PMP TEST 2 Flashcards
1
Which organization structure is a combination of all structures?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Tight Matrix
Strong Matrix
Composite
Functional
Correct Option:C
EXPLANATION
Composite structure is a combination of all organizational structures.
1) Tight Matrix- collocated
2) Strong Matrix - the project manager with equal or more power than the functional manager. The project manager has primary control over resources
3) Composite - combination of all structures
4) Functional - organization is grouped into departments where people with similar skills are kept together in forms of groups
2
John is managing a project. The project is about three-fourths done. Then, the site engineer reports that due to inherent complexities in a certain task, the deliverables would be delayed. This would involve additional analysis and then implementation. He requests that this new work, which was not envisioned earlier, be added to the scope and the time required be added to the schedule. You and the site engineer have analyzed the impact of this change to cost and have written up a change request and requested approval from the change control board. Just today, you have received approval from the change control board. What should be the immediate course of action?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Start work immediately
Ascertain the impact of this change to scope, schedule, and cost before making any change
Perform Quality Assurance
Make sure that the scope and schedule baselines are updated to reflect the approved change before implementing the change
Correct Option:D
EXPLANATION
As the change has been approved, you should always update the baseline (in this case, the scope and schedule baselines) before implementing the change. This will ensure that you track performance against the new scope and schedule, and not against the old benchmarks.
3
You are in charge of managing a software development project that is related to simulations for driving racing cars. In one of your team meetings, it is revealed that a lot of issues have been reported in the air tunnel modelling module. On deeper analysis, it is found that many of the issues could have been prevented had a simple code review checklist been used. You prepare a code review checklist and ensure the code is reviewed per the checklist. This is a good example of:
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Corrective Action
Preventive Action
Defect Repair
Quality Control
Correct Option:A
Nonconformity - issues reported during Quality Assurance
1) Corrective action - is always preceded by nonconformity
2) Preventive action - is never preceded by nonconformity
3) Defect repair - issues found in the current delivery
4
You have replaced an earlier project manager in a project. The earlier project manager has left the organization and you are now responsible for the project. On reviewing the project management plan, you are disturbed because a number of procurement contracts have been signed off and they all turn out to be Cost plus fixed fee contracts. Why are you worried?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
All the risk is now with the seller
Contracts should always be Time and Material
Seller has no motivation to control cost and cost could spiral
Contracts should always be Fixed Price
Correct Option:C
EXPLANATION
FIXED - known, seller owns the risk
COST - uknown (all work delivered by seller), buyer owns the risk
T&M -uknown (small part of work work delivered by seller),
As a project manager, you indeed have a reason to be worried if your project has already been signed off on Cost Plus Fee type of contracts. In such contracts, you, the buyer, needs to pay the seller for all the costs and also an agreed percentage of the cost. As a result, there is no motivation on the seller to control the costs; in fact, it is in the interest of the seller to increase the costs. It is not necessary that all projects should always be T and M or Fixed Price. Option A is clearly wrong since all the risk is, in fact, with the buyer and not the seller.
5
You are managing a software development project for a banking product. In one of the team meetings, a debate arises if defects found during Quality control need to undergo change control. Some team members are convinced that all defects should undergo change control, while others are convinced that defects need not undergo change control. Which of the following statements is untrue?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Defects to deliverables need to undergo change control
Defects to deliverables need not undergo change control
Corrective actions need to undergo change control
Preventive actions need to undergo change control
Correct Option:B
EXPLANATION
Defects to deliverables, corrective actions, and preventive actions need to undergo change control. So, all the above statements, except option B, are true.
6
You are responsible for managing a project that deals with laying out a freeway connecting two major port cities. Progress on the project has been smooth, and you and your team are very confident on completing the project well within the stipulated timelines. On reviewing, you see that the project has also run below the budget, resulting in savings. You decide to add an extra feature of reflector strips on the road every mile. You do a quick calculation and are satisfied that neither budget nor schedule will slip. You feel that by adding these extra features, you could also be guaranteed some future projects. This is an example of:
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Scope Creep
Gold Plating
Integrated Change Control
Fast Tracking
Correct Option:B
EXPLANATION
1) Scope Creep -extra features are added to a project at the request of a client.
2) Gold plating - project team adds on features that were not requested by the client
3) Integrated change control - formally approving or rejecting all changes before they are implemented
4) Fast tracking - activities are performed in parallel
This is an example of Gold Plating. Integrated change control deals with formally approving or rejecting changes before they are implemented, so it is not the correct answer. Fast tracking is a schedule compression technique, so it too is not the correct answer. While Scope Creep is related to change in scope, it is related to uncontrolled changes in product or projects scope and is often due to client interference. Gold plating is done intentionally or knowingly for some strategic purpose. Here, the manager believes that by adding the extra features, future projects could be bagged.
