Practice Test Questions Flashcards
3.1 - Jaylon has recently been assigned a new project. Which of the following most likely helped create the project charter?
(A) Needs assessment, business case
(B) Business case, benefits management plan
(C) Needs assessment, benefits management plan
(C) Portfolio charter, needs assessment
Correct Answer: (B) Business case, benefits management plan
Explanation: Needs assessment drives a business case and the benefits management. The business case and benefits management plan lead to the creation of the project charter.
Crosswind 3.5.3
3.2 - 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 4 years from now. This project is the result of which type of planning?
(A) Portfolio planning
(B) Program planning
(C) Strategic planning
(D) Product life cycle planning
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 cycle from “cradle-to-grave” for a product. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 3.3
3.3 - All the following are examples of projects interacting with operations except…
(A) Upgrading a factory line with new computer components
(B) Initiating the Go-live phase of a project
(C) Increasing output to meet unusually high customer demand
(D) Closing a large sales office
Correct Answer: (C) Increasing output to meet unusually high customer demand
Explanation: Accommodating high demand still falls under the realm of operations. Anticipating and scheduling daily, monthly, seasonal, or cyclical fluctuations are common duties for “operational” individuals. All other answers involve a project impacting the day-to-day operations in some significant way.
Crosswind 3.8
3.4 - Which of the following is an example of an enterprise environmental factor?
(A) Project life cycle documentation
(B) Stakeholder risk tolerance
(C) Standard performance measurement criteria
(D) Financial, change, and risk control procedures
Correct Answer: (B) Stakeholder risk tolerance
Explanation: All incorrect answers are examples of organizational process assets.
Crosswind 9.1.2
3.5 - Which of the following is the prioritized order of the project constraints?
(A) Schedule, risk, cost
(B) Quality, schedule, cost
(C) Scope, schedule, budget
(D) They are all of equal importance unless otherwise stated
Correct Answer: (D) They are all of equal importance unless otherwise stated
Explanation: The constraint of project management states that scope, quality, schedule, budget, resources, and risks are all equal unless otherwise defined as such.
Crosswind 3.9
3.6 - Which of the following is an example of a standard?
(A) The data transfer rate for Thunderbolt 3.0 connections
(B) The number of slides in your last presentation
(C) The shade of paint selected to paint your office
(D) The average speed that someone drives to work
Correct Answer: (A) The data transfer rate for Thunderbolt 3.0 connections
Explanation: A standard is a measurement for something that is consistent and generally accepted. In this case, the data transfer rate for Thunderbolt 3.0 connections is the only “standard” listed in the answers.
Crosswind 3.12
3.7 - Which of the following is the most accurate example of a portfolio?
(A) Creating a new version of a software application
(B) Building a housing development
(C) Daily operations at the company
(D) A product line of business applications
Correct Answer: (D) A product line of business applications
Explanation: A portfolio is typically comprised of a product or service line that aligns with a strategic goal of the organization, for example, a line of business applications. Creating a new version of a software application is an example of a project. Building a housing development is an example of a program. Daily operations describes the tasks and activities performed daily to keep the business functioning.
Crosswind 3.4.1
3.8 - Which of the following is another term for long-term planning?
(A) Project planning
(B) Program planning
(C) Strategic planning
(D) Portfolio planning
Correct Answer: (C) Strategic Planning
Explanation: Long term planning, also known as strategic planning, is the planning an organization does based on a projection of its business environment 3-5 years into the future. The organization then bases its portfolios, programs, and projects on this longer term, strategic plan. Project planning, program planning and portfolio planning are distracters as the terms normally used are portfolio management, program management, and project management.
Crosswind 3.3
3.9 - Which of the following represents the correct order for the implementation of governance framework?
(A) Improve, implement, plan, assess
(B) Implement, improve, plan, assess
(C) Assess, plan, implement, improve
(D) Assess, plan improve, implement
Correct Answer: (C) Assess, plan, implement, improve
Explanation: The correct order for the implementation of governance framework is assess, plan, implement, and improve.
Crosswind 3.1.3
3.10 - Which process updates progress and manages changes to the schedule baseline?
A) Control schedule
(B) Develop schedule management plan
(C) Direct and manage project work
(D) Create project management plan
Correct Answer: (A) Control schedule
Explanation: This is the basic definition of Control Schedule. There is no process called develop schedule management plan, though the schedule management plan (a document) would give guidance on the basic tools and techniques of HOW to update progress and manage changes through the Control Schedule process. Note the verb tense: “Which process updates progress and manages.” This implies doing it, not planning it, making Control Schedule the correct answer.
Crosswind 11.6
3.11 - Which of the following is the most accurate description of projects and portfolios?
(A) There is no difference between portfolio and project management
(B) Project management focuses on doing the right work; portfolio management focuses on doing the work right
(C) Portfolio management focuses on doing the right work; project management focuses on doing the work right
(D) Multiple portfolios make a project
Correct Answer: (C) Portfolio management focuses on doing the right work, project management focuses on doing the work right
Explanation: Portfolio management focuses on doing the right work to align with company strategy. Project management focuses on doing the work of the project correctly. Multiple projects (and programs) can make up a portfolio.
Crosswind 3.4.1
3.12 - In creating the benefits management plan, Dak is told by the portfolio review board that they have started using SMART to identify benefits to be in the plan. What most accurately describes SMART goals?
(A) Specific, measurable, audited, realistic, time-based
(B) Specific, managed, actual, realistic, time-based
(C) Scoped, measurable, actual, realistic, time-based
(D) Specific, measurable, actual, realistic, time-based
Correct Answer: (D) Specific, measurable, actual, realistic, time-based
Explanation: The SMART acronym represents specific, measurable, actual, realistic, time-based. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswinds 3.5.2
3.13 - Zeke is a project manager working with the PMO on an audit of his current running man product update project. The PMO wants to review various project documents including sign-off for certain change requests and accepted deliverables to ensure they were done correctly. Which project governance domain is being considered during this review?
(A) Alignment
(B) Performance
(C) Risk
(D) Communications
Correct Answer: (B) Performance
Explanation: The four governance domains are alignment, performance, risk, and communications. Performance is the domain considered because that domain monitors project results and assesses proposed changes. The alignment domain assesses adherence to project management methodology and ensures the alignment of project processes. The risk domain ensures adherence to risk management and assesses the maximization of opportunities and/or the elimination or minimization of threats. The communications domain controls organizational communication requirements.
Crosswind 3.1.1
3.14 - A new project has just completed the initiating process group. The planning process group is getting ready to begin. Which process has just been accomplished, and which process is getting ready to start?
(A) Develop project management plan and direct and manage project work
(B) Identify stakeholders and develop project management plan
(C) Develop project management plan and manage project knowledge
(D) Develop project charter and direct and manage project execution
Correct Answer: (B) Identify stakeholders and develop project management plan
Explanation: The initiating process group ends with the Identify Stakeholders process, and the planning process group begins with Develop Project Management Plan.
Crosswind 3.10.1
3.15 - A change control system is best described as which of the following?
(A) Enterprise environmental factor
(B) Process
(C) Organizational process asset
(D) Document
Correct Answer: (C) Organizational process asset
Explanation: A change control system is an organizational process asset that helps define how the organization does project management and is associated with the Perform Integrated Change Control process. An enterprise environmental factor is a factor that cannot be controlled by the project team but has a significant impact on how the project is managed or on the outcome of the project. A process asset is a plan, process, policy, procedure, or knowledge base specific to and used by the performing organization. A process is comprised of sequential procedures that are performed to convert inputs into outputs. A document is a material substance that contains a representation of a thought or thoughts.
Crosswind 3.6
3.16 - What is the difference between a project management life cycle and a project life cycle?
(A) They are the same
(B) The project management life cycle is the project management piece of the project and the project life cycle is the process of completing the work of the project
(C) The project management life cycle is done in the project and the project life cycle is done after the project is complete
(D) The project management life cycle is the process of completing the work of the project and the project life cycle is the project management piece of the project
Correct Answer: (B) The project management life cycle is the project management piece of the project and the project life cycle is the process of completing the work of the project.
Explanation: The project management life cycle (PMLC) is the project management methodology used on a project. The project life cycle applies to whatever is being built. It can be the software approach for a software project or a building approach for construction.
Crosswind 3.7
3.17 - The functional manager is planning the billing system replacement project with the newest project manager at the company. In discussing this project, the functional manager focuses on the cost associated with running the system after it is created and the number of years the system will last before it must be replaced. What best describes what the functional manager is focusing on?
(A) Project life cycle
(B) Product life cycle
(C) Project management life cycle
(D) Program management life cycle
Correct Answer: (B) Product life cycle
Explanation: The product life cycle focuses on the overall ownership cost of the product of the project, not just the project cost to create the product. The project life cycle involves the processes used to create the product of the project such as the steps to build a house or a computer system. The project management life cycle is the project management approach to the project. Program management life cycle is a distracter.
Crosswind 3.7
3.18 - Which of the following best describes regulatory requirements?
(A) Enterprise environmental factor
(B) Process
(C) Organizational process asset
(D) Document
Correct Answer: (A) Enterprise environmental factor
Explanation: An enterprise environmental factor is a factor that cannot be controlled by the project team but has a significant impact on how the project is managed or on the outcome of the project. A process asset is a plan, process, policy, procedure, or knowledge base specific to and used by the performing organization. A process is comprised of sequential procedures that are performed to convert inputs into outputs. A document is a material substance that contains a representation of a thought or thoughts.
Crosswind 3.6
3.19 - What is created in the initiating process group?
(A) Project charter and requirements documentation
(B) Project scope statement and various management plans
(C) Project charter and project knowledge
(D) Project charter and stakeholder register
Correct Answer: (D) Project charter and stakeholder register
Explanation: Answer D contains all documents created during the initiating process group. All others are created during the planning process group.
Crosswind 3.10.1
3.20 - Paul, the project manager, is in the process of identifying risks at the project level. He wants to make certain that his results align with risk at the highest level of the organization. Which organizational risk domain is at the highest level?
(A) Portfolio risk
(B) Program risk
(C) Governance risk
(D) Project risk
Correct Answer: (C) Governance risk
Explanation: Governance risk drives portfolio risk which influences program and project risk.
3.21 - 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 distracters.
Crosswind 3.5
3.22 - What is included in the alignment domain of organizational governance?
A) Functions and processes required to create and maintain an overall integrated governance structure and framework
(B) Functions and processes used to align KPIs with the realization of business value
(C) Functions and processes used to manage threats and opportunities in order to balance risk and reward
(D) Functions and processes used to exchange information, engage stakeholders, and drive organizational change
Correct Answer: (A) Functions and processes required to create and maintain an overall integrated governance structure and framework
Explanation: The alignment domain includes the functions and processes required to create and maintain an overall integrated governance structure and framework. The performance domain includes the functions and processes used to align KPIs with the realization of business value. The risk domain includes the functions and processes used to manage threats and opportunities in order to balance risk and reward. The communications domain includes the functions and processes used to exchange information, engage stakeholders, and drive organizational change.
Crosswind 3.1.1
3.23 - What are the five process groups used in the Project Management Institute, Inc. approach to project management?
(A) Initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, closing
(B) Initiating, planning, executing, testing, sign off
(C) Requirements, system development, testing, UAT, sign off
(D) Initiating, planning, executing, testing, closure
Correct Answer: (A) Initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, closing
Explanation: Per the PMBOK® Guide, the process groups that make up the PMI® methodology or “project management life cycle” are initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing.
Crosswind 3.10.1
3.24 - Which of the following is an advantage of a projectized organization?
(A) Business unit competency
(B) Optimization for a single focus on the project
(C) Having to get approval from functional management
(D) A place to go when the project is complete
Correct Answer: (B) Optimization for a single focus on the project
Explanation: Optimization for a single focus on the project means that the team can focus on what the work of the project is and usually only that. The other answers are associated with functional organizations.
Crosswind 4.6.3
3.25 - What is the name of the comprehensive document created during the planning process group?
(A) Project charter
(B) Project scope statement
(C) Project management plan
(D) A signed contract
Correct Answer: (C) Project management plan
Explanation: The main output of the planning process group is the project management plan. The project charter comes from Initiation. The project scope statement is created during the planning process group, but it’s far less comprehensive than the project management plan. A signed contract is a distracter.
Crosswind 3.10.1
3.26 - What is included in the communications domain of organizational governance?
(A) Functions and processes required to create and maintain an overall integrated governance structure and framework
(B) Functions and processes used to align KPIs with the realization of business value
(C) Functions and processes used to manage threats and opportunities in order to balance risk and reward
(D) Functions and processes used to exchange information, engage stakeholders, and drive organizational change
Correct Answer: (D) Functions and processes used to exchange information, engage stakeholders, and drive organizational change
Explanation: The communications domain includes the functions and processes used to exchange information, engage stakeholders, and drive organizational change. The alignment domain includes the functions and processes required to create and maintain an overall integrated governance structure and framework. The performance domain includes the functions and processes used to align KPIs with the realization of business value. The risk domain includes the functions and processes used to manage threats and opportunities in order to balance risk and reward.
Crosswind 3.1.1
3.27 - The data warehouse project is about halfway complete at a major retail client. Your company is doing the implementation and has 12 team members in various locations across three different buildings. Communication and team building has been a real challenge. Which of the following would fix or improve this problem?
(A) Changing the organization to a functional structure
(B) Colocation
(C) Replacing the project manager
(D) Hiring project coordinators
Correct Answer: (B) Colocation
Explanation: Colocation is the process of putting personnel closer together or in the same room to help with team building and project communication.
Crosswind 4.6.3
3.28 - The project management life cycle is similar to which of the following?
(A) Project life cycle
(B) SDLC
(C) Plan-do-check-act
(D) Use case analysis
Correct Answer: (C) Plan-do-check-act
Explanation: Plan-do-check-act is defined by the American Society for Quality as an approach to process development. It can show how the project management life cycle components co-exist or overlap. The project life cycle builds the work of the project. SDLC and use case analysis are software development approaches.
Crosswind 3.10.2
3.29 - Which of the following is not a regulation?
(A) The building code for a city
(B) The documented way to dispose of old computers
(C) The average speed on a street in a day
(D) The zoning for an area
Correct Answer: (C) The average speed on a street in a day
Explanation: The average speed on a street in a day is simply a value. It’s not a regulation, which the other answers are. The other answers have defined criteria that they must meet to be acceptable.
Crosswind 3.12
3.30 - What is included in the performance domain of organizational governance?
(A) Functions and processes required to create and maintain an overall integrated governance structure and framework
(B) Functions and processes used to align KPIs with the realization of business value
(C) Functions and processes used to manage threats and opportunities in order to balance risk and reward
(D) Functions and processes used to exchange information, engage stakeholders, and drive organizational change
Correct Answer: (B) Functions and processes used to align KPIs with the realization of business value
Explanation: The performance domain includes the functions and processes used to align KPIs with the realization of business value. The alignment domain includes the functions and processes required to create and maintain an overall integrated governance structure and framework. The risk domain includes the functions and processes used to manage threats and opportunities in order to balance risk and reward. The communications domain includes the functions and processes used to exchange information, engage stakeholders, and drive organizational change.
Crosswind 3.1.1
What is an organization that controls project managers, documentation, and policies called?
(A) Project management office
(B) Tight matrix
(C) Functional
(D) Projectized
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.
Exam Tip of the Day #1
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
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.
Exam Tip of the Day #2
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
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.
Exam Tip of the Day #3
Calculate the variance for the following: Pessimistic=12, Optimistic=2, Realistic=
(A) 5
(B) 2.79
(C) 5.67
(D) Not enough information
Correct Answer: (B) 2.79
Explanation: The formula for variance is ((Pessimistic – Optimistic) divided by 6)² or (P – O) / 6)The answer is 2.7.
Exam Tip of the Day #4
Activity A is worth $200, is 100% complete, should have been done on day one, and actually cost $200. Activity B is worth $75, is 90% complete, should have been done on day two, and actually cost $120 so far. Activity C is worth $200, is 75% complete and should have been done on day three and has cost $175 so far. The total budget is $1,000. What is the planned value as of day two?
(A) $275.00
(B) -$417.50
(C) $495.00
(D) -$275.00
Correct Answer (A) $275.00
Explanation: The planned value as of day two is $275.00. Obtain this value by adding the planned value (PV) of Activity A ($200) and B ($75), which should have been done as of day two on the project.
Exam Tip of the Day #5
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 that 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
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.
Exam Tip of the Day #6
Of the following statements, which is correct?
(A) The key output of the plan resource management process is the resource management plan
(B) The key output of the plan resource management process is the staffing management plan
(C) The key output of the acquire project team process is the resource management plan
(D) The key output of the acquire project team process is the staffing management plan
Correct Answer: (A) The key output of the plan resource management process is the resource management plan
Explanation: The key output of the Plan Resource Management process is the resource management plan.
Exam Tip of the Day #7
There are 45 communication channels on the project. How many people are on the project team?
(A) 9
(B) 10
(C) 5
(D) 15
Correct Answer: (B) 10
Explanation: Ten is the number of team members on the project. This is established by applying the formula, N x (N-1) /2 to the answers and seeing that 10 people produces 45 channels. 10 x (10-1) /2=4.
Exam Tip of the Day #8
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
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.
Exam Tip of the Day #9
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
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.
Exam Tip of the Day #10
During which process is the project manager most likely to increase support and minimize resistance from stakeholders?
(A) Identify stakeholders
(B) Plan stakeholder management
(C) Manage stakeholder engagement
(D) Control stakeholder engagement
Correct Answer: (C) Manage stakeholder engagement
Explanation: The Manage Stakeholder Engagement process is the execution of the stakeholder engagement plan. Some of the key goals of the stakeholder engagement plan are to maximize stakeholder engagement, minimize stakeholder resistance and adjust expectations as applicable. The Identify Stakeholders process creates the stakeholder register and identifies stakeholders. The Plan Stakeholder Engagement process creates, among other documentation, the stakeholder engagement plan. The Monitor Stakeholder Engagement process creates, among other documentation, work performance information.
Exam Tip of the Day #11
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
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.
Exam Tip of the Day #12
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
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 distracters.
Exam Tip of the Day #13
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
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 that may generate risks. Activity resource requirements are generated later in the planning process group.
Exam Tip of the Day #14
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 validate 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 sign off
(D) When the work of the project is done
Correct Answer: (A) At the end of every phase on the project
Explanation: It is better to schedule scope validation more frequently on a project instead of simply waiting until the end. Such validation 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 scope validation.
Exam Tip of the Day #15
The project manager of a natural gas discovery software development project is known for his adherence to Deming’s Total Quality Management philosophy. Which of the following approaches to quality can the project team expect him to utilize?
(A) Be proactive, not reactive
(B) Utilize leadership and accountability
(C) Constant improvement
(D) All the answers
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.
Exam Tip of the Day #18
In reference to planning for the resource knowledge area, which of the following is the most accurate statement?
(A) The resource management plan is used to create the resource breakdown structure
(B) The project management plan is part of the resource management plan
(C) The resource management plan contains only non-personnel resource related details
(D) The resource management plan contains only personnel resource related details
Correct Answer: (A) The resource management plan is used to create the resource breakdown structure
Explanation: The resource breakdown structure can be created based on approaches detailed in the resource management plan. The resource management plan is part of the project management plan. The resource management plan includes approaches for personnel and non-personnel resources.
Exam Tip of the Day #19
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
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.
Exam Tip of the Day #20
Task C on the project has an ES of day three, an EF of day seven and an LS of day seven. Which of the following best describes this task?
