CAPM Practice Test 34 — 15 Questions

Question 1

Refer to the exhibit. A business analyst is analyzing system failures during user acceptance testing. The error log indicates a database connection problem. Which root cause should the analyst investigate first?

Choose an answer to begin — your selection is scored in the full session.

Accepted Answer

Network connectivity issue. The 'Communications link failure' error typically indicates a network issue between the application and database server, so network connectivity should be checked first.

Answer

Application server overload

Answer

Incorrect JDBC driver

Answer

Database server is down

Question 2

Which THREE of the following are typically included in a business case?

Accepted Answer

Alternatives analysis. A business case includes the problem statement, cost-benefit analysis, and alternatives analysis to justify the project. Risk register and stakeholder list are separate documents that inform but are not core parts of the business case.

Answer

Stakeholder list

Answer

Risk register

Question 3

Which TWO are core activities in a predictive plan-based methodology?

Accepted Answer

Developing a detailed project schedule using the critical path method (CPM). In predictive plan-based methodology, detailed planning is done upfront, and changes are controlled. Decomposition of work into WBS and using CPM for scheduling are key activities. Rolling wave planning is more iterative, and retrospective reviews are from agile. Adaptive budgeting is not typical.

Answer

Conducting iterative retrospectives after each sprint

Answer

Implementing adaptive budgeting with frequent reallocation of funds

Answer

Using rolling wave planning to progressively elaborate details

Question 4

During project planning, the project manager wants to ensure that all work required to complete the project is identified. Which document is the primary output of the process that defines and controls what is included in the project?

Accepted Answer

Scope baseline. The scope baseline is the primary output of the 'Define Scope' and 'Create WBS' processes, and it formally defines and controls what is included in the project. It consists of the project scope statement, the WBS, and the WBS dictionary, providing a comprehensive reference for scope management. By establishing the scope baseline, the project manager ensures that all required work is identified and any changes must go through formal change control.

Answer

Scope management plan

Answer

Project scope statement

Answer

Work breakdown structure (WBS)

Question 5

A project team is experiencing frequent changes in requirements. The project manager wants to minimize disruptions. Which approach is best to manage changes effectively?

Accepted Answer

Establish a change control board and process.. A formal change control board (CCB) and a documented change control process provide a structured, consistent method for evaluating, approving, and implementing changes. This minimizes disruptions by ensuring that only approved, impact-assessed changes are introduced, preventing ad-hoc modifications that can destabilize the project scope, schedule, and budget.

Answer

Freeze requirements after initial sign-off.

Answer

Let the team implement changes as they come.

Answer

Communicate changes to stakeholders after implementation.

Question 6

During project execution, you notice that a key stakeholder, the head of the legal department, has been disengaged from project reviews and has not responded to your emails requesting input on a regulatory compliance issue. The project is at risk of missing a legal requirement that could result in fines. You have classified this stakeholder as having high power and high interest. According to stakeholder engagement best practices, what should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Schedule a face-to-face meeting with the stakeholder to discuss their concerns and the project's needs. For a stakeholder with high power and high interest, proactive engagement is key. A face-to-face meeting (C) is the most effective first step to directly address disengagement, understand their concerns, and re-establish communication. Option A escalates prematurely without attempting direct engagement first, Option B ignores the risk and the stakeholder's input, and Option D is too indirect and may further alienate the stakeholder.

Answer

Escalate to the project sponsor to demand the stakeholder's participation

Answer

Document the risk and proceed without the legal input, assuming compliance

Answer

Send another email with a deadline for response and escalate if no reply

Question 7

During project execution, a key stakeholder requests a change that will increase the project scope. The project manager evaluates the impact and determines it will require additional budget and time. What is the first step the project manager should take?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request to the change control board. In predictive (waterfall) project management, any change that impacts scope, budget, or schedule must follow the formal integrated change control process. The project manager's first step after evaluating the impact is to submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) for approval or rejection. This ensures that all changes are documented, assessed for risks, and aligned with the project baseline before implementation.

Answer

Reject the change due to budget and time constraints

Answer

Implement the change and document it later

Answer

Approve the change because the stakeholder is key

Question 8

Refer to the exhibit. The team has a policy of not committing code that fails tests. What does this indicate about their process?

Accepted Answer

They are violating continuous integration principles.. The team's policy of not committing code that fails tests indicates that they may delay integration until tests pass, which can lead to large, infrequent integrations. This violates continuous integration (CI) principles, which require frequent merging of code changes, even if tests fail temporarily, to quickly detect and fix issues. Option A is not necessarily true; TDD involves writing tests before code, but the policy alone doesn't confirm TDD. Option C is incorrect because the policy actually undermines proper CI. Option D is tangential and not indicated by the policy.

Answer

They practice test-driven development.

Answer

They use continuous integration correctly.

Answer

They need more pair programming.

