150 Questions PMP
150 Questions PMP
Speed of execution
Manage cost
Correctness of solution
Customer value via frequent deliveries and feedback
(Correct)
Explanation
The correct answer to the question is option D: "Customer value via frequent
deliveries and feedback."
Explanation:
Agile
Iterative
(Correct)
Predictive
Incremental
Explanation
Option B (Iterative): In situations where the degree of change is high, and
the frequency of delivery is low, an iterative approach can be more suitable.
Iterative development involves repeating cycles of development, allowing for
continuous refinement and improvement. It enables the project team to
make adjustments based on feedback and changes in requirements to
deliver a final product with accuracy.
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 1: The assumption log is first created during the 'develop
project charter' process. Check the ITTO Chart for Develop Project Charter
- Figure 4.2 - Process Group Practice Guide.
During the Develop Project Charter process, the assumption log is typically
created as part of the project initiation phase. Assumptions play a crucial
role in project planning because they can significantly impact the project's
success if they turn out to be incorrect. By documenting assumptions, the
project team and stakeholders can be aware of the potential risks associated
with these assumptions.
By maintaining an assumption log, the project team can manage risks more
effectively, identify areas of uncertainty, and communicate openly with
stakeholders about the project's underlying assumptions. This contributes to
better decision-making and helps prevent surprises or challenges that may
arise due to invalidated assumptions.
Question 4:
Skipped
During a backlog refinement meeting, one of the client's employees asks the
product owner for a new feature. The product owner is unsure of who has the
authority to approve this request. To what document should the product
owner refer first?
RACI matrix
Resource Assignment Matrix
Change Management Plan
(Correct)
Scope document
Explanation
Option 3: Change management plan. It documents the process of
evaluating, submitting and approving/rejecting a change during a project. It
also lays down the authorities of approvals for a change (Sponsor/CCB etc.).
Further
reading: https://agilechangemanagement.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/
Introduction-to-Agile-Change-Management-v1.0-1.pdf
Question 5:
Skipped
You are a quality manager for a continuous improvement project. You would
want to identify a sampling strategy for a population on basis of 3 categories
of the standard of living (high, medium, low). Which type of sampling
strategy would you be using here?
Attribute sampling
(Correct)
Variable sampling
Control sampling
Category sampling
Explanation
Let's analyze each option and identify the correct one based on project
management principles, specifically referring to the Project Management
Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and associated concepts.
The question is about identifying a sampling strategy for a population based
on three categories of the standard of living (high, medium, low) for a
continuous improvement project. Here are the explanations for each option:
- Attribute sampling is used when dealing with discrete data and focuses
on the presence or absence of a certain characteristic within a given sample.
- In this case, the three categories of standard of living (high, medium, low)
are discrete attributes. Attribute sampling is suitable for this situation as it
helps in categorizing items into different attributes.
(Correct)
Explanation
Let's analyze each option and identify the correct one based on project
management principles, specifically referring to the Project Management
Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and associated concepts.
- The Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS) is a tool used for organizing and
representing project risks.
- It does not address the visualization of project team members, their roles,
and assigned work packages. Hence, it is not suitable for the planning stage
task described in the question.
(Correct)
Explanation
Let's analyze each option and identify the correct one based on project
management principles, specifically referring to the Project Management
Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), Agile Practice Guide, and associated concepts.
- Agile projects often use story points to estimate the effort required for
user stories. Calculating the average story points completed per iteration
compared to the total story points in scope provides a basis for estimating
the completion date.
- Agile projects typically work in iterations, and this approach aligns with
Agile principles by using historical data (average story points completed per
iteration) to forecast project completion.
Feature chart
(Correct)
Explanation
Let's analyze each option and identify the correct one based on project
management principles, specifically referring to the Project Management
Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), Agile Practice Guide, and associated concepts.
Check Pg. 67 of Agile Practice Guide for more details on Feature Chart
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 6: Plan and manage schedule
Question 9:
Skipped
In a matrix-type organization, the project manager finds that she requires
additional resources for quality sampling in the execution team. Whom
should the project manager approach first to ask for resources?
Functional managers
(Correct)
Sponsor
PMO
Product Owner
Explanation
Let's analyze each option and identify the correct one based on project
management principles, specifically referring to the Project Management
Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), Agile Practice Guide, and associated concepts.
B. Sponsor (Incorrect):
C. PMO (Incorrect):
(Correct)
Approve the request by yourself since you know that this will
not impact budget or schedule
Explanation
Option 3. Documenting the change request is the first course of action
when any change comes up.
Link to new ECO: Domain 3, Task-3: Evaluate and address external business
environment changes for impact on scope.
I hope none of you selected option A, B or D. If you have, please review the
answer explanations of Set-2,3 & 4 again since this topic has been covered
in depth over those sets across multiple questions.
I would recommend that you watch the following tutorial videos on Change
Management from my YouTube channel:
Question 11:
Skipped
You are leading an agile-based project and you are studying the latest
earned value report. The CPI for the project is 1.2 and the SPI for the project
is 0.8. 580 story points have been completed till now in your project. The PV
for that 580 story points is $600,000. The SV for the story points till now is (-)
$120,000. What is the CV for your project?
75000
80000
(Correct)
85000
90000
Explanation
EV/PV = 0.8, PV=600,000. Hence, EV = 480,000 | EV/AC = 1.2, AC =
(480,000/1.2) = 400,000 | CV = EV-AC = 480,000-400,000 = 80,000. Link to
new ECO: Domain 2, Task 5: Plan and manage budget & resources.
All values in $.
Also note that even if you may not get a mathematical problem like this in
your PMP Exam on the EVM topic, learning the basic concepts of EVM (via
such mathematical questions) is quite important because the type of
questions in your PMP Exam would be inference based and if you don't know
the basics of topic, you will not be able to answer the questions correctly.
Question 12:
Skipped
You are a project manager for an automation project and you are
currently developing the scope baseline for the project. You have
already done a thorough and timely job of identifying all the
stakeholders and collecting their requirements. Whom should you
involve now while developing the scope baseline?
Functional managers
Sponsor
Project team
(Correct)
Project stakeholders
Explanation
Correct Answer: C. Project team
Explanation:
Incorrect Options:
A. Functional managers:
While functional managers may have valuable input, their primary focus is
usually on managing resources within their functional areas. They may not
have the detailed technical knowledge required for developing the scope
baseline for the entire project. In the context of scope baseline development,
the project team is a more appropriate group.
B. Sponsor:
D. Project stakeholders:
While stakeholders are important throughout the project, the term is broad
and includes various individuals or groups with an interest in the project. In
the context of scope baseline development, it is more specific and effective
to involve the project team directly, as they are responsible for the detailed
execution of the project work.
In summary, the correct answer (C) focuses on involving the project team, as
they possess the technical expertise required for developing a detailed scope
baseline. The incorrect options (A, B, D) are less appropriate in this context,
given the specific requirements of scope baseline development as outlined in
the PMBOK Guide and related project management concepts.
Business case
(Correct)
Scope baseline
Cost baseline
Requirements management plan
Explanation
Correct Answer: A. Business case
Explanation:
According to the PMBOK Guide, the business case is a key input to the
development of the project charter. It helps in understanding the project's
context and provides the necessary information for senior management to
authorize the project. Without a well-documented business case, it would be
challenging to create a project charter that clearly communicates the
purpose and value of the project.
Incorrect Options:
B. Scope baseline:
The scope baseline, which includes the project scope statement, WBS (Work
Breakdown Structure), and WBS dictionary, is developed during the planning
phase of the project, not the initiation phase. It provides a detailed
description of the project scope and is used as a basis for future project
planning and execution.
C. Cost baseline:
Similar to the scope baseline, the cost baseline is developed during the
planning phase. It includes the project budget and is used as a guide for
project cost control during project execution. Developing the cost baseline is
not a prerequisite for creating the project charter.
Check the ITTO Flowchart for the process 'DEVELOP PROJECT CHARTER' from
Process Group Practice Guide - Section 4.1.
Question 14:
Skipped
There are concerns within an agile project team about a new member who
has recently joined the team. The opinion is that the new team member is
incompetent and does not understand the way of working for most of the
project tasks.
(Correct)
Option B is the most appropriate approach when dealing with concerns about
a team member's competence or understanding of project tasks. This aligns
with the principles of effective communication and collaboration in project
management, as emphasized in the Agile Practice Guide.
Incorrect Options:
A. Check with the functional managers whether the new member could be
reassigned to another project:
C. Ask the team members to add this as an impediment on the task board:
While Agile methodologies often use task boards to visualize work and
impediments, this option does not directly address the interpersonal and
competency concerns raised by the team. Adding it as an impediment may
not provide a constructive way to address the specific issues with the new
team member.
Process owner
Team facilitator
Product owner
(Correct)
Team member
Explanation
Correct Answer: C. Product owner
Explanation:
The role described in the question aligns with the responsibilities of a Product
Owner in Agile methodologies. The Product Owner is a key member of the
Agile team and is responsible for guiding the direction of the product. The
key characteristics mentioned in the question, such as ranking work based
on business value, providing product feedback, and setting direction for the
next functionality, are core responsibilities of the Product Owner.
References from the Agile Practice Guide and Agile concepts highlight the
central role of the Product Owner in Agile teams. According to the Scrum
framework, the Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the
product by prioritizing and managing the product backlog, collaborating with
the team, and providing clear direction.
Incorrect Options:
A. Process owner:
The term "process owner" is not a standard Agile role, and it does not align
with the described responsibilities of guiding the product direction, ranking
work based on business value, and working with teams daily. In Agile, the
focus is more on product ownership and collaboration rather than process
ownership.
B. Team facilitator:
D. Team member:
The role described in the question goes beyond that of a regular team
member. The responsibilities of guiding the product direction, ranking work
based on business value, and providing feedback on functionality are
typically associated with the Product Owner, not a general team member.
See Pg. 41 of PMBOK Agile Practice Guide for more details of the role of a
product owner.
Question 16:
Skipped
A project for installation of a telecommunication tower is in the execution
stage. During a project status meeting, the delivery manager alerts the
project manager on potential delay of at least 2 weeks in the arrival of tele-
antennas, a critical path item, due to a transport strike by the truck union,
posing a significant risk to the project timeline.
(Correct)
Explanation
Correct Answer: C. Crashing & Fast Tracking
Explanation:
In this scenario, the project manager is faced with a significant risk to the
project timeline due to the delayed arrival of critical tele-antennas. Crashing
is an appropriate strategy because it involves expediting the project
schedule by adding resources or increasing resource efficiency to complete
the critical path activities more quickly.
Incorrect Options:
Question 17:
Skipped
Several tasks remain on the impediment task board despite multiple
attempts by the team to resolve them. As an outcome of the sprint
retrospective, it emerges that the source of these impediments could be
linked to the quality control manager. Previously the project manager had
multiple meetings with this person to onboard him onto the project.
However, the stakeholder still shows resistance.
(Correct)
Explanation
Correct Answer: D. Perform an analysis of the stakeholder
engagement assessment matrix and define next steps to bring the
stakeholder to the required engagement level
Explanation:
References from the PMBOK Guide and Agile Practice Guide emphasize the
importance of stakeholder engagement and the use of tools like stakeholder
engagement assessment matrices to assess and manage stakeholder
involvement throughout the project.
Incorrect Options:
This option focuses on imposing penalties rather than addressing the root
cause of the stakeholder's resistance. It is not aligned with the principles of
stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
B. Review the risk register to ascertain ways to influence the quality control
manager:
This option does not address the issue of improving engagement with the
existing quality control manager. It may lead to complications and
misunderstandings in the project, as stakeholders are chosen based on their
relevance and expertise.
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 2: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning.
1. Forming:
- Characteristics: In this initial stage, team members are often polite and
may be somewhat reserved. They are getting to know each other and
figuring out their roles and responsibilities within the team.
- Team Behavior: Members tend to seek guidance and clarification from the
team leader. There may be a lack of clarity about the team's goals and
objectives.
2. Storming:
3. Norming:
- Characteristics: The team begins to establish norms and rules for working
together. Members start to resolve conflicts, and a sense of unity and
cohesion emerges.
4. Performing:
These stages are not necessarily linear, and teams may revisit earlier stages,
especially if there are changes in team membership or project requirements.
Tuckman's model provides a framework for understanding the natural
evolution of teams and helps team leaders navigate the challenges and
dynamics that arise during the team-building process.
Question 19:
Skipped
During the direct and manage project work process for a project, the project
sponsor suddenly replaces a key resource of the project with a newly hired
person. This was done without the consultation of the project manager and
now this has totally caught the team off-guard. What should the project
manager do?
Stop all project work and setup a meeting with the sponsor to
know why this change was done without consent
Arrange the onboarding training for this person as fast as
possible and provide him a work-plan
Check the resource management plan to identify the next
course of action
Review the risks this new change will bring to the project in
terms of scope, schedule or budget
(Correct)
Explanation
Correct Answer: D. Review the risks this new change will bring to
the project in terms of scope, schedule, or budget
Explanation:
Incorrect Options:
A. Stop all project work and set up a meeting with the sponsor:
Stopping all project work may not be the most productive immediate
response. Instead, the project manager should focus on assessing the impact
of the change and planning appropriate actions. A sudden halt to the project
could create additional issues.
While onboarding the new resource is an important step, it may not be the
immediate priority. The project manager should first assess the risks
associated with the change before proceeding with onboarding activities.
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 3: FFP (Firm Fixed Price) contract is a type of contract which is highly
biased towards the customer risk mitigation rather than creating a win-win
situation both for the customer and the supplier. Such type of contract is not
recommended for an agile-led project.
A Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract is a type of contract in which the buyer
pays a fixed price for the product or service, regardless of the actual costs
incurred by the seller. While FFP contracts are commonly used in traditional
project management, they may not be suitable for Agile projects due to the
inherent characteristics and principles of Agile methodologies. Here are
some reasons why a Firm Fixed Price contract may not be the best fit for an
Agile project:
3. Customer Collaboration:
4. Adaptability to Change:
- Risk Distribution in FFP Contracts: FFP contracts often place more risk on
the contractor, which may lead to challenges if requirements change
significantly. Agile projects thrive on shared responsibility and collaboration
between the customer and the development team.
In summary, while Firm Fixed Price contracts are suitable for projects with
well-defined and stable requirements, they may not be the best fit for Agile
projects due to their inherent flexibility, adaptability, and customer-centric
approach, which are essential characteristics of Agile methodologies.
Instead, Agile projects often use contracts that allow for flexibility, such as
Time and Materials (T&M) or Cost-Reimbursable contracts with appropriate
controls and collaboration mechanisms.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 11: Plan and manage procurement. I would
recommend that you watch my tutorial video on TYPES OF CONTRACT from
my YouTube channel as well: https://youtu.be/AIXiMzAXtdw
Question 21:
Skipped
A financial institution is planning to use artificial intelligence to recommend
debt instruments suited to the customer's risk profile. The founder of the
organization foresees this as a strong opportunity and charters a project
team to develop a proposal.
(Correct)
- This option is not aligned with the typical project initiation steps
recommended by PMBOK.
Link to Process Group Practice Guide: Section 1.10 - Business Case and
Benefits Management Plan
Link to PMP Exam ECO: Domain 2, Task 1 - Business Value
Question 22:
Skipped
A project manager is practicing to lead his team by focusing, understanding,
and addressing the needs and development of team members, thereby
trying to keep the team energized to deliver their highest possible
performance. He is keen on building the right condition & atmosphere for his
team members to succeed. Which leadership style is being demonstrating
here?
Servant leader
(Correct)
Dictatorial
Laissez-faire
Transformational
Explanation
Let's analyze each option in the context of leadership styles in project
management, drawing references from the Project Management Body of
Knowledge (PMBOK), Agile Practice Guide, and associated concepts.
A. Servant leader:
B. Dictatorial:
C. Laissez-faire:
D. Transformational:
- Transformational leadership involves inspiring and motivating the team to
achieve extraordinary outcomes. While this leadership style is positive and
often involves creating a positive atmosphere, the emphasis in the question
is more on understanding and addressing the individual needs of team
members.
Laissez-faire
(Correct)
Transactional
Transformational
Charismatic
Explanation
Let's analyze each option in the context of leadership styles in project
management, considering the characteristics of the team and the project
manager's role. We'll draw references from the Project Management Body of
Knowledge (PMBOK), Agile Practice Guide, and associated concepts.
A. Laissez-faire:
B. Transactional:
C. Transformational:
D. Charismatic:
What should be the next best step for the project manager?
(Correct)
B. Add this as a risk in the project risk register and assign a suitable
stakeholder as the owner:
- PMBOK Guide suggests that risk management involves both proactive and
reactive strategies. In this case, the immediate impact assessment is a
reactive strategy, and updating the risk register is a proactive strategy for
future risk management.
C. Move to the planning stage since the project charter is now approved:
- This option is not the most appropriate response in this situation. While
the project charter has been approved, a new regulatory requirement that
may impact the project's business case requires immediate attention. Project
planning can proceed, but the impact assessment and recommendation to
the sponsor should be the immediate next step.
(Correct)
Explanation
Let's analyze each option in the context of project management principles,
drawing references from the Project Management Body of Knowledge
(PMBOK), Agile Practice Guide, and associated concepts.
D. Call a meeting with Mr. Jordan and Mrs. Shelly and try to
understand where exactly they are finding issues in the project
communications:
- This is the correct answer. In a situation where stakeholders are
expressing concerns about incomplete information and the inability of
project meetings to resolve their issues, the project manager should
proactively address the concerns. Calling a meeting with the stakeholders to
understand their specific issues allows for direct communication and
provides an opportunity to identify and address their concerns promptly thus
demonstrating servant leadership.
A. Update your sponsor about this issue even before Mr. Jordan and Mrs.
Shelly escalates it:
(Correct)
Team facilitator
Explanation
Option 3: Process owner is NOT a part of the Agile way of project
management.
In the context of an Agile project, the roles of the Product Owner, Team
Facilitator, and Cross-Functional Team Members play critical parts in
delivering value through collaboration, adaptability, and customer
satisfaction. Here's an explanation of each role:
Product Owner:
- The Product Owner is a key stakeholder representing the customer and is
responsible for maximizing the value of the product or project. Their primary
role is to define the product backlog, prioritize features, and make decisions
about what needs to be built based on customer and business priorities.
- The Scrum Master helps the team understand and adopt Agile principles,
facilitates Scrum events (such as Sprint Planning, Daily Standups, Sprint
Review, and Sprint Retrospective), and ensures that the team is working
efficiently and continuously improving.
In summary, the Product Owner, Team Facilitator (Scrum Master), and Cross-
Functional Team Members each play a crucial role in Agile project delivery.
The Product Owner ensures alignment with customer needs, the Team
Facilitator fosters a productive and collaborative team environment, and
Cross-Functional Team Members bring diverse skills to deliver valuable
increments of the product.
See page 40 of PMBOK Agile Practice Guide to know more about these
3 roles.
Link to new ECO: Domain 1, Task 2 : Lead a Team
Question 27:
Skipped
_____________ way of project management plans to improve the product or
result via successive prototypes or applying proof-of-concept. Each new
design of the prototype yields new stakeholder feedback and team insights.
Fill in the blank:
Agile
Iterative
(Correct)
Predictive
Incremental
Explanation
1. Agile:
2. Iterative (CORRECT):
4. Incremental:
In summary:
- Incremental involves breaking the project into smaller parts, with each
increment delivering a portion of the project's functionality.
(Correct)
Option A: Asking the sponsor to approve the $40,000 at this stage may seem
like a quick solution, but it overlooks the proper change control process. In
project management, changes to scope, budget, or schedule should go
through a formal change management process. This process involves
documenting and evaluating the impact of the change on various project
aspects. The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) emphasizes
the importance of change control to maintain project integrity.
Option D: Ignoring the risk and carrying on with the baseline plan is not a
recommended approach. The PMBOK stresses the importance of proactive
risk management to identify, assess, and respond to risks. Ignoring a
significant schedule risk without proper evaluation and mitigation could lead
to severe project delays, negatively impacting the project's success.
Option C: Raising a change request and evaluating the impact of the risk on
scope, resources, quality, etc., aligns with best project management
practices. The PMBOK framework emphasizes the importance of formal
change requests to assess the impact of changes on project constraints. This
approach allows for a thorough evaluation of the risk, considering its
potential effects on various project elements, and enables informed decision-
making by project stakeholders.
I would recommend that you watch the following tutorial videos on Change
Management from my YouTube channel:
Retrospectives
(Correct)
Backlog operation
Backlog refinement
Daily standups
Explanation
Option 1: Retrospectives help the team to learn from its previous work on
the product and its processes. During this process, at regular intervals, the
team reflects on how to become more effective and then tunes and adjusts
the behavior accordingly.
Check out this video on my YouTube channel that talks about the
various Agile Ceremonies: https://youtu.be/EGl7CI-Z7GI?feature=shared
Question 30:
Skipped
One of your software suppliers is late for a critical project deliverable. On
investigation, you find that this is primarily due to some severe resource
crunch at the supplier's end. Your CPI for the project currently is 1.42. What
should you do as a project manager to mitigate this issue?
Plan hiring resources internally or externally and expedite the
pending deliverables
(Correct)
Option B: Blacklist the current supplier and search for alternate vendors.
Option C: Send the supplier a legal notice for causing delay in your project.
Option D: Work with the supplier to develop his team so that he does not
face any issues like this in the future for projects.
Please watch my tutorial video on EVM (CPI, SPI, CV, EV) from my YouTube
channel as well: https://youtu.be/FgirfE5TAm8
Question 31:
Skipped
During the execution of a construction project, the project manager notices
that the actual project costs are exceeding the planned budget. What should
the project manager do FIRST to address this cost overrun?
Implement cost-cutting measures to reduce expenses
immediately.
Review the project scope and identify any potential scope
creep.
Perform reserve analysis for the variances between the
planned and actual costs
(Correct)
Option B: Review the project scope and identify any potential scope creep.
Link to PMP Exam ECO: Domain 2, Task 5 - Plan and manage budget
Link to PMBOK 7th Ed- Reserve Analysis - Pg. 177
Question 32:
Skipped
A project manager for an automation project in his organization is developing
RFI, RFQ, and RFPs for procuring a collaborative robot from Universal Robots
to automate a sorting process in a manufacturing line. Request for
information (RFI), Request for Quote (RFQ), Request for proposal (RFP) are
examples of:
Procurement plans
Bid documents
(Correct)
- Purpose: RFQ is used when the project team has already defined its
requirements and is seeking price quotations from vendors for specific
products or services. RFQs are often used for straightforward procurement
needs where the primary consideration is pricing.
In summary:
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 11: Plan and manage procurement.
Link to Process Group Practice Guide - Bid Documents - Pg. 204
Question 33:
Skipped
This is the ordered list of all the work for a team, presented in story form in
an Agile environment. This is to understand the first release in broad
brushstrokes and the sufficient items for the next iteration. What is being
referred to here?
Daily standups
Backlogs
(Correct)
Demonstrations
Retrospectives
Explanation
Option 2: Backlogs are the ordered list of all the work for a team, presented
in story form in an Agile environment. This is to understand the first release
in broad brushstrokes and the sufficient items for the next iteration.
1. Product Backlog:
2. Sprint Backlog:
- Dynamic and Prioritized: Agile backlogs are dynamic and subject to change.
They are continuously refined and reprioritized based on feedback, changing
requirements, and evolving project needs.
What is the estimated duration which the product owner should assume
using Beta Estimation Technique?
16 days
(Correct)
18 days
24 days
32 days
Explanation
Option 1: 16 days : (P+4M+O)/6 = (32+4*14+8)/6 = 16 days
1. Optimistic Time (O): The best-case scenario for completing a task. This
time estimate is based on the assumption that everything goes as smoothly
as possible.
2. Pessimistic Time (P): The worst-case scenario for completing a task. This
estimate considers potential delays, challenges, or obstacles that could
extend the task duration.
3. Most Likely Time (M): The best estimate of the time required under normal
working conditions and with a normal level of resources.
Using these three estimates (O, P, and M), PERT calculates the Expected
Time (TE) for each task using the formula:
The PERT estimates help project managers create a more realistic and
probabilistic project schedule. It considers the range of possible outcomes
and provides a weighted average, which is particularly useful when dealing
with uncertain or complex tasks.
It's important to note that PERT is just one of many estimation techniques
used in project management. It is often used in conjunction with other
methods to create a more comprehensive understanding of project timelines
and potential risks.
(Correct)
Explanation
Option A is the correct answer, and here's the explanation along with why
options B, C, and D are incorrect:
Option A: Update communications management plan.
Link to new ECO: Domain 1, Task 11: Engage and support virtual teams
Link to Process Group Practice Guide - Section 5.17 - Plan
Communications Management
Question 36:
Skipped
During this practice of Agile Methodology, the team meets to micro commit
to each other, uncover problems, and ensure that the flow of work goes
smooth through the team. The Kanban board is walked through on a round-
robin basis during this meeting. What is it called?
Backlog meeting
Daily standups
(Correct)
Backlog refinement
Demonstration & reviews
Explanation
Option 2: Daily standups
Daily Standups, also known as Daily Scrum or Daily Huddle, are a key
practice in Agile methodologies, particularly in Scrum. The purpose of a Daily
Standup is to facilitate quick and efficient communication within the
development team, providing an opportunity for team members to
synchronize their activities and address any impediments. The standup gets
its name from the practice of conducting the meeting while standing to keep
it short and focused.
3. Participants: Primarily for the development team members, but the Scrum
Master and Product Owner may also attend.
4. Format: Each team member answers three standard questions: What did I
accomplish yesterday? What will I do today? Are there any impediments or
blockers?
3. Quick Updates: Team members can use the Kanban board to provide quick
updates on the status of their work. For example, they might point to specific
tasks on the board while discussing what they accomplished yesterday and
what they plan to do today.
(Correct)
Option D: Escalate the issue to the sponsor and ask for intervention.
Link to PMP Exam ECO: Domain 2, Task 8 - Plan and Manage Scope
Link to Process Group Practice Guide: Pg 225 - Requirements
management plan
Question 38:
Skipped
In a weekly project status review meeting, the quality manager expresses
concerns about the sampling plan. The project manager is not able to
understand why this has been highlighted now since the project has already
moved from planning stage to execution stage.
What should ideally be done by the project manager now to resolve the
issue?
Update the risk response plan after inputs from all the team
members
Acknowledge the concern raised and recommend that the
impact of this should be assessed in a separate meeting
(Correct)
Reiterate the fact that the project has moved from planning to
execution and hence it is too late to change the sampling plan
now
Continue with the meeting agenda and ask the quality
manager to document the proposal via email
Explanation
Option B is the correct answer, and here's the explanation along with why
options A, C, and D are incorrect:
Option B: Acknowledge the concern raised and recommend that the
impact of this should be assessed in a separate meeting.
