PM Test Center

You are performing a quality audit to determine whether or not your project team’s testing activities follow your organization’s project policies. What process are you working in?

A. Perform Quality Assurance
B. Perform Quality Audit
C. Perform Quality Control
D. Perform Quality Activities

Answer: A. Perform Quality Assurance
The key word in the question is audit. Auditing is a primary tool in the quality assurance. Essentially, you are auditing to ensure appropriate quality standards. There is no such process as Perform Quality Audit or Perform Quality Activities.

You, the project manager, have a deliverable due in three days, just in time for your client to showcase at her annual event. However, you just learned that a shipment has been delayed and it will push your delivery date out by a day. What is the first thing you should do?

A. Notify your client
B. Notify your manager
C. Evaluate the options
D. Assess the impact

Answer: D. Assess the impact
Any time you are in a scenario like this, the first two things you should do before notifying your manager or your client are to (1) assess the impact and (2) evaluate the options. In other words, take a look at what happened and figure out some alternatives. So by the time you have to communicate to your manager/client, you already have a story and recommendation ready to go.

Contracts should typically be communicated through:

A. Informal written
B. Informal verbal
C. Formal written
D. Formal verbal

Answer: C. Formal written
Formal written communication should be used for project documents such as project charters, project plans, and contracts. As a general rule, if it needs sign-off, then you should take a formal written method. Most project communication, however, will fall into the other categories. These could include email (informal written), meetings (informal verbal), and presentations (formal verbal).

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.

What is the only output of the Distribute Information process?

A. Organizational process assets updates
B. Communications management plan
C. Stakeholder register
D. Performance reports

Answer: A. Organizational process assets updates
Organizational process assets updates is the only output of the Distribute Information process.

Jennifer is the project manager of a highly visible project which includes a contract that specifically names resources. The identification of these resources prior to the project start is known as:

A. Negotiation
B. Pre-assignment
C. Staffing management plan
D. Acquisition

Answer: B. Pre-assignment
Any time a project member is identified before a project begins, it is called pre-assignment.