Question 9

A business analyst is facilitating a requirements workshop for a new payment system. The workshop includes representatives from sales, finance, IT, and customer support. During the session, the sales team insists on supporting multiple currencies, while finance emphasizes strict audit trails. IT wants a microservices architecture, but customer support demands a simple user interface. The conversation becomes heated, and no decisions are made. The project sponsor wants a single recommendation that balances these needs. As the business analyst, what is the best approach to move forward?

Accepted Answer

Use a prioritization matrix based on business goals, such as revenue impact and compliance, to rank requirements.. Using a prioritization matrix based on business goals (e.g., revenue impact, compliance) provides an objective framework to resolve conflicting stakeholder requirements. This approach aligns with business analysis best practices for managing trade-offs and ensuring decisions support overall business objectives. Option A delays resolution and may miss cross-departmental dependencies. Option C abdicates the BA's responsibility to facilitate decisions and may lead to arbitrary choices. Option D risks alienating other stakeholders and does not address the core conflict.

Answer

Schedule a follow-up meeting with each department separately to gather more details.

Answer

Create a requirements document that includes all demands and let the project manager decide.

Answer

Propose a solution that addresses the most vocal stakeholder's needs first to build goodwill.

Question 10

A project team using a Kanban board wants to predict when all remaining backlog items will be completed. Which metric is most useful for this prediction?

Accepted Answer

Cycle time. Cycle time measures the time from when work starts on an item until it is completed, providing a reliable basis for forecasting completion of items in a flow-based system like Kanban. Option C is correct. Velocity (A) is used in Scrum and is not directly applicable to Kanban's flow-based approach. Cumulative flow diagram (B) visualizes WIP and cycle time but does not directly predict completion as effectively as cycle time itself. Lead time (D) includes waiting time before work starts, making it less precise for predicting completion once work is in progress.

Answer

Velocity

Answer

Cumulative flow diagram

Answer

Lead time

Question 11

Refer to the exhibit. What is the critical path duration?

Accepted Answer

16 days. The critical path is the longest path through the network. Path A-B-D-E: 3+5+6+2=16 days. Path A-C-D-E: 3+4+6+2=15 days. Therefore, the critical path duration is 16 days.

Answer

14 days

Answer

17 days

Answer

15 days

Question 12

A business analyst is working on a project to implement a new inventory management system. The project charter has been approved, and the project manager has asked the analyst to begin requirements elicitation. The analyst notices that the business case did not include a clear problem statement or measurable objectives. Several stakeholders are uncertain about the project's purpose and expected outcomes. The project sponsor is eager to move forward. As the business analyst, what should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Work with the sponsor and key stakeholders to refine the business case with a clear problem statement and measurable objectives.. The business case provides the foundational justification for the project, including the problem statement and measurable objectives. Without these, requirements elicitation lacks clear direction, leading to scope creep and misaligned outcomes. The business analyst must first refine the business case with the sponsor and key stakeholders to ensure a shared understanding of the project's purpose and success criteria before proceeding with requirements activities.

Answer

Create a requirements management plan to document how requirements will be handled.

Answer

Proceed with requirements elicitation and clarify objectives later during prioritization.

Answer

Conduct a stakeholder analysis to identify who needs to be involved in defining objectives.

Question 13

Which THREE techniques are commonly used for requirements elicitation?

Accepted Answer

Surveys. Surveys, brainstorming, and interviews are all commonly used requirements elicitation techniques. Surveys efficiently gather input from a large number of stakeholders, brainstorming facilitates creative idea generation in a group setting, and interviews allow for in-depth exploration of individual stakeholder needs. SWOT analysis and Gantt charts are not elicitation techniques; they are used for strategic analysis and project scheduling, respectively.

Answer

SWOT analysis

Answer

Gantt charts

Question 14

Which of the following is a key component of a project scope baseline in predictive project management?

Accepted Answer

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). In predictive project management, the scope baseline consists of the approved project scope statement, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and WBS dictionary. The WBS is a hierarchical decomposition that breaks down the project work into manageable components, forming the foundation for scope management. Therefore, the WBS is a key component of the scope baseline, making option B correct.

Answer

The project budget

Answer

The risk register

Answer

The stakeholder register

Question 15

A project manager is assigned to a project that is in the planning phase. The sponsor asks the project manager to include a 10% contingency reserve in the budget. The project manager knows that the project has a high degree of uncertainty. What should the project manager do?

Accepted Answer

Perform a quantitative risk analysis to determine appropriate contingency reserves.. The project manager should perform a quantitative risk analysis to determine the appropriate contingency reserve based on the project's specific risk exposure, rather than relying on an arbitrary 10% figure. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's guidance that contingency reserves should be derived from risk analysis, not sponsor preference, especially given the high degree of uncertainty.

Answer

Explain that contingency reserves are not allowed in the project budget.

Answer

Refuse the request because it is unethical.

Answer

Add the 10% contingency reserve as requested.