Time and Communication Category
Human Resource and Quality Category
Procurement and Integration Category
Scope and Cost Category
Risk and Stakeholder Category
100
Your company has won a project to build a school playground with specific toys and a sandpit.The school has mandated that the project be completed prior to start of the school after Holidays .You review the plan and see that the estimated completion date is nearly a month after the desired completion date.As resources are sparse you do not have the option to add additional resources.However you see that the sand pit work can start in parallel to the play kits being installed.Your analysis tells you that by performing these activities in parallel - the project would meet its schedule.This is an example of : A. Scope Creep B. Resource Levelling C. Crashing D. Fast Tracking
D is the correct answer. The correct answer is D - Crashing deals with adding additional resources which is not an option here.Crashing is a schedule compression technique by performing activities in parallel if they can be overlapped.NOTE Fast Tracking may result in increased risk and rework.
100
Which hierarchical chart shows resources? A. RBS B. OBS C. WBS D. Scope statement
A is the correct answer. The Resource Breakdown Structure shows various resources, both human and mechanical needed for the project.
100
In an organization a restructuring shift from weak matrix to strong matrix organization, the power is shifted from the: A Project Manager to the functional manager B Expeditor to the coordinator C Functional manager to the project manager D Functional manager to the sponsor
Answer – C Explanation – In a weak matrix organization the power stays with the functional manager and in strong matrix organization, power stays with the project manager. Now when the power shifts from weak to strong matrix, project manager will be having more power than the functional manager
100
You are in the process of making cost estimates for a project.However detailed requirements are not yet available.A similar project was executed by your company and you decide to use the past projects historical data to come up with your estimates. This is called - A. Analogous estimating B. Parametric estimating C. Bottom-up estimating D. Three point estimating
A is the correct answer. The correct answer is Analogous estimating - since analogous estimation relies on past or historical data of similar nature. As the project is at an early state - where the detailed requirements are not yet available - this is the best technique suited to come to an early estimate - though it may not be very accurate.
100
Which of the following statements are false regarding Risk Management? A. All identified risks are maintained in the Risk Register. B. Risk prioritization occurs in Qualitative Risk Analysis. C. Risk prioritization occurs in Quantitative Risk Analysis. D. Low priority risks are maintained in a Watch List.
C is the correct answer. All of the statements are true except the statement regarding Quantitative Risk Analysis.Quantitative Risk analysis does not deal with prioritizing risks.The prioritization occurs in the Qualitative Risk Analysis process.Quantitative Risk Analysis deals with assigning numeric values to risks.
200
You are the project manager for a large Project. You are currently busy with approximating number of work periods required to complete individual activities with estimated resources. Which of the following inputs do you need for this ? A. Activity List B. Activity resource requirements C. Resource Breakdown structure D. All of the above
C is the correct answer. Approximating number of work periods required to complete individual activities with estimated resources is done in Estimate Activity Duration process. Activity List,Activity resource requirements and Resource Breakdown structure are inputs of Estimate Activity Duration process. PMBOK
200
Which of the following is NOT part of a quality plan? A. Benchmarking B. Cost of Quality C. Design of experiments D. Quality audits
D is the correct answer. Quality audits are part of a Perform Quality Assurance process.
200
You are considering hiring service of some vendors regarding a utility development in your project. You have started with Plan procurement process, as a seasoned project manager in your opinion which of the following statements is true regarding the procurement management plan? A The procurement management plan defines the statement of work which contains the details of the procurement item/ service in specific terms B The procurement management plan explains how multiples vendors should be managed C The procurement management plan is an output of the plan Contracting process D None of the statements are true
Answer: B Explanation – The procurement management plan focuses on dealing with vendors outside of your company. It provide guidelines regarding how to manage multiple vendors, what procurement documents required, types of contracts and how the procurement process will be managed from developing procurement documents through contract closure.
