1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a project?

Transcription

1 1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a project? A. Constrained by limited resources B. Planned, executed, monitored, and controlled C. Creates a unique product or service D. Ongoing and repetitive Answer: D Explanation: A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. The temporary nature of projects indicates a definite beginning and ending.

2 2. In which document would you find the code of account identifier, description of work, responsible organization: A. WBS B. WBS Dictionary C. PERT/Charts D. Responsibility Assignment Matrix Answer: B Explanation: Information in the WBS dictionary includes, but is not limited to, code of account identifier, description of work, responsible organization, list of schedule milestones, etc.

3 3. All the following statements relating to Project Management Staff and the project team are accurate EXCEPT: A. The Project Management Staff helps develop the Project Management Plan. B. The project team is responsible for activities like planning, controlling, and closing. C. The Project Management Staff is a subset of the project team. D. For very small projects, the project management responsibilities might be shared by the entire project team or administered solely by the project manager. Answer: B Explanation: The Project Management Staff is a subset of the project team and is responsible for the project management and leadership activities such as initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing the various project phases. This group can also be referred to as the core, executive, or leadership team. For smaller projects, the project management responsibilities can be shared by the entire team or administered solely by the project manager.

4 4. You are considering whether to buy or make a software product. If you want to buy, the cost is $ 80,000, and the cost of procuring and integrating the product in your company is $ 1,000. If you want to build it yourself, the product will require seven engineers working for three months. The salary of each software engineer is $ 4,000 per month. The other related miscellaneous costs budget allocated to the project is $2,000. Which option will you choose? A. Buy B. Build C. Neither build, nor buy D. Need more information on suppliers to make a decision Answer: A Explanation: If you buy, the cost is: $ 80,000 + $ 1,000 = $ 81,000, If you build, the cost is: $ 4,000 x 7 x 3 + $ 2,000 = $ 86,000. So, in this situation, it is preferable to buy.

5 5. Which of the following would not be helpful in performing the Develop Schedule Process? A. Schedule network analysis, critical path method, critical chain method B. Project calendars and schedule data C. Scheduling tool, schedule compression, leads and lags D. Modeling techniques, resource optimization techniques Answer: B Explanation: Know your Tools/Techniques. Project calendars and schedule data are outputs of the Develop Schedule Process.

6 6. In the context of the communication model, all the following statements are correct EXCEPT: A. Noise (communication blockers) should be minimized. B. Receiver should decode and reply to the message. C. Decoder (receiver) should acknowledge and agree with the message sent by the encoder (sender). D. Decoder should send a feedback message to the encoder. Answer: C E xplanation: Inherent in the communication model is an action to acknowledge a message. Acknowledgment signals only receipt of the message, not agreement or understanding

7 7. The government has mandated that you ensure the neighborhood is not adversely impacted by your project. For your project, this directive is regarded as a/an: A. Assumption B. Ethical practice C. Constraint D. Deliverable Answer: C Explanation: From a project management point of view, constraints are factors that will limit the Project Management Staff`s options. Since this is a government mandate, it becomes a constraint for your project.

8 8. You are estimating schedule activity costs by determining the unit cost rates, e.g., staff costs per hour. All the following could be used to determine resource cost rates EXCEPT: A. Statistical relationship (parametric estimating) between historical data and other variables. B. Interviewing those doing the work. C. Reviewing standard rates with escalation factors (for contracts). D. Reviewing a seller s published price list. Answer: A Explanation: Parametric estimating uses a statistical relationship between historical data and other variables. All the other options are valid ways to determine unit cost rates.

9 9. You are performing the Control Risks process, and are on the lookout for indications that a risk has occurred or is about to occur. These indications can also be referred to as: A. Triggers B. Workarounds C. Risk averse D. Triggers, warning signs, and risk symptoms Answer: D Explanation: Best answer is Triggers. Indications that a risk has occurred or is about to occur. Triggers may be discovered in the risk identification process and watched in the risk monitoring and control process. Triggers are sometimes called risk symptoms or warning signs.

10 10. Stakeholders, including consultants, customers, sponsors, and professional and technical associations, are some of the sources of: A. Enterprise environmental factors B. Organizational process assets C. Expert judgment D. Stakeholder monitoring and control Answer: C Explanation: Expert judgment: Additional expertise is available from many sources, including... other units within the organization; stakeholders, including consultants, customers, and sponsors; and professional and technical associations.

11 11. You decide to use statistical sampling for your project, because surveying the entire population involves all the following issues, except: A. Inaccurate data B. More money C. More time D. More resources Answer: A Explanation: Survey of the entire population would yield the most accurate data.

