PMI PMI-SP Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

PMI PMI-SP Online Questions & Answers

• Question 231:

  Tom is the project manager for the ABC Construction Company. As part of the project scheduling for the construction of a new office building, he has allotted time for the inspectors of the building structure, as well as electrical, plumbing, and safety into the project's schedule. These inspectors can be considered what type of dependency in the project?

  A. Mandatory dependencies
  B. Required dependencies
  C. Discretionary dependencies
  D. External dependencies
  D. External dependencies

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  An external dependency is any nonproject activity that is external to the project but has a direct impact on the project activities. An external dependency may be an inspector or any agency that may have to give prior approval before the project can move forward. Answer option B is incorrect. Required dependency is not a valid term to describe a dependency. Answer option A is incorrect. Mandatory dependencies describe the required order in which the project work must take place - such as foundation before framing, or the operating system installed before the application may be installed. Answer option C is incorrect. Discretionary dependencies describe the optional order of the project work, such as painting the walls before installing the carpet.

• Question 232:

  You are the project manager of the GHT Project. Ben, one of your project team members, does not understand the idea of a milestone. Which of the following best describes what a milestone is?

  A. A significant point in the project
  B. A goal of reaching a significant delivery of project benefits by an identified date
  C. An imposed date for the project to reach a given point
  D. The completion of a project activity that is crucial to project completion
  A. A significant point in the project

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  A milestone is simply a significant point or event in the project. It does not have to be assigned to a specific date, but is usually assigned to the completion of project phases. A milestone is the end of a stage that marks the completion of a work package or phase, typically marked by a high level event such as completion, endorsement or signing of a deliverable, document or a high level review meeting. In addition to signaling the completion of a key deliverable, a milestone may also signify an important decision or the derivation of a critical piece of information, which outlines or affects the future of a project. In this sense, a milestone not only signifies distance traveled (key stages in a project) but also indicates direction of travel since key decisions made at milestones may alter the route through the project plan. To create a milestone, enter 0 (zero) in the Duration field. The task will automatically be classified as a milestone. Answer option C is incorrect. This is a project constraint. Answer option B is incorrect. A project goal is an objective for time, cost, scope, and other metrics. Answer option D is incorrect. All activities must be completed in order to complete the project work. Activities that are not completed are quality issues that prevent the project from completing the project scope.

• Question 233:

  Which of the following components of the change control system includes the documentation, tracking systems, and defined approval levels necessary for authorizing and controlling changes?

  A. Scope Verification
  B. Configuration Management System
  C. Project Management Information System
  D. Integrated Change Control
  B. Configuration Management System

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  The change management system comprises several components that guide the change request through the process. When a change request is made, it will affect the project scope. The Configuration Management System evaluates the change request, and documents the features and functions of the change on the project scope. What is Configuration Management System? Configuration Management System is a subsystem of the overall project management system. It is a collection of formal documented procedures used to identify and document the functional and physical characteristics of a product, result, service, or component of the project. It also controls any changes to such characteristics, and records and reports each change and its implementation status. It includes the documentation, tracking systems, and defined approval levels necessary for authorizing and controlling changes. Audits are performed as part of configuration management to determine if the requirements have been met. Answer option D is incorrect. Integrated Change Control, part of the change control system, does not document changes to the features and functions of the project scope. It evaluates the change's impact on eight knowledge areas: scope, time, cost, quality, human resources, communication, risk, and procurement. What is Perform Integrated Change Control? Perform Integrated Change Control is the process of reviewing all change requests, approving changes, and controlling changes to the deliverables and organizational process assets in a project. Perform Integrated Change Control has to do with influencing the things that cause change, determining that the change is required or has happened, and managing the change. Answer option A is incorrect. Verify scope is a process of formalizing acceptance of the completed project deliverables. It is an inspection- driven process the stakeholders will complete to inspect the project scope deliverables. It is typically performed at the end of the phase and at the end of the project. Answer option C is incorrect. The Project Management Information System (PMIS) is an information system consisting of the tools and techniques used to gather, integrate, and disseminate the outputs of project management processes. It is used to support all aspects of the project from initiating through closing, and can include both manual and automated systems. It is the parent of the change control process. It is a system that includes all of the change control processes for scope, time, cost, and procurement. Configuration management is part of the PMIS.

