PM Test Center

Projects and operations have similarities and differences. Which of following is true?

A. Projects are performed by teams, operations are performed by individuals
B. Projects are temporary, operations are ongoing
C. Projects are planned, operations are executed
D. Projects are limited by constraints, operations are not

Answer: B. Projects are temporary, operations are ongoing
Projects and operations are both performed by teams, are both planned, executed, and monitored and controlled, and are both limited by constraints. However, projects must have an end and operations will not.

PMI expects project managers to use the PMBOK® Guide by:

A. Following it uniformly to all projects
B. Determining what knowledge is appropriate for any given project
C. Using the same methodologies and tools all the time
D. Applying the skills, tools, and techniques since they guarantee success over time

Answer: B. Determining what knowledge is appropriate for any given project
PMI expects project managers to use the PMBOK® Guide as a reference. It is subject to project managers deciding what areas are useful for their own projects. PMI does not condone project managers to blindly apply any knowledge.

While developing a charter, you are asked to consider enterprise environmental factors. These may include all of the following except:

A. Historical information
B. Marketplace conditions
C. Government standards
D. Industry standards

Answer: A. Historical information
Enterprise environmental factors can include government standards, industry standards, organization infrastructure, and marketplace conditions. Historical information is an organizational process asset.

You are a project manager for a new client. To help you get acclimated more quickly, she directs you to their organizational process assets in the company archives. You know that when you locate that directory, you will likely find:

A. Industry standards
B. Historical information
C. Financial data
D. Market conditions

Answer: B. Historical information
Organizational process assets typically include processes, policies, templates, and historical information. They are essential inputs and outputs for many processes.

According to PMI®, a project is a(n) __________ endeavor undertaken to create a __________ product, service, or result.

A. special, permanent
B. temporary, unique
C. approved, capable
D. organized, needed

Answer: B. temporary, unique
That definition has been associated with the term since the first version of the PMBOK®.

George, one of your co-workers, is applying to take the PMP® exam. When you ask him about the process, he tells you that although he does not have enough experience to qualify, he is simply increasing his actual project hours to fill any gaps. You know this is wrong and the best thing for you to do is:

A. Tell his manager that he is being unethical
B. Confront him and recommend that he apply for the CAPM® exam instead
C. Notify PMI® directly
D. Do nothing

Answer: C. Notify PMI® directly
Although confronting him or telling his manager seem appropriate, the best thing for you to do is to contact PMI®. As a general rule, the safest bet is to report unethical behavior directly to the governing body, and in this case, it happens to be PMI®.

While working as a project manager for your company, you travel to another country to meet with the client. During that visit, the client gives you a package and tells you that it is customary in their country to offer gifts. However, your company policy does not allow you to accept gifts. Therefore, you should:

A. Refuse the gift
B. Accept the gift anyway
C. Refuse the gift at first but accept it if the client insists
D. Accept the gift and notify your manager

Answer: D. Accept the gift and notify your manager
Although you should refuse gifts as a general rule, if it is customary for someone in another country to offer a gift, simply accept it and notify your manager. This is the only exception to the rule of not accepting any gifts since it could potentially be a conflict of interest.

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

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

Answer: D. Projectized
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.

Which of the following is true about project phases?

A. There are always five phases: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing.
B. Phases are determined by the organization.
C. There are many ways to frame a project and no one method applies to all projects.
D. The project must have more than one phase.

Answer: C. There are many ways to frame a project and no one method applies to all projects.
There is no standard method to manage a project. Project phases may vary by industry, field and individual.

Sally is the project manager for a building restoration project. She is also part of the team that decides which vendor they will be selecting to redo the exterior. Bill, her good friend of ten years, happens to be one of the vendors bidding on the project and asks Sally about the budget. Sally should:

A. Give Bill the information he needs so he does not submit a bid that is over the budget.
B. Notify all vendors of the budget so none of them have a distinct advantage.
C. Refuse to give Bill the budget information.
D. Give Bill a range of where the budget may fall so you can help him without disclosing the exact budget.

Answer: C. Refuse to give Bill the budget information.
This is a conflict of interest. Sally should keep the vendor selection process separate from conversations she has with her friend.