12 12. Your organization requires that all technical projects go through Initiate, Analyze, Design, Implement, Test, and Closeout project life cycle which is: A. Defined as the product life cycle. B. Defined by having applicable project phases. C. Contains several product life cycles. D. Has deliverables that must be completed before work starts on the next phase. Answer: B Explanation: A project life cycle is a collection of generally sequential and sometimes overlapping project phases whose name and number are determined by the management and control needs of the organization or organizations involved in the project, the nature of the project itself, and its area of application. Option A and Option C are wrong because project life cycle does not include the product life cycle. Option D is not accurate because work in the next phase may, at times, start before the deliverables of the previous phase are completed.

13 13. Your team started creating a work breakdown structure for your project, but soon realized the project was too complex to be depicted completely in graphic format. You began using a work breakdown structure code of accounts to: A. Determine the complexity of the project B. Identify the level at which individual WBS elements are found C. Help in automating the WBS using appropriate software D. Present justification for completing the project Answer: B Explanation: The WBS is finalized by establishing control accounts for the work packages and a unique identifier from a code of accounts. These identifiers provide a structure for hierarchical summation of costs, schedule, and resource information.

14 14. You advocate active participation of your team members; this is because you believe in: A. Theory Y (McGregor Model) B. Theory X (McGregor Model) C. Maslow`s hierarchy of needs D. Referent Power Answer: A Explanation: Douglas McGregor advocates that most workers can be categorized according to two theories: Theory X: This assumes that the workers are inherently lazy and require supervision Theory Y: The average worker finds physical and mental effort on the job satisfying and likes his work.

15 15. Which of the following is the most widely used contract type? A. Cost plus incentive fee contracts B. Fixed price incentive fee contracts C. Cost plus award fee contracts D. Firm Fixed Price Contract Answer: D Explanation: Firm fixed price contracts (FFP) is the most commonly used contract type. (And the type that is easier to budget for, typically provides the lowest risk, and requires no day-to-day administration.)

16 16. Please refer to the diagram given (all units are in days). What is the project float if management wants to complete this project within 13 days? A. 0 days B. - 3 days C. 2 days D. Cannot be determined, because information given in the question is incomplete Answer: B Explanation: The possible paths are as follows: Start -> Task1 -> Task2 -> Task4-> End: 10 Start -> Task3 -> Task5 -> Task7-> End: 15 Start -> Task6 -> Task7 -> End: 15 Start -> Task1 -> Task2 -> Task3 -> Task5 -> Task7 -> End: 16 The critical path is 16. If the project has to be completed within 13 days, the project float is - 3 days (i.e., 13-16) A project may have a negative project float. To deal with such conditions, if the project has to be completed on time, the project manager will have to either fast-track or crash the project schedule.

17 17. You use issue logs or action item logs to document and monitor the resolution of issues. You focus on documentation and timely resolution of issues, because unresolved issues can: A. Be escalated to the project sponsor. B. Become a major source of conflict if ignored. C. Become undetermined risks in the project. D. Have adverse effect on all project parameters. Answer: B Explanation: Issues are clearly stated and categorized based on urgency and their potential to impact the project. An owner is assigned an action for resolution, and target date is usually established for closure. Unresolved issues can be a major source of conflict and project delays.

18 18. Your project is almost complete, when the customer requests an additional feature in the project`s final product. The BEST course of action is to: A. Include the feature, as it will improve customer satisfaction. B. Include the feature -- otherwise the product will not be accepted by the customer. C. Talk with the customer and explain that the new feature does not make business sense. D. Follow your change control process. Answer: D Explanation: Option D is the best available choice. Option A and Option B are not recommended, because this requirement was not in the initial scope of work. Agreeing to include this requirement now will impact your project deliverables. Option C assumes that you know more about the business needs than the customer, which may not be true.

19 19. You and the other Project Management Staff are using cost aggregation, reserve analysis, expert judgment, and funding limit reconciliation to establish a cost performance baseline. This is performed during which process? A. Control Costs B. Determine Budget C. Estimate Costs D. Create WBS Answer: B Explanation: Knowing your tools & techniques is how you get this one right. Aggregate means add it all up. Determine Budget is the process of aggregating the estimated costs of individual activities or work packages to establish an authorized cost baseline. Cost aggregation, reserve analysis, expert judgment, historical relationships, and funding limit reconciliation are all the tools/techniques used in this process.

20 20. Graphical representations of situations showing cause-and-effect, time ordering of events, and other relationships among variables and outcomes are also referred to as: A. S-curve charts B. Graphical evaluation and review technique (GERT) C. Causal influence diagrams D. Run charts or scatter diagrams Answer: C Explanation: These are graphical representations showing causal influences, time ordering of events, and other relationships among variables and outcomes.

21 21. During executing, all the following statements are apply, except: A. Most of the project budget will be expended during the Executing Process Group. B. The project manager and the team implement the planned methods and standards. C. The project manager will review/verify all information from the current phase-end closures. D. The project manager and the team manage risks and implement risk contingency plans. Answer: C Explanation: When closing the project, the project manager will review all prior information from the previous phase closures to ensure that all project work is complete and that the project has met its objectives.

