PROJECT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Question 1

In planning your project, you decide to create a matrix showing the intersection of the tasks that have been defined and the resources assigned to those tasks. The tool used to best show these assignments is which of the following?

a. A Responsibility Assignment Matrix
b. A resource histogram
c. A Resource Breakdown Structure
d. A resource graph

Answer 1

A

The Responsibility Assignment Matrix shows the intersection of the WBS and the resources assigned to
the tasks of the project.

Question 2

During the planning of a project, the project manager has determined the necessary resources for a project.
Although determining the necessary resources is a planning process, Acquire Resources is what type of
process?

a. An initiating process
b. A planning process as well
c. An executing process
d. A monitoring and closing process

Answer 2

C

Although you determine what resources are necessary in planning, the actual acquisition of those
resources is considered an executing process whereby you obtain team members, facilities, equipment, materials, supplies, and other resources necessary to complete project work.

Question 3

Estimate Activity Resources is the process of estimating team resources and the type and quantities of materials, equipment, and supplies necessary to perform project work. With what other process is the Estimate Activity Resources process most closely aligned?

a. Develop Project Charter
b. Define Scope
c. Estimate Costs
d. Plan scope management

Answer 3

C

Estimating activity resources is very closely linked to the Estimate Costs process. The cost of resources
can drive how you perform the project.

Question 4

The processes used to identify, acquire, and manage the resources needed for the successful completion of the project can be found in which of the following knowledge areas?

a. Project Integration Management
b. Project Communications Management
c. Project Scope Management
d. Project Resource Management

Answer 4

D

Project Resource Management includes the processes that identify, acquire, and manage the resources needed for the project.

Question 5

Which of the following documents would the project manager use to determine training needs, safety
concerns, and procedures for releasing team members at the end of the project?

a. Resource requirements
b. Resource calendars
c. Staffing management plan
d. Resource breakdown schedule

Answer 5

C

The best answer choice is C because it contains the information the project manager needs as
described in the question.

Question 6

The RACI chart is a common type of responsibility assignment matrix that defines the involvement of
stakeholders in project activities. What does RACI stand for?

a. Responsible, Approval, Concerned, Inform
b. Responsible, Accountable, Consult, Input
c. Responsible, Approval, Consult, Inform
d. Responsible, Accountable, Consult, Inform

Answer 6

D

An RACI chart is a type of responsibility assignment matrix where RACI stands for Responsible,
Accountable, Consult, and Inform.

Question 7

To calculate the cost of a resource usage variance multiply the _________ times the difference between the actual quantity less the estimated quantity.

a. Estimated price
b. Expected usage
c. Price variance
d. Cost variance

Answer 7

A

The calculation for usage variance is (Actual quantity − Estimated quantity) × Estimated price.

Question 8

Which of the following is not a component of the human resource management plan?

a. Roles and responsibilities
b. Project organization charts
c. Resource requirements
d. Staffing management plan

Answer 8

C

The best answer is C because that is not a component of the human resource management plan.

Question 9

The process of improving competencies, team member interaction, and the overall team environment to enhance project performance is the Develop Team process. Tools and techniques used for this process include all of the following EXCEPT:

a. Project chartering
b. Influencing
c. Training
d. Individual and team assessments

Answer 9

A

Develop Project Charter is an initiating process, not a planning process. It is developed well in advance
of developing project team members.

Question 10

A new project team is meeting to plan out their approach to an assigned project. Immediately, however, there are significant disagreements on how best to proceed. Which stage of team development are they likely in?

a. Forming
b. Storming
c. Norming
d. Performing

Answer 10

B

Since they are experiencing conflict as they figure out how to work together, the team is in the storming stage.

Question 11

You wish to show a hierarchical representation of resources by category and type. Which of the following would be the best tool for you to use?

a. A Resource Breakdown Structure
b. A resource calendar
c. A project resource diagram
d. A Resource Traceability Matrix

Answer 11

A

The Resource Breakdown Structure identifies categories of resources and then decomposes them into types, skill levels, or other subcategories as appropriate.

Question 12

You are a team member on a new project team consisting of highly qualified security experts and have been tasked with assigning the various work packages on the WBS. However, your project manager has changed some of your assignments, and you have distributed the new assignments to the team. Several team members have come to you to complain that the more difficult tasks have been assigned to the women on the team, and the men have received the easier work packages. At the same time, some of the male team members are complaining that they would like some of the more daunting tasks that could provide a learning experience and enhance their resumes. When you bring this up with your project manager, he simply tells you that he is managing the team and you will leave the assignments the way he determined. Which of the following describes the conflict resolution method the project manager is using?

a. Forcing
b. Compromising
c. Accommodating
d. Collaborating

Answer 12

A

The best answer choice is A because the project manager is pushing his personal viewpoint on others
by using the power of his position.

Question 13

Which process is described as “ensuring that the physical resources assigned and allocated to the project are available as planned, as well as monitoring the planned versus actual utilization of resources and performing corrective action as necessary”?

a. Manage team process
b. Control resources
c. Estimate activity resources
d. Plan resource management

Answer 13

B

Control resources is defined as “ensuring that the physical resources assigned and allocated to the
project are available as planned, as well as monitoring the planned versus actual utilization of resources and
performing corrective action as necessary”.

Question 14

Chuck is managing a virtual project team. He is trying to determine the most important factors for success.
Which of the following should Chuck put at the top of his list?

a. Team building
b. Resource breakdown structure
c. Communication
d. Risk register

Answer 14

C

The best answer choice is C. Communication is one of the most important factors for success in managing a virtual team.

