PMI PMI Certification PMI-SP Questions & Answers

• Question 21:

  You are the project manager of the GUH project. You are using the critical chain scheduling method as your approach to project scheduling. What two items can you compare in the critical chain method to determine if corrective action is appropriate?

  A. Amount of buffer remaining to the amount of resources available

  B. Amount of buffer remaining to the amount of buffer used

  C. Availability of project resources and project buffer

  D. Amount of buffer needed to the amount of buffer remaining

  Correct Answer: D

  The difference between the buffer needed and the buffer remaining can determine whether corrective action is appropriate. Answer option C is incorrect. This is not an accurate description of how the critical chain determines the need for corrective action. Answer option B is incorrect. This is not an accurate description of how the critical chain determines the need for corrective action. Answer option A is incorrect. This is not an accurate description of how the critical chain determines the need for corrective action.

• Question 22:

  What forecasting method would your project use if your project customer requires an autoregressive moving average for performance forecasting?

  A. Judgmental methods

  B. Time series method

  C. Ensemble forecasting

  D. Causal/econometric method

  Correct Answer: D

  The autoregressive moving average is an example of a causal/econometric method for the forecasting project performance. The casual/econometric forecasting method uses the assumption that it is possible to identify the underlying factors,

  which might influence the variable being forecasted. For example, sales of umbrellas might be associated with weather conditions. If the causes are understood, projections of the influencing variables can be made and used in the forecast.

  Some examples of casual/econometric forecasting method are as follows: Regression analysis using linear regression or non-linear regression Autoregressive moving average (ARMA) Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA)

  Econometrics

  Answer option B is incorrect. The time series method relies on the earned value, moving average, extrapolation, and growth curve.

  Answer option A is incorrect. The judgmental methods use intuition, the Delphi method, and forecast by analogy.

  Answer option C is incorrect. The ensemble forecasting is not part of the causal/econometric method for forecasting.

• Question 23:

  Which of the following are the outputs to the Determine Budget process? Each correct answer represents a complete solution. Choose all that apply.

  A. Project document updates

  B. Scope baseline

  C. Cost performance baseline

  D. Project funding requirements

  Correct Answer: ACD

  The outputs to the determine budget process are as follows: Cost performance baseline: The cost performance baseline is an authorized time-phased budget at completion. Project funding requirements:

  The project funding requirements are determined from total funding requirements and periodic funding requirements. Project document updates: The project document updates consists of risk register, cost estimates and project schedule.

  Answer option B is incorrect. Scope baseline is an input to the determine budget process.

• Question 24:

  You are creating a status report to show how your project is progressing. Management is interested in several key activities and their status. You need to report work performance information to management. All of the following are example of work performance information you should include in your report except for which one?

  A. How the project is performing on its schedule.

  B. Performance of the selected project vendors

  C. Which activities have been started and which activities have been finished.

  D. Percent of completion for the in-progress activities

  Correct Answer: B

  Vendor performance, while important, is not part of the work performance information. Management is interested in the how well the project is performing, what activities are currently underway, and what's been completed to date.

  Answer option A is incorrect the project's performance on schedule should be reported Answer option C is incorrect as management is interested in what activities have been started and finished. Answer option D is incorrect as management

  does want to know the percent of completion for the in- progress activities

• Question 25:

  You are the project manager of the NHQ Project. Management has told you that resource leveling will be enforced on your project, but they still want you to complete the project by July 2. With the current resources you have and the resource

  leveling imposed, you would not be able to finish by the constraint.

  What document should you update to address this situation?

  A. Project activity resource requirements

  B. Project schedule management plan

  C. Project scope

  D. Project charter

  Correct Answer: A

  The activity resource requirements will need to be addressed because the imposed constraint will cause a need for more resource to complete the activities by July 2. What is resource leveling heuristics? Resource leveling heuristics is a prioritization method that allocates inadequate resources to critical path activities first. It is a schedule network analysis technique useful to a schedule that has already been analyzed by the critical path method. It is used when shared or critical essential resources are only available at certain times, in limited quantities, or to keep resource usage at a constant level. It is a technique that resolves resource conflicts by delaying tasks within their slack allowances. Resource leveling is the process in which project teams come across problems when developing their project schedules. If a company has multiple projects running simultaneously that require the same resources, then problems can arise. It can often cause the critical path method to change. Answer option C is incorrect. The project scope does not need to be addressed as there has not been a request to reduce or increase the project scope. Answer option B is incorrect. The project charter will not change. In fact, the charter will rarely, if ever, change once has been approved and signed. Answer option D is incorrect. The schedule management plan would not be the biggest concern in this instance. The plan defines how the schedule will be created, executed, monitored and controlled.