• Question 234:

  The figure given below demonstrates the communications model for a project. What role does component C play in the communication model?

  

  A. Encoder
  B. Transporter
  C. Sender
  D. Medium
  A. Encoder

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  The fax machine is the encoder of the message. The communication model shows the traversal of information between two hosts, known as the sender and the receiver. The key components of the model are as follows: Encode: It is used to crypt or code the message into a language that is understood by others. Decode: It is used to decrypt the message back into the meaningful codes. Message and feedback message: It is the output of encoding. Noise: It is referred to anything, which interferes with the transmission and understanding of the message. Medium: It is the method used to convey the message. In the communication process, it is the duty of the sender to send clear and complete information to the receiver so that it is properly received by the receiver, and for confirming that it is properly understood. The duty of the receiver is to make sure that the information received is understood and acknowledged properly. A failure in communication can negatively impact the project. Answer option C is incorrect. The sender is the person sending the message. Answer option D is incorrect. The medium is the telephone lines between the two fax machines. Answer option B is incorrect. The transporter is not a valid term for the communication model.

• Question 235:

  You are the project manager of a project that has a budget of $875,000 and you have completed 40 percent of the project work. Due to some errors, however, you have actually spent $425,000 of the budget. Management wants to know what the project's cost performance index is. What value do you report?

  A. -$75,000
  B. $350,000
  C. .82
  D. -$187,500
  C. .82

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  Cost performance index (CPI) is used to calculate performance efficiencies. It is used in trend analysis to predict future performance. CPI is the ratio of earned value to actual cost. The CPI is calculated based on the following formula: CPI =

  Earned Value (EV) / Actual Cost (AC) If the CPI value is greater than 1, it indicates better than expected performance, whereas if the value is less than 1, it shows poor performance. The CPI value of 1 indicates that the project is right on

  target. In this instance it's $350,000 divided by $425,000 for a CPI of .82.

  Answer option B is incorrect. $350,000 is the earned value of the project. Answer option A is incorrect. -$75,000 is the cost variance for the project. Answer option D is incorrect. -$187,500 is the predicted variance at the completion of the

  project.

• Question 236:

  Tom is the project manager of the GHQ Project for his organization and he is working on recovering the project schedule. As Tom examines his schedule, he is especially aware of project activities with hard logic. What is hard logic?

  A. Hard logic describes activities that can be completed in any order but are positioned with finish-to- start relationships.
  B. Hard logic describes activities that have external constraints, such as a vendor.
  C. Hard logic describes activities that must be completed in a particular order unless additional resources with comparable skill sets can be added to the project.
  D. Hard logic describes activities that must be completed in a particular order.
  D. Hard logic describes activities that must be completed in a particular order.

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  Hard logic, also known as mandatory dependencies, describes activities that must be completed in a particular order. Hard logic is a binding connection between activities. It is also known as mandatory dependency or hard dependency. Hard logic requires activities to take place in a specific order according to the nature of work. It is a well-built connection where an activity cannot start until and unless a previous one is completed. There are also substantial hard logic connections where soft logic does not usually apply. Several activities rely on hard logic for the successful completion of the project. Answer options B, A, and C are incorrect. These are not a valid description of hard logic.

• Question 237:

  Which of the following group activity techniques allows a large number of ideas to be sorted into groups for review and analysis?