(A) It has slack (float) of zero days
(B) It is behind schedule
(C) It has slack (float) of four days and duration of five days
(D) It has slack (float) of zero days and duration of four days
Correct Answer: (C) It has slack (float) of four days and duration of five days
Explanation: The task has a slack (float) of four days and a duration of five days. The slack (float) is calculated by subtracting the ES of day three from the LS of day seven for a slack (float) of four days. To calculate the duration, do not subtract the early start day from the early finish day. Count the early start day, the early finish day, and each day in between: in this case, count day three, day four, day five, day six, and day seven for a duration of five days.
Exam Tip of the Day #16
In defining a risk trigger, which of the following is most accurate?
(A) A trigger is an indicator that a risk event could occur in the near future
(B) A trigger is the same as a risk
(C) A trigger is an indicator that a risk event has definitely occurred
(D) A trigger is an indicator that a risk event will definitely occur
Correct Answer: (A) A trigger is an indicator that a risk event could occur in the near future
Explanation: A trigger is an indication that a risk event could occur in the near future. Just because a trigger occurs, don’t automatically assume that the risk will occur.
In reports, a few key performance indicators seem contradictory.
Most, however, point in the same direction. Lessons learned
indicate that stakeholders sometimes misinterpret the reports
because of this. How should the project manager use metrics
from this project?
A. Use only those metrics that point in the same direction
B. Use only those metrics that have a clear link to strategic goals.
C. Use all of the metrics but add a training class for stakeholder report interpretation.
D. Use all of the metrics but introduce software to combine them in one score.
Correct Answer: (B) Use only those metrics that have a clear link to strategic goals.
Explanation: using ALL would mean you use more than just the KPI metrics.
Class 4 - Rice
Question like this will be on the test
The best type of team space includes having the team to be set
up in what way?
A. Virtual
B. How the team decides to be set up
C. Colocated
D. A combination of colocated and virtual
Correct Answer: (C) Colocated
Explanation: A best practice would state that the team be colocated for the best
performance. There are many teams that are virtual or a combination
of both, but the best practice is to be call located for at least one or
two iterations.
Class 4 - Rice
Question like this will be on the test
Your project is in a critical phase. You notice one of the team members comes in
late into office and leaves early. This is clearly impacting delivery. You decide to
discuss the details with the concerned team member to better understand the
details. On discussion you find no specific reasons so you explain the necessity and
criticality of the project expecting the team member improves. However next week
your lead engineer reports about inadequate time being spent by the same person
in office. What would be the best choice of communication in this case?
A. Informal and verbal
B. Formal and written
C. Informal and written
D. Formal and verbal
Correct Answer: (B) Formal and written
Explanation: In this case you have already tried out the option of discussing
with the team member once - which is an example of Informal
verbal. Clearly that has not worked so it calls for a stricter
Class 4 - Rice
What Tuckman stage is a team in if they move from
independence to the ability to get more done as a whole than
they could get done individually?
A. Forming
B. Norming
C. Storming
D. Performing
Correct Answer: (D) Performing
Explanation: Performing is when the team starts working as a team.
Class 4 - Rice
A project was estimated to cost $1.5 million and scheduled to
last six months. After three months, the earned value
analysis shows the following:
EV = $650,000
PV = $750,000
AC = $800,000
What are the schedule and cost variances?
A) SV= $100,000; CV= $150,000
B) SV= $150,000 / CV= ($100,000)
C) SV= ($50,000) / CV= $150,000
D) SV= ($100,000) / CV= ($150,000)
Correct Answer: (D) SV= ($100,000) / CV= ($150,000)
Class 4 - Rice
Which of the following best defines the value of the work actually completed?
A) Planned value
B) Actual cost
C) Present value
D) Earned value
Correct Answer: (D) Earned Value
Class 4 - Rice
To ensure various teams involved in a company-wide product development effort are not wasting time or encountering any unnecessary bottlenecks, which of the following would be the most helpful to identify issues in the teams’ processes?
A) Velocity charts
B) Kanban boards
C) Value stream maps
D) Kickoff meetings
Correct Answer: (C) Value stream maps
Class 4 - Rice
The contract is expected to cost $560K. Actual cost is $510K. There is a 50%/50% share of any cost savings. What is the total value of the contract?
(A) $535K
(B) $510K
(C) $560K
(D) $610K
Correct Answer: (A) $535K
Explanation: The $560K is the expected value of the contract and the actual cost of the contract is $510K, resulting in a savings of $50K. $25K of the savings goes to the seller and the other $25K goes to the buyer. The actual cost of $510K and $25K savings share makes the total value of the contract worth $535K.
You learn that someone has been hired as a PM in-process. You ask him about this provision because you are not familiar with an “in-process” specialization in the PM certification. The employer apparently assumed that this provision was a specialization in the certification when actually the person being hired was simply trying to indicate that he was studying for the exam. What would have best eliminated this confusion?
(A) The person being interviewed should have clarified the status to the employer when the confusion became apparent
(B) The employer should have known more about the PM certification
(C) The employer should have confirmed the certification on the PMI® website
(D) The employee should have kept quiet until he passed the test
Correct Answer: (A) The person being interviewed should have clarified the status to the employer when the confusion became apparent
Explanation: Regardless of your status, you should be professionally responsible and let someone know of any misinterpretation associated with your background or qualifications. The other answers are not correct because the responsibility falls on the person to report accurate information in a timely manner.
Exam Tip of the Day #24
All the following are examples of projects interacting with operations except…
(A) Upgrading a factory line with new computer components
(B) Initiating the Go-live phase of a project
(C) Increasing output to meet unusually high customer demand
(D) Closing a large sales office
Correct Answer: (C) Increasing output to meet unusually high customer demand
Explanation: Accommodating high demand still falls under the realm of operations. Anticipating and scheduling daily, monthly, seasonal, or cyclical fluctuations are common duties for “operational” individuals. All other answers involve a project impacting the day-to-day operations in some significant way.
Exam Tip of the Day #25
The project to create a new drill type for an oil exploration initiation has been in progress for twelve months. Of the following, what best describes when it closes?
(A) When the validate scope process is completed for the project
(B) When the project is canceled
(C) When the project funds are depleted
(D) All of the answers
Correct Answer: (D) All of the answers
Explanation: Whenever a project ends, it should be formally closed. This closure allows the team and organization to learn what worked and what didn’t on the project and to formally close out the initiative. When a project completes the Validate Scope process, the deliverables of the project are formally accepted and thus, the project is complete. When a project is cancelled or when it runs out of money the administrative activities associated with closure of the project are conducted.
Exam Tip of the Day #26
During what processes is work decomposition performed?
(A) Create WBS and define activities
(B) Define scope and create WBS
(C) Define activities and control schedule
(D) Create WBS and control scope
Correct Answer: (A) Creating the WBS and define activities
Explanation: The work of the project is decomposed in the Create WBS process to establish work packages and in the Define Activities process (Schedule knowledge area) to create activity lists. No other process involves the systematic break down of work elements.
Exam Tip of the Day #27
Which of the following is an example of a lag?
(A) The latest a new system can be ordered from the manufacturer without delaying the project
(B) The critical path
(C) A delay after the sheetrock (wallboard) is done in a house to allow it to dry before continuing work in that area
(D) The earliest a new system can be ordered from the manufacturer
Correct Answer: (C) A delay after the sheetrock (wallboard) is done in a house to allow it to dry before continuing work in that area
Explanation: A delay after the sheetrock is done to allow it to dry before continuing work in that area is an example of a lag. The delay is not part of either activity but occurs between the activities. The other answers are distracters.
Exam Tip of the Day #28
Project A has an NPV of $150K over three years. Project B has an NPV of $330K over six years. Project C has an NPV of $170K over six years. Which of the following do you select?
(A) Project A
(B) Project B
(C) Project C
(D) Project A and C
Correct Answer: (B) Project B
Explanation: Project B is the most attractive project because it has the highest dollar amount. The years listed with the NPV are distracters because they are already factored into the dollar amount of the project. Project A and C are of less value than Project B.
Exam Tip of the Day #29
You are the manager of a project where two stakeholders have conflicting ideas about the reporting application that will be used. Stakeholder one wants to use the existing application (a proprietary software) because he is familiar with it. Stakeholder two wants to use an alternate application (a cloud based software), because it is new and has good reviews. The project management plan references the proprietary software. The project charter references the cloud based software. The circumstances surrounding the project do not impact the reporting software choice. Which application should you choose?
To decide on the application, the project manager must first consider the reason for
the project, the market conditions or business needs, and the project priority. Since none of those impact the decision, the project manager then considers the project charter. In this case, the project charter indicates the alternate application is to be used, so the correct answer is the alternate application.
Even though the project management plan references the existing proprietary application, the application cited in the project charter takes precedence.
Ch. 6 - Pg 175
The project manager and his team are using an Ishikawa or fishbone diagram as part of the quality component for the coal extraction project. Of the following, which best describes the reason they are utilizing this diagram?
(A) To assess the defects which are creating quality issues
(B) To evaluate project activities that have the potential to create defects
(C) To review symptoms to determine the source of the defects
(D) B and C
Correct Answer: (D) B and C
Explanation: Ishikawa diagrams are utilized in the Plan Quality Management process to evaluate project activities that have the potential to create defects. Ishikawa diagrams are utilized after the planning process to review symptoms in an effort to determine the source of the defects. The other answers are distracters.
Exam Tip of the Day #30
6.1 - You are the project manager on an oil exploration project. You have just landed on the oil rig in the ocean and are reviewing the stakeholder register to see who your stakeholders are, their goals and needs. What process will you perform next?
(A) Plan stakeholder management
(B) Plan stakeholder engagement
(C) Manage stakeholder engagement
(D) Plan communications management
Correct Answer: (B) Plan stakeholder engagement
Explanation: Plan stakeholder engagement is the process that follows identify stakeholders. Manage stakeholder engagement follows plan stakeholder engagement. Plan stakeholder management is a distracter. Plan communications management is a communications process.
Crosswind 6.3
6.2 - Maxron electrical has won the contract to install wireless networking in Lincoln stadium in Darlington Hills. This is a very complex contract because there are a number of stakeholders involved: the owner of Lincoln stadium, various companies associated with the owner, and the city of Darlington Hills. What documentation will be most effective for organizing the stakeholders?
(A) Stakeholder register
(B) Stakeholder engagement plan
(C) Issue log
(D) Charter
Correct Answer: (A) Stakeholder register
Explanation: The stakeholder register is used to identify stakeholders and provide key information about them. The stakeholder engagement plan is used to provide direction for managing stakeholder engagement. The issue log is used to track issues and provide key information about them. The charter is the basis of the project and provides initial high-level information about the project.
Crosswind 6.2
6.3 - All of the following are descriptions derived from analytical techniques used in stakeholder management except…
(A) Nonresistant
(B) Neutral
(C) Supportive
(D) Leading
Correct Answer: (A) Nonresistant
Explanation: Stakeholder engagement levels are typically described as unaware, resistant, neutral, supportive and leading.
Crosswind 6.3.2
6.4 - The marketing brochure redesign project is entering the manage stakeholder engagement process. To effectively manage stakeholder engagement, the project manager has a variety of tools and techniques available during this process. What are they?
(A) Interpersonal and team skills, communication feedback, and ground rules (B) Communications methods, alternatives analysis, and management skills (C) Communications skills, communications management plan, and management skills
(D) Product analysis, communications methods, and management skills
Correct Answer: (A) Interpersonal and team skills, communication feedback, and ground rules
Explanation: The tools and techniques for the Manage Stakeholder Engagement process are: expert judgment, inspection, communication, feedback, interpersonal and team skills, conflict management, cultural awareness, negotiation, observation/conversation, political awareness, ground rules, and meetings.
Crosswind 6.4
6.5 - Sam is running a project to upgrade a client’s website to a new framework. Expectation management has been very challenging on this project. Sam has had challenges keeping the main sponsor involved as the project has evolved. Currently Sam is managing stakeholder engagement. Which of the following best describes what he will expect to create?
(A) Updates to the stakeholder engagement plan, change log and issue log
(B) Approved change requests and updated stakeholder registry
(C) Resolved issues and approved change requests
(D) Updated stakeholder registry, resolved issues, and change reques
Correct Answer: (A) Updates to the stakeholder engagement plan, change log and issue log
Explanation: The outputs for the Manage Stakeholder Engagement process are change requests, project management plan updates, communication management plan updates, stakeholder engagement plan updates, project documents updates, change log updates issue log updates, lessons learned register updates and stakeholder register updates.
Crosswind 6.4
6.6 - The project to update the retail store to accommodate the new video game platform is ready for initial planning. Stakeholders have been identified. What documentation will be created as a result of the identification?
(A) Stakeholder register
(B) Stakeholder management plan
(C) Issue log
(D) Charter
Correct Answer: (A) Stakeholder register
Explanation: The stakeholder register is used to identify stakeholders and provide key information about them. This is the main output of the identify stakeholders process. The stakeholder engagement plan is used to provide direction for managing stakeholder engagement. The issue log is used to track issues and provide key information about them. The charter is the basis of the project and provides initial high-level information about the project.
Crosswind 6.2
6.7 - All of the following interpersonal or soft skills are applicable to managing stakeholder engagement except…
(A) Building trust
(B) Resolving conflict
(C) Passive listening
(D) Overcoming resistance to change
Correct Answer: (C) Passive listening
Explanation: Interpersonal or soft skills applicable to managing stakeholder engagement are building trust, resolving conflict, active listening, and overcoming resistance to change.
Crosswind 6.4
6.8 - During the plan stakeholder engagement process for the accounting system upgrade project, what tools and techniques are available to the project manager?
(A) Issue logs, stakeholder analysis, reporting systems, and approved change requests
(B) Expert judgment, meetings, and mind mapping
(C) Management skills, communication methods, stakeholder analysis, and interpersonal skills
(D) Stakeholder analysis, issue logs, and approved change request
Correct Answer: (B) Expert judgment, meetings, and mind mapping
Explanation: The tools and techniques for the plan stakeholder management process are expert judgment, data gathering, benchmarking, data analysis, assumption and constraint analysis, mind mapping, root cause analysis, stakeholder engagement assessment matrix, SWOT analysis, decision-making, prioritization/ranking, and meetings.
Crosswind 6.3
6.9 - Which processes does the project manager use to manage the project stakeholders?
(A) Plan stakeholder engagement, manage stakeholder engagement, monitor stakeholder engagement
(B) Identify stakeholders, plan stakeholder engagement, manage stakeholder engagement, monitor stakeholder engagement
(C) Identify stakeholders, plan stakeholder engagement, monitor stakeholder engagement
(D) Identify stakeholders, plan stakeholder engagement, manage stakeholder engagem
Correct Answer: (B) Identify stakeholders, plan stakeholder engagement, manage stakeholder engagement, monitor stakeholder engagement
Explanation: The processes associated with the stakeholder knowledge area are Identify Stakeholders, Plan Stakeholder Engagement, Manage Stakeholder Engagement, and Monitor Stakeholder Engagement.
Crosswind 6 - Intro
6.10 - During the identify stakeholders process, the project manager of the security project has what key tools and techniques at his disposal?
(A) Stakeholder analysis, stakeholder management strategy chart, and expert judgment
(B) Power/interest grid, stakeholder analysis, and expert judgment
(C) Stakeholder management strategy chart, stakeholder analysis, power/interest grid, and expert judgment
(D) Expert judgment and stakeholder analysis
Correct Answer: (D) Expert judgment and stakeholder analysis
Explanation: The tools and techniques for the Identify Stakeholder process are expert judgment, data gathering, questionnaires and surveys, brainstorming, data analysis, stakeholder analysis, document analysis, and meetings.
Crosswind 6.2
6.11 - To effectively manage stakeholders to increase support for and minimize negative impact to a project, project managers often rely on strategy tools during the identify stakeholders process. A key tool is the stakeholder register. Of the following, which best represents typical matrix entries?
(A) Level of impact on the project, strategies to gain support or minimize negative impact, stakeholder name, level of interest in the project, requirements for level of communication
(B) Level of interest in the project, stakeholder name, political influence within the organization, strategies to gain support or minimize negative impact
(C) Strategies to gain support or minimize negative impact, level of interest in the project, stakeholder name, level of impact on the project
(D) Requirements for level of communication, stakeholder name, level of interest in the project, political influence within the organization, strategies to gain support or minimize negative impact
Correct Answer: (C) Strategies to gain support or minimize negative impact, level of interest in the project, stakeholder name, level of impact on the project
Explanation: The stakeholder analysis matrix typically contains the stakeholder name, level of interest in the project, strategies to gain support or minimize negative impact, and level of impact on the project. The other answers are noise.
Crosswind 6.2
6.12 - The chief financial officer of the mortgage banking company has been reassigned to the IT department and will have no further involvement in the financial department. Which of the following documents should be updated for the Tax Laws Accounting Upgrade project?
(A) Stakeholder register
(B) Power/interest grid
(C) Stakeholder register and power/interest grid
(D) Issue log
Correct Answer: (C) Stakeholder register and power/interest grid
Explanation: The stakeholder register and the power/interest grid for the project should be updated to reflect the appropriate information for the CFO and his replacement.
Crosswind 6.2
6.13 - Which of the following is the best description of stakeholders?
(A) All persons and groups that are impacted by the project and have a job because of the project
(B) All persons who are members of the project team and their job changes because of the project
(C) All persons that are impacted by the project, have a job because of the project, and/or consider themselves stakeholders
(D) All persons who consider themselves stakeholders and have a job because of the project
Correct Answer: (C) All persons that are impacted by the project, have a job because of the project, and/or consider themselves stakeholders
Explanation: Stakeholders can be team members or any persons or groups that are impacted by the project, have a job because of the project, or consider themselves stakeholders.
Crosswind 6.2
6.14 - You are a project manager and have just created the stakeholder engagement plan. What process will you perform next?
(A) Identify stakeholder
(B) Manage stakeholder engagement
(C) Monitor stakeholder engagement
(D) Monitor communications
Correct Answer: (B) Manage stakeholder engagement
Explanation: Plan stakeholder engagement creates the stakeholder engagement plan. Manage stakeholder engagement follows plan stakeholder engagement. Identify stakeholders precedes plan stakeholder engagement. Monitor stakeholder engagement follows manage stakeholder engagement. Monitor communications is a communications process.
Crosswind 6.4
6.15 - Which of the processes can update the issue log?
(A) Identify stakeholders, plan stakeholder engagement, manage stakeholder engagement, monitor stakeholder engagement
(B) Identify stakeholders, manage stakeholder engagement, monitor stakeholder engagement
(C) Plan stakeholder engagement, manage stakeholder engagement, monitor stakeholder engagement
(D) Identify stakeholders, plan stakeholder engagement, manage stakeholder engagement
Correct Answer: (B) Identify stakeholders, manage stakeholder engagement, monitor stakeholder engagement
Explanation: Three of the four stakeholder processes can result in the issue log being updated. They are identify stakeholder, manage stakeholder engagement, and monitor stakeholder engagement.
Crosswind 6.2, 6.4, 6.5
6.16 - You are a project manager and have just discovered that your sponsor who is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on your project has changed. The sponsor is now the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Previously the CIO was a key stakeholder, but not the sponsor. Which of the following documents would you update first?
(A) The stakeholder register
(B) The stakeholder engagement assessment matrix
(C) The stakeholder engagement plan
(D) The issue log
Correct Answer: (A) The stakeholder register
Explanation: The stakeholder register would be the first document to be updated, as that would reflect changes in stakeholders and roles. The stakeholder engagement assessment matrix would be used to identify gaps between stakeholder engagement and needed levels of engagement. The stakeholder engagement plan identifies how to engage stakeholders. The issue log contains items that require attention.
Crosswind 6.2
6.17 - During which process is the stakeholder engagement plan created?
(A) Identify stakeholders
(B) Plan stakeholder engagement
(C) Manage stakeholder engagement
(D) Control stakeholder engagement
Correct Answer: (B) Plan stakeholder engagement
Explanation: The Plan Stakeholder Engagement process creates, among other documentation, the stakeholder engagement plan. The Identify Stakeholders process creates the stakeholder register. The Manage Stakeholder Engagement process creates, among other documentation, change requests and project management plan updates.