22 22. Determining the required levels of quality for the project is the responsibility of: A. Project Sponsor B. Project Manager/Project Management Staff C. Project Team D. All stakeholders in the project Answer: B Explanation: The Project Manager and the Project Management Staff are responsible for managing the tradeoffs involved to deliver the required levels of both quality and grade.

23 23. You understand that managing stakeholder engagement is an important priority. Which statement on project stakeholders is NOT correct? A. Negative stakeholders should be ignored if the project has to be successfully completed. B. Stakeholders have varying levels of responsibility and authority when participating on a project and these can change over the course of the project life cycle. C. Some key stakeholders include project manager, operations management, project team, customers, and sponsor. D. Stakeholder expectations may be difficult to manage, because stakeholders often have very different or conflicting objectives. Answer: A Explanation: In the case of stakeholders with positive expectations from the project, their interests are best served by helping the project succeed. The interests of negative stakeholders are served by impeding the project`s progress. Overlooking negative stakeholders can result in an increased likelihood of failure.

24 24. You need to verify whether deliverables meet requirements and product acceptance criteria. For this purpose, which of the following tools/techniques would you rely on? A. Inspection B. Expert judgment C. Observations D. Focus groups Answer: A Explanation: Inspection includes activities such as measuring, examining, and verifying to determine whether work and deliverables meet requirements and product acceptance criteria.

25 25. Two project team members disagree often on the best way to handle an issue. You ask them to look at the positives and negatives of their approaches and submit their recommendations, which could be a "middle path. Which of the following conflict resolution techniques have you used? A. Smoothing B. Compromising C. Confrontation D. Withdrawal Answer: B Explanation: Both sides give a little.

26 26. You had conducted an independent estimate to find out the cost of sub-contracting the manufacturing of 1,000,000 ball-bearings for your automobile company. You estimated the cost to be $500 per bearing. However, when you asked for bids and proposals from prospective sellers, the minimum price quoted was $750 per bearing. The reasons for the variance in the estimate could be all the following EXCEPT: A. The procurement statement of work was not clear. B. The prospective sellers misunderstood the procurement statement of work. C. The procurement statement of work was not sufficient. D. There have been no major changes in the cost of material and labor since last year. Answer: D Explanation: Significant differences in cost estimates can be an indication that the procurement statement of work was deficient, ambiguous, and/or that the prospective sellers either misunderstood or failed to respond fully to the procurement statement of work.

27 27. You are responsible for meeting the project schedule deadlines. If there is some delay in the project schedule, you should: A. Increase the timeline for the project. B. Determine what would happen if you fast tracked or crashed the project, and let the Change Control Board know the impact. C. Ask the resources to work overtime to meet the project deadlines. D. Change the project scope. Answer: B Explanation: Schedule compression shortens the project schedule without changing the project scope to meet schedule constraints, imposed dates, or other schedule objectives. Schedule compression techniques, include crashing, fast tracking, re-estimating, and/or cut scope/ quality.

28 28. You are performing the Manage Communications Process. Which of the following is NOT an Tool/Technique: A. Work performance information B. Communications technology C. Communications methods D. Information management systems Answer: A Explanation: Performance reports are the output from the Control Communications Process; not from Manage Communications Process.

29 29. One of your team members filed a critical report ten minutes before a bidder conference. You notice some serious errors have crept into the report. You should: A. Reschedule the meeting for a later date. B. Go ahead with the meeting and tell the participants what is wrong with the report. C. Go ahead with the meeting, but ask your team member to make the presentation. D. Refer the team member`s report to management and ask them to cancel the meeting. Answer: A Explanation: Option A is the best choice. It s always best to understand things before you try to discuss them J. Option B and C can adversely impact the team morale and undermine your position in the bidder conference. Option D is not recommended, as you should take ownership to solve the problem.

30 30. You are creating a cost performance baseline for your project. All of the following statements related to cost performance baseline are correct EXCEPT: A. It is a time - phased budget. B. To measure disbursements, a spending plan can be used as a costbaseline. C. It is used to measure, monitor, and control overall cost performance. D. In the earned value management technique, it is also known as cost measurement baseline. Answer: D Explanation: In the earned value management technique, the cost performance baseline is referred to as the performance measurement baseline (PMB).

31 31. You are the project manager in an automobile manufacturing company. Machine parts required in your manufacturing process supplied by a vendor did not reach in time because of heavy rains. You had anticipated this risk and planned for it in your risk register. You started using unutilized machine parts supplied one year ago. However, this has subjected your project to a new risk - the machine parts which were not used for one year suffer from higher level of defects. This new risk can also be called: A. Contingency risk B. Pure risk C. Secondary risk D. Residual risk Answer: C Explanation: Components of risk register Secondary risks that arise as a direct outcome of implementing a risk response.