7
You are in charge of a project that deals with laying out a lavish 18-hole golf course. You have a number of contractors working on the project and you know that communication is key to success of the project. You have identified 10 stakeholders with whom you need to communicate. Due to some internal and external organizational changes at the client’s end, three new stakeholders have been added with whom you need to communicate. You also had to reduce one of the contractors with whom you were communicating. How many communication channels do you have now?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
45
78
91
66
Correct Option:D
EXPLANATION
Originally, you had 10 stakeholders to communicate with, so the number of communication channels was 10 * (10-1) /2 = 45. However, 3 new stakeholders were added, while 1 stakeholder was removed. So, the total number of stakeholders = 10 + 3 -1 = 12. The total number of communication channels is (12 * (12-1)) /2 = 66.
8
You are in charge of a project, and to ensure things go well, you have had monthly meetings with the stakeholders. The project is running on schedule and budget. You are in your fourth month of execution, but the stakeholder indicates dissatisfaction with the deliverables. Making changes in the deliverables would mean a delay in the schedule. Which process could have prevented this situation?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Scope Planning
Scope Control
Schedule Control
Risk Monitoring and Control
Correct Option:A
EXPLANATION
The process that could have prevented this situation is Scope Planning. Project deliverables are defined during scope planning, so proper implementation of this process could have prevented this situation.
9
The project that you were in charge of has been successfully completed. The last of the deliverables have been formally accepted by the client. You had several contractors with whom contracts were prepared. With the project done, you decide to communicate the completion details and closure of contracts. Which is the best form of communication?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Formal written
Formal verbal
Informal verbal
Informal written
Correct Option:A
EXPLANATION
As this is related to a contract, it must be a formal written form of communication. Any other form of communication related to contracts is not acceptable.
10RISK
Your company has bagged a number of government contracts dealing with setting up infrastructure. This includes setting up roads and bridges. This is a very big and prestigious project, so your company wants to ensure everything is planned well in advance. You are the project manager of this project. Considering its importance, you and your team come up with a list of risks. One of the subject matter experts indicates that during the months of July and August, the construction work of the bridge across the river would need to stop on account of past history of flooding of the river. You agree with the expert and plan the schedule accordingly. What strategy did you just apply?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Accept
Exploit
Mitigate
Transfer
Correct Option:A
EXPLANATION
This is an example of Risk acceptance strategy as there is nothing you can do about situations not in your control. Risk exploitation is meant for positive situations, while risk mitigation is where you have a strategy to either reduce the risk impact or probability. Transfer is also not correct as the question does not state that someone else will be responsible for handling the risk.
11
You are in the process of defining activities and have broken down the WBS into individual activities. You now tag each activity with a unique code. So, you have defined a(n) __________ for each activity.
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Schedule Network Diagram
Activity List
Milestone List
Activity Identifier
Correct Option:D
1) Schedule Network Diagram - visualizes the sequential and logical relationship between tasks
2) Activity List - all the activities in detail
EXPLANATION
The question states that you have decided to uniquely tag each identified activity, which is known as Activity Identifier. This is done during creation of the Activity List.
12
You are managing a project that has teams located in different parts of the world. While the advantage of colocation is beneficial, the team structure or locations cannot be changed. Being an experienced manager, you realize that lack of a proper communication channel can quickly lead to chaos. What would your choice of communication be?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Formal and Verbal
Formal and Written
Informal and Written
Informal and Verbal
Correct Option:B
EXPLANATION
Considering cross-located teams and difference in cultures, the best choice of communication in this case would be formal and written.
13
You are developing strategies to effectively engage stakeholders throughout the project life cycle. What process you are working on?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Plan Stakeholder Engagement
Identify Stakeholders
Manage Stakeholder Engagement
Control Stakeholder Engagement
Correct Option:A
EXPLANATION
Plan Stakeholder Engagement is the process of developing a strategy to effectively engage stakeholders throughout the project life cycle.
14
You head the engineering department in your company. Lately, you have observed that certain deliveries of a specific team member are missing the schedule. You decide to discuss it with the team member. Initially, the team member is reluctant to discuss but finally opens up and indicates that the cause of the delays is often different instructions coming in from you as well as the project manager. She indicates that at such times she is confused about whose instructions to follow, thereby causing delays. What kind of an organizational structure is this most likely to be?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Functional
Projectized
Weak Matrix
Balanced Matrix
Correct Option:D
EXPLANATION
1) Funcional - organization is grouped into departments where people with similar skills are kept togethe
2) Projectize - works by arranging activities into portfolios or programs and executing them through projects.
