Risk Communication

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT an input to the Plan Risk Management process?
A.	Risk register
B.	Project scope statement
C.	Schedule management plan
D.	Cost management plan

Answer 1

A. Project scope statement, schedule management plan, and cost management plan are inputs to Plan Risk Management. Risk Register is an output from the Identify Risk process.

Question 2

Project risk communication procedures should be formalized and documented in which document:
A.	Risk management plan
B.	Risk register
C.	Risk response plan
D.	Communications management plan

Answer 2

D. Risk management plan is an output of Plan Risk Management that defines risk management methodology, roles, responsibilities, budget, resources, probability & impact definitions/ matrix, and reporting formats relating to the risk management activities. Risk register is the output of Identify Risks. Risk response plan is an output of Plan Risk Management. Communication procedures always go into a communications management plan

Question 3

Project managers spend more than 90% of their time communicating with team members, the sponsor, functional managers, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. The FIRST step to stakeholder analysis is to:
A. Determine the best communication methods
B. Include stakeholders communication in the risk register
C. Identify all potential project stakeholders
D. Plan for regular meetings involving all stakeholders

Answer 3

C. Identify all potential project stakeholders is the FIRST step (of 3) to Stakeholder Analysis

Question 4

Your project team is preparing an update to key stakeholders about the risk status of the project. The following information assets should be used EXCEPT:
A. Company policies and procedures
B. Lessons learned from previous projects
C. Technical specifications from vendor/supplier
D. Personal archives

Answer 4

D. Unofficial personal archives are not useful for project risk status reporting.

Question 5

When identifying risks, it is most important to consider all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Individual stakeholders’ viewpoint
B. Group opinion
C. Time and resources to document risk register
D. Organizational process assets

Answer 5

C. Stakeholders’ viewpoint, group opinions and OPA are MOST important for risk identification. Sufficient time and resources have to be catered and planned for.

Question 6

A team member has activated a risk response strategy and seeks your advice on where she could document the results and observations related to the response actions for future reference.  Where is the BEST place to record the information?
A.	Minutes of meeting
B.	Weekly progress report
C.	Lessons learned database
D.	Company archives

Answer 6

C. For future reference, lessons learned database is always the BEST.

Question 7

Which of the following is the output of Plan Risk Management?
A.	Roles and responsibilities
B.	Operational transfer issues
C.	Risk response plan
D.	Risk management plan

Answer 7

D. Risk management plan is the output of Plan Risk Management. Risk response plan is the result of Plan Risk Responses.

Question 8

During risk identification, some stakeholders provided some general statements and were not specific about the potential risk event. The risk management team should ask the following questions to clarify:
A. What assumptions were made?
B. What is the likelihood of the risk event occurring?
C. What is the potential impact of the risk event?
D. What are the potential responses to the risk event?

Answer 8

A. Assumption analysis explores the validity of assumptions as they apply to Identify Risks. Likelihood of occurrence and potential impact apply to Analyze Risks. Potential responses are identifiable with Plan Risk Responses.

Question 9

Project risks communication is most critical during which of the following project management processes:
A. Identify stakeholders
B. Identify risks using the Delphi technique
C. Plan risk responses
D. Monitor and control project work

Answer 9

C. Plan Risk Responses involves clear communication of risk response strategies to project stakeholders, seek approvals and appoint risk owners.

Question 10

How can the project manager ensure that stakeholders are well informed of risk management activities and risk status throughout the project?
A. Include an agenda item for risk status at periodic status meetings
B. Use a PMIS to document lessons learned
C. Publish the updated risk register at regular intervals
D. Create a project communications management plan

Answer 10

D. The keywords are “ensure that stakeholders are well informed of risk management activities …”. The communications management plan is the best document to ensure stakeholders’ communication requirements are satisfied; relevant communication technologies and methods are deployed.

Question 11

The project team has prepared a list of risks grouped by categories.  They have identified a list requiring responses in the near-term, and included a watch-list of low-priority risks.  The project team has just completed which risk management process?
A.	Identify risks
B.	Perform qualitative risk analysis
C.	Perform quantitative risk analysis
D.	Plan risk responses

Answer 11

B. Prioritized list of risks including the watch-list of low-priority risks is available after the Perform qualitative risk analysis.