Crosswind 6.3
6.18 - Given the complex nature of projects, which area of change generally has the highest impact?
(A) A change in the company that is creating the project
(B) A change in the market for which the work of the project is intended
(C) A change in the team on the project
(D) A change in the project
Correct Answer: (B) A change in the market for which the work of the project is intended
Explanation: The highest impact is a change in the market for which the work of the project is intended. A negative change could result in a radically altered or eliminated market. A positive change could result in a totally reinvented market.
Crosswind 6.1.1
6.19 - Your company is doing market analysis to see about creating a next generation thermostat that will increase the efficiency of home energy use and can be controlled by a smartphone. While the company is evaluating the market potential for this product and determining its target audience, which of the following stakeholder groups will they likely engage?
(A) Distribution customers
(B) End users
(C) Regulatory agencies
(D) Advertising agencies
Correct Answer: (B) End users
Explanation: Your company will engage the end users, probably selected as a focus group, since they can provide feedback on their interest in purchasing the product. Other stakeholder groups would have a lesser influence or their influence would be greatest at another point in the project. Distribution customers would influence the product’s deployment. Regulatory agencies would influence product requirements. Advertising agencies would influence the marketing of the product.
Crosswind 6.2
6.20 - You are a new project manager on an existing project. You discover varying roles and goals of stakeholders and see that some stakeholders are not doing what is needed on the project regarding involvement. You want to put a strategy in place to better align stakeholder engagement. Which of the following documents would you create or update?
(A) The stakeholder register
(B) The stakeholder engagement assessment matrix
(C) The stakeholder engagement plan
(D) The issue log
Correct Answer: (B) The stakeholder engagement assessment matrix
Explanation: The stakeholder engagement assessment matrix would be used to identify gaps between stakeholder engagement and needed levels of engagement. The stakeholder register would be the first document to be updated as that would reflect changes in stakeholders and roles. The stakeholder engagement plan identifies how to engage stakeholders. The issue log contains things that require attention.
Crosswind 6.3.2
6.21 - You are the project manager on a restaurant POS system project for Hamburger Prince Restaurants. You are fortunate in having the top technical architect in the company on your project. In your monthly meeting with the CEO, you are informed that the architect will be reassigned to a higher priority enterprise reporting system project. You inform the CEO that the resource’s involvement on your project is critical to the project’s success, but the CEO will not reconsider. What is the best action to take next?
(A) Evaluate the impact of the person’s absence on the project and communicate to senior management
(B) Continue to lobby for the person to be returned to your project
(C) Change the scope of the project to accommodate for the loss of the resource
(D) Continue as the original plan, but without the resource
Correct Answer: (A) Evaluate the impact of the person’s absence on the project and communicate to senior management
Explanation: Letting senior management know the impact of not having the resource on the project is the best action to take next. You don’t change the scope of the project because that isn’t the call of the project manager. If you encounter a significant change such as the loss of a resource, you are expected to revise the plan to accommodate the change.
Crosswind 6.1.2
6.22 - The project team is creating a power/interest grid to use for the rental renovation project. Which of the following best describes the purpose of this grid?
(A) Effective management of stakeholder engagement can be the result of identifying the levels of power and interest of stakeholders
(B) Effective management of stakeholder engagement can be the result of organizing the reporting structure of stakeholders
(C) Effective management of stakeholder engagement can be the result of identifying the stakeholder reporting structure
(D) Effective management of stakeholder engagement can be the result of graphically depicting the relationship between team member roles and authority levels
Correct Answer: (A) Effective management of stakeholder engagement can be the result of identifying the levels of power and interest of stakeholders
Explanation: The power/interest grid depicts the levels of power and project interest of the stakeholders. The more power and interest a stakeholder has, the more closely project management should monitor and manage that stakeholder’s engagement. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 6.2.1
6.23 - The project to update the retail store to accommodate the new video game platform is ready for initial planning. Stakeholders have been identified and a stakeholder register created. What documentation will be created next?
(A) Stakeholder register
(B) Stakeholder engagement plan
(C) Issue log
(D) Charter
Correct Answer: (B) Stakeholder engagement plan
Explanation: The stakeholder engagement plan is used to provide direction for managing stakeholder engagement. The stakeholder register is used to identify stakeholders and provide key information about them. The issue log is used to track issues and provide key information about them. The charter is the basis of the project and provides initial high-level information about the project.
Crosswind 6.2
6.24 - The project manager is engaged in a project that will result in an Internet-driven thermostat to save electricity and cut energy costs. Since this is an innovative project, which of the following stakeholder groups is most likely to have the most influence early in the project?
(A) Distribution customers
(B) End users
(C) Regulatory agencies
(D) Manufacturing partner
Correct Answer: (C) Regulatory agencies
Explanation: Since this is such an innovative project, and it involves energy, it is very likely to come under the scope of a regulatory authority that would have significant influence over product requirements which are established early in the project. Other stakeholder groups would have a lesser influence or their influence would be greatest at another point in the project: End users would influence the company’s positioning of the product. Distribution customers would influence the product’s deployment. Manufacturing partners would influence the assembly of the product.
Crosswind 6.2
6.25 - Which of the following is least likely to be in a high power, high interest position on a power/interest grid?
(A) Persons who are impacted by the project
(B) Persons who are on the project team
(C) Persons who consider themselves to be stakeholders
(D) All of the answers
Correct Answer: (C) Persons who consider themselves to be stakeholders
Explanation: Of the possible answers, persons who consider themselves stakeholders are the most unlikely to be in a high power, high interest position on the power grid. Typically, persons in the power grid are very aware of their power and interests and know they are stakeholders. Additionally, those who create the power grid are aware of those who have power and can determine if they might have an interest in the project.
Crosswind 6.2
6.26 - The project to upgrade the accounting software in consideration of upcoming tax law changes is underway. The project manager is working with the chief information officer (CIO) and chief financial officer (CFO) to ensure regulatory compliance and requirements alignment. Where will these two stakeholders most likely fit in a power/interest grid?
(A) High power/low interest
(B) Low power/low interest
(C) High power/high interest
(D) Low power/high interest
Correct Answer: (C) High power/high interest
Explanation: The positions of CIO and CFO imply a high degree of power. Their involvement in ensuring regulatory compliance and the alignment of requirements imply a very high degree of interest.
Crosswind 6.2.1
6.27 - You are a project manager currently analyzing your stakeholders and management strategies for those stakeholders. You want to use something that will show you a picture of where they all fit in relation to each other. What will you likely use to review this information?
(A) The stakeholder register
(B) The engagement assessment matrix
(C) Power/interest grid
(D) Organizational breakdown structure
Correct Answer: (C) Power/interest grid
Explanation: The power and interest grid shows the amount of power and interest that the stakeholders have on the project. This helps influence how you manage and engage them throughout the project. The engagement assessment matrix shows any gaps between stakeholders current and desired level of engagement. The stakeholder register shows who the stakeholders are on the project and engagement strategies around them. The organizational breakdown structure is an organization chart and shows people and positions.
Crosswind 6.2.1
6.28 - Which of the following is the most accurate statement about a power/interest grid?
(A) Stakeholders cannot be added once the document is created
(B) Stakeholders cannot be repositioned in the document once they are positioned
(C) Stakeholders should let the project manager know if their power/interest levels change
(D) Stakeholder power and interest levels can change throughout the project and it’s incumbent on the project manager to proactively monitor these changes
Correct Answer: (D) Stakeholder power and interest levels can change throughout the project and it’s incumbent on the project manager to proactively monitor these changes
Explanation: The power and interest of stakeholders can change during a project. Typically, the project manager is responsible for monitoring these changes. Stakeholders can be added as needed to the grid and their power/interest levels changed as appropriate.
Crosswind 6.2.1
6.29 - All of the following are descriptions derived from analytical techniques used in stakeholder engagement except…
(A) Aware
(B) Resistant
(C) Neutral
(D) Supportive
Correct Answer: (A) Aware
Explanation: Stakeholder engagement levels are typically described as unaware, resistant, neutral, supportive and leading.
Crosswind 6.3.2
6.30 - You are a project manager on a mobile GPS application project. The sponsor has come to you and requested a major change in mapping source data. She said that this change will not impact the schedule or budget and you need to do it immediately. What do you do first?
(A) Implement the change
(B) Meet with the sponsor to figure out the details of what they want
(C) Create a change request
(D) Stop all project work
Correct Answer: (B) Meet with the sponsor to figure out the details of what they want
Explanation: The sponsor stating the change won’t cause a budget or schedule impact is not necessarily accurate. Until you as the project manager determine there is no schedule or budget impact, you can’t say there is no impact. Thus, the first thing you would do is to meet with the sponsor to learn as much as you can about the details. From there, you meet with the team to figure out options. Then you let the sponsor know the options, and if they want to move forward, you would create a change request. Stopping all work would be inappropriate.
Crosswind 6.1.2
The project manager has created the resource management plan and is getting ready to start the project soon. Résumés are being reviewed and some people have been interviewed. The lead candidate for the technical architecture position has been offered a position. In what process is the project manager involved?
(A) Hiring and interviewing
(B) Develop team
(C) Estimate activity resources
(D) Acquire resources
Correct Answer: (D) Acquire resources
Explanation: Acquire resources involves among other things, getting people on the project. The estimate activity resources process occurs before interviewing starts. Develop team occurs after staff acquisition is complete. Hiring and interviewing is a distracter.
Exam Tip of the Day #31
There are five basic performance reports. Of the following, which best describes the contents of a forecast report?
(A) Information related to the state of the schedule, budget, and scope of the project at various parts of time
(B) Information related to the present overall state of the project
(C) Information related to future project occurrences
(D) Information related to recent project occurrences
Correct Answer: (C) Information related to future project occurrences
Explanation: The forecast report shows what is expected to occur on the project. The progress report shows what has been completed since the last reporting period. The status report shows where the project is to date. The variance report shows the difference between planned and unplanned occurrences. The earned valued report shows the state of the schedule, budget, and scope of the project at various points in time.
Exam Tip of the Day #32
The telecom project is scheduled to run until year’s end. There is a strong possibility that the union collective bargaining agreement will not be renewed immediately upon its expiration next month. Union negotiation is outside the control of senior management and the project, so senior management has decided to reassign the job responsibilities of union personnel to non-union personnel to minimize project schedule slippage. Of the following, what best describes the type of risk response represented by this decision?
(A) Risk avoidance, which avoids negative risk by taking actions to prevent it
(B) Risk transference, which avoids negative risk by transferring or reassigning responsibilities
(C) Risk mitigation, which mitigates negative risk by taking actions to lessen its impact
(D) Risk acceptance, which accepts negative risk and has a plan to deal with it if it occurs
Correct Answer: (C) Risk mitigation, which mitigates negative risk by taking actions to lessen its impact
Explanation: Risk mitigation attempts to minimize the bad risk or maximize the good risk. In this case, management is attempting to minimize the impact of a labor strike. Risk acceptance simply deals with the risk if it occurs. Risk avoidance involves doing what can be done to eliminate the risk. Transference assigns or transfers the risk to some external party.
Exam Tip of the Day #33
You are the project manager working with the customer on a call center implementation. Your company is responsible for the call center infrastructure. The customer needs some modifications to the scope of the project due to the availability of new functionality. This modification requires that the scope of work to the contract be modified. Who can modify the contract?
(A) The project manager for the buyer
(B) The contract administrator for the company
(C) The project managers for the buyer and seller
(D) The project manager for the seller
Correct Answer: (B) The contract administrator for the company
Explanation: The contract administrator for the company is the only person with the authority to change the contract. The project managers from the buyer and the seller will likely have input to the changes, but the contract administrator is the person making those changes to the contract.
Exam Tip of the Day #34
All of the following are descriptions derived from analytical techniques used in stakeholder management except…
(A) Nonresistant
(B) Neutral
(C) Supportive
(D) Leading
Correct Answer: (A) Nonresistant
Explanation: Stakeholder engagement levels are typically described as unaware, resistant, neutral, supportive and leading.
Exam Tip of the Day #35
What is the difference between a waterfall project charter and an agile project charter?
A) Agile projects don’t use charters
B) Waterfall charters are comprehensive and agile charters are more
flexible
C) Waterfall charters are needed for formal authorizations to begin, and
agile charters are just a kickoff document
D) There isn’t a difference
B) Waterfall charters are comprehensive and agile charters are more flexible
Project charters on agile projects focus on the who, what, where, when, and how aspects with the knowledge that items may change rather than a formal set approach to project charter is found in waterfall projects.
Rice - Class 6
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 focused on specific activities and goals and may fail to see opportunities that arise in the project
B) This style of management is focused on helping employees take on new skills and roles, which may create quality issues
C) This style of management is not proactive and may fail to avert issues in a timely manner
D) 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.
D) 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.
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 that may create quality issues. [Crosswind Manual 5.1.8; No PMBOK Guide Reference]
Rice - Class 6
The project is experiencing conflict as the planning evolves. Of the following, which is the most common set of tools the project manager can utilize to
minimize conflict?
A) Ground rules, group norms, networking and project management practices
B) Ground rules, interpersonal skills, and project management practices
C) Ground rules, group norms, and project management practices
D) Ground rules, interpersonal skills, networking, and project management practices
C) Ground rules, group norms, and project management practices
The common set of tools the project manager can utilize to minimize conflict are ground rules, group norms, and project management practices. [Crosswind Manual 5.5.1; PMBOK Guide 9.4.2]
Rice - Class 6
You are the project manager on a global mapping project. You are having issues with your team and conflict. You are trying to identify a document that can help provide guidance about how the team can work together, their values, and anything else that helps maximize chemistry and output. Which document are you most likely to reference?
A) Working agreement
B) Team charter
C) Resource management plan
D) Organizational breakdown structure
B) Team charter
Rice - Class 6
The project manager role is evolving from its focus on planning, directing, and organizing to?
A) Evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, cross- training, coaching,
mentoring, and motivating
B) Evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, coaching, and motivating
C) Evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, cross- training, coaching,
and motivating
D) Evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, coaching, mentoring, and motivating
C) Evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, cross- training, coaching, and motivating
The project manager role is evolving from its focus on planning, directing, and organizing to evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, coaching, and motivating.
[Crosswind Manual 5.1.7; No PMBOK Guide Reference]
You are the project manager on a SAN project. You are doing the manage team process. This has been
very time consuming and unpredictable. What process did you just complete?
A. Control resources
B. Develop Staff
C. Develop Team
D. Acquire resources
C) Develop Team
Rice - Class 6
You are the project manager in a pharmaceutical company which has a project-oriented organizational structure, and your project is nearing completion. You discover your team members are more interested in finding new projects or positions within the company, rather than completing the project work. Their motivation is based upon:
A) Money
B) Safety
C) Social
D) Physiological
B) Safety
Reason: According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs,
security of employment falls under the category of the safety needs.
Rice - Class 6
The project has had some challenges. Members of the team have needed constant supervision to perform the activities for which they are responsible, they do not seem to trust management, and often appear unmotivated. This is an example of what?
A) Insufficient team building
B) Insufficient project team training
C) Theory Y environment
D) Theory X environment
D) Theory X environment
Typically, in a Theory X environment, employees must be told what to do, have distrust for management, and lack motivation. Theory Y is the opposite. The other answers are distracters. [Crosswind Manual 5.1.5; PMBOK Guide 9.1.2.2]
Rice - Class 6
A highly visible IT project has attracted some of the brightest developers in the company. Unfortunately, the potential for conflict is also high. The project manager will rely on all her skill sets to complete the project successfully. She is very aware that her interpersonal skills can influence the project outcome. What are the specific interpersonal skills she is most likely to utilize?
A) Active listening, negotiation skills, accommodating, and influencing
B) Leadership, negotiation, and influencing
C) Conflict management, influencing, motivation, negotiation, and team building
D) Leadership, effective decision-making, active listening, and influencing
C) Conflict management, influencing, motivation, negotiation, and team building
Rice - Class 6
You are a project manager for a national consumer goods retailer. Currently, you are about to start the development of the assumption log for a project to build a new retail store. What should you do first?
A) Examine the project management plan
B) Start the Identify Stakeholders process as the assumption log is an output of this process
C) Review the project scope statement
D) Read the project business case
D) Read the project business case
Rice - Class 7
The product owner is working with the development team to finalize items in the current iteration. The product owner just changed priority on a few items in the backlog. The approach being used is most likely?
A) Change driven
B) Product driven
C) Gantt Chart
D) Program management
A) Change driven
Rice - Class 7
A project manager is leading a process improvement project for a factory operation. Currently, the project manager and the team are performing the Monitor and Control Project Work process. Which of the following activities might be carried out during this process?
A) Comparing actual project performance against the project management plan
B) Implementing approved change requests to achieve the project’s objectives
C) Analyzing change requests and either approving or rejecting them
D) Gaining formal acceptance of the deliverables by the customer or sponsor
A) Comparing actual project performance against the project management plan
Rice - Class 7
The project plan has been approved by the project board. A key stakeholder who was not on the board has requested a few modifications to the plan. As the Project Manager, how should you handle this?
A) Ask the stakeholder to appeal to the project board.
B) Review the modifications requested by the stakeholder and assess them for impacts to the project plan. Once impacts have been determined, consult the change management plan for next steps.
C) Ask the stakeholder to justify the changes and present them to the change control board.
D) Work with the stakeholder to create change requests and submit them to the change control board for approval.
B) Review the modifications requested by the stakeholder and assess them for impacts to the project plan. Once impacts have been determined, consult the change management plan for next steps.
Rice - Class 7
A project manager is in the execution phase of a highly visible project and a major milestone is due in one week. The project manager has discovered that a vendor’s deliverable for this milestone will be two weeks late. What should the project manager do?
(A) Do not report this problem in the status meeting
(B) Meet with the team and brainstorm how to create a workaround for this problem
(C) Halt all payments to the vendor until the deliverable is received
(D) Report the status of the missed milestone
Correct Answer: (B) Meet with the team and brainstorm how to create a workaround for this problem
Explanation: Meeting with the team and brainstorming how to create a workaround for this problem is the first step the project manager should try. Reporting the status of the missed milestone is the second option. Failure to report this problem in the status meeting violates professional and social responsibility on reporting accurate information. Halting all payments to the vendor puts your company in default of a signed contract.
Exam Tip of the Day #36
Which of the following is an example of an enterprise environmental factor?
(A) Project life cycle documentation
(B) Stakeholder risk tolerance
(C) Standard performance measurement criteria
(D) Financial, change, and risk control procedures
Correct Answer: (B) Stakeholder risk tolerance
Explanation: All incorrect answers are examples of organizational process assets.
Exam Tip of the Day #37
The new system integration project impacts all the departments in the company, directly or indirectly. Which of the following is the best description of tools used for the project’s communications?
(A) Communications management plan (CMP)
(B) Communications model media (CMM)
(C) Information distribution planning (IDP)
(D) Project management information system (PMIS)
Correct Answer: (D) Project management information system (PMIS)
Explanation: The project management information system (PMIS) is a system that stores and distributes project information. It can be a manual or a high-tech system. The other answers are distracters.
Exam Tip of the Day #38
7.1 - There are 45 communication channels on the project. How many people are on the project team?
(A) 9
(B) 10
(C) 5
(D) 15
Correct Answer: (B) 10
Explanation: Ten is the number of team members on the project. This is established by applying the formula, N x (N - 1) / 2 to the answers and seeing that 10 people produces 45 channels. 10 x (10 - 1) / 2 = 45.
Crosswind 7.3.4
7.2 - 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
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.
Crosswind 7.3.7
7.3 - There are five basic performance reports. Of the following, which best describes the contents of a forecast report?