200
Decomposition is best described as: A. Creating control accounts. B. Creating work packages. C. Breaking down deliverables into smaller work packages so they can be better planned D. Planning and scheduling of work packages
C is the correct answer. Decomposition deals with breaking down deliverables into small discrete work packages that can be planned better.It also helps prevent work from slipping through the cracks and gives the project team a better picture of the work involved.
200
You know that the success of your project will be determined by how well you manage risks.You know that identifying risks upfront can help you be better prepared with risk response strategies.So you decide to identify risks by taking help of experts.You have identified some good experts and rather than calling them into your office - you send them questionnaires.You promise them complete anonymity so that they give unhindered responses.What information gathering technique are you adopting? A. Brainstorming B. Root Cause Identification C. SWOT analysis D. Delphi Technique
D is the correct answer. All four options listed above are information gathering techniques - but the correct answer is Delphi Technique.This is a form of information gathering technique where inputs from experts is solicited anonymously without gathering them together.
300
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
B is the correct answer. 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 more stricter reprimand - so here the correct form of communication would be a formal written communication.
300
To facilitate,measure and control Quality - you have been asked to use the seven basic quality tools - also known as 7QC tools - which ones would they be ? A. Cause and effect diagrams , Flowcharts , Checksheets , Pareto diagrams , Histograms , Control Charts, Sequence Diagrams B. Cause and effect diagrams , Flowcharts , Checksheets , Pareto diagrams , Histograms , Control Charts, Scatter Diagrams C. Activity diagrams , Flowcharts , Checksheets , Pareto diagrams , Histograms , Control Charts, Sequence Diagrams D. Cause and effect diagrams , Monte Carlo analysis , Checksheets , Pareto diagrams , Histograms , Control Charts, Scatter Diagrams
B is the correct answer. Option B is the correct answer.
300
As a project manager, you receive an initial document of a project which states narrative description of product or service and results which required to be delivered by the project from the sponsor of the project. This document has the other references containing information that what are the needs of project depending on market demand or any government regulation and the scope characteristics of the product. What is the formal name of the document that you as Project manager have received? A Business Case B Project Charter C Statement of work D Project Scope statement
Answer – C Explanation – Here the document project manager has received is Statement of work. SOW (statement of work) is the document which contains narrative description of the product and expected results from the product. Business case contains the business standpoint or need of the project. It is a decision making document which helps in identifying the need of project depending on different factors such as market demand, organization need, customer request, legal requirements are few examples. Project Charter is the document which authorizes the project and SOW is the input to create project charter. Project scope statement is the documentation of project’s entire scope, major deliverables, assumptions, constraints and work required to complete the deliverables.
300
The _________ details the different tasks for members in the project. A. Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) B. WBS C. SOW D. Scope statement
A is the correct answer. A is the correct answer. Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) details the different tasks for the members in the project.