Question 12

During the plan risk management process, the project manager explains to the team about the definitions and scales used for different levels of risks’ probabilities and impacts. The purpose is to:
A. Prevent bias and subjective evaluation
B. Explore and test validity of assumptions with the team
C. Kick-off quantitative risk analysis
D. Develop a look-up table or matrix of probability and impact

Answer 12

A. A clear definition of probability and impact scales provides a consistent assessment gauge so that project managers and stakeholders access the risks with no subjective judgment and personal bias

Question 13

The project sponsor has requested a document detailing what risk status information will be required from and expected by project stakeholders.  He also wants to understand how the information will be disseminated.  It is best to provide the:
A.	Stakeholder management plan
B.	Stakeholder assessment matrix
C.	Risk management plan
D.	Communications management plan

Answer 13

D. Stakeholder management plan and assessment matrix provide information on stakeholders only. Risk management plan defines risk management methodology, activities, roles and responsibilities but not stakeholder communication requirements. The best answer is Communications management plan.

Question 14

The MOST likely impact of communication blockers is:
A.	Project will be delayed
B.	Trust levels will be enhanced
C.	Team conflicts will occur
D.	Management will be unhappy

Answer 14

C. Communication blockers may not delay the project. More likely a lowering of trust levels, communication blockers will definitely not help or enhance trust level. Communication blockers are not just about unhappy management. The bigger concern is team conflicts resulting from miscommunications.

Question 15

A project was started with four team members.  The scope has expanded.  Now, the team has grown to a total of six members including the project manager.  How many additional communication channels does the project have?
A.	6
B.	9
C.	12
D.	15

Answer 15

B. Four team members: 4(3)/2 = 6 channels. Six team members: 6(5)/2 = 15 channels. Additional channels = 15-6 = 9.

Question 16

When identifying risks, the team has updated some template forms, checklists and included new risk categories. The BEST way to share these information and benefit future projects is:
A. Copy the information to other project teams
B. Update the organization process assets
C. Call a meeting of all project managers and conduct a briefing
D. Document a management report

Answer 16

B. Updates to templates, checklists and risk categories are good lessons learned for future projects and the best way should be to include them as updates to the organization process assets.

Question 17

Your company is making an effort to improve its project risk management processes and wanted to accumulate historical records of past projects. What is the BEST way to accomplish this?
A. Archive all project plans
B. Create regular status reports
C. Create a lessons learned database
D. Use a precedence network diagramming technique

Answer 17

C. Project plans are about project management activities. Status reports are situational snap shots of the project. Project risk management processes extend throughout the project life cycle. Lessons learned database is the best way to accumulate historical records throughout the entire project life cycle.

Question 18

A project team is having difficulty communicating over long distances.  There are 13 team members from two countries when five people from India are added to the project.  How many communication channels are there?
A.	153
B.	180
C.	324
D.	362

Answer 18

A. Total members = 13+5 = 18. Number of communication channels = 18(17)/2 = 153.

Question 19

You have just been assigned as project manager for a large ERP project. This project is now 50% completed.  It involves five multiple sellers and 20 staff members of your company on the project team. You wanted to better understand project status and progress information.  Which of the following reports would be the MOST helpful in finding such information?
A.	Activity status
B.	Project performance reports
C.	Variance analysis and budget forecast
D.	Communication management plan

Answer 19

B. Activity status is only status information. Variance analysis is progress information. Communication management plan is about communication requirement analysis and communication technology. Both status and progress information are included in Project Performance Reports

Question 20

The first phase of your project has come to an end. Before beginning the next phase, you should ensure that:
A. Resources are available for the next phase
B. Project’s progress is comparable to its baselines
C. Project phase has met its objectives and customers accepted the deliverables
D. Corrective actions are taken to bring project results in line with project expectations

Answer 20

C. Close project phase is ultimately concern with scope/product verification and customer acceptance of deliverables.

Question 21

Your project has had poor project meetings since its inception.  There have been complaints that information does not get to the right people, some people are talking too much during the meeting, and the right people are not there to resolve issues.  What is MOST likely missing from this project?
A.	Proper meeting agenda
B.	Responsibility chart
C.	Resource management plan
D.	Communications management plan

Answer 21

D. The scenario is about communication problems due to wrong stakeholders involved while some others are missing. Information is not getting to the right people. All these started since project inception. The most likely cause is a missing communications management plan.