(A) Information related to the state of the schedule, budget, and scope of the project at various parts of time
(B) Information related to the present overall state of the project
(C) Information related to future project occurrences
(D) Information related to recent project occurrences
Correct Answer: (C) Information related to future project occurrences
Explanation: The forecast report shows what is expected to occur on the project. The progress report shows what has been completed since the last reporting period. The status report shows where the project is to date. The variance report shows the difference between planned and unplanned occurrences. The earned valued report shows the state of the schedule, budget, and scope of the project at various points in time.
Crosswind 7.4.2
7.4 - The agile team is distributed and having challenges with communications. The organization is willing to do whatever it takes to improve communications. Which of the following would best help improve project communications?
(A) Utilizing a war room for the team
(B) Have more team meetings
(C) Have an additional status report each week
(D) Make better use of the PMIS
Correct Answer: (A) Utilizing a war room for the team
Explanation: Putting people in one place, such as a war room, is the best option to improve communication. It also helps with transparency in the information exchange. Having more meetings or status reports is not as effective as everyone being in a war room. Making a better use of the PMIS could help improve communications, but not as well as a war room.
Crosswind Manual 8.5.1
7.5 - Sam and Tracy are running their string theory project. They are in the process of monitoring project communications with the various stakeholders. This has been a challenge given it is a global project with many virtual employees. Which of the following is a tool and technique they will use with the monitor communications process?
(A) Communications management plan
(B) Change requests
(C) Work performance information
(D) Project management Information system (PMIS)
Correct Answer: (D) Project management information system (PMIS)
Explanation: The tools and techniques for the Monitor Communications process are: expert judgment, project management information system (PMIS), data analysis, stakeholder engagement assessment matrix, interpersonal and team skills, observation/conversation, and meetings.
Crosswind 7.5
7.6 - The project is approximately 50% complete. The project manager is communicating with stakeholders regarding the status of the project. Which will he likely use to determine what to communicate to whom?
(A) Communications technology, models, and methods
(B) Communications management plan
(C) Communications requirements analysis
(D) Stakeholder management strategy
Correct Answer: (B) Communications management plan
Explanation: The communications management plan helps determine the stakeholders’ communication needs. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 7.3.1
7.7 - A major manufacturing company has initiated a project to determine the best course of action to take in response to the new “green laws” recently passed by congress. The company has many plants located in the U.S. and overseas, some of which have been in place for decades and will likely not be cost effective to modernize. The CEO has warned that this project will rise or fall based on effective communications. During the plan communications management process, the project manager and his team will rely on potentially five key inputs. Which of the following is a key input of the process?
(A) Project management plan
(B) Communications technology
(C) Meetings
(D) Lessons learned register
Correct Answer: (A) Project management plan
Explanation: The project management plan is an input to the plan communications management process. The other answers are tools and techniques or distracters.
Crosswind 7.3
7.8 - You are the project manager for a global point of sale upgrade project that is utilizing an offshore development company. There have been a number of communication challenges with misinterpretation of requirements and failure to follow through with things associated with the store roll-out that the project manager felt needed attention. What type of communication would help improve these problems?
(A) Verbal
(B) Informal verbal
(C) Formal written
(D) Formal
Correct Answer: (C) Formal written
Explanation: Formal written communication is appropriate for communications where the message must be specific or the message is being sent over a long distance. Formal is a good answer but not as good as formal written. Both verbal answers would expose the project to problems.
Crosswind 7.2
7.9 - The project team is attempting their first agile project. There are still some waterfall components that they cannot eliminate. They are having challenges with communications with certain team members being updated, as things are completed. Which of the following would help improve transparency with the communications?
(A) Having daily stand up meetings
(B) Having a product review more frequently
(C) Creating communication items in the sprint backlog
(D) Using a chat application for more timely information
Correct Answer: (A) Having daily stand up meetings
Explanation: In agile environments there is a daily standup meeting (that should not exceed 15 minutes) that allows each team member to address what they have done, what they are doing and anything in their way. This will help resolve the communication challenges. More product reviews, adding communications items in the sprint backlog, or using chat applications are not as effective as the daily standup meeting.
Crosswind 8.2
7.10 - Sam and Tracy are in the planning stage of their wedding. Communication is a big issue with all the stakeholders and their geographical locations. Of the following, which is an input they will use in the manage communications process?
(A) Project management plan
(B) Communications management plan
(C) Power interest grid
(D) Feedback
Correct Answer: (B) Communications management plan
Explanation: The inputs for the Manage Communications process are: project management plan, resource management plan, communications management plan, stakeholder engagement plan, project documents, change log, issue log, lessons learned register, quality report, risk report, stakeholder register, work performance reports, enterprise environmental factors, and organizational process assets.
Crosswind 7.4
7.11 - Six full time and one part time person report to the project manager. Three more people are added to the project. How many communication channels were added to the project?
(A) 56 channels
(B) 28 channels
(C) 55 channels
(D) 27 channels
Correct Answer: (D) 27 channels
Explanation: The formula for communication channels is N x (N - 1) / 2.First, calculate the number of communication channels based on the existing team 6.5 people (rounds up to a full person) 7 AND the project manager=8). That is 28 communication channels. Next, calculate the number of communication channels with the new people added. This is 55 communication channels. Finally, subtract the difference (55-28=27) to establish that 27 communication channels were added
Crosswind 7.3.4
7.12 - The product owner is repeatedly going to team members trying to get them to add more work to the current sprint. The scrummaster has major problems with this type of communication. The product owner doesn’t see a problem with this. What best describes this situation?
(A) The product owner shouldn’t be trying to force the team to add items to the sprint
(B) The scrummaster is trying to control all communications
(C) The team is overly sensitive
(D) The communication management plan should be updated to align with these communication requests
Correct Answer: (A) The product owner shouldn’t be trying to force the team to add items to the sprint
Explanation: Once the work of the scrum is committed to, the product owner should NOT try to force extra work on the team. This creates distrust between the team and product owner. The scrummaster is not out of line seeing a problem with this situation. The team should be sensitive to the attempt to force work on them. Updating the communication management plan is irrelevant in this case.
Crosswind 8.3.1
7.13 - Nicole is in pharmaceutical sales. As she is mapping out details for a new marketing campaign, she is sensitive to communication with key stakeholders. Communication is key to campaign success. As she focuses on monitoring communications, which is an input she will use during this process?
(A) Risk register
(B) Reporting systems
(C) Change requests
(D) Issue log
Correct Answer: (D) Issue log
Explanation: The inputs for the Monitor Communications process are: project management plan, communications management plan, stakeholder engagement plan, project documents, issue log, lessons learned register, project communications, work performance data, enterprise environmental factors, and organizational process assets.
Crosswind 7.5
7.14 - All of the following are examples of communication requirements on a project except…
(A) Project status, meeting time, and location
(B) The product functionality required by the primary customer
(C) Steps to take regarding a project change request
(D) Names and contact information for the members of the project change control board
Correct Answer: (B) The product functionality required by the primary customer.
Explanation: Project status meeting, time and location, steps to take regarding a project change request, and contact information for the members of the CCB are all communication requirements on a project. Product functionality is communicated using some type of requirements documentation. Notice that this answer does not indicate how or when or how often the product requirements will or should be communicated.
Crosswind 7.3
7.15 - Michelle is in pharmaceutical research. As she is mapping out details for a new compound, she is sensitive to communication with key stakeholders. Communication is key to campaign success. As she focuses on monitoring communications, which is a tool or technique she will use during this process?
(A) Organizational process assets
(B) Expert judgment
(C) Change requests
(D) Stakeholder management strategy
Correct Answer: (B) Expert judgment
Explanation: The tools or techniques for Monitor Communications include expert judgment, project management information system (PMIS), data analysis, stakeholder engagement assessment matrix, interpersonal and team skills, observation/conversation, and meetings.
Crosswind 7.5
7.16 - The project manager has scheduled several meetings to facilitate information sharing with the project management team and the customer. The meetings have been unorganized, chaotic, and lacking direction. Which of the following would improve the meetings?
(A) Determine who is in charge of the meeting
(B) Send the team to communication training
(C) Create and publish an agenda, and establish the leader of the meeting
(D) Create and publish an agenda
Correct Answer: (C) Create and publish an agenda, and establish the leader of the meeting
Explanation: Creating and publishing an agenda and knowing who is in charge of a meeting are two ways to have a highly organized, effective meeting. Though the project manager may organize a meeting, he or she may not necessarily be in charge of the meeting, as is sometimes the case with highly technical subject matter.
Crosswind 7.3.7
7.17 - All the following could be considered mediums for communication by a project team member except…
(A) Staff meetings
(B) Email
(C) Message
(D) Video conference
Correct Answer: (C) Message
Explanation: The message is what is actually conveyed in the communication. The other three answers are formats for conveying information.
Crosswind 7.3.3
7.18 - One of the activities a project manager performs on a day-to-day basis is communicating with individual team members, the team, company personnel, vendors, and customers. Approximately how much of a project manager’s job is spent communicating?
(A) At least 30%
(B) Not more than 50%
(C) Approximately 90%
(D) 100%
Correct Answer: (C) Approximately 90% Explanation: Approximately 90% of a project manager’s time is spent communicating. This could be via email, meetings, listening, speaking, web conference, etc.
Crosswind 7.3.2
7.19 - What is the most effective use of feedback on a project?
(A) To give the sender of the message a chance to ensure their message is delivered
(B) To ensure that the receiver of a message understands the message
(C) To give the receiver of the message a chance to get status updates from the sender
(D) To ensure that the sender of the message understands the message
Correct Answer: (B) To ensure that the receiver of a message understands the message
Explanation: It is vital that the receiver correctly interprets the message sent, so the sender requests feedback. The request is typically in the form of asking additional questions to clarify the recipients understanding of the message.
Crosswind 7.3.3
7.20 - The team is having challenges staying updated on timely status on items in the current sprint. Upon reviewing past retrospectives, it’s noted that this has been an ongoing problem for sprints over the last year and a half. Which of the following would be the best solution to resolve this problem?
(A) Put an information radiator in the team war room
(B) Add communication requirements to the communications management plan to address this
(C) Have the product owner update team members daily
(D) Have a weekly stand up meeting
Correct Answer: (A) Put an information radiator in the team war room
Explanation: An information radiator such as a display in the war room with timely status on things for all to see, is the best option because it provides information as needed. Adding communication requirements to the communications management plan is not a bad idea, but not as good an option as the information radiator is. The product owner providing daily updates to the team doesn’t really align with the job of the product owner. Having a weekly standup meeting doesn’t fix the problem compared to other options.
Crosswind 8.5.1
7.21 - There are five basic performance reports. Of the following, which best describes the contents of a status report?
(A) Information related to the state of the schedule, budget, and scope of the project at various points in time
(B) Information related to the present overall state of the project
(C) Information related to future project occurrences
(D) Information related to recent project occurrences
Correct Answer: (B) Information related to the present overall state of the project
Explanation: The status report shows where the project is to date. The forecast report shows what is expected to occur on the project. The earned valued report shows the state of the schedule, budget, and scope of the project at various points in time. The progress report shows what has been completed since the last reporting period.
Crosswind 7.4.2
7.22 - Ronnie is planning Comicfest for the fall. It will include over 200 vendors, over 60 celebrities and approximately 10,000 attendees. Which of the following is not a tool or technique available during the plan communications management process?
(A) Communications methods
(B) Communications technology
(C) Communications requirements analysis
(D) Communications management plan
Correct Answer: (D) Communications management plan
Explanation: The tools and techniques for the Plan Communications Management process are: expert judgment, communications requirements analysis, communication technology, communication models, communication methods, interpersonal and team skills, communication styles assessment, political awareness, cultural awareness, data analysis, stakeholder engagement assessment matrix, and meetings.
Crosswind 7.3
7.23 - Although the communications model only contains three components, there is another facet of communications that must be considered. Of the following, which best describes that other facet?
(A) Language, specifically the special usages of a professional group
(B) Medium, specifically the technique that dictates the format of a message
(C) Feedback, specifically in regard to message interpretation
(D) Confirmation, specifically tracking communication receipt
Correct Answer: (B) Medium, specifically the technique that dictates the format of a message
Explanation: The communications model includes the sender, the receiver, and the message. The medium should also be considered in that it sets the format of the message.
Crosswind 7.3.3
7.24 - Project communications lead to a number of concerns on the part of the project manager. Which of the following best describe those concerns?
(A) Sender, receiver, message, medium, and feedback
(B) Sender, receiver, message, and feedback
(C) Sender, receiver, message, and medium
(D) Sender, receiver, medium, and feedback
Correct Answer: (A) Sender, receiver, message, medium, and feedback
Explanation: Communication involves a sender who encodes the message and delivers it via the medium to the receiver to decode. The receiver then should have a chance to provide feedback to the sender to verify correct understanding of the message.
Crosswind 7.3.3
7.24 - Project communications lead to a number of concerns on the part of the project manager. Which of the following best describe those concerns?
(A) Sender, receiver, message, medium, and feedback
(B) Sender, receiver, message, and feedback
(C) Sender, receiver, message, and medium
(D) Sender, receiver, medium, and feedback
Correct Answer: (A) Sender, receiver, message, medium, and feedback
Explanation: Communication involves a sender who encodes the message and delivers it via the medium to the receiver to decode. The receiver then should have a chance to provide feedback to the sender to verify correct understanding of the message.
Crosswind 7.3.3
7.25 - The scrum team is working on their current sprint. They are getting sprint items completed and tracking their current velocity. The scrummaster is asked how many points are left in the current sprint and wanting to see a Gantt chart, or some other graphical representation of the state of the sprint. What will the scrummaster likely have available to show them?
(A) A burndown chart
(B) A burn up chart
(C) A Gantt chart
(D) A Pareto diagram
Correct Answer: (A) A burndown chart
Explanation: A burndown chart typically is used to show work remaining within a sprint. A burn up chart typically shows the points of work (velocity) completed in each sprint, and total points work done to date. It also can show the total points currently in the product backlog. A Gantt chart shows the schedule in a traditional or waterfall type project. A Pareto diagram shows cumulative defect by count of something.
Crosswind 8.5.8
7.26 - There are five basic performance reports that are utilized during the project. One of these is a progress report. Of the following, which best describes the contents of a progress report?
(A) Information related to the state of the schedule, budget, and scope of the project at various parts of time
(B) Information related to the difference between planned and actual occurrences
(C) Information related to future project occurrences
(D) Information related to recent project occurrences
Correct Answer: (D) Information related to recent project occurrences
Explanation: The progress report shows what has been completed since the last reporting period. The forecast report shows what is expected to occur on the project. The status report shows where the project is to date. The variance report shows the difference between planned and unplanned occurrences. The earned valued report shows the state of the schedule, budget, and scope of the project at various points in time.
Crosswind 7.4.2
7.27 - The project manager sent a communication to the project manager of a related project requesting a copy of the communications management plan used on the related project. Of the following, which best describes the communication type sent by the project manager?
(A) Formal, official, internal, vertical communication
(B) Informal, unofficial, internal, horizontal communication
(C) Formal, official, internal, horizontal communication
(D) Formal, unofficial, internal, horizontal communication
Correct Answer: (B) Informal, unofficial, internal, horizontal communication
Explanation: The communication is a simple request to a peer; therefore it is an informal, unofficial, internal, horizontal communication.
Crosswind 7.2
7.28 - The project manager and his team are about to begin the monitor communications process. Which is an output of the process they will create?
(A) Reporting systems
(B) Work performance information
(C) Scope statement
(D) Enterprise environmental factors
Correct Answer: (B) Work performance information
Explanation: The outputs of monitor communications are work performance information, change requests, project management plan updates, communications management plan, stakeholder engagement plan, project documents updates, issue log, lessons learned register, and stakeholder register.
Crosswind 7.5
7.29 - The product owner is working with the scrummaster to refine the product backlog, while also trying to forecast how many sprints potentially remain based on the product backlog. Currently the team can do 50 points of work per sprint and has done 5 sprints so far. The product backlog currently has 500 points of work in it. What would best graphically display this information?
(A) A burn up chart
(B) A burndown chart
(C) A control chart
(D) A bar chart
Correct Answer: (A) A burn up chart
Explanation: A burn up chart typically shows the points of work (velocity) completed in each sprint, and total points work done to date. It also can show the total points currently in the product backlog. A burndown chart typically is used to show work remaining within a sprint. The control chart shows output of time of something such as a business process, or test. A bar chart shows a count or occurrence of something.
Crosswind 8.5.9
7.30 - Walton publishing is executing the curriculum update project. They are currently in the final process of communications. There are a number of key tools and techniques available for use. Which of the following is the best description of the tools and techniques with this process?
(A) Forecasting methods, variance analysis, communication management plan, and reporting systems
(B) Communication methods, forecasting methods, and approved changes
(C) Work performance measurements, forecasting methods, communication methods, and the project management plan
(D) Project management information system, expert judgment, and meetings
Correct Answer: (D) Project management information system (PMIS), expert judgment, and meetings
Explanation: The tools and techniques of the Monitor Communications process are: expert judgment, project management information system (PMIS), data analysis, stakeholder engagement assessment matrix, interpersonal and team skills, observation/conversation, and meetings.
Crosswind 7.5
The company is designing touchscreen displays for use on mobile workstation tablets. A requirements traceability matrix is being utilized. Of the following, which is the best description of how the project manager will use the matrix?
(A) To trace requirements to business and project objectives
(B) To trace requirements to project scope/WBS deliverables, to product design and development, and to test strategy and scenarios
(C) To trace high-level requirements to detailed requirements
(D) All of the answers
Correct Answer: (D) All of the answers
Explanation: A requirements traceability matrix is used to trace requirements to business and project objectives; trace requirements to project scope/WBS deliverables, to product design and development, and to test strategy and scenarios; and trace high-level requirements to detailed requirements.
Exam Tip of the Day #39
Which of the following best describes the critical path slack (float)?
(A) It can be the shortest duration on the project
(B) It can be a positive number or zero
(C) It can be a negative number or zero
(D) It can be a positive number, negative number, or zero
Correct Answer: (D) It can be a positive number, negative number, or zero
Explanation: The critical path slack (float) can be any number. Technically the slack (float) of the critical path is zero, but if you are ahead of schedule, it is a positive number and if you are behind schedule, it is a negative number. It is actually the longest path on the project, not the shortest.
Exam Tip of the Day #40
You are having a home theater room added to your house. The project should take five days and cost $1,500 per day to complete. After three days, the project is 30% complete and $5,000 has been spent. What is the CPI?
(A) 0.45
(B) 0.50
(C) 0.40
(D) 1.00
Correct Answer: (A) 0.45
Explanation: The formula for calculating the CPI (cost performance index) is CPI= EV / AC. In this instance three steps are required. First, determine the BAC (budget at completion) which is the sum of all PV (planned value): $1,500 per day cost multiplied by five days equals a BAC of $7,500. Second, calculate the EV (earned value) by multiplying the BAC by the percentage complete: $7,500 BAC multiplied by 30% percentage complete equals an EV of $2,250. Third, calculate the CPI by dividing the EV by the AC (actual cost): $2,250 EV divided by $5,000 AC equals a CPI of 0.4 Note that planned value is defined as the work that should have been completed to date or during a particular time period (in this case, through day five of the project since the percentage complete relates to the overall project.)
Exam Tip of the Day #41
The project management team is analyzing defects and trying to isolate the cause of a problem on the project. They have isolated two variables via the data that is available. They suspect the problem is compounded by the impact of one variable on another. They want to see if there is a relationship between the two variables. Which of the following will help them verify this relationship and why?
