| 1. | Answer C is correct. As explained in this question, recurring security vulnerability assessments with no ending date cannot be considered a project. Projects must have time boundaries. Answer A is incorrect because the project product does not have to be directly related to an organization's main product(s). Answer B is incorrect because the lack of a specific start date in the question description would not automatically disqualify the assessment as a project. Answer D is incorrect because a security vulnerability assessment does create at least one product the vulnerability assessment report. |
| 2. | Answer B is correct. In a strong matrix, the project manager has the preeminent position of authority. Because the functional manager does still have authority, a good project manager will keep the functional manager in the loop as much as possible. Answer A is incorrect because projectized organizations do not have functional managers. Answers C and D are incorrect because in a weak matrix and functional organization the project manager does not have greater authority than the functional manager. The project manager would have to defer to the functional manager, not just keep her in the loop. |
| 3. | Answer A is correct. Project scope management is mainly concerned with defining the work a project needs to accomplish. This definition is used to ensure all the necessary work is done and no unnecessary work is done. Answers B, C, and D are incorrect because these process groups focus on areas of a project other than scope. |
| 4. | Answer C is correct. The reason you decide to include the business analyst is because he possesses a superior knowledge of the application. Answers A and C are incorrect because his application knowledge is the focus, not general management or interpersonal skills. Answer D is incorrect because it is not a specified area of expertise in the PMBOK (it would fall under application knowledge and skills). This question is an example of too much information. You will find many questions on the PMP exam that contain more information than you need. Use only what is necessary to answer the question. Don't get confused with extraneous information. |
| 5. | Answer A is correct. Risk and uncertainty are the highest at the beginning or a project. These two factors make the probability of failure the highest at the beginning. The more you know about a project, the better chance you will have of completing it successfully. Answer B is incorrect because a lot is known about a project by the time you publish any plan. Risk and uncertainty are lower than at the beginning. Answers C and D are incorrect for similar reasons. As you move closer to the end of a project, you gain a higher level of confidence in the project's outcome. This is largely due to the fact that, as more work is accomplished, you can view and evaluate more and more or the project's output. |
| 6. | Answer C is correct. Stakeholder influence is greatest at the beginning of the project. When the initial objectives are being developed, the stakeholders have a lot of input. After the main project parameters are agreed upon, the project manager and project team start working on those objectives and the stakeholder involvement decreases. Answer A is incorrect because the project manager directs project activities, not the stakeholders. Answers B and D are incorrect because they do not reflect the stakeholder involvement. |
| 7. | Answer B is correct. The question states that training is not meeting the schedule and the result is that the training is not getting people properly trained. That means both schedule and quality are suffering. Of all the solutions, answer B provides the best description of the effects on your project. Answer A is incorrect because it does not mention the impact on project quality. Answer C is incorrect for several reasons. The problem might be the responsibility of the organization that supplied the trainers, but the responsibility of the impact on the project is the project manager's. Answer C also ignores the quality issue. Answer D is incorrect because is implies that the project manager padded the schedule. This is not an ethical practice. Your estimates should be realistic. If you expect such problems to occur, you should address them in the beginning of the project, along with appropriate recovery methods. By padding the schedule, you hide a real risk to the project. |
| 8. | Answer C is correct. In a balanced matrix the project manager and functional manager share equal authority. Answers A and B are incorrect because the functional manager has greater authority and would likely handle problems directly in a functional or weak matrix structure. Answer D is incorrect because the project manager would handle such issues directly in a projectized organization. |
| 9. | Answer C is correct. Create the WBS is the process that follows scope planning and scope definition. Answers A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not follow the PMBOK process flow. |
| 10. | Answer A is correct. The PMBOK places activity sequencing between activity definition and activity resource estimating. Answers B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not follow the PMBOK flow. You will see questions similar to questions 9 and 10 in the PMP exam. Know your process flows. |