Question 22

The project sponsor wanted to look at project risk information over time to see if project risk status has improved. It would BEST to provide a:
A. Trend analysis report
B. Variance analysis and budget forecast report
C. Project status report
D. Problem and issues log

Answer 22

A. Trend analysis is the best reporting tool that provides risk status change over a time scale.

Question 23

A project manager has a team consisting of people from four countries.  The project is very important to the company and the project manager is concerned about its success.  The project schedule, budget and risk management status are acceptable.  What type of communication methods should be used?
A.	Informal verbal
B.	Formal written
C.	Formal verbal
D.	Informal written

Answer 23

B. For a very important project with virtual team communication over four countries, formal written communication is most useful.

Question 24

What is a disadvantage of progress reports as compared to observing what is going on in the project, talking to team members, understanding issues and providing assistance to their work?
A. Progress reports does not include information from all the team members
B. Progress reports may only include information from some stakeholders
C. Progress reports generally show problems after they have occurred
D. Progress reports does not supply information about trends

Answer 24

C. Progress reports generally show problems after they have occurred. Observing, listening and understanding issues on the ground is the best way to provide assistance to team members.

Question 25

The work breakdown structure can be an effective aid for risk communication in which situation?
A.	Internal within the project team
B.	Internal within the organization
C.	External with the customer
D.	Internal and external to the project

Answer 25

D. The resources and work assignments in the work breakdown structure serve to be an effective aid to risk communication for both internal and external stakeholders of the project.

Question 26

Inputs, tools and techniques required to plan risk communications would include all the following EXCEPT:
A. Stakeholder register and communications requirements
B. Technology available to transfer information
C. Communication methods
D. Description of risk events and status information

Answer 26

D. All are inputs, tools and techniques to plan risk communication except risk events and status information are outputs of risk management processes.

Question 27

You are having a challenging time to ensure the project is on track.  The project is 10 months long and requires 100 people to complete.  You have just fixed all the project problems to your satisfaction.  The SPI is currently 0.67 and the CPI is 1.26.  There are over 20 tasks on the critical path.  In creating the monthly status report, you should report:
A.	that the project is doing well
B.	that the project will be late
C.	that the project cost is below budget
D.	the issues and options

Answer 27

D. Status report should only be describing the issues and options. All the other answers are to be reported in the project progress report.

Question 28

Project information has been distributed according to the communications management plan. Changes were made according to the change control system. One stakeholder expressed surprise upon being informed of a previously published change to a project deliverable. All other stakeholders received notification of the change. What should the project manager do?
A. Determine why the stakeholder did not receive the information and let him know when it was published
B. Review the communications plan to determine why the stakeholder did not understand his responsibility
C. Review the communications management plan and make revisions, if necessary
D. Address the situation in the next steering committee meeting so others do not miss published changes

Answer 28

C. It will be best to review the communication management plan to check if the concerned stakeholder has been included for the information disseminated.

Question 29

The CEO has indicated that he will support sending your staff for some training programs to help improve the risk management and risk governance in the organization.  Who would you recommend to include for the training?
A.	Project risk managers
B.	Project managers and team leaders
C.	Project managers and risk owners
D.	Project managers only

Answer 29

C. Risk management and risk governance must include project managers and risk owners.

Question 30

You are required to conduct periodic meetings to discuss about risk status. The amount of time required will vary depending upon the risks that have been identified, their priority, and difficulty of response. Of the following, which one is NOT a valid rule for project meetings?
A. Allow meetings to last as long as needed
B. Schedule recurring meetings as soon as possible
C. Distribute meeting agenda prior to the meeting start
D. Allow the project team to have input to the agenda

Answer 30

A. Meetings should not be allowed to last as long as needed.