(A) Run chart because the closer the lower control limit is to +/-3 sigma, the more dependent the variables are
(B) Pareto diagram because the closer the percentages are on the separate problems, the more dependent the variables are
(C) Control chart because the closer the upper control limit is to +/-3 sigma, the more dependent the variables are
(D) Scatter diagram because the closer the output resembles a diagonal line, the more dependent the variables are
Correct Answer: (D) Scatter diagram because the closer the output resembles a diagonal line, the more dependent the variables are
Explanation: The scatter diagram shows a relationship (or lack of a relationship) between two variables. The run chart (sometimes called a control chart) shows output over time. The Pareto diagram shows defect by quantity.
Exam Tip of the Day #42
During the plan resource management process of a critical project, the project management team is creating a responsibility assignment matrix. What benefit does this provide for the team?
(A) The team will know who is responsible for what work
(B) The team will know who does what work and when they are to do it
(C) The team will know the location in which the work is performed
(D) The team will know the sequence in which the resources are to perform the activities
Correct Answer: (A) The team will know who is responsible for what work
Explanation: The responsibility assignment matrix shows who is responsible for what work on the project. The Gantt chart shows who does what work and when they are to do it. The network diagram provides the sequence that the resources are to perform the activities in. At what location the work is done is a distracter.
Exam Tip of the Day #43
Conflict resolution is an example of, or component of, which of the following?
(A) Dimensions of communication activity
(B) Communication skills commonly used by management
(C) Stakeholder management strategy
(D) Communication process types
Correct Answer: (B) Communication skills commonly used by management
Explanation: Conflict resolution is a communication skill commonly used by management. The other answers are distracters.
Exam Tip of the Day #44
The company is concerned about its position during the economic downturn. Its CEO is a risk taker. Of several strategies on the table for consideration, which is he most likely to pursue?
(A) Mandating that senior management lay the groundwork for a reduction in force in the event it is necessary
(B) Entering a relatively untested market in the hope of significant reward
(C) Trying new markets that do not require significant investment while mandating traditional “belt-tightening” procedures
(D) None of the answers
Correct Answer: (B) Entering a relatively untested market in the hope of significant reward
Explanation: A risk seeker mentality is that of looking for the big reward and being prepared to pay significantly if it is missed. The risk-averse mentality is a very conservative approach to risk. A risk-neutral mentality is somewhere between that of a risk seeker and risk-averse mentality.
Exam Tip of the Day #45
What type of contract exposes the seller to the most risk when entering into a contract?
(A) Time and materials because there is no provision for an increase in the workers salary
(B) Cost plus percentage of cost because the seller’s net can decrease if the cost decreases
(C) Purchase order because there is no provision for an increase in material costs
(D) Fixed-price because there is no provision for increases in the seller’s costs
Correct Answer: (D) Fixed-price because there is no provision for increases in the seller’s costs
Explanation: The fixed-price contract has the most risk for the seller because the contract limits the amount that the buyer will pay for the project. The seller must have a detailed understanding of exactly what is needed on the project so it can control cost. Cost plus percentage of cost provides the least risk to the seller. A purchase order provides the seller with no risk because the price for a commodity type item has been established. Time and materials contracts are typically used for smaller amounts of work and staff augmentation.
Exam Tip of the Day #46
The marketing brochure redesign project is entering the manage stakeholder engagement process. To effectively manage stakeholder engagement, the project manager has a variety of tools and techniques available during this process. What are they?
(A) Interpersonal and team skills, communication feedback, and ground rules
(B) Communications methods, alternatives analysis, and management skills
(C) Communications skills, communications management plan, and management skills
(D) Product analysis, communications methods, and management skills
Correct Answer: (A) Interpersonal and team skills, communication feedback, and ground rules
Explanation: The tools and techniques for the Manage Stakeholder Engagement process are: expert judgment, inspection, communication, feedback, interpersonal and team skills, conflict management, cultural awareness, negotiation, observation/conversation, political awareness, ground rules, and meetings.
Exam Tip of the Day #47
As a condition of being hired as project manager for a defense company, you must sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA). Of the following, which is the best description of this document?
(A) An agreement that the signer will abide by the defense secrets section of the standards for the National Industrial Security Program (NISP)
(B) An agreement that the signer will accede to the terms of the Defense Security Service (DSS) as detailed in the document
(C) An agreement that the signer will limit discussion of the project to designated personnel
(D) An agreement that the signer will limit discussion of the project to designated personnel in accordance with the term of the Standards for the National Industrial Security Program (NISP)
Correct Answer: (C) An agreement that the signer will limit discussion of the project to designated personnel
Explanation: A nondisclosure agreement protects a company’s intellectual property and limits disclosure to designated personnel only. The other answers are distracters.
Exam Tip of the Day #48
Which of the following is the prioritized order of the project constraints?
(A) Schedule, risk, cost
(B) Quality, schedule, cost
(C) Scope, schedule, budget
(D) They are all of equal importance unless otherwise stated
Correct Answer: (D) They are all of equal importance unless otherwise stated
Explanation: The constraint of project management states that scope, quality, schedule, budget, resources, and risks are all equal unless otherwise defined as such.
Exam Tip of the Day #49
You are a project manager with a video game company, and your company has bought the exclusive rights to design and produce a video game based on an upcoming movie. As you track the performance of the project, you report to senior management that the project is under budget but behind schedule. With the schedule at risk, you are asked if the game will be ready by the date of the movie premiere. You know there was a buffer between the planned project completion date and the premiere of the film but are not sure of the
exact timing. Where is the best place to find the due date of the movie premiere?
A) Ask the project sponsor for the information
B) Review the project schedule to understand how activities are sequenced
C) Perform an Internet search to find the information
D) Check the milestone list for the release date of the movie
D) Check the milestone list for the release date of the movie
Rice Class 8
The windows must be installed before the siding can be put on, but once the windows on one wall of the building are installed, the siding can be installed on that wall prior to other windows being installed. What sort of relationship is this?
A) Mandatory dependency that must be finish-to-start
B) Discretionary dependency that must be finish-to-start
C) Discretionary dependency that can be start-to-start
D) Mandatory dependency that can be start-to-start with a lag.
D) Mandatory dependency that can be start-to-start with a
lag.
Rice Class 8
What activities cannot be delayed using resource smoothing?
A) Activities with mandatory dependencies
B) Activities on the critical path
C) Activities with discretionary dependencies
D) Activities with positive free float
B) Activities on the critical path
Rice Class 8
If an agile approach to managing the project is used, then controlling the schedule is
likely to be associated with…
A) Critical chain methods.
B) Resource leveling.
C) Updating the project calendar.
D) Reprioritizing the backlog.
D) Reprioritizing the backlog.
“Backlog” is a term unique to the agile approach. Controlling the schedule
involves determining the status of the schedule, determining whether the
schedule has changed, and managing actual changes as they occur. Viewing the
backlog and the rest of the kanban board will provide information on schedule
status and changes. Rearranging the backlog to reflect new priorities can help
control the schedule by ensuring that the most important things will get done first.
Rice Class 8
You are leading a project to develop a new web application. Together with your project team you reprioritize the product backlog, determine velocity for the past iterations, and adapt
your work plans accordingly. Additionally, you facilitate retrospectives every two weeks.
Which of the following processes describes the work you are performing?
A) Monitor Risks
B) Manage Quality
C) Control Schedule
D) Develop Schedule
C) Control Schedule
When an agile approach is used, Control Schedule is concerned with conducting retrospectives to correct and improve processes, reprioritizing the backlog, determining the velocity in each iteration, and adjusting the plans accordingly. Therefore, of the choices provided, the work you are performing is best described by the Control Schedule process.
Rice Class 8
Which of the following statements best represents the budgeting process?
A) A cost baseline is determined by adding a management reserve to the aggregated activity
cost estimate. A contingency reserve is then added to the cost baseline to obtain the total
budget.
B) Funding limits are aggregated to determine the cost baseline. A scope reserve is then
added to the cost baseline to determine the total budget.
C) Activity cost estimates are aggregated to the control account level. Reserves for scope,
schedule and cost are then added to the aggregated control accounts to determine the
overall project budget.
D) Activity cost estimates are aggregated to the control account level. A contingency reserve
is added to the aggregated estimates to determine the cost baseline budget. A
management reserve is then added to the cost baseline budget to determine the overall
project budget
D) Activity cost estimates are aggregated to the control account level. A contingency reserve
is added to the aggregated estimates to determine the cost baseline budget. A
management reserve is then added to the cost baseline budget to determine the overall
project budget
Rice Class 8
Activity cost estimates total $250,000 for a project. The project manager set aside $50,000 of contingency reserves for the activities and another $25,000 for the total WBS contingencies. Work package estimates are estimated at $300,000. The management reserve is $75,000. What is the cost baseline?
A) $300,000
B) $325,000
C) $400,000
D) $625,000
B) $325,000
Rice Class 8
Which if the following is best representative of the costing approach to an agile project?
A) Lightweight estimation methods may be used to generate a high-level forecast of costs
which can then be adjusted as the project progresses.
B) The detailed estimates of all the items in the product backlog would be aggregated to
determine the project budget.
C) The budget for the project would not be developed until after the team has created a
minimal viable product.
D) Cost estimates would not be developed until after the scope has been approved.
A) Lightweight estimation methods may be used to generate a high-level forecast of costs
which can then be adjusted as the project progresses.
Rice Class 8
You will be initiating a new agile project. The vision and high-level outcomes for the project have been documented in the project charter. Based on historical information and input from various experts, you determine that the key outcomes can be achieved within a six-month timeframe over twelve two-week iterations. Which of the following approaches would you use to determine the project budget:
A) You would decompose the high-level scope and the outcomes into work packages and
develop definitive estimates for each work package. You would aggregate these estimates
to develop the project budget.
B) You would develop a definitive budget based on the expert analysis of the high-level scope and outcomes.
C) You would estimate the fully loaded costs for the resources required for a single iteration
and multiply those costs by the number of iterations to develop a working budget for the
project.
D) You would develop a definitive budget for the high-level scope deliverables and outcomes
and then allocate this definitive budget over the twelve iterations
C) You would estimate the fully loaded costs for the resources required for a single iteration
and multiply those costs by the number of iterations to develop a working budget for the
project.
Rice Class 8
The project manager is creating an estimate for building a company wide area network. It is something that is new to the project manager and his team. They decide to create a bottom up estimate. All the following are advantages of this type of estimate except?
A) They provide supporting detail of the estimate.
B) It creates team by and when they help create it.
C) It takes a great amount of time to create.
D) There is a greater degree of accuracy because of the detail at which it was created.
C) It takes a great amount of time to create.
Rice Class 8
A team member has just added information on risk responses to the risk register during Planning. What is needed next?
A) Use progressive elaboration to update the schedule and the budget.
B) Use a backward pass to update the schedule and the budget.
C) Use variance analysis to see if the responses fit in the leeway built into the schedule and the budget.
D) Use schedule compression to ensure that it doesn’t impact the schedule or the budget.
A) Use progressive elaboration to update the schedule and the budget.
The first pass at producing a draft schedule will necessarily be lacking information from later planning stages, such as how much time to set aside for risk responses. Therefore, the schedule must be progressively elaborated.
Rice Class 8
What activities cannot be delayed using resource smoothing?
A) Activities with mandatory dependencies
B) Activities on the critical path
C) Activities with discretionary dependencies
D) Activities with positive free float
B) Activities on the critical path
Smoothing uses free float and total float of tasks to assign resources. There is no float on the critical path. Consequently, resources cannot be removed from the activities on the critical path because there is no float.
Rice Class 8
The windows must be installed before the siding can be put on, but once the windows on one wall of the building are installed, the siding can be installed on that wall prior to other windows being installed. What sort of relationship is this?
A) Mandatory dependency that must be finish-to-start
B) Discretionary dependency that must be finish-to-start
C) Discretionary dependency that can be start-to-start
D) Mandatory dependency that can be start-to-start with a lag.
D) Mandatory dependency that can be start-to-start with a lag.
Rice Class 8
A project manager is using a PMIS to assign resources to activities. Afterward, he notices that some resources are double-booked. Clicking a button automatically moves some activities later, but the overall schedule gets longer. What is this project manager doing?
A) Crashing
B) Resource leveling
C) Resource smoothing
D) Fast tracking
B) Resource leveling
Resource leveling is a technique in which start and finish dates are adjusted based on resource constraints, with the goal of balancing demand for resources with the available supply. This method may result in the overall schedule being extended.
Rice Class 8
Which of the following best describes configuration management?
(A) Procedures used to document and control product or service characteristics
(B) System used to store versions of software code
(C) System used to store versions of project documentation
(D) Interface of an automated project management system created to set up project variables
Correct Answer: (A) Procedures used to document and control product or service characteristics
Explanation: Configuration management ensures that the project is building what it should build. It utilizes a very thorough and detailed change control process to ensure that project results conform to requirements and exhibit Fitness for Use.
Exam Tip of the Day #50
Which of the following is a heuristic for WBS decomposition?
(A) Breaking down work until it is done by a single resource
(B) Using an organizational structure appearance
(C) Creating a WBS in which the summary activities are equal to the detail underneath
(D) Breaking work down to a realistic level (work packages being the lowest level)
Correct Answer: (D) Breaking work down to a realistic level (work packages being the lowest level)
Explanation: A general rule of thumb is to break down the work of the project into work packages. Breaking work packages or activities down to a single resource assigned is not always practical. Creating a WBS where the summary activities are equal to the detail underneath is a characteristic of a WBS. Using an organizational structure appearance is a distracter.
Exam Tip of the Day #51
The project manager is considering resource leveling the schedule to get the project back on track within resource constraints. Which of the following is most likely the project manager’s primary concern?
(A) Tasks could be done in parallel instead of the way intended
(B) The project team might not be able to assign resources to activities
(C) The finish date could be pushed out further
(D) Resources working a more consistent number of hours each day
Correct Answer: (C) The finish date could be pushed out further
Explanation: The item of most concern to the project manager is pushing out the finish date of the project as a result of resource leveling. Resources working a more consistent number of hours each day is a characteristic of resource leveling, but it isn’t typically a concern. Doing tasks in parallel relates to fast tracking a schedule. Not being able to assign resources to activities would relate to crashing a schedule.
Exam Tip of the Day #52
You are having a home theater room added to your house. The project should take five days and cost $1,500 per day to complete. After three days, the project is 30% complete and $5,000 has been spent. What is the total value of the project?
(A) $7,500
(B) $2,250
(C) $5,000
(D) $10,000
Correct Answer: (A) $7,500
Explanation: The total value of the project is the equivalent of the project budget or the BAC (budget at completion). To determine the BAC, multiply the cost per day times the number of days the project is scheduled to take: $1,500 per day cost multiplied by five days equals a BAC of $7,500.
Exam Tip of the Day #53
You are defining the quality standards for the project to create a new microchip that has the capacity to contain more instructions than any prior chip. You have defined which variables are to be measured. You have also determined what attributes are important to you. Although the product is not expensive, it is expected to bring a steady income stream to the company because it is integral to the production of animatronic toys and robots that are tremendously popular. Which testing method will you use and why?
(A) Population testing because the product is so crucial to the company’s success
(B) Sample testing because the cost of population testing is prohibitive
(C) Sample testing because the product is so crucial to the company’s success
(D) Population testing because the cost of population testing is prohibitive
Correct Answer: (B) Sample testing because the cost of population testing is prohibitive
Explanation: Sample testing tests a percentage of the product and makes sense in this case because they plan to produce large quantities. Population testing tests every product that would result in prohibitive cost.
Exam Tip of the Day #54
The project manager is in the executing phase of a financial regulatory project. Which of the following is the project manager most likely to use to stay updated on the project?
(A) Personnel management
(B) Interpersonal and team skills
(C) Organizational process assets
(D) Change requests
Correct Answer: (B) Interpersonal and team skills
Explanation: Interpersonal and team skills can be used by the project manager in the forms of conflict management, decision making, emotional intelligence, influencing, and leadership. Personnel management is a distracter. Organizational process assets are not specific to the project. Change requests are not necessarily valid since they are not approved, and they do not reflect important project information such as task status and team interaction among other items.
Exam Tip of the Day #55
4.1 - What is an organization that controls project managers, documentation, and policies called?
(A) Project management office
(B) Tight matrix
(C) Functional
(D) Projectized
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.
Crosswind 4.9
4.2 - Jimi is being referenced constantly as huge issues come up on the project to create a new security layer on the server network. He is a published author on this new technology. What best describes his role on the project?
(A) Subject matter expert
(B) Sponsor
(C) Customer
(D) Technical lead
Correct Answer: (A) Subject matter expert
Explanation: A subject matter expert is someone who has expertise on a matter related to the project. A sponsor is the person or group who typically pays for the project. A customer is the person (or group) who typically uses the outcome of the project. Technical lead is a distracter.
Crosswind 4.1
4.3 - Which of the following roles is exclusive to XP (eXtreme Programming)?
(A) Programmer-coach
(B) Product owner
(C) Scrummaster
(D) Project manager
Correct Answer: (A) Programmer-coach
Explanation: The programmer-coach is an XP role. The product owner is a role used across multiple agile approaches. The ScrumMaster is a role used in scrum environments. The project manager is a role typically used in a waterfall environment.
Crosswind 4.3
4.4 - What is the main difference between the scrum team and sprint team?
(A) There is no difference
(B) The sprint team includes the product owner, the scrum team does not
(C) The scrum team includes the product owner, the sprint team does not
(D) The sprint team includes the sponsor, the scrum team does not
Correct Answer: (B) The sprint team includes the product owner, the scrum team does not
Explanation: The sprint team includes the product owner and everyone in the scrum team. The scrum team includes the cross-functional group that will be performing the work of the sprint.
Crosswind 4.3
4.5 - Which of the following roles documents meetings and modeling sessions?
(A) Project manager
(B) Scribe
(C) Scrummaster
(D) Scrum team
Correct Answer: (B) Scribe
Explanation: The scribe is a role that documents items as needed. The project manager is responsible for project delivery. The ScrumMaster supports the scrum framework. The scrum team includes the product owner and the group doing the work of the sprint.
Crosswind 4.3
4.6 - In the absence of an agile coach, which of the following roles is most likely to be coach to the team, regarding scrum framework?
(A) Product owner
(B) Scrummaster
(C) Customer
(D) Tester
Correct Answer: (B) Scrummaster
Explanation: It is not always necessary to have an agile coach, but if you do not have one, the ScrumMaster is most likely to perform coaching roles to help the team optimize performance and support the scrum framework. The product owner will typically care more about what is in the product backlog and prioritization. The customer is typically represented by the product owner. The tester is part of the scrum team.
Crosswind 4.3
4.7 - On a large medical billing system project, the team is large and communication has been quite a challenge to control. The project expediter has been used to help with this problem. What is one of the main differences between the project expediter and the project coordinator?
(A) The project expediter is another title for the project manager
(B) The project expediter is another title for project coordinator
(C) The project expediter typically has no decision-making ability
(D) The project expediter has decision-making ability
Correct Answer: (C) The project expediter typically has no decision-making ability
Explanation: The project expediter and the project coordinator have similar responsibilities with the difference being that the project coordinator has some decision-making ability.
Crosswind 4.1
4.8 - What is the main role of functional managers related to projects?
(A) To provide subject matter experts (SMEs) or services
(B) To manage the project when the project manager isn’t available
(C) To deliver the results of the project
(D) To manage the project managers
Correct Answer: (A) To provide subject matter experts (SMEs) or services
Explanation: Functional managers like human resources managers or accounting managers have a permanent staff and a clear directive to manage all tasks within their domain. Related to projects, however, they may provide SMEs or services to support projects. Project managers do not always report to functional managers. The functional manager runs a department or area of business, not the project manager. To incorporate the project deliverables into normal operations is the role of operations management.
Crosswind 4.1
4.9 - Which of the following is not an example of organizational culture and style?