32 32. You are in the process of performing the work as defined in the project management plan to achieve the project`s objectives. This is done during: A. Direct and Manage Project Work B. Develop Project Management Plan C. Validate Scope D. Create Deliverables Answer: A Explanation: Performing the work is done during Executing. Direct and Manage Project Work is the process of performing the work defined in the project management plan to achieve the project`s objectives.

33 33. You are managing the tools/spare parts section for an aircraft manufacturing company. Your team members have discovered some defective tools/spare parts. The probable cause for these could be materials used, defective measurement systems, inaccurate tolerances in the machines, or other factors. To determine what caused the defect, you use: A. Use a control chart B. Draw an Ishikawa diagram C. Create a flowchart D. Draw a Pareto chart Answer: B Explanation: Cause and effect diagrams (also called Ishikawa or fishbone diagrams), illustrate how various factors might be linked to potential problems or effects.

34 34. You have been managing a project to construct a bridge on an Interstate highway. You have divided the project into phases to provide better management control. Which of the following is a characteristic of a project phase? A. Formal phase completion necessarily includes authorization for the subsequent phase. B. A project phase can be closed with a decision not to begin the subsequent phase. C. Project phases shouldn t be divided into sub-phases even in complex projects, as it becomes too difficult to manage. D. All deliverables in the project phase should correspond to the project management process. Answer: B Explanation: Formal phase completion does not necessarily include authorization for the subsequent phase. For instance, if the risk is deemed to be too great for the project to continue or if the objectives are no longer required, a phase can be closed with the decision not to initiate any other phase.

35 35. An environmental remediation project has succeeded in reducing costs. This is achieved by implementing a change request for new technology not available when the scope was originally defined. An approach used to optimize project life cycle costs, save time, increase profits, improve quality, expand market share, solve problems, and/or use resources more effectively is called: A. Value engineering B. Unanimity C. Voice of customer D. Variance analysis Answer: A Explanation: This is the definition for Value Engineering.

36 36. According to Herzberg`s theory, all of the following are motivating factors, except: A. Recognition B. Increased responsibility C. Career advancement possibilities D. Salary Answer: D (Although an increase in salary for additional performance can be a motivator, salary by itself is not.)

37 37. You have to provide a critical deliverable within five months and do not have time to go through the Conduct Procurements process. You decide to sign a contract with a supplier with whom your company has done some work in the past. The risk you are accepting in this situation is: A. The ability of the supplier to deliver the goods. B. Collusion between the supplier and your team. C. Lack of proper scope definition. D. Lack of a legally binding agreement. Answer: A Explanation: The risk here is that even though the supplier has worked with the company in the past, they may not have the required skills for the current project.

38 38. You are in the process of performing the Develop Schedule process to determine planned start and finish dates for project activities. Which of the following inputs will be helpful for beginning this process? A. Activity attributes, project scope statement, and activity list B. Activity list, activity attributes, and schedule data C. Project calendar, requested changes, and schedule data D. Work performance information, schedule baseline, and performance reports Answer: A Explanation: In the Develop Schedule Process, planned start and finish dates for project activities are determined by using activity attributes, project scope statement, and activity list as inputs. The other options contain outputs.

39 39. You are performing the Control Communications Process to organize and summarize the information gathered. Later, you present the results of the analysis as a comparison to the performance measurement baseline. Some common formats for performance reports that you could use are: A. S-curves, histograms, Pareto diagrams, GERT Charts B. S-curves, responsibility assignment matrices, histograms C. Bar charts, S-curves, histograms D. Bar charts, control charts, project network diagrams Answer: C Explanation: Common formats for performance reports include bar charts, S-curves, histograms, and tables.

40 40. You are managing a project in a foreign country, and now you realize you will have to pay a fee to some government agencies to get your work done. You should: A. Pay the fee to the government agencies. B. Refuse to pay the fee, because they are bribes and hence unethical. C. Make a case why fees should be paid to government agencies, and present it to your management. D. Offer gifts to the government officials instead of fee to get their support. Answer: A Explanation: A project manager has the responsibility to refrain from offering or accepting inappropriate payments, gifts, or other forms of compensation for personal gain, unless it is in conformity with applicable laws or customs of the country where the project management services are provided. In this scenario, however, since the law of the country requires payment of fee to the government agencies, you will not be committing any breach of the Code if you pay the same. It is a constraint.

