PM Test Center

A change request should be initiated when any of the following occur except when there is:

A. A different resource is assigned to a task.
B. An error in defining the scope of the product.
C. An error in defining the scope of the project.
D. An new government regulation.

Answer: A. A different resource is assigned to a task.
Changing resources is very common during the course of a project and typically would not create a need to submit a change request.

During the Manage Project Team process, a common tool used to provide constructive feedback is:

A. Project performance appraisal
B. Ground rules
C. Training
D. Team-building activities

Answer: A. Project performance appraisal
Project performance appraisals can be used to during the project to provide a communication medium. They can be formal or informal and can be used to improve team performance, one individual at a time. All other choices are tools and techniques for the Develop Project Team process.

When managing stakeholder expectations, a project manager should apply management skills when appropriate. Which of the following is not a management skill?

A. Presentation skills
B. Negotiating
C. Overcoming resistance to change
D. Writing skills

Answer: C. Overcoming resistance to change
Overcoming resistance to change is an interpersonal skill, not a management skill.

When managing stakeholder expectations, a project manager should apply interpersonal skills when appropriate. Which of the following is not an interpersonal skill?

A. Building trust
B. Resolving conflict
C. Active listening
D. Self-motivation

Answer: D. Self-motivation
Motivation of one’s team is an interpersonal skill, but not self-motivation.

Donna tells you she is extremely happy that her work was finally noticed. Her project manager sent a note to Donna’s manager about how wonderful her performance on the last project was. As a result, Donna was named Team Member of the Month for her department and received a gift card. In this example, the project manager exercised what type of power?

A. Formal
B. Reward
C. Expert
D. Recommendation

Answer: B. Reward
Reward power, one of the best forms of power, is when the project manager provides a reward for good performance. This can come in many forms, including accolades and gifts. The other types are formal, penalty, expert, and referent.

Steven, the assigned project manager, was given authority by his sponsor to not only staff resources to his team but also manage the team on a day-to-day basis. He decides that he will leverage his title and position to motivate his team to follow his lead. This is an example of what type of power?

A. Expert
B. Sponsorship
C. Leader
D. Formal

Answer: D. Formal
Formal, aka legitimate, is a project management power that is based solely on position; it is not one of the best forms of power. The other types are reward, penalty, expert, and referent.

The most common source of conflict on a project is:

A. Cost
B. Resources
C. Personality
D. Schedules

Answer: D. Schedules
In order of frequency, the most common source of conflict to the least common source of conflict: schedules, priorities, resources, technical opinions, administrative procedures, cost, personality. No need to memorize all of them but at least know the top two (schedules, priorities) and the last (personality).

Which of the following statements about project scope and product scope is true?

A. Product scope ensures effective flow of a project while project scope is used to create a product.
B. Project scope and product scope can be used synonymously.
C. Product scope cannot be used to describe a project but project scope can be used to describe a product.
D. Project scope refers to work that needs to be accomplished to create a product; product scope refers to features that characterize a product.

Answer: D. Project scope refers to work that needs to be accomplished to create a product; product scope refers to features that characterize a product.
All other choices are false.

During the life cycle of a project, a project manager may distribute information using a wide range of tools. Which of the following is not one of them?

A. Sending a press release
B. Writing an email to a team member
C. Using project management software to schedule tasks
D. Watching an instructional video for your consumer

Answer: D. Watching an instructional video for your consumer
Although all the choices involve communication, watching an instructional video does not involve distributing information for the project manager since he would simply be the receiver in this case. The point is, there are many ways to distribute information; in addition to the choices, you could also have hard copy documents, databases, faxes, phone and voice mail, collaborative web sites, and various software, just to name a few.

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.