(A) Accepting the majority of change requests the customer submits
(B) Working long hours, taking work home, and working weekends
(C) Empowering local managers to make most significant decisions
(D) Focusing most product development on a specific market segment
Correct Answer: (D) Focusing most product development on a specific market segment
Explanation: Focusing on a particular market is more a strategic business decision than a cultural aspect. All other answers are examples of the pervasive aspects of organizational culture.
Crosswind 4.5.1
4.10 - Rob is the PM for a project that will update the accounting software to align with new tax laws. Laura, a functional manager that provides resources for the project, keeps removing those resources. The resource removal is causing a schedule delay, which is a major issue since the project roll-out date is scheduled to occur on the date the new regulations go into effect. Because Laura is more concerned with her department’s immediate needs than with the project schedule, she is unconcerned about the schedule delay. Which role can help Rob resolve this issue?
(A) Functional management
(B) Portfolio management
(C) Senior management
(D) Project management
Correct Answer: (C) Senior management
Explanation: The role that can help resolve the problem is senior management. Any member of senior management is hierarchically above a member of functional or project management. Functional management provides resources to project management. Project management is responsible for delivering the project. Portfolio management determines what work should be done to align with a strategic plan.
Crosswind 4.1
4.11 - Which of the following uses cross-functional work teams?
(A) A data warehouse practice
(B) An offshore company
(C) A project that utilizes all groups across a company
(D) Union-approved workplaces
Correct Answer: (C) A project that utilizes all groups across a company
Explanation: A project that utilizes all groups across a company utilizes cross-functional teams to take advantage of the knowledge and skills available. A data warehouse practice is likely a projectized organization. An offshore company is too vague an answer. Union-approved workplaces is a distracter.
Crosswind 4.6.2
4.12 - Which of the following is the most important job for the project manager?
(A) Controlling stakeholders
(B) Controlling unnecessary change
(C) Creating the project management plan
(D) Exceeding customer expectations
Correct Answer: (B) Controlling unnecessary change
Explanation: Controlling unnecessary change is one of the biggest challenges for project managers. If they don’t do this well, the project can go out of control. Creating the project management plan is a good answer, but if changes are out of control, the best plan won’t do any good. Exceeding customer expectations is unnecessary and could likely result in gold plating, which isn’t good. Controlling stakeholders is a distracter. The expectations of stakeholders are to be managed, not controlled.
Crosswind 4.2
4.12 - Which of the following is the most important job for the project manager?
(A) Controlling stakeholders
(B) Controlling unnecessary change
(C) Creating the project management plan
(D) Exceeding customer expectations
Correct Answer: (B) Controlling unnecessary change
Explanation: Controlling unnecessary change is one of the biggest challenges for project managers. If they don’t do this well, the project can go out of control. Creating the project management plan is a good answer, but if changes are out of control, the best plan won’t do any good. Exceeding customer expectations is unnecessary and could likely result in gold plating, which isn’t good. Controlling stakeholders is a distracter. The expectations of stakeholders are to be managed, not controlled.
Crosswind 4.2
4.13 - What is the typical role of senior management on a project?
(A) Support the project
(B) Pay for it
(C) Support the project and resolve resource and other conflicts
(D) Resolve resource and other conflicts
Correct Answer: (C) Support the project and resolve resource and other conflicts
Explanation: Senior management outranks the project manager. They support the project by helping resolve resource issues and other conflicts. The sponsor pays for the project.
Crosswind 4.1
4.14 - Which of the following statements is most accurate?
(A) The project management team and project team are the same thing
(B) The project management team includes project team members
(C) The project team includes project management team members
(D) None of these statements are accurate
Correct Answer: (C) The project team includes project management team members
Explanation: The project team consist of everyone associated with the project, including project management team members. The project management team members only do project management work.
Crosswind 4.1
4.15 - Which of the following stakeholders typically “owns” the work of the project when the project is complete?
(A) Stockholders
(B) The project manager
(C) Functional manager
(D) Operations management
Correct Answer: (D) Operations management
Explanation: Notice the word “typically”. Virtually anyone could own the work, depending on the nature of the project and the product. However, operations management accepts the product from project management, and then operations management incorporates the product or service into normal operations, as well maintains the product or service.
Crosswind 4.1
4.16 - Eric is the PM of a project that is using a waterfall schedule to roll out an ERP system across six departments over six months. The plan is to give each department a month-long timebox to roll out the higher priority features within that department. There is a product owner assigned to each department to determine the higher priority items. What type of structure does this describe?
(A) Waterfall
(B) Agile
(C) Hybrid
(D) Virtua
Correct Answer: (C) Hybrid
Explanation: This type of structure is hybrid because it combines a waterfall schedule with Agile elements (timeboxes and prioritizing). Virtual doesn’t necessarily apply as there isn’t enough information to identify it as an option.
Crosswind 4.6.3
4.17 - Jeff is based in Dallas and is the PM of a project to upgrade the network equipment of over 250 popular retail store locations. He has an accounting team member and an HR team member based in Denver. Jeff estimates that at least 59 network engineers will be required for the multi-state, multi-time zone project. The team will work on the project until all store upgrades are complete. What type of structure is Jeff most likely to use to maximize results?
(A) Projectized
(B) Virtual
(C) Balanced matrix
(D) Departmental
Correct Answer: (B) Virtual
Explanation: A virtual structure will work best since the project has to accommodate people in their local areas. A projectized structure is a possible answer, but doesn’t specifically accommodate the varied time zones and states. A balanced matrix structure uses resources from a functional manager. A departmental structure is a distracter.
Crosswind 4.7.2
4.18 - What is the ideal project manager function regarding project changes?
(A) To delay changes so the project can be completed
(B) To control unnecessary change
(C) To prevent the change control board from seeing any more change than it needs to see
(D) To expedite all change requests to the change control board
Correct Answer: (B) To control unnecessary change
Explanation: The main job of a project manager, other than managing the project itself, is to control unnecessary changes that can derail the project. Delaying changes and protecting the change control board from changes are both unprofessional. Expediting changes to the CCB is not a bad answer but not the best because it doesn’t help in controlling unnecessary change.
Crosswind 4.2
4.19 - Which role controls resources in a typical exam question?
(A) Functional managers
(B) Project managers
(C) Senior managers
(D) Portfolio managers
Correct Answer: (A) Functional managers
Explanation: A typical exam question, unless otherwise stated, assumes a balanced matrix environment, which means that the project manager gets resources from the functional environment.
Crosswind 4.1
4.20 - A business analyst has a career path that has been very important to her throughout the ten years of her career. She is put on a very important project with a strong matrix organizational structure. Which of the following is likely viewed as the most serious drawback of being on the project?
(A) Being away from the group might make career advancement in the department more difficult
(B) Working with people who have similar skills
(C) Working long hours because the project is a high priority
(D) Not being able to take the BAP Certification test because she will be so busy
Correct Answer: (A) Being away from the group might make career advancement in the department more difficult
Explanation: Being away from the normal group and not being able to be as easily promoted is the best answer. Being in a strong matrix environment feels fairly similar to being in a projectized organization where skill set specialty in groups does not have as high a priority. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 4.6.2
4.21 - Which role establishes the product backlog priorities?
(A) Scrummaster
(B) Developer
(C) Product owner
(D) Business owner
Correct Answer: (C) Product Owner
Explanation: The product owner is the role that initially populates the product backlog and prioritizes the items the scrum team will do within a sprint. The ScrumMaster supports the team and scrum framework. The business owner is represented by the product owner. The developer does the work within the sprint.
Crosswind 4.3
4.22 - Who is accountable for creating and executing the project management plan?
(A) The team
(B) The company that was awarded the outsourcing contract
(C) The project manager and the project management team
(D) The project manager
Correct Answer: (D) The project manager
Explanation: The project manager is ultimately responsible for creating the project management plan. This creation typically comes with the help of the project management team. The project manager is responsible for execution of the plan and the team members are responsible for the plan’s activities. The outsourcing answer is a distracter.
Crosswind 4.2
4.23 - What best describes the differences between the sponsor and senior management on a project?
(A) There is no difference
(B) The sponsor supports the project; senior management can own it when done
(C) Senior management controls resources; the sponsor can own the project work when done
(D) The sponsor pays for the work and can own it when done; senior management supports the project
Correct Answer: (D) The sponsor pays for the work and can own it when done; senior management supports the project
Explanation: In projects referenced in the exam, the sponsor typically pays for the project and can own it when complete. Senior management typically supports the project and can resolve resource conflicts when they occur between functional and project work.
Crosswind 4.1
4.24 - The company has recently hired a portfolio manager. Historically it has only hired project managers. Which of the following best describes the focus of a portfolio manager?
(A) Ensuring the work of the project is complete
(B) Ensuring that projects are aligned with programs
(C) Ensuring that programs are part of projects
(D) Ensuring that the right work is done by the organization in that work area
Correct Answer: (D) Ensuring that the right work is done by the organization in that work area
Explanation: The portfolio manager’s main focus is to ensure that the organization is doing the right work in alignment with a strategic plan. The project manager is there to make sure the project work is complete. The other two answers are distracters.
Crosswind 4.1
4.25 - Tom has just been promoted to program manager from his previous role as project manager. Which of the following best describes something he will do as a program manager that being a project manager didn’t specifically require?
(A) Focus on completing deliverables
(B) Focus on managing benefits
(C) Focus on determining the right work to do as a company
(D) Focus on the 3 to 5-year plan
Correct Answer: (B) Focus on managing benefits
Explanation: A program manager has a number of responsibilities and skills in common with a project manager; however a program manager focuses on managing benefits. Benefits management typically results from the outcome of multiple projects and it is the program manager that oversees multiple projects. Completing deliverables is the focus of both the project manager and program manager. The 3-5 year (strategic) plan is what determines the right work to do as an organization and is the focus of the portfolio manager or the portfolio review board.
Crosswind 4.1
4.26 - Which of the following best describes a stakeholder on a project?
(A) A team member
(B) The project manager
(C) Someone who works in an area impacted by the work of the project
(D) All the answers
(A) A team member
(B) The project manager
(C) Someone who works in an area impacted by the work of the project
Correct Answer: (D) All the answers
Explanation: The stakeholder can be anyone impacted by the project. A stakeholder could be the sponsor, senior management, project manager, functional manager, team member, or end user.
Crosswind 4.1
4.27 - The ScrumMaster is often thought of as a servant leader. Which of the following parts of the ScrumMaster position best fits that description?
(A) Running the daily stand-up meeting
(B) Facilitating the retrospective meeting
(C) Removing obstacles encountered by the team
(D) Working with the product owner
Correct Answer: (C) Removing obstacles encountered by the team
Explanation: While all of the answers represent the responsibilities of the ScrumMaster, the responsibility that cannot be shared with or delegated to any other role is removing obstacles encountered by the team (based on servant leader mantra of putting others before themselves).
Crosswind 4.3
4.28 - Blue Star Manufacturing is changing the framework of their business from a traditional structure. They have decided to make development engineering a stand alone department that will create new products and have eight regional offices with deployment teams that will install and support the new products at customer locations. Which of the following best describes this structure?
(A) Project-based
(B) Strong matrix
(C) Agile
(D) Hybrid
Correct Answer: (D) Hybrid
Explanation: The hybrid structure connects people and positions as needed, which describes the new Blue Star Manufacturing framework. A project-based structure would focus only on project work without operations or support. A strong matrix structure is almost entirely project-based. Agile is a project approach that uses time-boxes and expects change to occur.
Crosswind 4.6.3
4.29 - Which of the following roles are least likely to be part of the project management team?
(A) Schedule manager
(B) Risk manager
(C) Budget manager
(D) Developer
Correct Answer: (D) Developer
Explanation: The project management team consists of people doing management work related to projects, such as managing schedules, budgets, risks, issues, contracts, etc. A developer is a team member, but not a member of the project management team.
Crosswind 4.1
4.30 - Which of the following is an advantage of a functional organization?
(A) Having a home to go to when the project is complete
(B) Not having a home when the project is complete
(C) Having more than one project to work on
(D) Having more than one boss
Correct Answer: (A) Having a home to go to when the project is complete
Explanation: Having a home when the project is complete is a key advantage of a functional organization. Having more than one boss and more than one project could be characteristics of a matrix organization.
Crosswind 4.6.1
In discussing risk with his project team, the project manager begins the conversation by defining risk. Which of the following is the most accurate definition of risk?
(A) A possible negative event that can impact the project
(B) A possible positive event that can impact the project
(C) Answers (A) and (B)
(D) A negative issue that occurs as a result of uncertain factors
Correct Answer: (C) Answers (A) and (B)
Explanation: Risk can be of negative or positive consequence on a project. It is something that can occur but hasn’t yet. Risk involves uncertainty with regard to what could occur, not what has occurred.
Exam Tip of the Day #57
Your company is involved in a new project in which the information and intellectual property associated with it are highly sensitive. Given this, which of the following makes the most sense when planning the project?
(A) Outsourcing and having the partner sign a non-disclosure agreement
(B) Having only the creators of the idea work on the project to control who knows about the intellectual property
(C) Outsourcing to an offshore development facility so your local competitors won’t know your intellectual property details
(D) Making the product internally
Correct Answer: (D) Making the product internally
Explanation: When intellectual property and proprietary information are involved, it makes sense for a company to keep the work internal. Having an outsourcing partner sign a non-disclosure agreement is not the best answer. The other answers are distracters.
Exam Tip of the Day #58
Sam is running a project to upgrade a client’s website to a new framework. Expectation management as been very challenging on this project. Sam has had challenges keeping the main sponsor involved as the project has evolved. Currently Sam is managing stakeholder engagement. Which of the following best describes what he will expect to create?
(A) Updates to the stakeholder engagement plan, change log and issue log
(B) Approved change requests and updated stakeholder registry
(C) Resolved issues and approved change requests
(D) Updated stakeholder registry, resolved issues, and change requests
Correct Answer: (A) Updates to the stakeholder engagement plan, change log and issue log
Explanation: The outputs for the Manage Stakeholder Engagement process are change requests, project management plan updates, communication management plan updates, stakeholder engagement plan updates, project documents updates, change log updates issue log updates, lessons learned register updates and stakeholder register updates.
Exam Tip of the Day #59
A functional manager has come to you and reported that the work due today is going to be three weeks late but requested that you do not report this to senior management. The functional manager is well respected by everyone with the exception of one senior manager who seems to take every opportunity to make the functional manager look bad. What is your professional and social responsibility in this case?
(A) Report the status in an accurate and timely manner
(B) Report the status in an accurate manner, but do not add any details about the expected length of the delay
(C) Report the status in an accurate and timely manner, but eliminate it from the summary, burying it within the detailed report where it would not be noticed
(D) Delay reporting the slippage in the hope that the project will soon get back on schedule and need not be reported
Correct Answer: (A) Report the status in an accurate and timely manner
Explanation: As a project manager, you are required to report a status in an accurate and timely manner. Failing to fully disclose the status, to bury the “bad news,” or to delay reporting the slippage (while hoping it gets back on schedule) represent a failure of professional and social responsibility.
Exam Tip of the Day #60
Which of the following is an example of a standard?
(A) Data transfer rate for Thunderbolt 3.0 connections
(B) The number of slides in your last presentation
(C) The shade of paint selected to paint your office
(D) The average speed that someone drives to work
Correct Answer: (A) Data transfer rate for Thunderbolt 3.0 connections
Explanation: A standard is a measurement for something that is consistent and generally accepted. In this case, the data transfer rate for Thunderbolt 3.0 connections is the only “standard” listed in the answers.
Exam Tip of the Day #61
All the following are typically components of the project management plan except…
(A) The schedule management plan
(B) The knowledge management plan
(C) The risk management plan
(D) The requirements management plan
Correct Answer: (B) The knowledge management plan
Explanation: The knowledge management plan is a distracter. Manage project knowledge actually is an executing process resulting in a lessons learned register. The other items are typically in the project management plan.
Exam Tip of the Day #62
5.1 - Of the following statements, which is correct?
(A) The key output of the plan resource management process is the resource management plan
(B) The key output of the plan resource management process is the staffing management plan
(C) The key output of the acquire project team process is the resource management plan
(D) The key output of the acquire project team process is the staffing management plan
Correct Answer: (A) The key output of the plan resource management process is the resource management plan
Explanation: The key output of the Plan Resource Management process is the resource management plan.
Crosswind 5.1.1
5.2 - You are the project manager on a headquarter remodeling project. You are in the process of creating resource requirements. What do you need to reference to complete this document?
(A) The resource management plan
(B) Performance assessment
(C) Working agreement
(D) Organizational breakdown structure
Correct Answer: (A) The resource management plan
Explanation: The plan resource management process occurs before the estimate activity resources. The plan resource management process creates the resource management plan which is needed to create resource requirements. Working agreement is a distracter. The other two answers would come after creating resource requirements.
Crosswind 5.1
5.3 - The project manager has created the resource management plan and is getting ready to start the project soon. Résumés are being reviewed and some people have been interviewed. The lead candidate for the technical architecture position has been offered a position. In what process is the project manager involved?
(A) Hiring and interviewing
(B) Develop team
(C) Estimate activity resources
(D) Acquire resources
Correct Answer: (D) Acquire resources
Explanation: Acquire resources involves among other things, getting people on the project. The estimate activity resources process occurs before interviewing starts. Develop team occurs after staff acquisition is complete. Hiring and interviewing is a distracter.
Crosswind 5.3
5.4 - During the plan resource management process of a critical project, the project management team is creating a responsibility assignment matrix. What benefit does this provide for the team?
(A) The team will know who is responsible for what work
(B) The team will know who does what work and when they are to do it
(C) The team will know the location in which the work is performed
(D) The team will know the sequence in which the resources are to perform the activities
Correct Answer: (A) The team will know who is responsible for what work
Explanation: The responsibility assignment matrix shows who is responsible for what work on the project. The Gantt chart shows who does what work and when they are to do it. The network diagram provides the sequence that the resources are to perform the activities in. At what location the work is done is a distracter.
Crosswind 5.1.3
5.5 - The project manager is in the executing phase of a financial regulatory project. Which of the following is the project manager most likely to use to stay updated on the project?
(A) Personnel management
(B) Interpersonal and team skills
(C) Organizational process assets
(D) Change request
Correct Answer: (B) Interpersonal and team skills
Explanation: Interpersonal and team skills can be used by the project manager in the forms of conflict management, decision making, emotional intelligence, influencing, and leadership. Personnel management is a distracter. Organizational process assets are not specific to the project. Change requests are not necessarily valid since they are not approved and they do not reflect important project information, such as task status and team interaction among other items.
Crosswind 5.4
5.6 - You are the project manager on a global mapping project. You are having issues with your team and conflict. You are trying to identify a document that can help provide guidance about how the team can work together, their values, and anything else that helps maximize chemistry and output. Which document are you most likely to reference?
(A) Working agreement
(B) Team charter
(C) Organizational breakdown structure
(D) Resource management plan
Correct Answer: (B) Team charter
Explanation: The team charter is a document that describes team values, how they interact with each other, work together and value each other. A working agreement is another name for the team charter. An organizational breakdown structure shows roles and people. The resource management plan provides guidance about how to perform resource processes.
Crosswind 5.1
5.7 - The project is experiencing conflict as the planning evolves. Of the following, which is the most common set of tools the project manager can utilize to minimize conflict?
(A) Ground rules, interpersonal skills, and project management practices
(B) Ground rules, group norms, and project management practices
(C) Ground rules, group norms, networking and project management practices
(D) Ground rules, interpersonal skills, networking, and project management practices
Correct Answer: (B) Ground rules, group norms, and project management practices
Explanation: The common set of tools the project manager can utilize to minimize conflict are ground rules, group norms, and project management practices.
Crosswind 5.5.1
5.8 - The project manager of the systems upgrade project uses a variety of power types. Which of the following is an example of penalty power?