300
You are the project manager of the project which is in planning phase. You are done with scope, time, cost, human resource and quality planning and now working at risk response planning. In the process you realize that there is a very critical risk which may have a high cost impact on the project completion. So, you create a fallback plan, which of the following looks LEAST appropriate for fallback plan? A Developing Alternative options B Look for some outside vendor to subcontracting the project C Allocate contingency reserves D Change in project scope
Answer – B Explanation – Fallback plan is reaction to the risk that has occurred and if contingency plan is failed or not effective enough. Developing alternative options, or to have contingency reserves or look for any change in scope can be part of fall back plan. But subcontracting project to outside vendor is risk transfer strategy, including this as a fallback plan looks least appropriate
400
Sam is the project manager and asked his team to come up with estimates of a new module need to be added in the current software. The team has come up with estimate of 25 weeks and informs you that it can be shortened by 2 weeks if everything goes good. But because of some dependencies on third party, project can be delayed by five weeks. How these numbers can help Sam to calculate three-point estimate for the project. A  22.6 weeks B  23.5 weeks C  25.5 weeks D  22.3 weeks
Answer – C Explanation – PERT three-point estimation formula = (Optimistic Time + 4 x Most Likely Time + Pessimistic Time) ÷ 6. In this question we need to derive the value for Optimistic and pessimistic time. Most likely time given as 25 weeks and optimistic can be calculated as 25 – 2 (as team as said, it can be done 2 weeks earlier in best scenario) = 23. The third party dependencies can delay project by 5 weeks which gives us pessimistic time = 25 + 3 = 30 weeks. Now we can use PERT to calculate estimate as (23 weeks + 4 x (25 weeks) + 30 weeks) ÷ 6 = 25.5 weeks
400
Sam is looking for 2 Java Programmers for his project which he is managing as project manager. He had worked with Raymond who is an expert Java programmer in project which is completed year back now. He has met with Joe who is just out of school and Sam liked his attitude and would like to take him in his team even if he is lesser effective what he is looking for. Where can Sam, the project manager, find the information for the availability of Raymond and Joe so that he can put both on the project and get the work started? A Resource pool. B Historical information C Activity duration estimates D The scope statement
Answer – A Explanation – The characteristic of the resource pool is to keep data about a set of resources available for assignment to project tasks. Sam can check availability of Raymond and Joe from the resource pool that makes option A as correct answer. Option B and C are incorrect as they don’t keep any information about resource availability instead they both provide information on how to plan for resources. Scope statement does not relate to the problem resource availability.
400
You are managing a construction project and looking for prospective sellers for electricity fitment job. You have got many proposals and now one of your team member want you to give the project to a particular seller as he thinks they are perfect in their job. And another team member wants to give project to some other seller as he knows them very well. Which of the following is the BEST thing that a project manager and team should focus on at the time of seller selection? A Procurement Audits B Source Selection Criteria C Procurement Documents D Procurement Management Plan
B Here we are talking about Best way to select prospective seller for which Source Selection criteria is primary tool. It is the tool to evaluate potential sellers. It is set of attributes desired by the buyer which a seller is required to meet or exceed to be selected for a contract. Contract should not be granted by recommendations or preference of the team members. Option A, C and D does not talk about selection of sellers.
400
You are the project manager of a project and one of the functional managers wants to make a major scope change during the execution of the project. What should be your action? A. Prepare an impact detail of the change for the functional manager B. Refuse the change C. Complain to the sponsor D. Ignore the request
A is the correct answer. If there is scope change by a functional manager during the execution of the project, then the project manager sends the impact detail of the changes to functional manager.
400
Julia is managing an enhancement project, where few new modules need to be developed. She needs to buy some expensive tool for the development. The risk she is facing that her team may need few more licenses for that tool for at time completion of the project then approved. These extra licenses, if required can fluctuate total cost of the project by 8 % up or down. She has created tornado diagram to represent the fluctuation which can affect following phases of the project. What qualitative technique she is using in this scenario? A Monte Carlo B Decision Tree Analysis C Sensitivity Analysis D Probability distribution
Answer – C Explanation – Sensitivity analysis helps in finding which risks can have most impact on the project and Tornado diagram is the most common way of representing sensitivity analysis. Option A – Monte Carlo is a simulation technique to see what could happen on the project if risks do occur. Option B – Decision tree analysis is a way to do EVM (Expected Monetary Value) analysis which is used to calculate the average outcomes when the future scenarios may or may not happen or we can say analysis for what will happen under uncertainties. Option D – Probability distribution represent uncertainties in values of variables such as cost, schedule and duration.