Question 15

When managing a virtual project team, which of the following choices is more likely to lead to success?

a. More frequent communication with team members
b. Using e-mail rather than phone calls
c. Utilizing contractors more often
d. Assigning bilingual assistants

Answer 15

A

The best answer choice is A because frequent communication is critical with virtual teams.

Question 16

Sandi is managing a project in a matrix organization. One of her team members has completed his portion of the project. What should Sandi’s next step be?

a. Assign the team member to a new project
b. Place a staff evaluation in the team members performance appraisal
c. Allow the team member to remain on the project team
d. Ask the team member to assist in another work package

Answer 16

B

The best answer choice is B when a team member finishes his or her assignment on the project and
completes the work assigned to them.

Question 17

You have been named project manager for a new project. You will be working with a brand new team that you’ve never met. You realize the value of team building, and you want to do a good job in this respect so your team becomes an effective and efficient group working together for the common good. What is the first consideration you should address?

a. Conflict resolution methods
b. Begin early
c. Rewards and recognition
d. Work performance appraisals

Answer 17

B

The best answer choice is B. While team building is an ongoing and never-ending process, it is most effective when it starts early in the team development process.

Question 18

A document that records the team values, agreements, and operating guidelines, as well as establishing clear expectations regarding acceptable behaviour by project team members, is called:

a. The project charter
b. The operating agreement
c. The team charter
d. Meeting protocols

Answer 18

C

By definition from the PMBOK® Guide, the team charter is often the first item addressed at a formal project kick-off meeting prior to the team planning the project.

Question 19

Sandra is a new project manager working with her first project team. Because this is her first team, she wants
to make every effort to be a good team leader and have her project be successful. She realizes how important good communication is to project success. Which of the following would have the greatest positive impact on assuring good team communication?

a. Ground rules
b. Rewards and recognition
c. Compromising
d. Colocation

Answer 19

D

The best answer choice is D. Colocation can be a major contributing factor in enhancing and maintaining good team communications.

Question 20

Which of the following are outputs of the Develop Team process?

a. Interpersonal skills
b. Ground rules
c. Team performance assessments
d. Recognition and rewards

Answer 20

C

The best answer choice is C because all of the other items listed are tools and techniques of the Develop Project Team process.

Question 21

Walter is referencing material known as the Tuckman team development ladder. Walter is learning that one
phase of team development involves the team beginning to address the project work, the technical decisions, and project management approach. If team members are not collaborative and open to differing ideas, the environment can become counterproductive. Which phase does this describe?

a. Performing
b. Storming
c. Norming
d. Forming

Answer 21

B

The best answer choice is B. The question defines the situation typically existing during the Storming
phase.

Question 22

Your team has worked together well during the past two project phases. You might even say they are
functioning like a well-oiled machine. In what stage of team development is this team?

a. Forming
b. Storming
c. Norming
d. Performing

Answer 22

D

The team is performing. The members have developed a nice synergy working together.

Question 23

Your project team is having some difficulties maintaining clear communications because they are scattered throughout the city in various offices in the numerous buildings your company owns. You have initiated a request to have additional office space finished out in the building where the majority of the team is located so that the remaining team members can be relocated into a central location. Which of the following describes this change?

a. Collaboration
b. Virtual team
c. Colocation
d. Manage communications

Answer 23

C

The best answer choice is C because the situation described in the question involves colocation.

Question 24

You are managing a new project, and one of your team members has expressed a disagreement with the methodology you have suggested for checking and verifying the product requirements. You have scheduled a meeting with this team member to iron out the disagreement. Because the team member is known as a Subject Matter Expert in quality control, you respect his opinion, and you have decided to begin the meeting by emphasizing the areas you agree with and minimizing the areas of disagreement. Which of the following techniques are you employing?

a. Avoiding
b. Smoothing
c. Compromising
d. Collaborating

Answer 24

B

The best answer choice is B because the scenario described is an example of conflict resolution using
the smoothing technique.

Question 25

Hillary is working on a plan to improve the skills of her team members. She is also looking at ways to reduce the exceptionally high turnover rate while providing options for increasing the overall knowledge of her team members. Which of the following processes is Hillary working on?

a. Manage Team
b. Team Building
c. Develop Team
d. Plan Resource Management

Answer 25

C

The best answer choice is C. Hillary’s activities fall into the Develop Team process.

Question 26

The Tuckman model of team development suggests that all of these phases are necessary and inevitable in order for the team to grow, face up to challenges, tackle problems, find solutions, plan work, and deliver
results. Which is commonly the order of the stages of team development?

a. Forming, norming, storming, adjourning, performing
b. Forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning
c. Storming, norming, performing, adjourning
d. Performing, norming, adjourning, storming, norming

Answer 26

B

The stages of team development are commonly in the order of forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.

Question 27

Paulette is working from the corporate headquarters in Denver, Colorado, and she is managing a project in
which the team members are located in several different European countries. She realizes the difficulties associated with virtual teams, and she has worked with her IT department to develop and install an intranet collaboration tool her team members can use to share their ideas, activity updates, and knowledge with each other. Using a collaboration tool is an example of which of the choices shown below?

a. Team building
b. Training
c. Colocation
d. Rewards and recognition

Answer 27

C

The best answer choice is C. A collaboration tool is an example of colocation.