41 41. There have been several changes in the cost and schedule estimates on your project, and the original estimating assumptions are no longer valid. Calculate the estimate at completion (EAC) for your project based on the following data? BAC = $ 300,000 AC = $ 100,000 EV = $ 150,000 CPI = 1.2 ETC = $ 120,000 A. $ 250,000 B. $ 220,000 C. $ 280,000 D. $ 300,000 Answer: B Explanation: Since original estimating assumptions are no longer valid, EAC = AC + ETC = $ 100,000 + $ 120,000 = $ 220,000

42 42. You have been sub-contracting your IT development work to four consulting firms. In this context, all the following statements relating to transferring of risk to a contractor are true, except: A. Risk transference nearly always involves payment of a risk premium. B. Fixed price contract always transfers the risk to the seller. C. Cost-plus contracts may transfer the cost risks to the buyer. D. Contracts may be used for the transference of liability for specified risks to another party. Answer: B Explanation: A fixed-price contract may transfer risk to the seller.

43 43. Project integration management includes the processes and activities needed to identify, define, combine, unify, and coordinate the various processes and project management activities. For successful project integration management, it would likely be best to have: A. A strong matrix organizational structure in your company B. A good communication management plan C. Good project selection techniques D. Positive stakeholders who support the project Answer: B Explanation: Option B is the best choice. Integration and Communication go hand-in-hand. A good communication management plan ensures good communication between the different project interfaces and team members. This is essential for project integration management. Option A: Strong matrix organizational structure is not essential for good project integration management. Other organization structures, including projectized, balanced matrix, etc, can also provide successful project integration management. Option C: Project selection techniques are used for project selection in initial stages of the project. However, they are not essential for project integration management. Option D: Projects may have positive and negative stakeholders, but the type of stakeholders will not affect successful project integration management.

44 44. The customer was not satisfied with the finished product`s quality. The cost of poor quality can also be referred to as: A. Cost of conformance B. Failure costs C. Sunk costs D. Opportunity costs Answer: B Explanation: Failure costs are often categorized into internal (found by the project) and external (found by the customer). Failure costs are also called cost of poor quality.

45 45. As a portfolio manager, you would be responsible for managing which of the following? A. Project interdependencies B. Projects and programs C. Programs and operations D. Functional work and operations Answer: C Explanation: Best answer. Portfolio refers to a collection of projects or programs and other work that are grouped together to facilitate effective management of that work to meet strategic business objectives.)

46 46. The sponsor wants to make a change to the project. You should: A. Ask the sponsor to determine the impact of the schedule first. B. Ask the sponsor how much it will cost to make the change. C. Perform a funding limit reconciliation immediately, and let the sponsor know what the additional costs will be. D. Work with the sponsor throughout the change control process. Answer: D Explanation: If there is a major change to the project, the project manager should try to influence the change to minimize the impact on the project. Usually the project manager s advised to do the following: 1) Evaluate the impact of the change within the team. 2) Help the customer (or person requesting the change) understand the impact of the change. 3) If changes are in fact required, then open a change control and get the request approved. Obviously, you will have to inform the management and the change control board about the impact of the changes. 4) If the change control board approves changes, then make appropriate changes in the project plan.

47 47. Your Project Management Staff is in the process of developing the Human Resource Plan. The enterprise environmental factor that cannot influence this process is: A. Lessons learned documentation B. Existing human resources C. Personnel administration policies D. Marketplace conditions Answer: A Explanation: The enterprise environmental factors that can influence the Develop Human Resource Plan process include, but are not limited to: organizational culture and structure, existing human resources, personnel administration policies, and marketplace conditions. Lessons learned documentation become organizational process assets.

48 48. Your company has entered into a joint venture with another company, and you are in the process of finalizing a teaming agreement. In the teaming agreement, both the buyer and the seller collectively prepare: A. Source selection criteria B. Contract C. Procurement statement of work D. The contract & procurement statement of work Answer: D Explanation: Best answer. Teaming agreement: The effort of the buyer and the seller in this process is to collectively prepare a procurement statement of work that will satisfy the requirements of the project. The parties will then negotiate a final contract for award.

49 49. The process of identifying the specific actions to be performed to produce project deliverables refers to: A. Define Activities B. Collect Requirements C. Create WBS D. Create Stakeholder Management Plan Answer: A Explanation: Define Activities is the process of identifying the specific actions to be performed to produce the project deliverables.

50 50. All of the following are inputs to the Define Scope Process, except: A. Requirements documentation B. Project Charter C. Project Scope Statement D. Organizational Process Assets Answer: C Explanation: The Project Scope Statement is the key output of the Define Scope Process.

51 51. You have conducted a communication requirements analysis to determine the total number of possible communication channels in the project. While conducting the analysis, you learn that the number of communication channels: A. Increases in reverse proportion to the number of people. B. Decreases in inverse proportion to the number of people. C. Increases in exponential proportion when the number of people increases. D. Depends on the type of project. Answer: C Explanation: Option C is the best answer. Formula is n (n-a) / 2

52 52. You have been asked to help management select two of three potential projects. Which of the following would not apply? A. Configuration management B. Constrained optimization method C. Benefit measurement methods D. Analogous estimating Answer: A Explanation: Configuration management is used for changes/ version control.