(A) The project manager instructs the team leaders to prepare status reports for the weekly meeting
(B) The project manager takes the most productive team member to lunch at an expensive restaurant
(C) The project manager announces that those who do not complete their tasks in a timely manner without sacrificing quality will be ineligible for a bonus
(D) The project manager’s degree and prior work experience were in systems engineering
Correct Answer: (C) The project manager announces that those who do not complete their tasks in a timely manner without sacrificing quality will be ineligible for a bonus
Explanation: Penalty power comes from the project manager’s ability to penalize an employee when his work is inadequate. Formal power is derived from the project charter for the project manager. Reward power comes from the project manager’s ability to reward an employee for good work. Expert power derives from expertise in a discipline.
Crosswind 5.1.10
5.9 - The project manager needs to motivate his team and reviews Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a basis for his motivational strategy. Which of the following are the components of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
(A) Physiological, achievement, esteem, psychological, safety, and self-actualization
(B) Physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization
(C) Physiological, achievement, esteem, safety, and self-actualization
(D) Physiological, belonging, esteem, psychological safety, and self-actualization
Correct Answer: (B) Physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization
Explanation: The levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs are physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.
Crosswind 5.1.5
5.10 - You have been assigned a new project. You are currently interviewing people and have extended a few offers for people to join the team. What process will be performed next?
(A) Estimate activity resources
(B) Manage team
(C) Develop team
(D) Acquire resources
Correct Answer: (C) Develop team
Explanation: The process being described is acquire resources. That is followed by develop team which takes the group of people and helps get them into a high performing unit. Manage team addresses team related issues. Estimate activity resources precedes acquire resources.
Crosswind 5.4
5.11 - Prescott University is putting together its fall schedule. It is currently trying to align classes, instructors, and classrooms to ensure that every class offering has a room and an instructor. Which of the following is the best basis for this alignment?
(A) Resource list
(B) Resource breakdown structure
(C) Resource sheet
(D) Resource breakdown list
Correct Answer: (B) Resource breakdown structure
Explanation: The resource breakdown structure is used to show where resources (in this case, the rooms and instructors) are being used. The resource list simply shows what resources are available. The resource sheet is similar to a resource list. The resource breakdown list is a distracter.
Crosswind 5.2.1
5.12 - You get a new job at a company as a project management consultant. The environment does waterfall, agile and hybrid projects. You are put on a team working on an application upgrade in an agile environment. You are currently doing the develop team process. Which of the following roles is responsible for this process?
(A) The team
(B) The project manager
(C) The scrummaster
(D) The product owner
Correct Answer: (A) The team
Explanation: In an agile environment, the team is self-organizing and self-managing, thus the responsibility falls to the team. The project manager is a distracter, as you do not have a project manager in an agile environment. The ScrumMaster helps facilitate the scrum framework and remove obstacles from the team. The product owner establishes product features, priorities, and other relevant details.
Crosswind 8.3.1
5.13 - What can a responsibility assignment matrix eliminate?
(A) Confusion about the order of the activities
(B) Confusion about who is responsible for what
(C) Confusion about the durations of the activities
(D) Confusion about who is on the team
Correct Answer: (B) Confusion about who is responsible for what
Explanation: The responsibility assignment matrix shows who is responsible for what areas on the project. The network diagram provides guidance on what order the activities occur. The organizational structure confirms who is on the team, and what the reporting structure is. The Gantt chart or schedule shows how long the activities are.
Crosswind 5.1.3
5.14 - The project has had some challenges. Members of the team have needed constant supervision to perform the activities for which they are responsible, they do not seem to trust management, and often appear unmotivated. This is an example of what?
(A) Insufficient team building
(B) Theory X environment
(C) Insufficient project team training
(D) Theory Y environment
Correct Answer: (B) Theory X environment
Explanation: Typically in a Theory X environment, employees must be told what to do, have distrust for management, and lack motivation. Theory Y is the opposite. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 5.1.5
5.15 - Senior management has promoted their best electrical engineer to the position of engineering project manager. The promotion was based on the Halo Theory. Of the following, what is the best definition of the Halo Theory?
(A) An effective employee in a discipline will become an effective employee in another discipline
(B) An effective employee in a discipline will become an effective manager in that discipline
(C) An effective employee in a discipline will become an effective employee in another discipline with training
(D) An effective employee in a discipline will become an effective manager in that discipline with training
Correct Answer: (B) An effective employee in a discipline will become an effective manager in that discipline
Explanation: The Halo Theory implies that supervisors often rate employees as having wholly desirable traits, or wholly undesirable traits. Making the assumption that an effective technical employee (a single favorable characteristic) WILL transfer to an effective project manager is an example of this bias. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 5.3.1
5.16 - Of the following, which are the key tools and techniques of the acquire resources process?
(A) Multi-criteria decision analysis, negotiation, interpersonal and team skills, pre-assignment, and virtual teams
(B) Multi-criteria decision analysis, negotiation, pre-assignment, and virtual teams
(C) Multi-criteria decision analysis, negotiation, networking, pre-assignment, and virtual teams
(D) Multi-criteria decision analysis, negotiation, interpersonal and team skills, networking, pre-assignment, and virtual team
Correct Answer: (B) Multi-criteria decision analysis, negotiation, pre-assignment, and virtual teams
Explanation: The tools and techniques of the Acquire Resources process are: decision-making, interpersonal and team skills, multi-criteria decision analysis, negotiations, pre-assignment, and virtual teams.
Crosswind 5.3
5.17 - 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 director. 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: (C) This style of management is focused on specific activities and goals and may fail to see opportunities that arise in the project
Explanation: The director is focused on specific activities and goals and may fail to see opportunities that arise. The facilitator is not proactive and may fail to avert issues in a timely manner. 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 mentor is focused on helping employees take on new skills and roles that may create quality issues.
Crosswind 5.1.8
5.18 - Which of the following are the processes in the resource knowledge area?
(A) Identify stakeholders, plan resource management, acquire resources, develop team, manage team, control resources
(B) Plan resource management, acquire resources, develop team, monitor project team
(C) Plan resource management, estimate activity resources, acquire resources, develop team, manage team, control resources
(D) Plan resource management, acquire resources, train project team, manage project team
Correct Answer: (C) Plan resource management, estimate activity resources, acquire resources, develop team, manage team, control resources
Explanation: The six processes in the Resource knowledge area are Plan Resource Management, Estimate Activity Resources, Acquire Resources, Develop Team, Manage Team, and Control Resources. Identify Stakeholders comes from the Stakeholder knowledge area. Monitor project team and train project team are distracters.
Crosswind 5 - Introduction
5.19 - Leadership and managerial style evolve within the project management life cycle. Of the following, which is the best description of the evolution of leadership and managerial style?
(A) Directing, coaching, delegation, facilitation, and support
(B) Directing, mentoring, facilitation, and support
(C) Directing, mentoring, delegation, facilitation, and support
(D) Directing, coaching, facilitation, and support
Correct Answer: (D) Directing, coaching, facilitation, and support
Explanation: The evolution of leadership and managerial style starts with directing. As the project gains momentum, coaching is applied. When significant work is completed facilitation comes into play. Support is applied as the project is closing.
Crosswind 5.1.6
5.20 - 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 that may create quality issues.
Crosswind 5.1.8
5.21 - All of the following are techniques a project manager or organization can use to acquire resources except?
(A) Negotiation
(B) Pre-assignment
(C) Co-location
(D) Virtual teams
Correct Answer: (C) Colocation
Explanation: The tools and techniques of the Acquire Resources process are: decision-making, interpersonal and team skills, multi-criteria decision analysis, negotiations, pre-assignment, and virtual teams.
Crossswind 5.3
5.22 - You are a project manager for the Mr. Understood concert tour. Your project consists of people, equipment, transportation and in each city contractors at the concert venue. Resource management is a large part of the project. When looking at trends and emerging practices in resource management, which of the following best describes what you will consider?
(A) Human resource management methods, emotional intelligence, self-organizing teams, virtual and distributed teams
(B) Resource management methods, emotional intelligence, self-organizing teams, virtual and distributed teams
(C) Resource management methods, emotional intelligence, self-organizing teams, co-located teams
(D) Resource management methods, soft skills, self-organizing teams, virtual and distributed teams
Correct Answer: (B) Resource management methods, emotional intelligence, self-organizing teams, virtual and distributed teams
Explanation: Trends and emerging practices in resource management are resource management methods such as lean, just in time (JIT), Kaizen, total productive maintenance (TPM), theory of constraints (TOC), emotional intelligence (EI), self-organizing teams, and virtual and distributed teams.
Crosswind 5 - Introduction
5.23 - The project manager on the systems alignment project is characterized by his penchant for delegation. Effective delegation is a very positive managerial tool. Of the following, which best describes effective delegation?
(A) Effective delegation involves effective communication: a clear definition of the work to be done, the time frame in which the work is to be done, and descriptions of the evaluation process, the milestones, and expected results are all necessary
(B) Effective delegation involves effective communication: a clear definition of the work to be done, the steps needed to accomplish the work, the time frame in which the work is to be done, and descriptions of the evaluation process, the milestones, and expected results are all necessary
(C) Effective delegation involves effective communication: a clear definition of the work to be done, the steps needed to accomplish the work, the time frame in which the work is to be done, and descriptions of the evaluation process and expected results are all necessary
(D) Effective delegation involves effective communication: a clear definition of the work to be done, the time frame in which the work is to be done, and descriptions of the evaluation process and expected results are all necessary
Correct Answer: (D) Effective delegation involves effective communication: a clear definition of the work to be done, the time frame in which the work is to be done, and descriptions of the evaluation process and expected results are all necessary
Explanation: Effective delegation involves effective communication: a clear definition of the work to be done, the time frame in which the work is to be done, and descriptions of the evaluation process and expected results are all necessary.
Crosswind 5.1.7
5.24 - 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 facilitator. 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: (A) This style of management is not proactive and may fail to avert issues in a timely manner
Explanation: The facilitator is not proactive and may fail to avert issues in a timely manner. 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 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 that may create quality issues.
Crosswind 5.1.8
5.25 - You are the project manager on a SAN project. You are doing the manage team process. This has been very time consuming and unpredictable. What process did you just complete?
(A) Develop team
(B) Control resources
(C) Acquire resources
(D) Develop staff
Correct Answer: (A) Develop team
Explanation: The develop team process precedes the manage team process. Control resources follows manage team. Acquire resources is before develop team. Develop staff is a distracter.
Crosswind 5.5
5.26 - The project manager role is evolving from its focus on planning, directing, and organizing to…
(A) Evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, cross-training, coaching, and motivating
(B) Evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, coaching, mentoring, and motivating
(C) Evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, coaching, and motivating
(D) Evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, cross-training, coaching, mentoring, and motivating
Correct Answer: (C) Evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, coaching, and motivating
Explanation: The project manager role is evolving from its focus on planning, directing, and organizing to evolving team performance, managing key stakeholder expectations, coaching, and motivating.
Crosswind 5.1.7
5.27 - A highly visible IT project has attracted some of the brightest developers in the company. Unfortunately, the potential for conflict is also high. The project manager will rely on all her skill sets to complete the project successfully. She is very aware that her interpersonal skills can influence the project’s outcome. What are the specific interpersonal skills she is most likely to utilize?
(A) Active listening, negotiation skills, accommodating, and influencing
(B) Leadership, negotiation, and influencing
(C) Conflict management, influencing, motivation, negotiation, and team building
(D) Leadership, effective decision-making, active listening, and influencing
Correct Answer: (C) Conflict management, influencing, motivation, negotiation, and team building
Explanation: Interpersonal and team skills used in project management can include conflict management, influencing, motivation, negotiation, and team building.
Crosswind 5.4
5.28 - Motivational theories are useful for motivating employees and creating a productive work environment. A popular theory is McGregor’s Theory Y. Of the following, which best explains this theory?
(A) If labor can and wants to see the ultimate reason for doing the work (big picture), management can set the expectation and lead rather than manage
(B) Labor is unmotivated and needs to be told what to do; therefore, management must supervise
(C) Labor will work if given a sense of achievement, power, and affiliation
(D) Labor’s prime motivation to work is to meet basic needs, but will work responsibly to meet higher needs such as esteem
Correct Answer: (A) If labor can and wants to see the ultimate reason for doing the work (big picture), management can set the expectation and lead rather than manage
Explanation: McGregor’s Theory Y states, in essence, that if labor can and wants to see the ultimate reason for doing the work (big picture), management can set the expectation and lead rather than manage. The theory is a modernization of McGregor’s Theory X, which states that labor is not motivated, needs to be told what to do, and management must supervise. McClelland’s achievement theory loosely states that labor will work if given a sense of achievement, power, and affiliation. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs simply lists five needs and management’s job is to use upward mobility within the hierarchy as motivation.
Crosswind 5.1.5
5.29 - You are the project manager at Pro Sound company. You are mapping out four different cross-country tours with audio equipment and road crews to setup and maintain the equipment in every city. Managing these resources will be a challenge, factoring in resource limitations and where they will be. What tools make the most sense to use to organize this situation?
(A) Resource list
(B) Resource breakdown structure
(C) Organizational breakdown structure
(D) Work breakdown structure
Correct Answer: (B) Resource breakdown structure
Explanation: The mentor is focused on helping employees take on new skills and roles, which may create quality issues. The facilitator is not proactive and may fail to avert issues in a timely manner. 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 director is focused on specific activities and goals and may fail to see opportunities that arise.
Crosswind 5.29
5.30 - The project manager of the systems upgrade project uses a variety of power types. Which of the following is an example of expert power?
(A) The project manager instructs the team leaders to prepare status reports for the weekly meeting
(B) The project manager takes the most productive team member to lunch at an expensive restaurant
(C) The project manager announces that those who do not complete their tasks in a timely manner without sacrificing quality will be ineligible for a bonus
(D) The project manager’s degree and prior work experience were in systems engineering
Correct Answer: (D) The project manager’s degree and prior work experience were in systems engineering
Explanation: Expert power derives from expertise in a discipline. Formal power is derived from the project charter for the project manager. Reward power comes from the project manager’s ability to reward an employee for good work. Penalty power comes from the project manager’s ability to penalize an employee when his work is inadequate.
Crosswind 5.1.10
8.1 - Of the following, which best describes the manner in which the project charter can be used?
(A) To determine the high-level scope
(B) To authorize the project
(C) To create the budget
(D) All of the answers
(A) To determine the high-level scope
(B) To authorize the project
(C) To create the budget
Correct Answer: (D) All of the answers
Explanation: The project charter describes the project scope, is used to authorize the project, and contains the charge and funding codes needed for the budget. The project charter is used for both a traditional and an Agile project.
Crosswind 9.6
8.2 - Jesse is a scrummaster on a product called New Blue. He is using scrum as a development approach with two week sprints. Which of the following would he use to show the total points still to do in the current sprint?
(A) Sprint backlog
(B) Product backlog
(C) Burnup chart
(D) Burndown chart
Correct Answer: (D) Burndown chart
Explanation: The burndown chart shows the points still remaining to do, and done points in a sprint so far. The sprint backlog lists all items in the current sprint that the team commits to doing. The product backlog lists all current items that the product owner potentially wants the team to complete. The burnup chart shows points total done across all sprints.
Crosswind 8.5.8
8.3 - Which of the following describes the purpose of a story map?
(A) To identify the activities the users will perform
(B) To prioritize user stories
(C) To depict the manner in which the user stories fit to perform a releasable product
(D) To match users with the activities they will perform
Correct Answer: (C) To depict the manner in which the user stories fit to perform a releasable product
Explanation: The purpose of a story map is to depict the manner in which the user stories fit to perform a releasable product. The other answers represent steps taken to create the story map.
Crosswind 8.5.17
A sprint is the equivalent of…
(A) A phase
(B) An iteration
(C) A release
(D) A burn-down chart
Correct Answer: (B) An iteration
Explanation: A sprint, a timeboxed duration of project work, is the equivalent of an iteration. A phase is a term associated with a traditional project. A release consists of an organized group of sprints/iterations. A burn-down chart is the visual representation of the rate at which work is being completed.
Crosswind 8.3
8.5 - Which of the following is the definition of done in relation to a user story?
(A) All unit, integration, and customer tests for the code representing the user story have been passed
(B) The code representing the user story has been integrated into the software
(C) The customer has accepted the code representing the user story
(D) The functionality expressed in the user story is ready to deploy
Correct Answer: (D) The functionality expressed in the user story is ready to deploy
Explanation: The definition of done, in relation to a user story, is that the functionality expressed in the user story is ready to deploy. The other answers are items likely to be included in a checklist created to ensure that all members of the team understand the definition of done.
Crosswind 8.5.18
8.6 - What is the primary responsibility of the scrummaster?
(A) To ensure adherence to Agile principles
(B) To undertake the role of the coach/facilitator
(C) To ensure the project is on schedule
(D) To minimize changes to the project
Correct Answer: (A) To ensure adherence to Agile principles
Explanation: The primary responsibility of the ScrumMaster is to ensure that Agile principles are followed by the development team. Agile projects typically embrace scope changes, adjusting schedule and budget in accordance with the wishes of the product owner/customer.
Crosswind 8.3.1
8.7 - What does a burnup chart depict?
(A) Number of features to be completed for the project
(B) Number of story points to be completed for the project
(C) Number of story points completed for the project
(D) Number of features completed for the project
Correct Answer: (C) Number of story points completed for the project
Explanation: The burnup chart depicts the number of story points that have been completed for the project. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 8.5.9
8.8 - Walter is a product owner on a product called New Blue. He is using scrum as a development approach with two week sprints. Which of the following would he and Jesse the scrummaster use to show the total points done so far and still to do?
(A) Sprint backlog
(B) Product backlog
(C) Burnup chart
(D) Burndown chart
Correct Answer: (D) Burndown chart
Explanation: The burndown chart shows the points still remaining to do, and done points in a sprint so far. The sprint backlog lists all items in the current sprint that the team commits to doing. The product backlog lists all current items that the product owner potentially wants the team to complete. The burnup chart shows points total done across all sprints.
Crosswind 8.5.8
8.9 - Of the following, which best describes the documentation for an Agile project?
(A) No documentation
(B) Full documentation
(C) An appropriate, but not excessive, level of documentation
(D) The backlog only
Correct Answer: (C) An appropriate, but not excessive, level of documentation
Explanation: A common misconception regarding documentation for Agile projects is that documentation should be eliminated. Documentation for an Agile project is appropriately minimized.
Crosswind 8.1.1
8.10 - Verification and validation occur at a number of levels. Which of the following levels only occurs during verification?
(A) User story level
(B) Release level
(C) Task level
(D) Iteration level
Correct Answer: (C) Task level
Explanation: Verification occurs at the task level, the user story level, the iteration level, the release level, and the completed product level; validation occurs at the user story level, the iteration level, the release level, and the completed product level.
Crosswind 8.5.22
8.11 - The term for an organized group of sprints is…
(A) A phase
(B) An iteration
(C) A release
(D) A burn-down chart
Correct Answer: (C) A release
Explanation: A release consists of an organized group of sprints/iterations. A sprint, a timeboxed duration of project work, is the Scrum equivalent of an iteration. A phase is a term associated with a traditional project. A burn-down chart is the visual representation of the rate at which work is being completed.
Crosswind 8.3.1
8.12 - Which prioritization method designates each feature as a threshold, linear, or exciter and delighter?
(A) Kano
(B) Moscow
(C) Tled
(D) Bliss
Correct Answer: (A) Kano
Explanation: The Kano method designates each feature as a threshold, linear, or exciter and delighter. The MoSCoW method designates each feature as a must have, should have, could have, or would have. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 8.5.30
8.13 - Walter is a product owner on a product called New Blue. He is using scrum as a development approach with two-week sprints. How will Jesse and the team estimate their work?
(A) Duration
(B) Hours
(C) Dollars
(D) Story Points
Correct Answer: (D) Story Points
Explanation: In agile projects, it’s common to use story points to estimate work.