Option A: Update the risk response plan after inputs from all the team
members.
Option C: Reiterate the fact that the project has moved from planning to
execution and hence it is too late to change the sampling plan now.
Option D: Continue with the meeting agenda and ask the quality manager to
document the proposal via email.
Training
(Correct)
Rework
Scrap
Warranty claims
Explanation
In the context of Cost of Quality (COQ) in project management, the "cost of
training" as a "cost of compliance" refers to the expenses associated with
educating and training personnel to adhere to established quality standards,
processes, or regulatory requirements. This cost is incurred to ensure that
individuals involved in the project understand and follow the prescribed
guidelines, procedures, and quality measures.
2. Cost of Compliance:
- It includes the costs incurred to ensure that the project adheres to specified
standards, regulations, and quality requirements.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task - 7: Plan and manage the quality of
product/deliverable
Link to PMBOK 7th Edition - Section 2.6.3.1 - COQ
Question 40:
Skipped
TechLabz is a SAAS (Software As A Service) based start-up which has
received a seed funding of $2.5Mn recently. The agile team of TechLabz is
currently working with five sub-teams, each responsible for developing a key
product feature integration. However, a few teams have expressed concerns
about unresolved impediments and blockers.
(Correct)
Option D: Merge the five teams into three teams to reduce impediments.
(Correct)
Appraisal cost
Prevention cost
Explanation
Option 2: This is an example of external failure costs (due to repair
and servicing) since this will be money spent after the project had been
handed over because of failures/snags.
Here's why "repair and servicing" costs are classified as external failure
costs:
- External failure costs are part of the cost of poor quality incurred outside
the organization, typically after the product or service has been delivered to
the customer.
- These costs arise due to defects or quality issues that were not identified
during the project or production processes, leading to problems being
discovered by the customer.
- COQ is often categorized into two main types: the cost of prevention
(costs incurred to prevent defects) and the cost of failure (costs incurred due
to defects).
- External failure costs, including those related to repair and servicing, are
a subset of the cost of failure and are associated with defects that escape
the organization's internal quality control processes.
(Correct)
Risk analysis
Configuration analysis
Explanation
In project management, variance analysis (Option 2) is a technique used
to compare the planned performance of a project with its actual
performance. It involves analyzing the differences or variances between the
planned and actual outcomes to identify areas where the project is deviating
from the original plan. Variance analysis is a crucial tool for project control,
monitoring, and decision-making.
- Actual Performance: This is the real-time data and results observed during
the execution of the project.
2. Types of Variances:
- Cost Variance: Compares the budgeted costs with the actual costs incurred.
- May Not Capture All Factors: Some factors affecting project performance
may not be easily quantifiable or may not be captured in the planned
metrics.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 5: Plan and manage budget and
resources
Link to PMBOK 7th Ed - Pg 177 (Variance Analysis)
Question 43:
Skipped
_______ methodologies are designed to scale, and provide selection of
methodology rigor based on project size and criticality. This realizes
scalability in tailoring approaches based on policies, practices and processes
in order to meet the project's unique characteristics.
Scrumban
Xtreme Programming
Crystal
(Correct)
LeSS
Explanation
Crystal Methods (Option C) is a family of Agile methodologies developed
by Alistair Cockburn. Crystal Methods prioritize people and communication
over processes and tools, and they are designed to be adaptable to specific
project characteristics.
- Key Principles:
2. Crystal Family:
3. Characteristics:
4. Adaptability:
What is the next best course of action for the project manager now?
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 2: Analyze the impact of the change in scope, cost, schedule, and
then write up a change request. 'Creating a change request' means
submitting the change request directly to CCB. That comes much later in the
PICC loop. You do not update issue log for change requests, you update
changelogs. Issue logs are for day-to-day chores related to project work (Eg.
new laptop needs to be ordered for team member, training needs to be done
for a teammate, the revised offer needs to be submitted for a particular
reason etc. etc. ). When there is a change request...you go into the ICC loop
and start first by documenting it in the change log, then analyzing it's impact
and then drafting a formal change request and then submitting it to CCB
(creating a change request).
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 10: Manage project changes
Link to Process Group Practice Guide - Section 7.2 - PICC
I would recommend that you watch the following tutorial videos on Change
Management from my YouTube channel:
Question 45:
Skipped
You are the Continuous Improvement Manager for an automobile
assembly line. As a part of an ongoing Six-Sigma Project, you are
doing a root cause analysis for a failure mode which has come up as
one of your top failure modes in your Pareto Analysis. Which tool
would you use to identify the probable assignable causes for the
effect (failure) in consideration?
Ishikawa diagram
(Correct)
Pareto's chart
Histogram
Run charts
Explanation
The Ishikawa Diagram (Option A), also known as the Fishbone Diagram or
Cause-and-Effect Diagram, is a visual tool used in the context of Lean and
Six Sigma methodologies to identify and analyze the root causes of a
problem. This diagram was developed by Kaoru Ishikawa, a Japanese quality
control expert.
4. Sub-causes (Fishbone Ribs): Each branch further breaks down into sub-
causes or specific factors that might contribute to the main problem. These
are the detailed causes that need to be explored.
1. Define the Problem: Clearly articulate the problem or effect that needs to
be addressed.
By systematically using the Ishikawa Diagram, Lean and Six Sigma teams
can gain insights into the complex interactions within a process and identify
opportunities for improvement. It is a valuable tool in the pursuit of
operational excellence and quality management.
RACI chart
Gantt chart
Network Chart
Iteration burndown chart
(Correct)
Explanation
In Agile project management, an Iteration Burndown Chart (Option D) is
a visual representation of the work completed versus the work remaining
during a specific iteration or sprint. It provides a snapshot of the team's
progress in delivering user stories or tasks over time. The chart helps Agile
teams track their work and adapt their plans as needed to meet the iteration
goals.
2. Work Axis: The vertical axis represents the amount of work remaining or,
alternatively, the story points or effort estimates. It shows the quantity of
work the team needs to complete.
3. Ideal Burndown Line: This is a hypothetical line that represents the ideal
progress the team should make, assuming a consistent rate of work
throughout the iteration. It starts at the total amount of work planned for the
iteration and slopes downward to zero by the end of the iteration.
4. Actual Burndown Line: This line reflects the actual progress made by the
team. It shows the daily or iterative reduction in the amount of work
remaining. The actual burndown line might fluctuate above or below the
ideal line based on the team's actual progress.
2. Early Issue Detection: Deviations between the actual and ideal burndown
lines can highlight potential issues or delays in the iteration. Teams can
identify these early and take corrective actions.
Interpretation:
- Above Ideal Line: If the actual burndown line is consistently above the ideal
line, it indicates that the team is working at a slower pace than expected.
This might prompt the team to inspect and adapt their approach.
- Below Ideal Line: If the actual burndown line is consistently below the ideal
line, it suggests that the team is working faster than anticipated. This might
signal that the team can take on additional work or refine their estimates.
(Correct)
Explanation
Option A is the correct answer, and here's the explanation along with why
options B, C, and D are incorrect:
- Correct Reasoning:
- Incorrect Reasoning:
- Incorrect Reasoning:
- User stories are associated with Agile methodologies and are primarily
used in the context of requirements gathering and prioritization.
- While user stories may capture some aspects of project requirements and
stakeholder needs, they do not specifically address the organizational
culture, risk appetite, or risk threshold.
- Incorrect Reasoning:
- Group discussions are a valuable communication tool, but they may not be
the primary source for understanding the overall organizational risk culture.
(Correct)
Explanation
Option B is the correct answer, and here's the explanation along with why
options A, C, and D are incorrect:
- Correct Reasoning:
- The completion duration of the activity (4 weeks) is raw data that has
been directly observed during the project work.
- Incorrect Reasoning:
- Incorrect Reasoning:
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 5: Plan and manage budget and
resources
Link to Process Group Practice Guide: Section 1.8 - Project
Management Data and Information
Question 49:
Skipped
The product development team for an AI-enabled interior designing
application failed to include the changes already implemented upstream by
the product design team. The product owner did inform the developers about
the changes during a daily standup meeting but there are no records which
could be traced back.
What should the most appropriate step to prevent such issues in the future?
(Correct)
Explanation
Option D is the correct answer, and here's the explanation along with why
options A, B, and C are incorrect. This question is a classical example to
demonstrate change management in agile projects:
- Correct Reasoning:
- Incorrect Reasoning:
- While backlog refinement meetings are important for ensuring a clear and
updated product backlog, the issue described is more about the team's
awareness and alignment regarding changes.
- Incorrect Reasoning:
Option C: Refinement of product backlog with the team and product owner
before every iteration.
- Incorrect Reasoning:
- While refining the product backlog with the team and the product owner is
a good practice, it may not specifically address the issue of changes being
missed. Note that the question is asking for a 'systemic fix' for future, which
is an ideal case in point to be discussed in retrospectives.
(Correct)
Call out the risk due to the new legislation as an emergent risk
and plan management reserves accordingly
Run a PESTLE analysis to assess economic feasibility to launch
the drug commercially
Explanation
Option B is the correct answer, and here's the explanation along with why
options A, C, and D are incorrect:
- Correct Reasoning:
Option A: Manage the entire project with eXtreme Programming since the
launch is in large scale.
- Incorrect Reasoning:
- eXtreme Programming (XP) is an Agile software development
methodology with a focus on high-quality code, continuous feedback, and
quick response to changing requirements. However, it may not be the most
suitable approach for managing a large-scale project, especially when
external factors like legal considerations impact the overall project timeline.
Option C: Call out the risk due to the new legislation as an emergent risk and
plan management reserves accordingly.
- Incorrect Reasoning:
- While identifying and calling out the risk is a good practice, treating it as
an emergent risk and planning management reserves may not be sufficient.
The question implies a more proactive approach to manage the impact of the
legislation.
- Incorrect Reasoning:
- The question is more about the strategy to deal with the known legal risk
rather than conducting a broader analysis.
(Correct)
Explanation
Option B: AGREEMENTS - Agreements are used to define initial intentions
for a project. Agreements may take the form of contracts, memorandums of
understanding (MOUs), service level agreements (SLA), letters of agreement,
letters of intent, verbal agreements, email, or other written agreements.
1. Contractual Relationships:
- Agreements establish the legal framework for the relationship between the
buyer and the seller. They define the roles and responsibilities of each party
and set the expectations for the successful completion of the project.
2. Scope of Work:
- Agreements clearly define the scope of work or the specific goods and
services to be provided by the seller. This includes detailed descriptions of
deliverables, timelines, quality standards, and any other relevant
specifications.
3. Terms and Conditions:
- The agreements specify the terms and conditions under which the
procurement will take place. This includes payment terms, delivery
schedules, performance metrics, warranties, and other relevant clauses to
ensure that both parties understand their obligations.
- Agreements outline the pricing structure for the goods or services being
procured. This may include fixed prices, cost-reimbursable arrangements, or
a combination of both. Payment terms, such as milestones or regular
intervals, are also defined in the agreement.
5. Contractual Changes:
- Agreements ensure that both the buyer and the seller comply with relevant
legal and regulatory requirements. This may include industry-specific
regulations, quality standards, or other legal obligations that govern the
procurement process.
7. Dispute Resolution:
- Agreements specify conditions under which either party can terminate the
contract. This includes situations where one party fails to meet its
obligations, or there are unforeseen circumstances that make project
continuation impractical.
However, the project manager foresees a risk that the solar powered boiler
may need higher maintenance and operational costs compared to the
thermal powered boiler in the long term.
What could be a possible category to capture this risk in the risk register?
(Correct)
Explanation
Option D: Risk on total cost of ownership.
1. Acquisition Costs:
- The initial costs associated with procuring goods, services, or assets. This
includes the purchase price, licensing fees, and any other costs directly
related to obtaining the project components.
2. Implementation Costs:
- Costs incurred during the implementation phase of the project. This may
include costs related to installation, configuration, training, and any other
activities necessary to deploy the project successfully.
3. Operating Costs:
4. Maintenance Costs:
- Costs related to training personnel to use and maintain the project or asset.
Additionally, support costs for providing assistance, troubleshooting, and
resolving issues during the operational phase.
6. Downtime Costs:
- Costs incurred when the project or asset is not operational. This can include
lost productivity, revenue, or other negative impacts resulting from
downtime.
7. Disposal Costs:
8. Hidden Costs:
- Unforeseen or indirect costs that may arise during the project life cycle.
These could include costs associated with changes in scope, regulatory
compliance, or unexpected challenges that impact the project's budget.
Considering the total cost of ownership is crucial for project managers and
organizations as it provides a more comprehensive and accurate
understanding of the financial implications of a project. It allows for better
decision-making by taking into account not only the upfront costs but also
the ongoing expenses throughout the project's life cycle. This perspective
helps in optimizing resource allocation, evaluating project alternatives, and
ensuring that the project remains financially viable over time.
Acronyms:
(Correct)
Explanation
Option A: CPFF, CPIF, FPIF, FP. This is the correct order with CPFF posing
the least risk for seller and FP posing the most risk for seller.
- An FPIF contract sets a fixed price, but it allows for adjustments based on
performance against agreed-upon targets. The buyer and seller share the
risk and reward, with a predetermined formula for sharing cost savings or
overruns. This introduces some risk for the seller, but not as much as a pure
FP contract, as there is potential for additional profit.