• Question 26:

  Adrian is the project manager for her project. This new project needs to identify all the stakeholders that will be affected by the project's outcome. How stakeholders are usually identified?

  A. Stakeholders are usually identified through a stakeholder register.

  B. Stakeholders are identified by the project team, project sponsor, and management.

  C. Stakeholders are identified through the project customers.

  D. Stakeholders are usually identified by interviewing identified stakeholders and expanding the list until all potential stakeholders are included.

  Correct Answer: D

  Stakeholders are interviewed and can help identify other stakeholders that should be included in the project communications.

  Answer option B is incorrect. According to the PMBOK, this is not the best answer. Answer option A is incorrect. Stakeholders are entered into a stakeholder register, not identified by it. Answer option C is incorrect. Project customers are

  stakeholders.

• Question 27:

  Mark works as a project manager for BlueWell Inc. He is making relevant information available to the project stakeholders as required. According to Mark, which of the following are NOT the tools and techniques of the Distribute Information process?

  A. Communication requirements analysis

  B. Information distribution tool

  C. Communication method

  D. Communication technology

  Correct Answer: AD

  These tools and techniques are used in the Plan communications process. The tools and techniques used in the Distribute information process are as follows: Communication methods: These methods includes individual and group meetings, computer chats, audio and video conferences and other remote communications methods to distribute information. Information distribution tools: Various information distribution tools can be used to distribute information such as electronic tools, electronic conferencing tools, hard copy document distribution etc.

• Question 28:

  You work as a project manager for BlueWell Inc. Some of the activities in your project are not being completed on time. You reviewed these activities with your project team and discovered that the time estimates for the project are much more aggressive than what they are actually experiencing in the completion of the activities. You elect to create a new schedule for the project. What project Management process are you working with when you create a new target schedule?

  A. Develop schedule

  B. Estimate activity durations

  C. Control schedule

  D. Estimate activity resources

  Correct Answer: C

  In severe cases, new schedule duration estimates with new forecasted start and finish dates are needed. In these instances, it is an example of using the control schedule process. Control schedule process is a method of monitoring the status of the project to update project progress and deal with the changes to the schedule baseline. It is concerned with: Determining the current status of the project Influencing the factors that create schedule changes Determining that the project schedule has changed Managing the actual changes as they occur Control schedule is a component of the Perform Integration Change Control process. Answer option D is incorrect. The activity resources would only address the addition or replacement of resources needed to complete the project work. Answer option B is incorrect. This is a tempting choice, but new schedules are a part of the control schedule process. Answer option A is incorrect. Develop schedule is not the best choice for this question.

• Question 29:

  You are the project manager of the GHY project. Your project has a BAC of $675,000 and is forty percent complete though you were supposed to be forty-five percent complete. Due to some errors early in the project, you had to spend $278,000 of your project's budget to reach this point. Management is asking for a variance report. What part of your project has the largest variance?

  A. Cost, with a variance of -$8,000

  B. Schedule, with a variance of -$33,750

  C. Cost, with a variance of $278,000

  D. Schedule, with a variance of -$20,000

  Correct Answer: B

  Your schedule variance is -$33,750. You can find this by using the formula earned value-minus planned. Answer option C is incorrect. Cost is not the largest variance in the project. Answer option A is incorrect. Cost is not the largest variance in the project (it is -$8,000). Answer option D is incorrect. -$20,000 is the variance at completion for the project.

• Question 30:

  Your project is installing 8,000 light fixtures in a new building. Each of the light fixtures is to be installed exactly the same way but you have discovered that some of the fixtures are installed incorrectly. You and the project team meet and agree to fix the fixtures and to install all future fixtures the same way. This is an example of what executing activity?

  A. Risk response

  B. Team development

  C. Risk mitigation

  D. Corrective action

  Correct Answer: D

  This is an example of corrective action. The project team will fix the mistake and they have learned from their mistake so it won't happen again.

  Answer option C is incorrect. Risk mitigation is defined as monies spent or actions taken to reduce the probability and impact of an identified risk event.

  Answer option A is incorrect. A risk response is an action to counteract an identified risk. Answer option B is incorrect. There may be some team development happening in this instance but we don't have enough information to know for

  certain. Team development is an activity that brings the whole team cohesion, interdependency, and trust.