PM Test Center

Processes in the Initiating process group are:

A. Develop Project Charter, Identify Stakeholders
B. Develop Project Charter, Develop Preliminary Scope Statement
C. Develop Project Management Plan, Identify Stakeholders
D. Develop Project Management Plan, Plan Communications, Identify Stakeholders

Answer: A. Develop Project Charter, Identify Stakeholders
Develop Project Charter from the Integration knowledge area and Identify Stakeholders from the Communications knowledge area are the only two processes in the Initiation process group.

Danielle is the project manager for a public water organization. During the testing phase, she learns that there are contaminants in the water left from her construction project. Danielle consults her environmental experts and they claim that there is very little risk of any sickness. What is the best thing for Danielle to do?

A. Inform the public that the water is safe but they should boil the water before drinking.
B. Inform the public and perform a more detailed examination to locate the root of the problem.
C. Inform the public of the water treatment process and your organization’s safety record.
D. Do nothing because there is low risk for sickness.

Answer: B. Inform the public and perform a more detailed examination to locate the root of the problem.
Managing expectations, even for the public, is key to any project or organization. In this case, the problem also requires remediation to ensure that the problem can be solved to prevent continued issues with the water.

As a PMP, you are responsible for all of the following except:

A. Ensuring that the PMBOK® Guide is strictly enforced
B. Meeting the scope of the project
C. Providing accurate estimates to superiors
D. Keeping confidential information from leaking

Answer: A. Ensuring that the PMBOK® Guide is strictly enforced
The PMBOK® Guide is simply a recommended standard and not meant for project managers to follow strictly.

One advantage of a functional organizations is:

A. Being part of a functional team provides team members with peer support.
B. The project manager has full control over the budget.
C. The functional manager reports to the project manager.
D. Team members have two bosses.

Answer: A. Being part of a functional team provides team members with peer support.
Since team members usually work side-by-side with their respective peers, they have valuable resources readily available to them. In functional organizations, team members have one functional boss and the project manager usually has no control over the budget.

One advantage of a projectized organization is:

A. The project manager reports to the functional manager.
B. Team members have two bosses.
C. Team members are usually responsible with only one project at a time.
D. The project manager has no control over the budget.

Answer: C. Team members are usually responsible with only one project at a time.
Since team members are assigned to a project, they can typically focus on work within that particular project. In projectized organizations, team members have one project boss and the project manager usually has full control over the budget.

Which of the following organization types does the project manager have the least power?

A. Functional
B. Weak matrix
C. Strong matrix
D. Projectized

Answer: A. Functional
Projectized organizations grants project managers with total control of their projects. That means team members report directly to the project manager. Functional organizations, conversely, provides project managers with the least amount of power since the team members report to a functional, or line of business, manager.

Your company secured a contract with a client overseas and you are expected to bring your entire team with you for six weeks. The culture of your client’s country is very different from yours. What is the best way to prepare your team?

A. Arrive a few days early to get acclimated
B. Hold as many teleconference meetings as possible with the client leading up to the trip
C. Provide culture awareness training
D. Do nothing since your team will adapt as they live and work there

Answer: C. Provide culture awareness training
Training is usually the best way to prepare anyone heading into an unfamiliar situation.

Your company secured a contract with a client overseas and you are expected to bring your entire team with you for six weeks. The culture of your client’s country is very different from yours. What is the term that describes their anxiety of potential difficulties in assimilating in a new locale?

A. Culture shock
B. Adjustment phase
C. Disorientation
D. Known unknowns

Answer: A. Culture shock
Culture shock refers to feelings felt when people have to function in an unfamiliar social environment. Much of it has to do with not knowing what is generally accepted or appropriate.

Your mentor informs you that as a PMP®, you are responsible for improving capabilities of colleagues. You should respond with:

A. You agree but it only applies after you have achieved your PMP®.
B. You agree and all project managers should strive to improve the capabilities of their colleagues.
C. You disagree since improving capabilities of colleagues have nothing to do with professional responsibility.
D. You disagree because project managers should focus only on improving their own competencies.

Answer: B. You agree and all project managers should strive to improve the capabilities of their colleagues.
All project managers are expected to improve the capabilities of their colleagues, regardless of whether or not they have achieved their PMP®.

Your mentor informs you that as a PMP®, you are responsible for improving your own project management competencies. You should respond with:

A. You agree but it only applies after you have achieved your PMP®.
B. You agree and all project managers should strive to improve themselves.
C. You disagree since personal project management competencies have nothing to do with professional responsibility.
D. You disagree because project managers should focus only on competencies of their team members.

Answer: B. You agree and all project managers should strive to improve themselves.
All project managers are expected to improve their own project management competencies, regardless of whether or not they have achieved their PMP®.