- CPFF contracts carry the highest level of risk for the buyer as the seller is
reimbursed for allowable costs plus a fixed fee. The fixed fee is agreed upon
upfront and does not change based on the seller's performance or the final
project cost. This contract type provides the least incentive for the seller to
control costs, and the buyer bears the most risk of cost overruns.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 11: Plan and manage procurements
Link to Process Group Practice Guide: All the items are covered as part
of Section 3 (DEFINITIONS) - Pg. 322
Question 54:
Skipped
During the execution stage for a vaccine rollout project, it was identified that
some sensitive information regarding patient profiling has been made public
without the right approvals. This has been classified as an 'orange' category
security breach as per the company risk profiling.
Risk register
Business case
Change log
Issue log
(Correct)
Explanation
In the context of project management, the capture of events, especially
unexpected or unfavourable ones, is crucial for effective management and
resolution. Let's analyze each option for the given scenario:
D. Issue Log:
- This is the correct answer. The Issue Log is used to capture and track
unforeseen events or problems that have occurred during the project. A
security breach, especially one classified as an 'orange' category, falls into
the category of an issue that needs immediate attention and resolution. The
Issue Log provides a structured way to document and manage such
incidents.
A. Risk Register:
- The Risk Register is used to document potential risks before they occur
and to track the planned responses to those risks. However, in this scenario,
the security breach has already occurred, and it is now an issue that needs
to be addressed. The Risk Register is more focused on proactive risk
management, whereas the Issue Log is for recording and managing issues as
they arise.
B. Business Case:
- The Business Case outlines the reasons for initiating the project and
serves as a reference point for decision-making throughout the project life
cycle. However, it is not the appropriate place to capture and manage
specific project issues or incidents. The Business Case typically focuses on
high-level project justifications and objectives.
C. Change Log:
Avoid
Mitigate
(Correct)
Escalate
Accept
Explanation
In the context of risk management in project management, let's analyze
each option for the given scenario:
B. Mitigate:
A. Avoid:
- Avoidance involves changing the project plan to eliminate the threat or
protect the project objectives from its impact. In this scenario, designing a
secondary redundant circuit doesn't eliminate the risk (failure of the primary
circuit) but rather reduces its impact, so avoidance is not the most suitable
strategy.
C. Escalate:
D. Accept:
(Correct)
Let's analyze each option and explain why Option B is the most suitable,
while the other options are incorrect:
A. Increase the fees of service since better service needs higher cost:
- This option aligns with Agile practices. Focused group discussions (such
as sprint reviews, retrospectives, or daily stand-ups) promote collaboration
and communication within the agile team. Developing a test-driven
development (TDD) model emphasizes the importance of testing throughout
the development process, ensuring higher quality from the start. This
approach addresses the service quality issues directly and is in line with
Agile principles.
C. Drive innovation in the project by integrating artificial intelligence with the
hiring process:
(Correct)
Manage stakeholder engagement
Monitor stakeholder engagement
Explanation
Option B: Identify stakeholders. Power/interest grid, power/influence grid, or
impact/influence grid. Each of these techniques supports a grouping of
stakeholders according to their level of authority (power), level of concern
about the project's outcomes (interest), ability to influence the outcomes of
the project (influence), or ability to cause changes to the project's planning
or execution.
1. Power:
2. Interest:
- Stakeholders in this quadrant have high power but low interest. While they
can impact the project, they may not be actively engaged or concerned. It is
essential to keep them satisfied by providing periodic updates and
addressing their concerns to prevent any negative influence.
- Stakeholders with low power but high interest may be more actively
engaged and interested in project updates. Keeping them informed is
essential to manage their expectations and ensure they are aware of project
developments.
- Stakeholders with low power and low interest have minimal impact on the
project. It is generally sufficient to monitor their status without extensive
engagement unless their circumstances change.
Link to Process Group Practice Guide: Check ITTO charts for 'Identify
Stakeholders', 'Plan Stakeholder Engagement' and 'Monitor
Stakeholder Engagement' and you will see Power-Interest Grid listed as
one of the T&T to map stakeholders during the Identify Stakeholder
process (Pg. 74). Details could be found in Pg. 301
Link to new ECO: Domain 1, Task 9: Collaborate with stakeholders
Question 58:
Skipped
One of the key architects for a museum construction project was reassigned
by the functional manager to another critical task linked to a separate
project.
(Correct)
Let's analyze each option and explain why Option A is the most appropriate
response, while the other options are incorrect:
- Updating the issue log is a good practice for documenting and tracking
issues, but in this scenario, the situation is more of a risk than an issue. Risks
are uncertainties that can impact the project, and addressing them
proactively is crucial. Option C does not involve proactive communication
with the functional manager to explore alternative arrangements.
D. Inform the sponsor about the impact of the change in cost, schedule, and
scope due to this unexpected change:
What could have been done differently to avoid such issues in the future?
Provide all necessary training to every team member before
project initiation
Document a project skill matrix and charter a team in sync
with relevant skill requirements
(Correct)
Let's analyze each option and explain why Option B is the most appropriate
response, while the other options are incorrect:
Explanation
Option B: SPI <1 for a 'complete' project means that the project is closed
prematurely.
Logically, SPI for a complete project should be = 1 since even if you are late
in a project, if you say the project is 'complete' you have your EV=PV in the
end the worst case.
Link to Process group Practice Guide: Table 10.1 - Earned Value Calculations
Summary Table
Question 61:
Skipped
In a project, the flooring work needs to wait for 21 days after the
first level of concreting is done. This is to help cure the concrete
fully before you start laying down the floor. This is an example of:
Lead
Lag
(Correct)
Mandatory dependency
Discretionary dependency
Explanation
Option B: Lag. It is a mandatory wait of 21 days after concreting which
adds up to the project schedule, hence it is a perfect example of LAG. It is
NOT a mandatory dependency since mandatory dependency does not
mandate a waiting time always. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 6: Plan and
manage schedule
In project management, especially in the context of schedule management,
several concepts relate to the dependencies between tasks. Here are
explanations for LEAD, LAG, MANDATORY DEPENDENCY, and DISCRETIONARY
DEPENDENCY:
1. Lead:
- Example: If Task A takes five days to complete and Task B has a lead of two
days, Task B can start three days into the execution of Task A.
2. Lag:
- Example: If Task A takes five days to complete and Task B has a lag of two
days, Task B will start two days after the completion of Task A.
3. Mandatory Dependency:
4. Discretionary Dependency:
In summary:
- Lead and Lag are used to adjust the timing of task relationships to account
for overlaps or delays.
I would suggest that you watch the following tutorial video on LEAD and LAG
from my YouTube channel to enhance your understanding of the
topic: https://youtu.be/LoB7249umX0
Link to Process Group Practice Guide: Figure 10-13: Lead and Lag (Pg.
279)
Link to PMP Exam ECO: Domain 2, Task 6 - Plan and manage schedule
Question 62:
Skipped
It has been observed that project teams members are in a 'defect fixing' and
'troubleshooting' mode after a new software application has been deployed
within a financial institution. The project manager needs to validate the
completed scope of the project including specifics of the handover process.
Which of the following documents should the project manager use to infer
the same?
(Correct)
Let's analyze each option and explain why Option B is the most appropriate
response, while the other options are incorrect:
- The final report is a standard output of project closure and often contains
a summary of project performance, including scope-related information.
Organizational process assets (OPAs) can include historical information,
lessons learned, and best practices. The project scope statement is a critical
document that defines the project scope, and reviewing it can help validate
the completed scope. This option aligns with the Project Management Body
of Knowledge (PMBOK) principles related to project closure and validation of
scope.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 5: Plan and manage budget and
resources
Link to Process Group Practice Guide: Section 8.1 - Close Project or
Phase
Question 63:
Skipped
What is the type of contract where the seller is reimbursed for all
allowable costs for performing the contract work and the seller
receives a predetermined incentive fee based on achieving certain
performance objectives as set forth in the contract?
CPFF
CPIF
(Correct)
CPAF
FPIF
Explanation
CPIF (Cost Plus Incentive Fee) contract is a type of procurement contract
used in project management and procurement management. In a CPIF
contract, the buyer pays the seller for allowable costs incurred in performing
the contract work, and the seller is also provided with an additional amount
as an incentive fee based on the cost performance of the project.
1. Cost Reimbursement:
- The buyer reimburses the seller for allowable costs incurred during the
project. Allowable costs are typically defined in the contract and may include
direct costs, indirect costs, and other agreed-upon expenses.
2. Incentive Fee:
3. Target Cost:
- The contract specifies a target cost, which is the estimated total cost of the
project that the buyer is willing to reimburse. The target cost serves as a
baseline for cost performance evaluation.
4. Cost Sharing:
- If the final project cost exceeds the target cost, the buyer and seller share
the excess costs based on the sharing ratio. Conversely, if the final cost is
less than the target cost, the buyer and seller share the cost underrun.
6. Incentive Formula:
CPIF contracts are often used in situations where the scope of work is difficult
to define accurately at the outset or when there is a need for the seller to
have additional motivation to control costs effectively. It aligns the interests
of the buyer and seller by providing an incentive for cost efficiency while still
allowing for cost reimbursement.
It's important for both parties to have a clear understanding of the terms,
conditions, and formulas specified in the contract to ensure effective project
management and successful collaboration. The use of CPIF contracts
requires careful monitoring of costs and communication between the buyer
and seller throughout the project.
(Correct)
Ask for the resource management plan and check for ways to
engage stakeholders which are already documented
Explanation
The correct answer to the question is Option C: Plan a meeting with the
previous project manager and understand the completion status of
stakeholder identification.
Let's analyze each option and explain why Option C is the most appropriate
response, while the other options are incorrect:
- This option is the correct answer because it aligns with the PMBOK
Guide's principles of knowledge transfer and leveraging existing project
documentation. Meeting with the previous project manager allows the new
project manager to gather insights into the stakeholder identification process
(which ideally should have been completed during INITIATION stage),
understand the current status, and potentially uncover any nuances or
considerations that are important for effective stakeholder engagement
planning (in PLANNING stage).
D. Ask for the resource management plan and check for ways to engage
stakeholders which are already documented:
(Correct)
Let's analyze each option and explain why Option C is the most appropriate
response, while the other options are incorrect:
B. No, because the team is not expected to contribute beyond their areas of
strength:
- This is the correct answer. Agile teams benefit from diversity in skills and
perspectives, which enhances their ability to adapt to changing
circumstances. If the team is solely focused on technical mastery and
problem solving, they may struggle to contribute ideas for value creation and
benefits realization. Diversification is valuable for innovation and
adaptability, as highlighted in the Agile Manifesto and Agile Practice Guide.
D. Yes, because the product owner is acting outside the defined role
description:
- While it's essential for team members to operate within their defined
roles, the concern in this scenario is more about the team's lack of
diversification. The product owner's role is primarily focused on maximizing
the value of the product, and the team's composition and capabilities also
play a crucial role. Option D does not address the root cause of the difficulty
in value creation and benefits realization.
Explanation
Option D is the correct answer. The key intent of studying a control chart in
the context of product quality management is to monitor and control
the stability and predictability of a process. Control charts, also known
as Shewhart charts or process-behaviour charts, are a statistical tool used in
quality control to understand how a process behaves over time.
Here are the key intents and benefits of studying a control chart in the
context of product quality management:
- Control charts help identify common cause and special cause variations in a
process. Common cause variations are inherent to the process, while special
cause variations are exceptional events that can be investigated. By
distinguishing between these types of variations, organizations can focus on
eliminating special causes and improving the overall stability of the process.
2. Continuous Monitoring:
- Control charts define upper and lower control limits based on statistical
analysis of the process data. These limits represent the range within which
the process is considered stable. If data points fall outside these limits, it
indicates that the process may be out of control, and corrective action may
be needed.
4. Improving Process Performance:
- Through the insights gained from control charts, organizations can make
informed decisions to improve process performance. By understanding the
sources of variation and taking corrective actions, product quality can be
enhanced, leading to better customer satisfaction and reduced waste.
5. Enhancing Predictability:
6. Decision-Making Support:
7. Continuous Improvement:
(Correct)
Explanation
Option B is the correct answer. The key intent of statistical sampling in
the context of product quality management is to make informed and reliable
conclusions about the quality of a product or process by examining a subset
of items rather than inspecting each individual item. Statistical sampling is a
systematic approach that uses statistical techniques to select a
representative sample from a larger population, allowing organizations to
draw inferences about the entire population based on the characteristics
observed in the sample.
Here are the key intents and benefits of statistical sampling in product
quality management:
1. Cost Efficiency:
2. Risk-Based Decision-Making:
- Many industries and regulatory bodies have standards and requirements for
product quality. Statistical sampling provides a systematic and standardized
method for organizations to demonstrate compliance with these quality
standards.
6. Continuous Improvement:
8. Resource Optimization:
Schedule
Cost
Legal
(Correct)
Escalation
Explanation
Violations of contract terms and conditions in project management
primarily come with a legal risk (Option C) due to the legally binding
nature of contracts. Contracts are formal agreements between parties that
outline the terms, conditions, obligations, and rights of each party involved in
a project. When either the buyer or the seller fails to meet their contractual
obligations, it can result in legal consequences. Here's why contract
violations are associated with legal risks:
2. Enforceability of Terms:
- Contracts operate within a legal framework, and the legal system provides
the means to resolve disputes arising from contract violations. Contract law
establishes the rules and principles governing the formation, interpretation,
and enforcement of contracts. The jurisdiction specified in the contract
determines which legal system and court will handle disputes.
6. Preservation of Evidence:
- When a contract is violated, the injured party typically has the legal right to
seek recourse through litigation or alternative dispute resolution
mechanisms. Legal proceedings aim to resolve the dispute and enforce the
terms of the contract, bringing about a legal resolution to the conflict.