53 53. You are in the Identify Risks Process and are determining which risks may affect the project and document their characteristics. Whom would you want to be a part of the Identify Risks process? A. The project manager, project team members, subject matter experts, and customers. B. The risk management team, end users, and risk management experts. C. All relevant stakeholders. D. Positively impacted stakeholders. Answer: C Explanation: Don t expect, but don t exclude. Participants in risk identification activities can include the following: project manager, project team members, risk management team (if assigned), customers, subject matter experts from outside the project team, end users, other project managers, stakeholders, and risk management experts. While these personnel are often key participants for risk identification, all project personnel should be encouraged to identify risks.

54 54. A change in your project schedule has resulted in increased cost and risk. It has also impacted your resource plan. To coordinate changes across the entire project, you will need to rely on which process: A. Configuration Management Plan B. Perform Integrated Change Control C. Change Request Plans D. Changes to project plan baselines Answer: B Explanation: Perform Integrated Change Control process includes... coordinating changes across the entire project.

55 55. In a normal distribution, standard deviation refers to: A. Distance of measurement from the mean (i.e. how far from the mean) B. Distance of measurement from the most likely value C. Distance of measurement from the middle most value D. A tool that is used in qualitative risk analysis Answer: A Explanation: Standard deviation is a distance of measurement from the mean or, the square root of the average of the squares of deviations (about) the mean of a set of data. Standard deviation is a statistical measure of spread or variability. A standard normal distribution, which shows standard deviation (sigma) as distance of the measurement from the mean value.

56 56. You and your Project Management Staff are developing the Project Management Plan. Which of the following is not in the correct sequence? A. Plan risk management, identify risks, qualitative risk analysis, quantitative risk analysis, plan risk responses, plan procurements B. Scope management plan, stakeholder management plan, requirements documentation, project scope statement, WBS C. Activity lists, estimate resources, estimate durations, schedule, project schedule network diagram D. Quality management plan, staffing management plan, communications management plan Answer: C Explanation: Schedule comes after the Project Schedule Network Diagram.

57 57. You are the project manager at a software development company, and need ideas for project and product requirements. Which of the following techniques would you most likely use to gather ideas at your meeting? A. Focus groups B. Idea/mind mapping C. Nominal group technique D. Brainstorming Answer: D Explanation: Brainstorming (best answer): A technique used to generate and collect multiple ideas related to project and product requirements. The other options actually utilize brainstorming.

58 58. You invest a lot of time in team development to increase the team`s performance, which in turn increases the likelihood of meeting project objectives. Which of the following indicators would you most likely NOT use to evaluate your team`s effectiveness? A. Improvement in skills of team members. B. Improvement in competencies and morale that help the team to perform better as a group. C. Decrease in staff-attrition (i.e, fewer people leaving the project team). D. Delivery of project deliverables ahead of schedule. Answer: D Explanation: To evaluate the team`s effectiveness, we may include indicators such as: Improvements in skills that allow individuals to perform assignments more effectively; Improvements in competencies that help the team to perform better as a team; Reduced staff turnover rate; Increased team cohesiveness whereby team members share information and experiences and help each other to improve the overall project performance

59 59. Which of the following statements on time and material contracts is true? A. These types of contracts resemble cost-reimbursable type arrangements, because they are close ended. B. T&M contracts cannot grow in value like a cost-reimbursable contract. C. The full value of the agreement is defined at the time of contract award. D. Unit rates can be fixed by the buyer and seller when both parties agree on the values for specific resource categories. Answer: D Explanation: Time and material (T&M) contracts are the types of contracts that resemble cost-reimbursable contracts in that they can be left open ended and may be subject to a cost increase for the buyer. The full value of the agreement and the exact quantity of items to be delivered may not be defined by the buyer at the time of the contract award. Thus, T&M contracts can increase in contract value as if they are cost-reimbursable contracts. Unit labor or material rates can be preset by the buyer and seller, including seller profit, when both parties agree on the values for specific resource categories, such as senior engineers at specified rates per hour, or categories of materials at specified rates per unit.

60 60. While creating a project schedule, what duration should a milestone have? A. Zero B. Duration equal to the phase duration C. Duration estimates plus cost of conformance and contingency reserves D. Early start plus duration Answer: A Explanation: Milestone is a significant point or event in the project with no duration associated with it.

61 61. You would like to conduct a lessons learned session to identify project successes and failures, as well as make recommendations to improve future project performance. This is usually done: A. During project closure B. After scope validation C. Throughout the project life cycle at phase exits D. During project execution and project closure Answer: C Explanation: During the project life cycle, the project team and key stakeholders identify lessons learned concerning all aspects of the project. The lessons learned are compiled, documented, and distributed so that they become part of the historical database. However, most of the organizations prefer post-implementation meetings and case studies to document lessons learned.