500
The project that you are managing as 4 tasks, details of which are: A. Task A starts at the beginning of the project and has a duration of 5 days B. Task B starts after the completion of task A and has a duration of 3 days C. Task C starts after the completion of task A and has a duration of 7 days D. Task D starts after the completion of both tasks B and C and has a duration of 4 days What is the critical path on your project? A 8 days B 13 days C 16 days D 12 days
Answer – C Explanation – Critical path is the longest duration path in the network diagram but the shortest possible time to complete the project. From the network diagram calculate duration of each path and the longest duration is critical path. After drawing network diagram from the information provided, A-C-D has come out as critical path, and duration as 5+7+4 = 16 days, so C is the correct answer. Tags
500
Julia is just assigned as a project manager of a project. She is filled with enthusiasm as this is her first project as project manager. The project is in design phase and she has asked for suggestions from her team regarding design approach of a re-usable component that need to be created. Two team members are working on same approach and having some conflict. They came to her with a disagreement. She listens to the first team member and decided to go with his idea. She hasn’t listened to what other team member trying to suggest. Which conflict resolution technique has she used? A Compromise B Forcing C Withdrawing D Smoothing
Incorrect Answer – B Explanation – Forcing is win-lose situation, here in this case first team member won and second one lost as he hasn’t even get a chance to put his facts. Pushing one’s viewpoint on the cost of other is forcing. This is not a good way for conflict resolution. Option A – compromise is searching for solution that brings some degree of satisfaction to all parties which is not the case here. Option C – Withdrawing is postponing the conflict to be better prepared or to be resolved by others. Option D – Smoothing is minimizing the problem by making conflict appearing less important which not the case in is given scenario.
500
You have just prepared an RFP for release. Your project involves a substantial amount of contract work detailed in the RFP. Your favorite vendor drops by and offers to give you and your spouse the use of their company condo for your upcoming vacation. It’s located in a beautiful resort community that happens to be one of your favorite places to go for a getaway. What is the most appropriate response? A. Thank the vendor, but decline the offer because you know this could be considered a conflict of interest. B. Thank the vendor, and accept. This vendor is always offering you incentives like this, so this offer does not likely have anything to do with the recent RFP release. C. Thank the vendor, accept the offer, and immediately tell your project sponsor so they’re aware of what you’re doing. D. Thank the vendor, but decline the offer because you’ve already made another arrangement for this vacation. Ask them whether you can take a rain check and arrange another time to use the condo.
A. The best response is to decline the offer. This is a conflict of interest, and accepting the offer puts your own integrity and the contract award process in jeopardy. For more information, please see Chapter 12.
500
A project is estimated to cost $ 70,000 with a timeline of 60 days. After 30 days, the project manager finds that 50% of the project is complete and Actual costs are $ 50,000. Calculate the Cost Performance Index (CPI)? A CPI = 1 B CPI = 0.8 C CPI = 0.6 D CPI = 0.7
Answer – D Explanation – The correct answer is 0.7 Cost Performance Index (CPI) is measure of cost efficiency of budgeted resources. It is expressed as ratio of earned value to actual cost i.e. CPI = EV/AC where EV is the Earned Value and AC is the Actual Cost. Earned Value = 50% of $ 70,000 = $ 35,000 since 50% of the project is complete. Actual Cost provided is $50,000 Hence CPI = 35,000 / 50,000 = 0.7 A value less than 1 of CPI indicates cost overruns in the projects which is quite apparent also in the current scenario.
500
Your project involves the research and development of a new food additive. You’re ready to release the product to your customer when you discover that a minor reaction might occur in people with certain conditions. The reactions to date have been very minor, and no known long-lasting side effects have been noted. As project manager, what should you do? A. Do nothing because the reactions are so minor that very few people will be affected. B. Inform the customer that you’ve discovered this condition and tell them you’ll research it further to determine its impacts. C. Inform your customer that there is no problem with the additive except for an extremely small percentage of the population and release the product to them. D. Tell the customer you’ll correct the reaction problems in the next batch, but you’ll release the first batch of product to them now to begin using.
B. Honesty and truthful reporting are required of PMPs. In this situation, you would inform the customer of everything you know regarding the problem and work to find alternative solutions. For more information, please see Chapter 12.
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