(Correct)
Expert judgement
Explanation
The correct answer to the question is Option C: Bottom-up estimating.
Let's analyze each option and explain why Option C is the most appropriate
response, while the other options are incorrect:
A. Three-point estimating:
B. Beta estimating:
C. Bottom-up estimating:
D. Expert judgment:
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 5: Plan and manage budget and
resources
Link to Process Group Practice Guide: Bottom-up estimating, Pg. 249
Question 70:
Skipped
You are the project manager for a housing development project where all the
stakeholders initially agreed for an 18 month completion. However, 3 weeks
into the project, some of the key stakeholders started to push for a 12 month
completion due to some urgent business need.
(Correct)
Implement risk responses resulting from a schedule
compression of 6 months
Negotiate with the stakeholders to reduce project
requirements
Explanation
The correct answer to the question is Option B: Advise the stakeholders on
the risks of modifying timelines and associated impact on project metrics.
Let's analyze each option and explain why Option B is the most appropriate
response, while the other options are incorrect:
Cost estimates
Project charter
(Correct)
Backlog refinement
Burnup charts
Explanation
In an adaptive or agile project management approach, such as Scrum, the
emphasis is on flexibility, iterative development, and continuous
improvement. Let's break down the reasons for the initial need for a project
charter and the ongoing importance of cost estimations, backlog refinement,
and burnup chart updates:
- A project charter outlines the project's purpose, objectives, and scope. This
is crucial at the beginning to provide a clear understanding of what the
project aims to achieve.
- The charter specifies the key stakeholders and their roles, ensuring that
everyone involved knows their responsibilities from the start.
5. Creating a Baseline:
Ongoing Iterations:
1. Cost Estimations:
- Continuous cost estimation is necessary because agile projects frequently
adapt to changing requirements. Teams need to assess the cost impact of
new features or changes and adjust the budget accordingly.
2. Backlog Refinement:
4. Flexibility in Scope:
5. Continuous Improvement:
(Correct)
Explanation
Let's analyze each option in the context of the given scenario:
Explanation:
- This is the correct answer. When an unforeseen risk occurs during project
execution that requires additional funds not covered by the contingency
reserve, the project manager should raise a change request to mobilize the
management reserve. Management reserve is NOT a fund readily available
for the project to use.
Explanation:
- While it's important to communicate with the sponsor about significant
issues, setting up a meeting might not be the immediate next step.
- The project manager should follow the formal change control process first,
which involves submitting a change request, before engaging the sponsor.
Explanation:
- Updating the cost baseline is not the immediate next step. The cost
baseline is typically adjusted through the formal change control process,
which includes submitting a change request.
- Making changes to the baseline without following the proper change control
procedures can lead to issues with project governance.
Option D: Conduct an impact analysis on the project schedule due to this risk
Explanation:
In summary, in the given scenario, the project manager should follow the
formal change control process by raising a change request to access the
management reserves, making Option A the correct choice based on project
management principles outlined in the PMBOK Guide and Agile Practice
Guide.
Scatter diagram
(Correct)
Control chart
Pareto's chart
Testing of Hypothesis
Explanation
Option A: Scatter diagrams are used to check for any correlation
between two variables X and Y.
Scatter diagrams, also known as scatter plots, are graphical tools used to
visualize the relationship between two variables, X and Y. These diagrams
help project managers, data analysts, and researchers study correlations
between the two variables. Here's how scatter diagrams are used for this
purpose:
1. Visualization of Data:
- Scatter diagrams provide a visual representation of data points for
variables X and Y. Each point on the plot represents a pair of corresponding
values for X and Y.
2. Identification of Patterns:
3. Correlation Assessment:
- Scatter plots are particularly useful for assessing the correlation between
variables. Correlation refers to the statistical relationship between two
variables. The scatter diagram allows analysts to observe whether an
increase or decrease in one variable corresponds to a similar change in the
other.
- The shape and direction of the scatter plot provide insights into the
strength and direction of the correlation. If points on the plot tend to form a
line sloping upwards or downwards, it indicates a positive or negative
correlation, respectively.
5. Outlier Detection:
- Outliers, which are data points significantly different from the majority, can
be easily identified in a scatter diagram. These outliers may impact the
correlation analysis and can be investigated further.
7. Decision-Making Support:
- The insights gained from studying scatter diagrams can inform decision-
making processes. For example, in project management, understanding the
correlation between variables can help in making informed decisions about
resource allocation, risk management, or scheduling.
8. Future Predictions:
T shaped
I shaped
(Correct)
L shaped
H shaped
Explanation
The concepts of "T-shaped" and "I-shaped" individuals are often used to
describe the skills and expertise of team members in an Agile environment.
These terms represent different approaches to skill sets within a team.
T-shaped Individuals:
A T-shaped individual has a broad skill set with deep expertise in one specific
area. The horizontal bar of the "T" represents a general understanding of
various skills and disciplines, while the vertical stem represents deep
expertise in a particular domain. In an Agile team, T-shaped individuals:
1. Collaborate Effectively:
2. Flexibility:
3. Knowledge Sharing:
4. Problem Solving:
- Their deep expertise in a specific area allows them to tackle complex issues
within their domain effectively.
I-shaped Individuals (CORRECT):
1. Specialized Expertise:
- They bring in-depth knowledge and specialized skills to the team, making
them valuable for specific tasks or challenges.
3. Focused Contributions:
- They may excel in roles that require deep concentration and expertise,
such as complex technical problem-solving or highly specialized tasks.
Agile teams often benefit from a mix of T-shaped and I-shaped individuals.
The combination allows for a well-rounded team that can handle a variety of
tasks and challenges. T-shaped team members facilitate cross-functional
collaboration, knowledge sharing, and adaptability, while I-shaped team
members provide specialized expertise in critical areas.
The dynamic interplay between T-shaped and I-shaped individuals fosters a
collaborative and effective Agile team that can respond to changing
requirements, solve complex problems, and deliver high-quality products.
The emphasis on collaboration and flexibility is a key aspect of Agile
methodologies, and the combination of T-shaped and I-shaped individuals
contributes to the overall success of Agile teams.
Plan a risk review meeting with all stakeholders and revise the
assumption log and project charter
(Correct)
A. Plan a risk review meeting with all stakeholders and revise the
assumption log and project charter:
- This option aligns with the best practice of risk management in project
management. The project manager should identify, assess, and respond to
risks. By planning a risk review meeting with stakeholders, the project
manager can gather insights into the potential impact of the new tax regime
on Product X. Updating the assumption log and project charter ensures that
the project's foundational documents reflect the current understanding of
risks and assumptions.
B. Update the risk management plan and move forward to the execution
stage:
- While updating the risk management plan is a good step, moving directly
to the execution stage without assessing and addressing the impact of the
new tax regime is not a comprehensive approach. It is essential to review
risks with stakeholders before proceeding to execution.
C. Engage a tax advisor and explore ways to circumvent the tax burden:
D. Proceed as per plan to deliver Product X within the next 4 months and
plan for extra tax burden using management reserves:
- Proceeding with the plan without assessing and addressing the impact of
the new tax regime is a risky approach. While planning for management
reserves is a part of risk management, it should be done after a thorough
risk review with stakeholders. Simply planning for extra reserves without
understanding the nature and magnitude of the risk is not a proactive
strategy.
The project team is already working on bug fixes and upgrades to release a
version upgrade soon, but the CSO has reached out to the product owner to
ask for a full list of requirements for the existing and new product versions.
(Correct)
Explanation
Option D is the correct answer for the given scenario. Let's examine each
option to understand why:
A. Reiterate that the version releases were approved by the sales team
before deployment:
B. Review notes from the focused group discussions conducted during the
collect requirements process:
- Reviewing notes from focused group discussions is a valuable step, but it
may not directly address the urgent issues reported by the CSO. The
situation requires a more immediate response, and the project manager
should prioritize addressing the reported problems before delving into
historical requirements.
- This is the correct option. It aligns with the Agile Practice Guide's
emphasis on customer collaboration over contract negotiation. The project
manager should engage with the CSO, understand the concerns, and
demonstrate how the upcoming version upgrade addresses the reported
issues. A product demo allows for direct communication, feedback, and
collaboration to ensure that the customer's expectations are met.
(Correct)
A. Re-draft the project charter and the assumptions log to reflect the speed
of 550 bottles/min:
- This option is not the best approach in this situation. Redrafting the
project charter and assumptions log is a formal process and is typically done
when there are significant changes to the project scope, objectives, or
assumptions. The current issue with the bottling line speed should be
investigated first before making changes to these foundational project
documents.
- This is the correct option. The PMBOK Guide emphasizes the importance
of identifying the root causes of variances. Performing a root cause analysis
will help the project manager understand why the bottling line is running
slower than the rated speed. This analysis is essential for making informed
decisions and implementing effective corrective actions.
D. Negotiate the need for 600 bottles/min with the customer and justify the
reduced speed:
(Correct)
Explanation
Option D is the correct answer for the given scenario. Let's analyze each
option to understand why:
- While funding is essential for project execution, it is not the first step in
initiating a project according to the PMBOK Guide. The project manager
should first establish a clear understanding of the project's scope, objectives,
and success criteria before seeking funding.
B. Start working on the project schedule to understand how the project can
be completed fast:
- This is the correct option. According to the PMBOK Guide, the project
charter is developed as part of the project initiation process. It includes the
project's purpose, objectives, success criteria, and initial scope. By gathering
this information first, the project manager can create a solid foundation for
the project and ensure that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of
the project's goals and expectations.
(Correct)
C. Let the parties sort out the conflict between themselves collaboratively:
- Updating the issue log is a project management activity, but it is not the
most immediate and proactive response to a situation where conflicts are
escalating. The project manager should prioritize addressing the conflicts
directly by engaging with the involved parties and working towards a
resolution.
What could be the most effective way to prevent such outcome in future
projects?
(Correct)
A. Confirm that the client approves product vision before the start of the
project:
- While obtaining client approval for the product vision is important, it may
not be sufficient to prevent issues with specific features not meeting
business requirements. The product vision provides a high-level view of the
project's goals, but detailed requirements need to be captured in a more
specific manner.
B. Agree with the client on the requirement list and success criteria
for Definition of Done:
- This is the correct option. In agile projects, the Definition of Done (DoD) is
a crucial concept. It defines the criteria that must be met for a product
increment to be considered complete. By agreeing with the client on the
requirement list and success criteria for the DoD, the project team ensures a
shared understanding of what constitutes a finished product. This helps in
preventing misunderstandings and dissatisfaction with the final deliverable.
D. Ensure the test plan captures both tangible and intangible requirements
of the product:
- While capturing both tangible and intangible requirements in the test plan
is important for comprehensive testing, it may not be sufficient to prevent
dissatisfaction with specific features not meeting business requirements. The
focus should be on defining clear criteria for the Definition of Done in
collaboration with the client.
In summary, option B is the correct answer because it addresses the need for
a shared understanding of requirements and success criteria through the
Definition of Done. This aligns with agile principles of collaboration and clear
communication with stakeholders to ensure that the final product meets the
client's business requirements.
Link to PMP Exam ECO: Domain 2, Task 8 - Plan and manage scope
Link to Agile Practice Guide: Definition of Done (DoD) - Pg. 151
Question 81:
Skipped
During a quality improvement project on a men's grooming product line, the
quality manager has deployed a new team member to oversee the quality
performance. This new team member has missed multiple project review
meetings and is often non-responsive.
(Correct)
- Correct: This option aligns with the PMBOK Guide's emphasis on the
importance of stakeholder engagement. By reviewing the stakeholder
engagement plan, the project manager can assess the current interest levels
and expectations of the new team member. This will help identify any gaps
in understanding or communication, allowing for targeted efforts to engage
the stakeholder effectively.
B. Share the project quality management plan with this new stakeholder:
C. Raise the issue to the quality manager and request alternative resources:
- Incorrect: While raising concerns to the quality manager is a valid step,
immediately requesting alternative resources may not be the most effective
approach without understanding the underlying issues. It's important to first
assess and address the reasons for the stakeholder's disengagement before
considering resource changes.
(Correct)
Validate scope
Develop confidence interval estimates
Explanation
Let's analyze each option in the context of the Project Management
Professional (PMP) Certification Exam, drawing references from the Project
Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), Agile Practice Guide, and
associated project management concepts:
- Correct: This option aligns with the logical progression of the project
lifecycle. After receiving the test and evaluation documents from the quality
manager, the next step is to perform product evaluations. This involves
assessing the product against predefined criteria to ensure that it meets
quality standards. This step is critical for identifying any defects or deviations
from the expected quality parameters.
C. Validate scope:
(Correct)
Explanation
In project management, work performance data and work performance
reports are two distinct concepts that play different roles in monitoring and
controlling project work. Let's delve into each term and provide examples to
illustrate their differences:
In summary:
- Work Performance Reports are the analyzed and formatted outputs derived
from work performance data, presented in a way that facilitates decision-
making and communication.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 5: Plan and manage budget and
resources
Link to Process Group Practice Guide: Section 1.8 - Project
management data and information
Question 84:
Skipped
A scrum master is performing an health check for skill sufficiency within an
agile team. What could be a determinant to conclude that the agile team
possesses a reasonable representation of I-shaped individuals?