For example: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 20, 40, 100 are modified Fibonacci numbers. Estimates of duration or hours can cause issues with ideal vs. real time. Dollars are generally tracked outside of the sprint.
Crosswind 8.5.13
8.14 - eXtreme Programming (XP) roles consist of…
(A) Coach, customer, and tracker
(B) Coach, product owner, programmer, and tracker
(C) Coach, customer, and programmer
(D) Programmer, coach, and tracker
Correct Answer: (C) Coach, customer, and programmer
Explanation: The roles used in eXtreme Programming (XP) are coach, customer, and programmer. Some XP projects include a tracker and designated tester, but those roles may fall to the programmer.
Crosswind 8.3
8.15 - Which of the following best describes a good user story?
(A) Independent, negligible, valuable, estimable, small, and transparent
(B) Independent, negligible, variable, estimable, small, and transparent
(C) Independent, negotiable, valuable, estimable, small, and testable
(D) Independent, negotiable, valuable, estimable, short, and testable
Correct Answer: (C) Independent, negotiable, valuable, estimable, small, and testable
Explanation: The characteristics that describe a good user story are represented by the acronym INVEST: independent, negotiable, valuable, estimable, small, and testable. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 8.5.18
8.16 - The best description of the approach utilized for a lean-agile project is…
(A) Maximize speed
(B) Maximize velocity
(C) Maximize work not yet done
(D) Maximize deliverables
Correct Answer: (C) Maximize work not yet done
Explanation: The approach utilized for Lean-Agile projects is maximization of work not yet done. That means that you should do only what needs to be done when it needs to be done.
Crosswind 8.3.2
8.17 - Which tool can be used to evaluate what could potentially cause defects in a project or process?
(A) Ishikawa diagram
(B) Cumulative flow diagram
(C) Effect diagram
(D) Kanban board
Correct Answer: (A) Ishikawa diagram
Explanation: An Ishikawa diagram can be used to evaluate what could potentially cause defects in a project or process. A cumulative flow diagram charts the progress of each significant product feature. The effect diagram is a distracter. The Kanban board is used to track workflow.
Crosswind 8.3.1
8.18 - Who is primarily responsible for updating the product backlog?
(A) The product owner
(B) The team
(C) The scrummaster
(D) The project manager
Correct Answer: (A) The product owner
Explanation: The product owner is responsible for managing the backlog. The team is responsible for completing sprint work. The ScrumMaster is responsible for maintaining Scrum principles in the project environment. The project manager is responsible for delivering project results in a traditional project environment.
Crosswind 8.3.1
8.19 - Jessie is a scrummaster on a New Blue marketing campaign project. What will Jessie and his team use as a reference to the work in the current iteration?
(A) Sprint backlog
(B) Product backlog
(C) Burnup chart
(D) Burndown chart
Correct Answer: (A) Sprint Backlog
Explanation: The sprint backlog lists all items in the current sprint that the team commits to doing. The product backlog lists all current items that the product owner potentially wants the team to complete. The burnup chart shows points total done across all sprints. The burndown chart shows the points still remaining to do, and done points in a sprint so far.
Crosswind 8.3.1
8.20 - Who is responsible for updating the Kanban board?
(A) The scrummaster
(B) The change manager
(C) The team
(D) The test department
Correct Answer: (C) The team
Explanation: A Kanban board can be used to track progress on work pieces. As work moves from one stage to another the team is responsible for updating the board. The ScrumMaster maintains Scrum principles. The change manager and test department are distracters.
Crosswind 8.5.6
8.21 - What unit of measurement depicts the size of a user story in relation to the other user stories in the project?
(A) Relative size
(B) Story size
(C) Story point
(D) Story density
Correct Answer: (C) Story point
Explanation: The story point is used to depict the size of a user story relative to the size of the other user stories in the project. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 8.5.13
8.22 - What is generally thought of as the most popular Agile framework?
(A) Crystal
(B) Lean
(C) Kanban
(D) Scrum
Correct Answer: (D) Scrum
Explanation: Scrum is generally considered the most popular Agile framework. It utilizes sprints and daily scrums to accomplish work in the backlog.
Crosswind 8.3
8.23 - Walter and Jesse are having issues on the product at the sprint review meeting. Walter, the product owner is saying that the iteration doesn’t do what is expected. Jesse, the scrummaster says it does what is expected. What is the core problem most likely here?
(A) Inconsistent requirements
(B) Incorrect user story
(C) No clear definition of done
(D) Walter changed his mind
Correct Answer: (C) No clear definition of done
Explanation: The issue appears to be a lack of clear definition of done. Definition of done is a very clear, non-ambiguous description of what the product iteration should look, work and feel like when done. All the other answers would be offset, or could be worked through with a clear definition of done.
Crosswind 8.5.20
8.24 - What organization was responsible for the creation of the Agile Manifesto?
(A) Agile alliance
(B) Scrum alliance
(C) Agile management institute
(D) Scrum management institute
Correct Answer: (A) Agile alliance
Explanation: The Agile Alliance of 17 people created the Agile Manifesto in 2001. The Scrum Alliance is a Scrum organization. The other two answers are distracters.
Crosswind 8.1
8.25 - In an Agile project, who is most likely to make decisions regarding scope trade-offs?
(A) Sponsor
(B) Team
(C) Scrummaster
(D) Product owner/customer
Correct Answer: (D) Product owner/customer
Explanation: In an Agile project, the product owner/customer typically makes decisions regarding scope trade-offs because that role is responsible for the user story backlog. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 8.3.1
8.26 - Which of the following is used to apply iterations to an Agile project?
(A) Iteration 0 (zero)
(B) Phases
(C) Phase gates
(D) Process groups
Correct Answer: (A) Iteration 0 (zero)
Explanation: Iteration 0 occurs before the first project iteration and is used for planning. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 8.3.1
8.27 - What best describes the information expected from each team member during the daily stand-up?
(A) Work status and roadblocks
(B) Work status and concerns
(C) Work status and new information the team should know
(D) Work status
Correct Answer: (C) Work status and new information the team should know
Explanation: During the daily stand-up, each team member is expected to provide work status information and any new information the team should know. The other answers are incomplete.
Crosswind 8.3.1
8.28 - Which of the following is generally considered the opposite of an Agile approach?
(A) Scrum
(B) XP
(C) Waterfall
(D) Kanban
Correct Answer: (C) Waterfall
Explanation: Scrum and XP are Agile frameworks and Kanban is an approach used with Agile frameworks. Waterfall is a traditional approach and is considered the opposite of Agile.
Crosswind 8 - Introduction
8.29 - Which of the following is an alternate name for the team space?
(A) Collaboration area
(B) War room
(C) Planning area
(D) Arena
Correct Answer: (B) War room
Explanation: War room is another name for the team space. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 8.5.1
8.30 - Dak is the scrummaster and Amari is the product owner on a web app called Blue Star. They are having a disagreement on who should add items to the product backlog and who should do estimates for items on the product backlog. Which of the following statements is MOST correct?
(A) The product owner will do estimates and the scrummaster will add items
(B) The product owner will add items and the scrummaster will do the estimates
(C) The product owner will typically add items, but anyone can and the team will do the estimates
(D) The scrummaster will add items and the team will do estimates
Correct Answer: (C) The product owner will typically add items, but anyone can and the team will do the estimates
Explanation: The product owner will start building the product backlog and likely add most items to it. Technically, anyone can add items to a product backlog. The team would do the points estimates for the product backlog items.
Crosswind 8 - Glossary
9.1 - 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
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.
Crosswind 9.6.3
9.2 - 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
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 that may generate risks. Activity resource requirements are generated later in the planning process group.
Crosswind 9.7.3
9.3 - You are a project manager for a video game upgrade project. You are getting ready to start creating the project management plan. What have you just created?
(A) The project charter and the assumption log
(B) The project charter
(C) The assumption log
(D) The stakeholder engagement plan
Correct Answer: (A) The project charter and the assumption log
Explanation: The project charter and the assumption log are created immediately before the project management plan. The stakeholder engagement plan is part of the project management plan.
Crosswind 9.6
9.4 - The new system integration project impacts all the departments in the company, directly or indirectly. Which of the following is the best description of tools used for the project’s communications?
(A) Communications management plan (CMP)
(B) Communications model media (CMM)
(C) Information distribution planning (IDP)
(D) Project management information system (PMIS)
Correct Answer: (D) Project management information system (PMIS)
Explanation: The project management information system (PMIS) is a system that stores and distributes project information. It can be a manual or a high tech system. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 9.7.5
9.5 - Which of the following best describes configuration management?
(A) Procedures used to document and control product or service characteristics
(B) System used to store versions of software code
(C) System used to store versions of project documentation
(D) Interface of an automated project management system created to set up project variables
Correct Answer: (A) Procedures used to document and control product or service characteristics
Explanation: Configuration management ensures that the project is building what it should build. It utilizes a very thorough and detailed change control process to ensure that project results conform to requirements and exhibit Fitness for Use.
Crosswind 9.11.4
9.6 - You are the project manager for a legacy application upgrade project. You and the sponsor are currently reviewing work for completeness and accuracy. Which of the following processes are you performing?
(A) Monitor and control project work
(B) Perform integrated change control
(C) Control scope
(D) Direct and manage project work
Correct Answer: (A) Monitor and control project work
Explanation: Monitor and control project work is a process that compares what is being completed to what is planned. Perform integrated change control is the master change control process that all processes creating change requests will use. Control scope involves adjusting the scope or scope documentation of the project. Direct and manage project work is the execution of the project management plan.
Crosswind 9.10
9.7 - You are assigned to a new data warehouse system project and notice the project charter lists four business units as sponsors. The data warehouse system has been discussed at your organization for some time, but it’s everyone’s first exposure to implementing such a system. Which of the following could present the biggest challenge to implementing this project?
(A) Conflicting goals of the sponsors
(B) The implementation team
(C) The work breakdown structure (WBS)
(D) The perform integrated change control process
Correct Answer: (A) Conflicting goals of the sponsors
Explanation: Conflicting sponsor goals can significantly impact the project because any attempt to build what works for all sponsors could radically alter the plan. The creation of the WBS is a challenge as well, but not the best answer. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 6.1.1
9.8 - The team has completed the planning process group and received approval from the sponsor and senior management to move to the executing process group. During the executing processes, the team will compare their work to…
(A) The project actuals
(B) The project baseline
(C) The stakeholder expectations
(D) The project variance
Correct Answer: (B) The project baseline
Explanation: The baseline is the estimate for the project. It can be for the scope, schedule, and cost of the project. The actuals are the scope, schedule, and cost data for the project at a certain point in time. The variance is the difference between the baseline and actual. Stakeholder expectations is a distracter.
Crosswind 9.7.4
9.9 - The team has just completed the process of evaluating how the project went. The team members analyzed what worked well and what didn’t. They evaluated the planning and executing. They documented how the sponsor and senior management supported the project. What process did they perform?
(A) Compiling lessons learned
(B) Closing the project or phase
(C) Directing and managing project work
(D) Monitoring and controlling the project
Correct Answer: (B) Closing the project or phase
Explanation: They completed closing the project or phase, which is in the closing process group. The activities described in the question are lessons learned. Controlling and executing have already occurred.
Crosswind 9.12
9.10 - The project manager for the electric engine improvement project has implemented a work authorization system. What is the main benefit of utilizing a work authorization system?
(A) To show what work is to be done during the project
(B) To show who is responsible for what work
(C) To control gold plating
(D) To serve as a time-tracking system
Correct Answer: (C) To control gold plating
Explanation: The question focuses on the benefit, as opposed to the purpose, of a work authorization system. The Work Authorization System sanctions or releases certain work to be done at a certain time in a certain order by a particular organization. The primary benefit of the system is to minimize gold plating on a project, which can occur if this control mechanism is not in place. The work breakdown structure (WBS) shows what work is to be done on the project. The responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) shows who is responsible for what work. To serve as a time-tracking system is a distracter.
Crosswind 9.8.1
9.11 - Neal the project manager has started the planning for the frontiers project. Neal and his team are focusing on assumptions that the planning is based on. The assumptions are key as much of the planning revolves around them. Which of the following best describes the earliest that the assumptions will potentially be identified?
(A) With change requests as needed
(B) The project management plan
(C) The charter
(D) The assumptions log
Correct Answer: (C) The charter
Explanation: Assumptions are identified as early as possible in the project, which means the charter is the best answer. The other answers are applicable as needed because the assumptions will be updated as the project evolves. Planning is established based on the assumptions and as the assumptions evolve, the planning and changes evolve.
Crosswind 9.6
9.12 - You are the project manager for a legacy application upgrade project. You and the sponsor are currently doing the monitor and control project work process. Which of the following tools and techniques will you use?
(A) Expert judgment
(B) Change requests
(C) Work performance information
(D) Alternatives analysis
Correct Answer: (A) Expert judgment
Explanation: Expert judgment is a tool and technique of monitor and control project work. Change requests are inputs and outputs of various processes and as a result could NOT be a tool and technique of a process. Work performance information is an input or output of various processes and as a result cannot be a tool and technique of a process. Alternatives analysis is a tool and technique of the define scope process.
Crosswind 9.10
9.13 - When is a project complete?
(A) When the budgeted funds are spent
(B) When formal acceptance has been obtained from the customer
(C) When the work is done
(D) When the customer is satisfied
Correct Answer: (B) When formal acceptance has been obtained from the customer
Explanation: Only when formal acceptance has been obtained from the customer, can the project be considered complete. When the budgeted funds are spent simply means that the project is out of money. When the work is done does not mean that the customer agrees that the work is done. When the customer is satisfied is only relevant when the customer formally accepts the project.
Crosswind 9.12
9.14 - The company is implementing an enterprise reporting system. This system will integrate a number of business units. This project is something that is new at the company. They realize they will learn a great deal as they adjust while going through the project. Which process best fits tracking their knowledge related to the project?
(A) Perform integrated change control
(B) Manage project issues
(C) Manage project knowledge
(D) Manage communications
Correct Answer: (C) Manage project knowledge
Explanation: Manage project knowledge results in the creation of the lessons learned register and the best fit for the question. Perform integrated change control references change management. Managing project issues is a distracter and not a process. Manage communications might be used to share the information learned, but it’s not as good an answer as manage project knowledge.
Crosswind 9.9
9.15 - As a best practice, who should create the project management plan?
(A) Project manager alone
(B) Project manager and the project team
(C) The project manager, the project team, and the owner of the project
(D) The project owner alone
Correct Answer: (B) The project manager and the project team
Explanation: The project manager and project team should create the project management plan and the estimates that feed into it. They are the people doing the work, so they should have the opportunity to estimate and plan it. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 9.7
9.16 - Sam is creating the project management plan for the Infinity tour project. He is having a discussion with Sarah about the project management plan. They are having a disagreement about the plan and can’t come to a common understanding. Which of the following best describes the project management plan?
(A) The project management plan can change whenever the team feels it’s necessary
(B) The project management plan is a static picture of what the project is to accomplish and should not change
(C) The project management plan is a living document that evolves as the project evolves
(D) Change should only occur when there is no schedule or budget impact
Correct Answer: (C) The project management plan is a living document that evolves as the project evolves
Explanation: The project management plan is a living document that will evolve as the project evolves. Changes can occur, but will only be implemented when approved. Changes can be implemented when approved even if there is schedule, budget or other area impacted, if the change is approved. Just because the team wants a change doesn’t mean it happens. It has to be approved first.
Crosswind 9.7
9.17 - The project will be starting the executing process group next week. The project sponsor and project manager have a meeting scheduled with the team and the business units that are impacted by the project. They explain what is expected to occur on the project and how each of the people can help contribute to the success of the project. What is this event called?
(A) Kickoff meeting to officially start the project
(B) An integral part of the team building effort
(C) Perform quality assurance and validate scope
(D) Project management plan development
Correct Answer: (A) Kickoff meeting to officially start the project
Explanation: The kickoff meeting is what is commonly used on a project to formally start the project and it can occur at the beginning of planning or executing depending on priority or approach. It allows the sponsor to set expectations, and the team to learn about details of the plan. Team building occurs in the executing process group, but it’s not as definitive an answer as kickoff meeting. Project management plan development produces a project management plan. Perform Quality Assurance and Validate Scope are distracters.
Crosswind 9.6.2
9.18 - You have joined a project team to upgrade the network security at your company. You are executing the project management plan and getting project deliverables created. What process do you do next?
(A) Manage project knowledge
(B) Monitor and control project work
(C) Validate scope
(D) Close project or phase
Correct Answer: (A) Manage project knowledge
Explanation: Direct and manage project work is the process that executes the project management plan and creates project deliverables. That process is followed by manage project knowledge. Monitor and control project work follows manage project knowledge. Validate scope is getting customer acceptance of project deliverables after the control quality process. Close project or phase is the formal closing of the project.
Crosswind 9.9
9.19 - You are the project manager for a museum restoration project. There is a large amount of the work being outsourced because of the special nature of the work. As the project enters closure, what will likely be a larger amount of effort than most projects?
(A) Creating the contract file
(B) Getting final acceptance of project deliverables
(C) Releasing resources
(D) Performing lessons learned
Correct Answer: (A) Creating the contract file
Explanation: A project with a large amount of work being outsourced will require a larger than typical contract file to cover the details of contract matters with the outsourced work. Getting final acceptance of project deliverables would be typical with most projects compared to the increased contract file.
Crosswind 9.12.1
9.20 - The project manager and her team have worked diligently to complete the project scope on time and within budget. They are in the process of creating the project files. Of the following, which is the best and most complete definition of project files?
(A) Project documents that record what occurred during the project and what changes were approved
(B) Project documents that record what occurred during the project, what changes were approved, and what decisions were made
(C) Project documents that record what occurred during the project, basic project statistics (scope, time, and cost), and what changes were approved
(D) Project documents that record what occurred during the project, what changes were approved, basic project statistics (scope, time, and cost), and what decisions were made
Correct Answer: (B) Project documents that record what occurred during the project, what changes were approved, and what decisions were made
Explanation: Project files are project documents that record what occurred during the project, what changes were approved, and what decisions were made. Financial records and legal documents are included in these files.
Crosswind 9.12.1
9.21 - 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 itself, the approved changes, and the formal acceptance must be contained in the contract file. The other answers are distracters.
Crosswind 9.12.1
9.22 - The company is implementing an enterprise reporting system. This system will integrate a number of business units. This project is something that is new at the company. They realize they will learn a great deal as they adjust while going through the project. They are doing the process called manage project knowledge. What will they create as a result of this process?
(A) Lessons learned register
(B) Project knowledge
(C) Deliverables
(D) Manage communications
Correct Answer: (A) Lessons learned register
Explanation: The manage project knowledge process creates the lessons learned register. Deliverables are created in the prior process, direct and manage project work. Project knowledge is a general item that occurs from doing the project, but not the specific answer. Manage communications occurs as the project occurs, but is a bit of a generic answer here.
Crosswind 9.9.1
9.23 - The healthcare project is in the planning stage and the project manager and his team are making decisions about the project management information system (PMIS). In discussing the system they feel will work best, which of the following statements is the project manager most likely to make?
(A) It is vital that the system accommodates our need to update payroll for the project management team
(B) It is vital that the system accommodates our need to update the chart of accounts for procurement items
(C) It is vital that the system accommodates our need to access functional management records to identify expert judgment candidates
(D) It is vital that the system accommodates our need to send the right information to the right people in a timely and appropriate manner
Correct Answer: (D) It is vital that the system accommodates our need to send the right information to the right people in a timely and appropriate manner
Explanation: The purpose of the project management information system (PMIS) is communication and information distribution. It is often a combination of technical and non-technical tools used by various project participants to communicate and distribute project related information. The other answers reference systems or information that would not be directly accessible to the project management team.
Crosswind 9.7.5