3) Week matrix - functional manager controls the project budget
4) Balnced matrix - authority is balanced between the project manager and the functional manager
Here the team member is being expected to follow instructions from both the Project Manager and the Functional Manager. This is never the case in a Functional or Projectized organization where the lines of authority are clearly defined. A weak matrix organization is more like a Functional Organization where the project manager has almost no authority. The scenario explained above is typical of a balanced matrix organization where power resides equally distributed between the functional and project manager.
15The release criteria include:
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
The timing of the release of team members
The method in which you will release them
Both of the above are true
None of the above
Correct Option:C
EXPLANATION
The release criteria include both the timing of the release of team members and the method in which you will release them.
16As a project manager, you have successfully delivered all project deliverables within stipulated timelines. Your senior management wants you to calculate the Cost of Quality. As a project Manager, what costs would you NOT consider while making this calculation?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Cost of Hiring
Prevention costs
Appraisal costs
External and Internal Failure costs
Correct Option:A
EXPLANATION
Option A is incorrect as hiring costs have nothing to do with Cost of Quality. Prevention and Appraisal Costs refer to expenditure during the project to avoid failures, while Internal and External Failure Costs are those incurred during and after the project because of failures.
17Which of the following is part of the Manage Quality process?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Benchmarking
Cost of Quality
Design of experiments
Quality audits
Correct Option:D
EXPLANATION
Quality audits are part of the Manage Quality process.
18You are the project manager for a project. You are updating the WBS during Define Activities. This process is often called ________.
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Refinement
Update
Analysis
Supporting detail
Correct Option:A
EXPLANATION
Updating the WBS during Define Activities is often called Refinement. It occurs with riskier projects.
19
The Project Quality Management process must __________.
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Address the quality of the product
Improve project management
Ensure that the project satisfies customer requirements
All of the above
Correct Option:D
EXPLANATION
Project Quality Management addresses both the management of the project and the product. It improves project management as well as the quality of the product. It ensures that the project will satisfy customer requirements.
20
You are a project manager in a company, and your project is currently in the execution phase. The customer has requested you to perform additional work. This work will affect the budget but not the schedule of the project. What should you do next?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Add the additional requirements to the project plan
Ignore the request
Explain the change procedure and ask to submit a request for change
Discuss with the project team about the change
Correct Option:C
EXPLANATION
Explaining the change procedure and asking to submit a request for change is the best choice.
21
You are managing a project and you have decided to outsource a part of the project to a vendor. You have offered a bonus to the vendor if the work is completed in two months. This is an example of:
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Project incentive
Project goal
Fixed price contract
None of the above
Correct Option:A
EXPLANATION
This is an example of project incentive.
Bonus as additional motivation
22
You and your team have just created a schedule network diagram. You have come up with the estimates, defined the durations, and identified the Critical Path. You now decide to do a Backward Pass through the Schedule Network Diagram. What would you be calculating?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
The Early Start and Early Finish for each activity
The Late Start and Late Finish for each activity
The duration of paths other than the critical path
The duration of the critical path
Correct Option:B
EXPLANATION
Options C and D are incorrect as Backward Pass is not used to calculate the duration. In fact, the critical path is calculated based on duration. Option A talks about Early Start and Early Finish, which are calculated using Forward Pass. Backward Pass is used to calculate the Late Start and Late Finish of all the activities in the network diagram.
23
Of the following types of contracts, which has the highest risk for the seller?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
Cost plus fixed fee - CPFF
Time and Material - T and M
Firm Fixed Price Contract - FFP
Cost plus Incentive fee CPIF
Correct Option:C
EXPLANATION
The riskiest for the seller among the options stated is Firm Fixed Price Contract, FFP. It’s a Fixed price contract in which total costs are fixed. The scope of work is clearly defined and stated. Cost-reimbursable contracts are the least risky for the seller since the costs are not fixed and paid at actuals. Time and material have medium risk from the perspective of the buyer and seller and are typically used for smaller dollar amounts.
24
What is the best use of a Work Authorization System?
SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER
It manages the timing and sequence of activities that need to be performed.
It manages who performs the activity.
It identifies the resources needed to complete activities.
It is used for comparing actual work against the baselines.
Correct Option:A
EXPLANATION
It defines how work will be authorized and how work will be done at the right time and in the right sequence. Option B is not correct since who performs the work comes from the responsibility assignment matrix. Option C is also wrong. Option D is related to monitoring and controlling work performance data, which is not covered by Work Authorization System.