are genuine. The questions may have been purchased through a web site or other entity—not necessarily through a testing center.

Question 25

You are a project manager within an organization that completes technical projects for other entities. You have plans to leave your company within the next month to launch your own consulting business, which will compete with your current employer. Your company is currently working on a large proposal for a government contract that your new company could also benefit from. What should you do?

A) Resign from your current job and bid against your employer to get the contract
B) Decline to participate due to a conflict of interest
C) Help your employer prepare the proposal
D) Inform your employer that you will be leaving the company within a month and it would be inappropriate for you to work on the current proposal

Answer 25

D) Inform your employer that you will be leaving the company within a month and it would be inappropriate for you to work on the current proposal

Of the choices presented, this is the best answer. You should inform your employer of your intent to leave the organization and work on similar projects to avoid a conflict of interest.