Necessary subject matter experts exist across all platforms
(Correct)
T-shaped individuals:
In summary:
(Correct)
Explanation
Let's analyze each option in the context of the Project Management
Professional (PMP) Certification Exam, drawing references from the Project
Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), Agile Practice Guide, and
associated project management concepts:
(Correct)
Explanation
Option D is not a standard terminology of the Agile Manifesto®
The Agile Manifesto is a set of guiding values and principles for agile
software development. It emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and a focus on
delivering value to the customer. The four core values of the Agile Manifesto
are:
Kanban
(Correct)
Hoshin
Jidoka
Muda
Explanation
Kanban is a popular framework used in the context of agile project
management, particularly in software development and knowledge work. It
emphasizes visualizing work, limiting work in progress, and maximizing flow
to deliver value more efficiently. Here are key aspects of Kanban in the
context of agile project management:
1. Visualizing Work:
- Kanban promotes the use of visual boards to represent the flow of work
items. This visual representation helps teams understand the status of tasks,
identify bottlenecks, and improve overall transparency. The Kanban board
typically consists of columns representing different stages of work, such as
"To Do," "In Progress," and "Done."
2. Work in Progress (WIP) Limits:
3. Continuous Flow:
4. Pull-Based System:
5. Feedback Loops:
OPA
PMO
(Correct)
EEF
CPI
Explanation
Option 2: Project Management Office (PMO) is an organizational
structure that standardizes the project-related governance processes and
facilitates the sharing of resources, methodologies, tools, and techniques.
- The PMO helps optimize the allocation and utilization of resources across
projects. By maintaining a holistic view of the organization's project portfolio,
the PMO can identify resource gaps, surplus, or conflicts. This enables better
resource planning and allocation, ensuring that projects receive the
necessary support and expertise.
4. Knowledge Management:
6. Governance Oversight:
- The PMO provides governance oversight to ensure that projects align with
organizational objectives and strategies. This involves monitoring project
performance, assessing risks, and ensuring compliance with established
processes. The PMO may also conduct project audits and reviews to maintain
a high level of project governance.
7. Portfolio Management:
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 4: Individuals and interactions over processes and tools | Working
Software over comprehensive documentation | Customer Collaboration over
contract negotiation | Responding to change over following a plan
The Agile Manifesto is a set of guiding values and principles for agile
software development. It emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and a focus on
delivering value to the customer. The four core values of the Agile Manifesto
are:
In summary, the four values of the Agile Manifesto prioritize individuals and
interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and the ability to
respond to change. These values guide agile teams in fostering a dynamic
and customer-focused development process that values adaptability,
collaboration, and the delivery of high-quality, working solutions.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 13: Determine appropriate project
methodology/methods and practices (Agile/Hybrid/Predictive)
Link to Agile Practice Guide: Section 2.2 - The Agile Manifesto
Question 91:
Skipped
During a backlog review meeting, the product owner finds that the output
from one of the network design teams has been low. The other network
design teams are working as per the expected velocity. However, there are
no challenges with capabilities or staffing within any of the teams.
There are some challenges with logging the working hours for
this team
The other teams consist of young team members and they tend
to be more productive
The story point estimates for the team are incorrect
(Correct)
A. There are some challenges with logging the working hours for this team.
B. The other teams consist of young team members and they tend to be
more productive.
- This option makes an assumption about team productivity based on the
age of team members, which is not a relevant factor in Agile methodologies.
The Agile Manifesto emphasizes individuals and interactions over processes
and tools. Productivity is not solely determined by the age of team members,
and such generalizations are not considered best practices in project
management.
D. The team members work together daily throughout the project keeping
the customer in mind.
(Correct)
B. Develop a master WBS by combining the agile work packages with the
predictive work packages and use this to track progress.
- While a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a valuable project
management tool, combining Agile and predictive work packages may not be
the most effective approach. Agile and predictive methodologies have
different approaches to project planning and execution, and combining them
in a single master WBS may lead to confusion. This option does not address
the issue of visibility on overall project scope, and it may not align with best
practices in Agile project management.
C. Develop a resource management plan integrating the agile team with the
predictive team and define a new way of working.
D. Develop a burnup chart for the agile team and start building the capability
of the predictive team on agile tools and techniques.
- While building capability and using Agile tools and techniques are
valuable practices, this option focuses more on transitioning the predictive
team to Agile rather than addressing the immediate issue of visibility on
project scope. Developing a burnup chart for the Agile team may not directly
contribute to improving overall project visibility for both teams. This option
may not be the most effective solution to the problem presented.
Gantt chart
WBS dictionary
Schedule management plan
Milestone chart
(Correct)
Explanation
A milestone chart, also known as a milestone timeline or milestone
schedule, is a visual representation of the significant events or milestones
within a project displayed along a timeline. In the context of project
management, a milestone is a key point in the project timeline used to track
progress and signify the completion of a major phase or achievement.
Here are some key points about milestone charts in project management:
2. Time Scale: The timeline on a milestone chart typically spans the entire
duration of the project. It may be broken down into weeks, months, or other
relevant time units, depending on the project's scope and timeline.
3. Visual Aid: The chart is a visual aid that helps project stakeholders,
including team members, sponsors, and other interested parties, understand
the project's progress and upcoming milestones at a glance. It is an effective
communication tool for conveying important project information.
(Correct)
C. Ask the product owner to intervene and resolve the conflict since this is
linked to product development.
- While the product owner plays a key role in managing the product
backlog and ensuring that stakeholder needs are met, resolving conflicts
related to alignment during the sprint review is a collaborative effort. It is not
solely the responsibility of the product owner. The project manager and the
development team also have roles in addressing such issues. This option
oversimplifies the resolution process and may not lead to a comprehensive
understanding of the problem.
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 1: WORK PERFORMANCE INFORMATION - Work performance data is
gathered through work execution and passed to the controlling processes. To
become work performance information, the work performance data are
compared with the project management plan components, project
documents, and other project variables. This comparison indicates how the
project is performing. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task-9: Integrate project
planning activities
Question 96:
Skipped
You are the project manager of NGO project which is focusing on
menstrual hygiene in the rural areas of your country. You are
developing the project management plan and doing activities such
as brainstorming, focus groups and interviews with the female
population of the villages dividing them in terms of age groups and
financial situation. Which tools & technique process you are using
here?
Data Gathering
(Correct)
Expert judgement
Meetings
Interpersonal & team skills
Explanation
Option 1: DATA GATHERING. It is a T&T of Develop Project Management Plan
and this considers activities such as brainstorming, focus groups etc. Link to
new ECO: Domain 1, Task 5: Ensure team members/stakeholders are
adequately trained
Question 97:
Skipped
A project manager is in the process of performing qualitative risk
analysis. Which tool evaluates the degree to which the data about
individual project risks is accurate and reliable as a basis for
qualitative risk analysis?
Questionnaire
Risk data quality assessment
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 2: Risk data quality assessment evaluates the degree to which the
data about individual project risks is accurate and reliable as a basis for
qualitative risk analysis. The use of low-quality risk data may lead to a
qualitative risk analysis that is of little use to the project. Refer PMBOK Ed. 6
Pg. 423 for more details. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 3: Assess and
manage risks
Question 98:
Skipped
The Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator is a self-report
inventory designed to identify a person's personality type,
strengths, and preferences. The questionnaire was developed by
Isabel Myers and her mother Katherine Briggs based on their work
with Carl Jung's theory of personality types during World War II.
What does the E-I scale of Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator
signify?
Extraversion (E) - Introversion (I)
(Correct)
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 2: Service Level Agreements. This specifies the success criteria for a
service from the supplier standpoint in terms of lead time, information,
additional costs (if any) etc. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 11: Plan and
manage procurement
Question 100:
Skipped
You are doing a Special Economic Zone project kick-off review with
your sponsor and he asks you whether you have documented the
high-level assumptions of the project which are key to justify the
financial investment. Which document should you refer to that will
provide you the strategic assumptions and constraints which are
identified during a project initiation?
(Correct)
Risk Register
Explanation
Option 3: ASSUMPTION LOG- High-level strategic and operational
assumptions and constraints are normally identified in the business case
before the project is initiated and will flow into the project charter. Link to
new ECO: Domain 2, Task-9: Integrate project planning activities
Question 101:
Skipped
Which of the following life cycles is best fit for project-based work
and disciplined teams with quickly evolving requirements?
Agile
Lean
(Correct)
Exploratory
Program
Explanation
Option 2: The DA Lean life cycle promotes lean principles such as minimizing
work in progress and JIT planning. The life cycle lends itself well to teams
delivering project-based work with quickly evolving requirements. Link to
new ECO: Domain 2, Task 13: Determine appropriate project
methodology/methods and practices (Agile/Hybrid/Predictive)
Question 102:
Skipped
Which of the following life cycles is best fit for project-based work
and teams new to iteration-based project management?
Agile
(Correct)
Lean
Exploratory
Program
Explanation
Option 1: Agile is an iteration-based life cycle well suited for teams new to
agile delivering project-based work. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 13:
Determine appropriate project methodology/methods and practices
(Agile/Hybrid/Predictive)
Question 103:
Skipped
You are a project manager in a quality function deployment project
in a FMCG company. Currently, the project is in execution stage and
the customer is happy with the progress. As a part of your daily
project meeting, you review a document which captures the key
issues, action plans against each of them, owners, due dates and
status (open/close). What would you call this document which is a
key output of the direct & manage project work process during the
execution phase?
Issue list
Issue tracker
Issue log
(Correct)
Issue register
Explanation
Option 3: ISSUE LOG - The issue log will help the project manager effectively
track and manage issues, ensuring that they are investigated and resolved.
The issue log is updated as a result of the monitoring and control activities
throughout the project's life cycle. Other terms in option A, B & D are not
standard PMBOK terms and hence wrong. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task
15: Manage project issues
Question 104:
Skipped
Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD), the solution delivery portion of the
Disciplined Agile (DA) framework, supports several full delivery lifecycles. It
does this because solution delivery teams face different situations, so one
lifecycle will not fit all. In which phase of the DA would the team shift from
'solution' to 'production'?
Inception
Transition
(Correct)
Testing
Delivery
Explanation
Option 2: DA supports the full delivery cycle of Inception, Construction and
Transition. Transition is the phase where the team deploys the solution. Link
to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 13: Determine appropriate project
methodology/methods and practices (Agile/Hybrid/Predictive)
Question 105:
Skipped
You are a project manager for an automation project in a razor
manufacturing company. The project deals with automating the
assembly process of the razor cartridge with the handle. You are a
PMP certified project manager and you make it sure that all the
relevant processes are adhered to drive excellence. You are in the
'validate scope' process for your project and you want to get an
input to this process which is essentially an output of the 'control
quality' process where the deliverables are checked internally for
correctness. Which input step for 'validate scope' process are we
talking about here?
Quality handover
Manage quality
Verified deliverables
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 3: VERIFIED DELIVERABLES - Verified deliverables are project
deliverables that are completed and checked for correctness through the
Control Quality process. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 7 - Plan and
manage quality of product/deliverables
Question 106:
Skipped
You, as a project manager, are performing a risk probability and
impact assessment. This is a key T&T for which process?
(Correct)
Explanation
Option B: Risk probability and impact assessment is a key T&T for the
process Qualitative risk analysis. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 3: Assess
and Manage Risks
Question 107:
Skipped
Choose the best statement in context of the correct method of
managing procurements:
(Correct)
Explanation
Option D: Bid documents and agreements should be prepared by the
procurement department in collaboration with the project manager and
rolled out jointly. That is the correct way as per PMBOK. Link to new ECO:
Domain 2, Task 11: Plan and manage procurements
Question 108:
Skipped
You are the project manager for a Health & Safety project for an Oil
Exploration company. You are in the 'develop schedule' process. The
project is happening in a very politically disturbed area and has a
lot of uncertainties around its execution. You should find the right
tool to estimate the schedule for this project. What is the tool used
in the process 'develop schedule' which uses risks and other sources
of uncertainties to calculate possible schedule outcomes for the
total project?
Bottom up estimate
Monte Carlo Simulation
(Correct)
Sensitivity analysis
What-if scenario analysis
Explanation
Option B: MONTE CARLO SIMULATION - Monte Carlo analysis, uses risks and
other sources of uncertainty to calculate possible schedule outcomes for the
total project. Simulation involves calculating multiple work package
durations with different sets of activity assumptions, constraints, risks,
issues, or scenarios using probability distributions and other representations
of uncertainty. Link to new ECO: Domain 3, Task 1: Plan and manage project
compliance
Question 109:
Skipped
Collect Requirements is the process of determining, documenting,
and managing stakeholder needs and requirements to meet
objectives. Which one of the following is an output of the process
'Collect Requirements'?
Agreements
Requirements management plan
Scope management plan
Explanation
Option A: The requirements traceability matrix is an output of the 'collect
requirements' process. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 8: Plan and manage
scope
You are not expected to memorize the ITTOs for the PMP Exam, but you need
to understand the interlinkages between them. That means you need not
memorize questions such as: 'what are the/list down the outputs of the
process...let's say Eg. DEVELOP PROJECT CHARTER?'...but from a list of
outputs as listed in the options, you should be able to identify which is an
output of the process Develop Project Charter, based on your understanding
& concept.
Question 110:
Skipped
Which among the following is the correct sequence for the items
below in order of which they get generated/are executed in a
project's life cycle (earliest to latest)?
