PM Test Center

Gold plating:

A. Is only appropriate when dealing with clients
B. Is discouraged in almost all cases
C. Should always be considered as an alternative
D. Should be used when the project is behind schedule

Answer: B. Is discouraged in almost all cases
Gold plating is providing extra functionality or service without updating the contract. It is a practice that is generally discouraged since changes to the project scope should affect cost, time, or quality in some way.

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.

If the BAC is 1000, the EAC is 1200, and the ETC is 900, what is the VAC?

A. -200
B. -100
C. 100
D. 200

Answer: A. -200
The VAC (variance at completion) is just a matter of figuring out delta between how much you thought you were going to spend before the project started, the budget at completion (BAC), and how much you think the project is going to cost knowing what you know today, the estimate at completion (EAC). So in this example, the VAC is -200, since VAC = BAC – EAC. That means the project is expected to cost $200 more than originally planned.

If the EAC is 2000, the PV is 500, and the AC is 400, what is the ETC?

A. 1100
B. 1500
C. 1600
D. 1900

Answer: C. 1600
The ETC (estimate to complete) is actually quite simple. Just figure out take the EAC (estimate at completion) and subtract the AC (actual cost), or ETC = EAC-AC; the PV is irrelevant for the ETC. What you are doing is looking at the difference between the updated estimate on how much the project will cost, EAC, and how much you have already spent, AC. The result is how much more you expect to spend to complete the project, EAC.

If the BAC is 1000, the CPI is 0.9, and the SPI is 1.2, what is the EAC?

A. 833.33
B. 900
C. 1111.11
D. 1200

Answer: C. 1111.11
One method that the EAC (estimate at completion) can be calculated is BAC (budget at completion) divided by CPI (cost performance index), or EAC = BAC/CPI; the SPI is irrelevant for the EAC. Because the CPI is under 1.0, then you know that the project is not doing well. Therefore, you can conclude that the project will cost more than originally planned, which is 1000, the BAC, without even doing any math. One way to look at the problem is “If this $1000 project is only getting $0.90 of value out of every dollar so far, if we continue at this pace, how much will this project cost by the time we are done?”

After taking a position as a project manager for a new department, you learn that they follow a change control process that maps to the Perform Integrated Change Control process in the PMBOK®. What is the likely scenario when making a change to a project?

A. Document the change request, bring it to a change control meeting, update the change request status
B. Document the change request, notify the manager, notify the customer, make the change
C. Go to a change control meeting, document the change request, make the change
D. Go to a change control meeting, notify the manager, notify the customer, document the change request

Answer: A. Document the change request, bring it to a change control meeting, update the change request status
For any change following the Perform Integrated Change Control process closely, first you must document the change request as an input. After using expert judgment and/or change control meetings as tools and techniques, you update the change request status, the project management plan, and project documents as outputs.

Joseph is looking for a way to track how long it takes his team to perform final testing for each tractor. When a tractor gets approved to deliver for a customer, he would simply like a graph that displays a just single point for the time result for that final test. Over time, he would like to see how his team progresses. What type of quality control tool should Joseph use?

A. Scatter diagram
B. Run chart
C. Pareto diagram
D. Control chart

Answer: B. Run chart
A run chart is a graph that shows plotted data points in the order they occurred. It shows a pattern of variation over time. Scatter diagrams measure two variables, Pareto diagrams track defect occurrences, and control charts have specification limits.

During the planning phase of your project, you are working closely with your team to put the finishing touches on the initial work breakdown structure (WBS). As your last step, you add a unique identifier to each work package so it can be used to monitor scope, time and cost later in the project. These unique identifiers are commonly known as:

A. Milestones
B. WBS dictionary
C. Outline system
D. Code of accounts

Answer: D. Code of accounts
The code of accounts is a set of unique identifiers for each work package. They label the hierarchy to the WBS (e.g. 1, 1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.2.5) so that scope can easily be monitored and controlled, especially for performance reporting such earned value.

An output that is created from the Identify Risk process and updated throughout all subsequent risk processes is:

A. Risk register
B. Probability and impact matrix
C. SWOT analysis
D. Risk audits

Answer: A. Risk register
A risk register, or risk log, is a list of identified risks and responses. It is the only output of the Identify Risk process. The risk register also serves as an input for future risk processes and its updates are an output of the very same processes.

One of the reports you are asked to produce is an S-curve diagram. Through your experience, you know that S-curve data is based on earned value. Therefore, you must __________ at the start of the project in order to have accurate S-curve reports.

A. Set a baseline
B. Use project management software
C. Create a contingency plan
D. Perform a variance analysis

Answer: A. Set a baseline
In order to provide earned value, a baseline must be set, usually at the beginning of the project. This will allow project managers to measure the original snapshot against actual performance.