PM Test Center

While interviewing for a project manager position, you are asked which motivation attitude you have, Theory X or Theory Y. You state that your style is closer to the Theory Y approach and because you:

A. Encourage team members to realized their own maximum potential
B. Prefer to closely monitor your team members
C. Believe your team members can strive to achieve and are capable of self-motivation
D. Promote company loyalty and care about your team members on the job as well as during non-working hours

Answer: C. Believe your team members can strive to achieve and are capable of self-motivation
Theory X is the belief that employees are lazy and will do as little as possible to keep their jobs. Since they do not like to work, they require heavy supervision. Conversely, Theory Y assumes that employees are ambitious and can enjoy work; they are willing to take ownership of problems and creatively solve them without much direction. The reality is that these two theories are extremes and although a project manager may gravitate toward one end of the spectrum, her approach is likely somewhere in between. Maximum potential refers to the self-actualization layer of Maslows hierarchy of needs while company loyalty describes Theory Z.

During a critical juncture of a project, Gary decides to bring his project team from several local offices to a single location for two weeks. That way, they can work more closely together to ensure the milestone is on-time and on-budget. This is called:

A. Pre-assignment
B. Enterprise environmental factors
C. Virtual team
D. Co-location

Answer: D. Co-location
Co-location, or tight matrix, simply means keeping the project team all in the same physical place. This could be permanent or temporary but the goal is to improve team communication.

Which of the following is not true regarding conflict in a team environment?

A. Conflict should focus on personalities, not issues
B. Conflict should focus on the present, not the past
C. Conflict is natural and forces a search for alternatives
D. Openness resolves conflict

Answer: A. Conflict should focus on personalities, not issues
Conflict should focus on issues, not personalities.

Which is the following is not true about RACI?

A. RACI is a type of RAM.
B. RACI can be used to show roles on a project.
C. RACI stands for review, action, correct, investigate.
D. RACI is a matrix-based chart.

Answer: C. RACI stands for review, action, correct, investigate.
RACI is a matrix-based chart, a tool and technique for the Develop Human Resource Plan process. It is a type of RAM (Responsibility Assignment Matrix) and uses R (responsible), A (accountable), C (Consult), and I (Inform), to display expected roles for the project team.

What are the stages of team development?

A. Forming, storming, norming, performing
B. Forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning
C. Withdrawing, smoothing, compromising, collaborating
D. Withdrawing, smoothing, compromising, collaborating, confronting

Answer: B. Forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning
The fourth edition of the PMBOK® now has five team development stages (adjourning is the new addition). Choices C and D are techniques for resolving conflict.

When workers get an opportunity to contribute at their best, they reach a level that Maslow refers to as:

A. Esteem
B. Theory Y
C. Self-actualization
D. Theory X

Answer: C. Self-actualization
In his Hierarchy of Needs, Maslow calls the top level self-actualization, where an individual is working at his/her optimum. Only when the previous needs have been met can one attain the next. From bottom to top, the levels are physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization. Theory X and Theory Y are part of McGregor theories and not associated with Maslow.

Which of the following conflict resolutions leads to a win-win outcome?

A. Confronting
B. Smoothing
C. Compromising
D. Withdrawal

Answer: A. Confronting
Although many of us associate the word with a negative connotation, confronting actually leads to a win-win result. Confronting is also known as problem solving or collaborating. Although compromise is the second best choice, it leads to a lose-lose outcome since both parties give something up. Smoothing and withdrawal are temporary and lead to win-lose.

Ryan tells you that he is working on the executing portion of his project. Of the following, which process is he most likely working on?

A. Perform Quality Control
B. Acquire Project Team
C. Plan Procurements
D. Identify Stakeholders

Answer: B. Acquire Project Team
Of the choices, only Acquire Project Team is part of the Executing Process Group.

Which Human Resource management process includes tracking team member performance and providing feedback?

A. Manage Project Team
B. Develop Project Team
C. Report Performance
D. Acquire Project Team

Answer: A. Manage Project Team
Those activities are part of the Manage Project Team process.

During what process does negotiating a project team occur?

A. Develop Human Resource Plan
B. Negotiate Project Team
C. Acquire Project Team
D. Develop Project Team

Answer: C. Acquire Project Team
Acquire Project Team tools and techniques include pre-assignment, negotiation, acquisition, and virtual teams.