  A. Idea/mind mapping
  B. Nominal group technique
  C. Delphi technique
  D. Affinity diagram
  D. Affinity diagram

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  The various group creativity techniques are as follows: Brainstorming: It is a technique used to generate and collect multiple ideas related to the project and product requirements. Nominal group technique: It is a technique used to enhance brainstorming with a voting process used to rank the most useful ideas for further brainstorming or prioritization. Delphi technique: It is a techniques used to identify potential risk. In this technique, the responses are gathered via a questionnaire from different experts and their inputs are organized according to their contents. Idea/mind mapping: It is a technique used to map the ideas generated by brainstorming to reflect the commonality and differences in understanding and generating new ideas. Affinity diagram: It is a technique used to allow a large number of ideas to be sorted into groups for review and analysis.

• Question 238:

  Which of the following are the inputs to the Develop Project Charter process? Each correct answer represents a complete solution. Choose all that apply.

  A. Procurement document
  B. Contract
  C. Business case
  D. Project statement of work
  B. Contract
  C. Business case
  D. Project statement of work

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  The Develop Project Charter process documents the formal authorization of a project or a phase. It also documents initial requirements that satisfy the stakeholder's needs and expectations. It is used to validate the decisions made during the previous iteration of the Develop Project Charter process. The various inputs of this process are as follows: Project statement of work Business case Contract Enterprise environmental factors Organizational process assets The output of the Develop project Charter process is as follows: Project charter Answer option A is incorrect. Procurement document is the input of the Identify Stakeholders process.

• Question 239:

  You are the project manager of the NHQ project. Your project has a budget of $1,258,456 and is scheduled to last for three years. Your project is currently forty percent complete though it should be forty- five percent complete. In order to reach this point of the project, you have spent $525,000. Management needs a performance report regarding the NHQ project. Management is concerned that this project will be over budget upon completion. What is the estimate at completion for this project that you will need to report to management?

  A. -$62,922.80
  B. $1,312,504
  C. $1,525,000
  D. $787,504
  B. $1,312,504

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  The estimate at completion can be calculated by dividing the budget at completion by the cost performance index. Here, CPI =EV/AC=(0.40*1,258,456)/525000 = 0.95882 EAC = BAC/CPI = 1,258456/0.95882 = 1,312,504 What is Estimate at Completion (EAC)? Estimate at Completion (EAC) is a field that displays the final cost of the project including the actual costs and the forecast of remaining costs based on the cost performance index (CPI) so far. The formula used to calculate this estimate is as follows: ACWP+(BAC-BCWP)/CPI Answer option D is incorrect. $787,504 is the estimate to complete. Answer option A is incorrect. -$62,922.80 is the schedule variance. Answer option C is incorrect. This is not a valid calculation for this question.

• Question 240:

  You work as a project manager for ABC Inc. You are currently overseeing a project on a high-rise building site. Your prime concern is to ensure that cranes are used effectively for moving materials. You also have to ensure that delivery trucks do not have to wait in a queue and that workers on the upper floors are able to get their deliveries on time. Which type of scheduling would be required in such a scenario?

  A. Critical path scheduling
  B. Time-oriented scheduling
  C. Resource-oriented scheduling
  D. Network scheduling
  C. Resource-oriented scheduling

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  Resource-oriented scheduling focuses on using and scheduling particular resources in an effective manner. This type of scheduling should be used whenever there are limited resources available for a project and the struggle for these resources between the project activities is intense. As a result, delays are likely to arise in such cases, as actions must wait until general resources become available. Resource- oriented scheduling is also suitable in cases where unique resources are to be used, such as when there is only one excavator available in an excavation operation. Answer option B is incorrect. Time-oriented scheduling is a time-scheduling method that focuses on determining the finishing time of a project. It also specifies the crucial precedence relationships among the activities involved in the project. In time-oriented scheduling, the appropriate time is allocated for the whole project through the successive stages of the project life cycle. Answer option A is incorrect. Critical path scheduling is a technique that calculates the minimum completion time for a project along with the possible start and finish times for the project activities. Answer option D is incorrect. Network scheduling provides a basis for obtaining facts for decision making.