PM Test Center

You released an RFP but several of the prospective suppliers have questions regarding some of the scope. You determine that the best way to listen to their concerns and convey your message is to have a(n):

A. Invitation for bid
B. Qualified supplier list
C. Bidders conference
D. Independent estimate

Answer: C. Bidders conference
A bidders conference is a meeting with suppliers to ensure they have a good understanding of the procurement document.

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 the PMBOK®, which of the following is not a management skill used by project managers for communicating?

A. Presentation skills
B. Resolving conflict
C. Negotiating
D. Writing skills

Answer: B. Resolving conflict
Management skills used by project managers include but are not limited to presentation skills, negotiating, writing skills, and public speaking Resolving conflict is an interpersonal skill.

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.

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.