62 62. You recently went on an official trip to another country to discuss a business proposition with a potential vendor. The vendor took you out for lunch and offered you gifts, as it is customary in that country. You must: A. Tell the vendor that you cannot accept the gifts as per company policy B. Accept the gifts as it is a local custom, but promptly inform your manager C. Return the gifts, because accepting them could be interpreted as a personal gain D. Accept the gifts, as they are not very expensive Answer: B Explanation: A project manager has the responsibility to refrain from offering or accepting inappropriate payments, gifts, or other forms of compensation for personal gain, unless it is in agreement with applicable laws or customs of the country where the project management services are being provided.

63 63. All of the following relate to the Closing Process Group, except: A. Managing procurement relationships, monitoring contract performance, and making changes/corrections to contracts as appropriate. B. Procurements should be finalized prior to closing the project C. Procurement information should be stored in a records management system D. The project sponsor signs off on the project after the final lessons learned is complete Answer: A Explanation: This is the definition for the Control Procurements Process, which is performed during monitoring and controlling.

64 64. You have identified important risks and planned the appropriate responses. Some risks (e.g. possibility of natural disasters impacting the project) have been documented and accepted in your risk management plan. What are the remaining risks called? A. Unidentifiable Risks B. Residual Risks C. Secondary Risks D. Inherent Risks Answer: B Explanation: Components of the risk register...include: Residual risks that are expected to remain after planned responses have been taken, as well as those that have been deliberately accepted.

65 65. In a recent job interview, you are asked to define the most important characteristic of a project manager. Which of the following will be the best answer? A. Subject matter expert B. Integrator C. Encoder D. Risk manager Answer: B Explanation: In the project management context, integration includes characteristics of unification, consolidation, articulation, and integrative actions that are crucial to project completion, successfully managing stakeholder expectations, and meeting requirements.

66 66. You have been asked to prepare a process improvement plan. You should consider all the following, except: A. Costs of non conformance B. Targets for improved performance C. Process boundaries and process metrics D. Continual process improvement analysis meetings during Executing Answer: A Explanation: Costs of non conformance are rework, etc. The areas to be considered in the process improvement plan include process boundaries, process configuration, process metrics, and targets for improved performance.

67 67. You are responsible for managing a project in your company but you have little authority and have to constantly report to a functional manager. To which organizational structure does your company best relate to? A. Matrix B. Functional C. Projectized D. Balanced Answer: B Explanation: A classic functional organization... is a hierarchy where each employee has one clear superior. Staff members are grouped by specialty, such as production, marketing, engineering, and accounting at the top level.

68 68. You are a project manager in a manufacturing company, and are developing a new product. In this context, you are conducting requirements workshop for the stakeholders to determine the product`s critical characteristics. Which technique would best be used for this purpose? A. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) B. Joint Application Development (JAD) C. Voice Of Customer (VOC) D. Juran`s improvement technique Answer: A Explanation: Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is an example of a facilitated workshop technique that helps determine critical characteristics for new product development.

69 69. You establish clear expectations regarding acceptable behavior by project team members. You believe that early commitment to clear guidelines will decrease misunderstanding and increase productivity. These expectations and guidelines are also known as: A. Team-building activities B. Ground rules C. Interpersonal skills D. Core team rules of conduct Answer: B Explanation: Ground rules establish clear expectations on acceptable behavior by project team members. Early commitment to clear guidelines decreases misunderstandings and increases productivity. Discussing ground rules allows team members to discover values that are important to one another.

70 70. You are in the process of determining the types of contracts to be used, need for standardized procurement documents, and ways of managing multiple providers. You can get the guidance for doing these activities through: A. Project Management Plan B. Contract Change Control Plan C. Procurement Management Plan D. Cost Management Plan Answer: C Explanation: The procurement management plan describes how the procurement processes will be managed from developing procurement documents through contract closure. The procurement management plan can include guidance for: - Types of contracts to be used - Whether independent estimates will be used and if they are needed as evaluation criteria - Managing multiple suppliers

71 71. You are beginning the Estimate Activity Durations Process. Which of the following would be helpful? A. Source selection criteria, P-I matrix B. Staffing management plan, Communications management plan C. Quality metrics, Quality checklists D. Activity list, Resource Calendars, Resource Breakdown Structure, Risk Register Answer: D Explanation: Helpful inputs. Note that risk register is included as part of the contingency reserves needed for reserve analysis.

72 72. You are the project manager with seven team members. One more member will be joining the team after a week. What will be the number of communication channels once the new member joins your team? A. 28 B. 21 C. 18 D. 36 Answer: D Explanation: There will be 9 people in your team (this includes 8 team members and you, the project manager). So, the number of communication channels = 9 * (9 - A) / 2 = 9 * 8 / 2 = 36.