(Correct)
Explanation
Option A: This sequence is VERY VERY important to remember. Control
quality generates the output of verified deliverables, which is an input to
validate scope process which generates the output called accepted
deliverables. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 7: Plan and manage quality
Question 111:
Skipped
___________ is an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a
positive or negative effect on one or more project objectives. Fill in
the blanks:
Overall project risk
Risk response
Natural calamity
Individual project risk
(Correct)
Explanation
Option D: An individual project risk is an uncertain event or condition that, if
it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on one or more project objectives.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 3: Assess and manage risks
Question 112:
Skipped
Collect Requirements is the process of determining, documenting,
and managing stakeholder needs and requirements to meet
objectives. On the other hand, Define Scope is the process of
developing a detailed description of the project and product. For a
project, the requirements collection process is complete and scope
definition is done. What should the project manager do next?
Validate scope
Control Scope
Create estimate
Create WBS
(Correct)
Explanation
Option D: Create WBS. See Page 25 of PMBOK Ed. 6 (Table 1.4). You need
to LOGICALLY remember all these steps in sequence as mentioned in this
table. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 8: Plan and manage scope
I strongly recommend that you check out the following video from my
YouTube channel to understand how you can memorize the 49 processes of
PMBOK Ed. 6 in the correct order using logic &
pattern: https://youtu.be/5eXyCLf2JD0
Question 113:
Skipped
You are the sales manager for Lyreco Ltd. Your company deals with providing
office stationery (writing pads, pens, diary, etc.) and office services (printer
maintenance, Xerox machine maintenance, etc.) If you are a seller for some
goods & services like Lyreco. Ltd., which type of contract would be most
preferable to you among the following?
CPFF
(Correct)
FFP
FPIF
FPEPA
Explanation
Option A: As a seller, always go for cost-reimbursable contracts since they
pose the least amount of risk for you. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 11:
Plan and manage procurement
Question 114:
Skipped
Verified Deliverables' are project deliverables that are completed and
checked for correctness. Which of the following processes generate 'verified
deliverables' as one of its key outputs?
Control quality
(Correct)
Control scope
Control resources
Control schedule
Explanation
Option A: 'Verified deliverables' is the most important output of the process
Control Quality. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 7: Plan and manage
quality. You are not expected to memorize the ITTOs for the PMP Exam, but
you need to understand the interlinkages between them.
That means you need not memorize questions such as: 'what are the/list
down the outputs of the process let's say Eg. DEVELOP PROJECT
CHARTER?'...but from a list of outputs as listed in the options here, you
should be able to identify which is an output of the process Develop Project
Charter, based on your understanding & concept.
Question 115:
Skipped
For a decision tree analysis, the cost of executing a decision is $50,000. For
the benefits part, there is a 40% chance that the decision provides a return
of $90,000 and a 60% chance that the decision provides a return of $30,000.
What is the expected monetary value for this decision?
4000
(Correct)
28000
22000
12000
Explanation
Option A: EMV = [0.4 x (90000-50000)] + [0.6 x (30000-50000)]= 4000.
Since the EMV is positive, the decision can be taken. Link to new ECO:
Domain 2, Task 1: Deliver business value
Question 116:
Skipped
Pick the odd one out:
TCPI
SPI
CPI
ETC
(Correct)
Explanation
Option D: ETC. This is a measure of funds. The rest are ratios and are
measures of performance. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 5: Plan and
manage budget and resources
Question 117:
Skipped
You are a project manager who has recently joined a project in the execution
phase. The project has gone through a lot of changes in the role of the
project manager. Also, due to multiple successions, there has always been a
discontinuity in the way the project was handed over from one project
manager to another. Now the client wants to close out the project at the
earliest meeting all success criteria. A week into the project, you have
identified a resource risk where some of your team members would move
out to other pre-planned projects (since your project is heavily delayed). You
are finding it tough to rope in additional resources at this point. What is the
best course of action as a project manager when there is a need to
accelerate a project schedule without the availability of any additional
resources?
(Correct)
Resource leveling
Precedence diagramming method
Explanation
Option B: When there is a constraint of resources, you need to think of doing
activities that were originally planned in series, in parallel. This is fast-
tracking. Note that the scenario does not talk anything about cost as a
constraint. Hence, it is safe to assume that you can go ahead with fast-
tracking that generally increases cost. Link to new ECO: Domain 1, Task 7:
Address and remove impediments, obstacles, and blockers for the team
Question 118:
Skipped
Create WBS' is the process of subdividing project deliverables and
project work into smaller, more manageable components. The key
benefit of this process is that it provides a framework of what has to
be delivered. Which one of the following is an output of the process
'Create WBS'?
Scope charter
Scope baseline
(Correct)
Project schedule
Basis of estimates
Explanation
Option B: Scope baseline = Scope statement + WBS + WBS dictionary, is the
most important output of the process 'create WBS'. Link to new ECO: Domain
2, Task 8: Plan and manage scope. You are not expected to memorize the
ITTOs for the PMP Exam, but you need to understand the interlinkages
between them. That means you need not memorize questions such as: 'what
are the/list down the outputs of the process CREATE WBS?'...but from a list of
outputs as listed in the options here, you should be able to identify which is
an output of the process Create WBS, based on your understanding &
concept.
Question 119:
Skipped
Contingency plans for a project which are often part of risk
mitigation are also known as _______. Fill in the blanks:
Rollout plan
Fallback plan
(Correct)
Implementation plan
None of the above
Explanation
Option B: Contingency plans for a project which are often part of risk
mitigation are also known as Fallback Plan. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task
3: Assess and manage risks
Question 120:
Skipped
Mark the process from the following list which is NOT a part of
'Monitor & Control' process group:
(Correct)
Monitor communications
Explanation
Option C: 'Implement risk responses' is a part of the Execution Process
Group. Rest all are part of M&C. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 3: Assess
and manage risks. You are not expected to memorize the KAs and PGs of
Table 1.5 of PMBOK 6th edition, but conceptually you need to know that
'Implementing risk responses' is a part of EXECUTING process group since
you are executing something here, there is no monitoring & controlling
happening here.
Question 121:
Skipped
A factory manager wants to decide whether he should go ahead with the
restructuring of a manufacturing line. The cost of restructuring the
manufacturing line is $50,000. For the benefits part, there is 40% chance
that the restructuring provides an additional $90,000 worth of production
and 60% chance that the restructuring provides an additional $30,000 worth
of production. Should the investment be made?
Yes
(Correct)
No
Cannot be determined
Data insufficient
Explanation
Option A: Yes. EMV = [0.4 x (90000-50000)] + [0.6 x (30000-50000)]= 4000.
Since the EMV is positive, the decision can be taken to go ahead with the
restructuring. The following are the 2 decisions at the node: 1 - Do the
reconstruction | 2 - Do NOT do the reconstruction. Link to new ECO: Domain
2, Task 1: Deliver business value
Question 122:
Skipped
An unknown risk occurs in a project and the cost to fix it now is
$90,000. The project manager instructs his cost engineer to file a
change request, adjust the cost baseline accordingly, and use the
contingency reserve funds to address the risk. What did the project
manager do wrong?
(Correct)
The project manager did not pre-plan this risk during risk
analysis
The project manager did not take approval of the sponsor
before mobilizing the contingency reserves
Explanation
Option B: Since this is an unknown risk, it should have been funded by
management reserves. This is the reason why management reserves are
included in the project budget. Contingency reserves are used for risks that
are already known and aligned beforehand as part of the 'IDENTIFY RISK'
process in the PLanning phase. Domain 2, Task 3: Assess and manage risks
Question 123:
Skipped
Mark the process from the following list which is NOT a part of
'Executing' process group:
Validate scope
(Correct)
Acquire resources
Develop team
Conduct procurements
Explanation
Option A: Validate scope is a part of M&C process group. Link to new ECO:
Domain 2, Task 8: Plan and manage scope. You need not memorize all the
processes from the 49 Processes of PMBOK Ed. 6 but concept-wise you need
to know which tasks fall in which process group. Eg. you should know
conceptually that 'validate scope' is NOT a part of EXECUTING process group
but a part of the MONITORING & CONTROLLING Process Group.
Question 124:
Skipped
Asha is a project manager for an NGO which aims at improving
sanitation & hygiene in a rural locality. She has prepared the cost
estimates and developed the cost baseline for the project. What
should she ask for now/align with leadership to finalize the project
budget?
Contingency reserve
Management reserve
(Correct)
Reliability estimates
Cost Management Plan
Explanation
Option B: Cost Baseline + Management Reserve = Project Budget. Link to
new ECO: Domain 2, Task 5: Plan and manage budget and resources. It is
very important that you understand the following diagram from a project
Cost Management standpoint
Question 125:
Skipped
The _____________ refer to conditions, not under the control of the
project team, that influence, constrain, or direct the project. These
conditions can be internal and/or external to the organization. Fill in
the blanks
OPAs
EEFs
(Correct)
RAMs
RACI
Explanation
Option B: Enterprise environmental factors (EEFs) refer to conditions, not
under the control of the project team, that influence, constrain, or direct the
project. These conditions can be internal and/or external to the organization.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 12: Manage project artifacts
Question 126:
Skipped
During the execution stage of a project, one of your team members comes &
tells you that he has completed the installation of a unit on the client
interface since it was being pushed by the client as very urgent. On asking
him about the change management for the same, he mentions to you that
there is none since he felt that this change was very trivial and would not
have affected cost, schedule, or resources. Hence, he went ahead with the
change. What is your next step as a project manager?
(Correct)
Explanation
Option D: This is the best course of action now, since the change has already
been done, and doing a post-mortem analysis will not help now. You need to
find out as soon as possible, whether there is any risk on cost, schedule, or
resources now. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 10: Manage project
changes
I would recommend that you watch the following tutorial videos on Change
Management from my YouTube channel:
Question 127:
Skipped
The 'Planning' process group delineates those processes required to
establish the scope of the project, refine the objectives, and define the
course of action required to attain the objectives that the project was
undertaken to achieve. Mark the process from the following list which is NOT
a part of the 'Planning' process group:
Develop schedule
Perform integrated change control
(Correct)
Explanation
Option B: Perform integrated change control is a part of M&C process
group. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 10: Manage project changes. You
are not expected to memorize the ITTOs for the PMP Exam, but you need to
understand the interlinkages between them. That means you need not
memorize questions such as: 'what are the/list down the outputs of the
process Eg. DEVELOP PROJECT CHARTER?'...but from a list of outputs, you
should be able to identify which is an output of the process Develop Project
Charter, based on your understanding & concept.
Question 128:
Skipped
The __________ are the plans, processes, policies, procedures, and
knowledge bases specific to and used by the performing
organization. These assets influence the management of the
project. Fill in the blanks
EEFs
OPAs
(Correct)
SPI
BAC
Explanation
Option B: Organizational process assets (OPAs) are the plans, processes,
policies, procedures, and knowledge bases specific to and used by the
performing organization. These assets influence the management of the
project. Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 12: Manage project artifacts
Question 129:
Skipped
Develop Project Charter' is the process of developing a document
that formally authorizes the existence of a project and provides the
project manager with the authority to apply organizational
resources to project activities. Which of the following is an output of
the process 'Develop Project Charter'?
Assumptions log
(Correct)
Explanation
Option A: Assumptions log is an output of the process 'develop project
charter' in addition to the project charter itself. Link to new ECO: Domain 2,
Task 9: Integrate project planning activities.
You are not expected to memorize the ITTOs for the PMP Exam, but you need
to understand the interlinkages between them. That means you need not
memorize questions such as: 'what are the/list down the outputs of the
process DEVELOP PROJECT CHARTER?'...but from a list of outputs as listed in
the options here, you should be able to identify which is an output of the
process Develop Project Charter, based on your understanding & concept.
Question 130:
Skipped
XYZ Inc. is planning to utilize a new employee management solution that
leverages innovative technologies and processes. Raul as the PM has verified
that the component work packages have been defined and constraints for
each component have been defined. Which technique should Raul use to get
a precise cost estimate?
Three-point estimating
Analogous estimating
Bottom-up estimating
(Correct)
Parametric estimating
Explanation
Option 3: Bottom-up estimating. This is an estimating method (project
duration/cost) by aggregating the components of the lowest level
components of the WBS.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 5: Plan and manage budget and resources
Question 131:
Skipped
Anna is managing the quality of a project which aims to deliver a new
grooming product for females over 50 years of age. Based on the originally
approved Proof-of-Principle, 5000 products have been developed. Anna’s
team now randomly chooses 150 products evaluated against the quality
metrics. Which activity is the project team doing now?
Control quality
Statistical sampling
(Correct)
Process audit
Quality assurance
Explanation
Option 2: Statistical sampling. In statistics, quality assurance, and survey
methodology, statistical sampling is the selection of a subset of individuals
from within a statistical population to estimate the characteristics of the
whole population. Statisticians attempt to collect samples that are
representative of the population in question. Here, samples are been taken
to measure controls and verify quality.
The project is in the ‘manage quality’ stage now, hence EXECUTION. So,
‘control quality’ is a wrong option. The process audit is too broad a term that
is applicable for many areas of a project such as procurement,
documentation, cost management, etc. Quality assurance is not an ‘activity’
but a ‘process’. Statistical sampling is one of the many ways by which quality
assurance is achieved in a project or deliverable.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 7: Plan and manage the quality of
products/deliverables
Question 132:
Skipped
Afreen is assembling a project team. During an initial meeting, Afreen sees
that the team members are getting to know each other and they are feeling
excited and positive about the project. Afreen is yet to brief the whole team
about the scope of the project. In what phase of development is this team?