73 73. All of the following are inputs for the Monitor and Control Project Work Process, except: A. Project management plan, enterprise environmental factors, organizational process assets B. Validated changes, work performance information C. Change requests & work performance reports D. Schedule & cost forecasts Answer: C Explanation: These are actually outputs for this process.

74 74. Half way through your construction project, the CPI is 0.85 and SPI is What could be the possible reason? A. A critical resource went on sick leave for a long period of time, which had not been anticipated earlier. B. The cost of raw materials required for construction increased by 10%. (You had anticipated a cost increase of 12% in your project plans.) C. In anticipation of delays, the project was crashed to decrease the duration. D. There was four days waiting time in the curing of concrete, and work could not be done during that time. Answer: C Explanation: Option C: This is the correct answer, because crashing of a project results in decreased duration and increased costs. This verifies the given data on CPI and SPI. Options 1 and 4: They are ruled out, because they do not verify the given data that SPI>1. Option B: This is also ruled out, because it does not verify the given data that CPI<1.

75 75. Even after carefully performing risk management for the project, you realize that possibility of new risks occurring in the future still exists. You will be able to handle such risks if you perform: A. P-I Matrix Assessments B. Continuous Process Improvement C. Control Risks D. Risk Response Analysis Answer: C Explanation: The Control Risks is the process of implementing risk response plans, tracking identified risks, monitoring residual risks, identifying new risks, and evaluating risk process effectiveness throughout the project.

76 76. Which of the following are not inputs to the Direct and Manage Project Work Process: A. Organizational process assets B. Approved change requests C. Project management plan D. Change control tools Answer: D Explanation: Change control tools are a technique used in Perform Integrated Change Control process. The activities performed during the Direct and Manage Project Work process include but are not limited to manage sellers and suppliers, create project deliverables, implement the planned methods and standards, etc.

77 77. You have completed a NASA project for the launch of a weather forecasting satellite. The satellite is being tested for a specific quality metric. For which processes are quality metrics used? A. Perform Quality Assurance and Plan Quality Management B. Plan Quality Management and Perform Quality Control C. Perform Quality Control, Plan Quality Management, and Perform Quality Assurance D. Perform Quality Assurance and Perform Quality Control Answer: D Explanation: Quality metrics are used in the Perform Quality Assurance and Perform Quality Control processes Not in Planning.

78 78. You are a project manager in XYZ Company, which has a projectized organizational structure. In this environment, all of the following are true, except: A. Team members are often colocated. B. There is a "home" for project team members after a project is completed. C. You have a great deal of authority and independence. D. Organizational units (or departments) either report directly to you or provide support services to the various projects. Answer: B Explanation: One disadvantage of a projectized organization is that there is "no home" for the project team members once the project is completed. All the remaining features mentioned above are features of a projectized organization.

79 79. In projects, expert judgment will often be used throughout all the project integration processes as a common tool/technique. This can be provided by all of the following, except: A. Professional and technical associations B. Competitors C. Consultants D. Other units within the organization Answer: B Explanation: Expert judgment is available from: - Other units within the organization - Consultants - Stakeholders, including customers or sponsors - Professional and technical associations - Industry groups - Subject matter experts

80 80. In a previous project, the project manager told the team members what to do. The type of authority they likely had was: A. Legitimate (formal, based on position) B. Laissez faire C. Expert D. Penalty Answer: A

81 81. Which of the following would not be used during the Control Procurements Process? A. Contract change control, procurement performance reviews, payment systems B. Performance reporting, inspections, audits C. Claims administration, records management system D. Procurement audits, closed procurements Answer: D Explanation: Closed procurements is performed during the Close Procurements process.

82 82. All the following statements regarding the creation of duration estimates are correct EXCEPT: A. Mathematical analyses like CPM, GERT, and PERT indicate the dates on which the activity can be scheduled, given resource limits and other constraints. B. Duration compression techniques, including fast tracking and crashing, can help in decreasing the project schedule C. WBS classification allows for useful activity ordering and sorting. D. The duration of the project is the sum of the duration of all the activities in the project. Answer: D Explanation: The duration of the project should be calculated after drawing a network diagram and determining the critical path. The duration of the project is the length of the critical path and not the sum of the duration of all the tasks in the project.

83 83. Which of the following motivation theories is attributed to Victor Vroom? A. Three Needs Theory B. Expectancy Theory C. Theory Y D. Situational Leadership II Theory Answer: B Explanation: Victor Vroom is attributed with the Expectancy Theory. People expect to be recognized/rewarded, so plan on how to link their performance with their desired reward. (Three Needs: David Mclellan. Theory Y: Ouichi. Situational Leadership II: Hersey & Blanchard)