Norming
Forming
(Correct)
Storming
Performing
Explanation
Option 2: Forming. The Forming Phase is when the team members meet &
learn about the project before their formal roles & responsibilities are
assigned. The team has just been introduced and everyone is overly polite
and pleasant. Link to new ECO: Domain 1, Task 6: Build a Team
https://toggl.com/track/stages-of-team-development/
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm
Question 133:
Skipped
Near the end of an IT project, several of the testing programmers are
transferred to another critical project. To complete the job, you need to
acquire additional testing support now from a new vendor. You are
concerned about the quality of work this new vendor will deliver and also
there is a significant cost risk of using a new supplier at this advanced stage
of the project. What should be your best-suited procurement contract type in
this scenario?
Firm Fixed Price (FFP)
Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF)
Time & Material (T&M)
Fixed Price Incentive Fee (FPIF)
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 4: Fixed Price Incentive Fee (FPIF) Contract is best suited to this
scenario. In this type of contract, the buyer pays the seller a set amount (as
defined by the contract), and the seller can earn an additional amount if they
meet the defined performance criteria (cost, quality, etc.)
Since the project is at an advanced stage now and there is a risk of cost
overrun, any type of cot reimbursable contract is not suitable. Hence, CPAF is
wrong.
T&M material contract is generally not used as well in such a late stage of a
project due to risks of cost overrun. Also, the supplier doesn’t have any
incentive in the T&M contract to perform at their best.
FFP contracts are generally used at the early stages of a project and also
carry a similar drawback like T&M contract, that it does not have any
incentive associated with it.
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 11: Plan & Manage Procurement
Question 134:
Skipped
Most of your core agile team members are deployed on different projects,
but your project needs to make progress. You outsource the work to external
freelancers to work remotely on the pending user stories. During the first
sprint, the external freelancing team did NOT understand certain user
requirements, but still managed to complete the first 5 stories that were
previously blocked because the original team was NOT able to handle the
data complexity of the work. What should you as the project manager do in
this situation to make progress on the project while your core team remains
redeployed?
Plan hiring a few freelancers within your team
Perform a back reprioritization exercise to match the
freelancer team skills
(Correct)
Planning to hire a few freelancers within your team, is too overboard since
this has to go through the right HR channels and sponsor approvals.
Assigning all the usability stories to the freelancing team might not look good
for the core project team when they are back in your project after their
redeployment is over. Also, this might question the need of having a core
project team overall for your project.
Link to new ECO: Domain 1, Task 11: Engage and support virtual teams
Question 135:
Skipped
The team is working on Project Woodnut and has currently resolved a
complex algorithmic issue. The project is now moving forward. The project
manager is aware that the same issue can arise in future projects. What
should be done first to respond to this situation?
Update the issue log and make sure the lessons learned
register is updated
(Correct)
(Correct)
(Correct)
Change management plan – less likely since you are not proposing any
change at the moment
Risk Management plan – less likely since the issue at hand is ‘communication
of as escalation issue’ which may not be met if the risk management plan is
only updated by the project team
Procurement management plan – too broad as an option, since you are not
proposing any change to procurement strategy at the moment
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 14: Establish project governance structure
(Define escalation paths and thresholds)
Question 137:
Skipped
A newly appointed project manager needs to deliver an agile project in
Germany with critical regulatory requirements to be completed within strict
deadlines. The vendor working with the team on the project is TLC Ltd.
located in Singapore. Though TLC has delivered excellent quality work in the
past for the organization, currently they are well behind schedule. The team
explains to the project manager that their repeated attempts to get TLC back
on track with the project have failed since the vendor often turns a blind eye
toward the team’s feedback & concerns. However, the project sponsor insists
that TLC Ltd. has been a long-standing partner with the company and is
critical for the success of the project. What action should the project
manager take?
Email TLC Ltd. and inform them about revising the penalty
clauses in the contract
Ask help from the project sponsor to reach out to the CEO of
TLC Ltd. and highlight the situation
Explore alternate vendors to reassign the work currently
provided to TLC Ltd.
Create a virtual workspace for the team so that everyone is
aware of and accountable for their tasks.
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 4. Creating a virtual workspace for the team so that everyone is
aware of and accountable for their tasks is the most sensible action that can
be taken here. Communication in virtual teams can be challenging.
Being direct may NOT leave a good first impression and revising a service
agreement may be perceived as hostile by the vendor (hence option 1 is
incorrect).
This vendor is critical to the success of the project and important to the
business (this makes option 3 incorrect), and the team may be getting
demoralized by their unsuccessful attempts to manage the vendor.
Question 138:
Skipped
A new product development initiative is rolled out in Seoul, South Korea. The
business context is difficult and the government has come out with many
changes in the regulatory frameworks over the last few years. On top of this,
local monopolies and cartels are making it even more difficult to create a
new product market. Supply costs are rising as well due to increased costs of
transportation and customs duty. Why would be an agile incremental project
approach the most suitable in this landscape?
This ensures that the project can be pulled off at any time
without incurring substantial losses
It accelerates the delivery of business value and minimizes the
risk of irrelevancy
(Correct)
This ensures that the project can be pulled off at any time without incurring
substantial losses – this is not the reason why an agile incremental project
management life cycle is chosen here. This is more in line with developing a
‘prototype’ that falls in the domain of an iterative life cycle.
It reduces the need for team colocation and eliminates bottlenecks – too
vague as an option and does not justify enough why an agile incremental
project management life cycle is chosen here.
Question 139:
Skipped
Go-Deliver, a start-up e-commerce company needs to quickly expand its
product portfolio to meet growing market demand. Recently, team members
are switching between two or three agile teams, each dedicated to a
different product line. You as the project manager see that this way the
output is diminishing and defect rates for completed user stories are rising in
all teams.
In which two ways can you help the agile teams improve their work? (Choose
TWO.)
(Correct)
(Correct)
Influence the product owners to right-size their portfolios, which is part of the
portfolio management initiative will not impact the project which you are
doing at the moment.
Appoint dedicated test teams to offload the agile teams could have been
done if product testing was your bottleneck. This is clearly not the case.
Moreover, if you let defects pass from development to testing, with the
assumption that the development team can do whatever they want because
the testing team will always be there to sort out the defects…is not a good
approach as a leader.
Training the agile teams to improve time and focus management might be a
good idea to improve overall team performance, but does not solve the issue
at hand.
Question 140:
Skipped
A hybrid project for cloud server installation combines many brief
administrative tasks with small-scale installation works. An agile track makes
good progress on key objectives, however, the scrum master notices that
small tasks are accumulating in the backlog. Most of these tasks can be done
within a day, but they are dependent on unpredictable triggering events.
Which approach should be more suitable to clear out these minor tasks
faster?
Combine multiple minor tasks to make story sizes consistent
with key objectives
Reprioritize the backlog to favor the smallest stories and
reassign them daily
Reprioritize the backlog on a daily basis so that recent triggers
boost story priority
Integrate the small tasks to either DoD or acceptance criteria
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 4. The stories will not be considered complete until associated small
tasks are triggered and completed. Hence, a good approach would be to
integrate the small tasks with the Definition of Done or the Acceptance
Criteria of an iteration. This way you can club small actions of similar nature
within an agile iteration and since these are dependent on unpredictable
triggering events, a particular iteration can be kept open till all tasks are
closed and the DoD is reached.
The question does not say that the story sizes are not in line with the key
objectives of the project. Hence, combining multiple minor tasks to make the
story sizes consistent with key objectives is a redundant action.
Reprioritizing the backlog to favor the smallest stories will make the
considerable ones fall off track. Hence, that is the wrong choice.
Question 141:
Skipped
Hawkins Tires, a manufacturer of four-wheeler tires is setting up a new agile
innovation team with the mission to place product quality above all other
success criteria for a project. This is planned to be rolled out following a
number of customer complaints raised over the last quarter which has
caused Hawkins Tires to do multiple product-recalls.
Which option should be most effective for Hawkins Tires to re-establish its
brand identity for high-quality manufacturing?
Source better raw materials from high-end suppliers
Perform a benchmarking exercise with competitors to track
their defect reduction strategy
Use Test Driven Development based on continuous user focus
group input
(Correct)
Sourcing better raw materials from high-end suppliers may increase your
manufacturing cost unnecessarily without solving the core issue.
Question 142:
Skipped
An agile team is struggling to solve a leakage issue with a packaging design.
Eventually, the team comes up with the solution, but it requires a different
product formulation. What should the team do before further developing the
solution?
Create a prototype and perform a demo with end-user
Ask the product owner to approve the change
(Correct)
During that process, it is the role of the Product Owner to check if the change
is consistent with the product vision and run a cost-benefit analysis to
determine its value. It’s not the job of the agile team to do that. Hence
options 3 and 4 are incorrect.
Finally, prototyping (if at all needed) will come after the new development
has been approved & signed off by the Product Owner. Hence, option 1 is
incorrect as well.
Question 143:
Skipped
You are the scrum master in an agile-led project and over the last three
iterations, you see that a trend of increasingly prolonged testing work is
getting generated. Now you plan for the team to perform an intensive
backlog refinement exercise. What metric would you track to measure the
success of the exercise?
Value per story increases
Speed of impediment resolution
# of stories completed/iteration
(Correct)
An increase in value per story does not signify whether you are able to
reduce the time for testing or not, which is your primary problem statement.
We are talking about a decrease in the # of backlog items by the team by
maximizing the # of stories completed per iteration.
Question 144:
Skipped
You have recently been recruited as a scrum master for an agile-led project.
Upon initial onboarding, you find out that the project is structured without
time-boxing. The tasks are grouped at a high level but cannot be predictably
scheduled. Which of the following ways should you suggest to lead the
project for an efficient execution? (Choose THREE)
Track the status of readiness to help the team initiate the task
at the right time
(Correct)
(Correct)
(Correct)
Option 1. Correct. Track the status of readiness to help the team initiate the
task at right time will prevent overloading the team since you cannot predict
the finish of the tasks efficiently in the current scenario
Option 3. Correct. A task board display in form of a Gantt chart will help in
tracking progress, hence it’s definitely a good idea.
Link to new PMP Exam ECO: Domain 2, Task 13: Determine appropriate
project methodology/methods and practices
Question 145:
Skipped
You are leading an agile project in a matrix organization where the functional
manager is also a key project stakeholder. However, due to time constraints,
the functional manager delegated the project responsibilities to a technician
in his team. This person is now a new stakeholder in your project. A couple of
sprint planning meetings have happened already but this new stakeholder is
not attending the meetings. How should you engage this new stakeholder?
Review the stakeholder engagement plan with the new
stakeholder and assess their level of engagement
(Correct)
Presenting the iteration backlog list to this new stakeholder and assigning
the tasks relevant to this stakeholder is a passive way of engagement and
should be avoided
Requesting that the functional manager briefs this new stakeholder about
the roles & responsibilities and ensuring that they attend all the meetings is
the transfer of your responsibility as a project manager to the functional
manager. Hence, this is incorrect.
Question 146:
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Within predictive life cycles, this term is used for both costs and schedules to
establish what you’ll measure against later in the Executing and Monitoring
& Controlling processes. Please select the best option:
Variance
Expected Value
Earned Value
Baseline
(Correct)
Explanation
Option 4. Cost baselines and schedule baselines are used to measure
performance in the Executing and Monitoring & Controlling processes. This is
part of the Triple Constraint Management of Project Management. Please
refer to my EVM Course on Udemy to know more about this topic and other
concepts such as EV, PV, AC, VAC, etc: https://bit.ly/EVM_PMPWITHRAY
Link to new ECO: Domain 2, Task 5: Plan and manage budget and resources
Question 147:
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Bruce is working as a project manager on a small project which is part of a
larger program. In his team, a new resource has been assigned to replace a
key resource who had to leave the project. Unfortunately, the quality
manager, who is an external stakeholder for Bruce’s project claims that the
functional manager who sent the new resource has sent an incompetent
person who will not be helpful to the project team. How should Bruce handle
this situation?
Assess the new resource’s ability to perform the necessary
work by testing their communication skills with the current
project team
Evaluate the skills of the new resource to see how it fits the
overall skill matrix of the team
(Correct)
The rest of the options go opposite to this servant leadership attitude where
Bruce takes the opinion of the quality manager as fact and plans accordingly.
Hence, they are incorrect.
Question 148:
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After the start of an SEZ (Special Economic Zone) project, the project
manager comes to know that an expected government subsidy when the
project team procures construction material from local manufacturers may
not be available. How should the project manager address the issue?
Raise the project’s risk level
Plan to release the contingency funds
Update the risk register
(Correct)
Raising the risk level of the entire project is too broad as a step since the risk
is only relevant to part of the project scope which may/may not affect the
entire project’s risk score.
Planning to release the contingency fund without the risk even occurring
(and becoming an issue) is a premature step and hence should be avoided.
Question 149:
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Arrange the personality traits (A B, C, D) with their MBTI personality indicator
classifications (1, 2, 3, 4) in the table below.
(Note: In your PMP Exam, you will be asked to perform this matching using
the drag & drop feature on the exam interface)
A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
(Correct)
Link to new ECO: Domain 1, Task 14: Promote team performance through the
application of emotional intelligence. Check the MBTI Personality Types
Infographic here (Courtesy: Wikimedia)
Question 150:
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Titan Inc., a medium-sized company that manufactures home security
solutions is expanding into a new market. It does not have any previous
experience in that market. Which tools should the project manager use to
collect requirements? (Choose TWO)
Prototypes
(Correct)
Expert Judgement
(Correct)
Product Analysis
Requirements Traceability Matrix
Explanation
Option 1, 2. Prototypes – Correct. These are near-fail-proof strategies to
test the risks of a new and potentially complex market.
Link to PMP Exam ECO: Domain 2, Task 8: Plan and Manage Scope