CAPM Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts — 20 Questions

Question 1

Which of the following is a key output of the Plan Risk Management process?

Accepted Answer

Risk management plan.. The risk management plan is the primary output of the Plan Risk Management process. Option A (risk breakdown structure) is an output of the Identify Risks process. Option B (risk register) is an output of the Identify Risks process, not Plan Risk Management. Option C (risk response plan) is an output of the Plan Risk Responses process, not Plan Risk Management.

Answer

Risk breakdown structure.

Answer

Risk register.

Answer

Risk response plan.

Question 2

Which TWO of the following are benefits of using a project management plan? (Choose two)

Accepted Answer

It defines how the project will be executed, monitored, and controlled. Options B and D are correct. The project management plan defines how the project will be executed, monitored, and controlled, and provides a baseline for measuring performance. Option A is false because stakeholder communication remains essential and is not replaced by the plan. Option C is false because no plan can guarantee project success. Option E is false because risks cannot be eliminated; the plan helps manage but not eliminate risks.

Answer

It replaces the need for stakeholder communication

Answer

It guarantees project success

Answer

It eliminates all project risks

Question 3

Which TWO are benefits of creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

Accepted Answer

Defines the total scope. The WBS defines the total scope (B) and provides a foundation for cost estimation (C). Option A (identifies risks) is a benefit of risk management activities. Option D (assigns resources) is done during activity resource estimation. Option E (shows dependencies) is achieved through a network diagram.

Answer

Identifies project risks

Answer

Assigns resources to activities

Answer

Shows dependencies between activities

Question 4

A project manager is reviewing the project charter and notices that the business case includes a cost-benefit analysis with a Net Present Value (NPV) of $50,000 and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 12%. The company's required rate of return is 10%. What should the project manager conclude about this project?

Accepted Answer

The project is financially viable.. The project is financially viable because the NPV is positive ($50,000), indicating that the present value of expected cash inflows exceeds the present value of cash outflows. Additionally, the IRR of 12% exceeds the company's required rate of return (10%), meaning the project's expected return is greater than the cost of capital. Both metrics independently confirm financial feasibility.

Answer

The project's payback period is acceptable.

Answer

The project is expected to break even.

Answer

The project is not financially viable.

Question 5

During project execution, a key stakeholder requests a significant change that will increase project scope. The project manager performs an impact analysis and determines that the change will delay the project by two weeks and increase costs by 10%. However, the change is critical for regulatory compliance. What should the project manager do first?

Accepted Answer

Submit the change request to the change control board (CCB).. The correct first step is to submit the change request to the change control board (CCB) because, in formal project management, any change that impacts scope, schedule, or cost must go through the integrated change control process. Even though the change is critical for regulatory compliance, the project manager cannot unilaterally approve or reject it; the CCB has the authority to evaluate the impact analysis and make the final decision.

Answer

Approve the change because it is critical for compliance.

Answer

Reject the change because it will delay the project and increase costs.

Answer

Implement the change and request approval after.

Question 6

A project manager is estimating the duration of an activity. The optimistic estimate is 4 days, the pessimistic is 12 days, and the most likely is 6 days. Using the PERT three-point estimate, what is the expected duration?

Accepted Answer

6.67 days. The PERT three-point estimate formula is (Optimistic + 4×Most Likely + Pessimistic) / 6. Plugging in the values: (4 + 4×6 + 12) / 6 = (4 + 24 + 12) / 6 = 40 / 6 = 6.67 days. This weighted average gives more influence to the most likely estimate, providing a realistic expected duration.

Answer

12 days

Answer

7.33 days

Answer

6 days

Question 7

A project team is working on a software development project. The project manager notices that the team is spending too much time on unplanned work, resulting in delays to the critical path. What technique should the project manager use to reduce unplanned work and improve focus?

Accepted Answer

Implement critical chain project management.. Critical chain project management (CCPM) is specifically designed to protect the critical path from disruptions like unplanned work by inserting buffers (e.g., feeding buffers, project buffer) and enforcing a 'relay race' work ethic. This technique reduces multitasking and focuses the team on completing tasks in priority order, directly addressing the root cause of delays from unplanned work.

Answer

Apply crashing to the critical path activities.

Answer

Perform resource leveling to smooth resource usage.

Answer

Use fast tracking to overlap activities.

Question 8

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.

Question 9

Which TWO of the following are outputs of the Identify Stakeholders process?

Accepted Answer

Stakeholder register. Among the listed options, only the Stakeholder Register is an output of the Identify Stakeholders process. Stakeholder analysis is a tool and technique, not an output. Stakeholder Management Plan, Issue Log, and Stakeholder Engagement Plan are outputs of other processes, not Identify Stakeholders.

Answer

Stakeholder analysis

Answer

Stakeholder management plan

Answer

Issue log

Answer

Stakeholder engagement plan

Question 10

Which THREE of the following are types of dependencies that can exist between project activities?

Accepted Answer

Mandatory dependencies. Mandatory dependencies are legally or contractually required or inherent in the nature of the work. For example, in a construction project, you must complete the foundation before erecting the walls. These are often referred to as 'hard logic' and cannot be changed without altering the project scope or approach.

Answer

Resource dependencies

Answer

Internal dependencies

Question 11

A project manager is leading a software development project. The sponsor has requested a new feature that was not part of the original scope. The project manager assesses that adding this feature will require additional resources and will extend the timeline by two weeks. What should the project manager do first?

Accepted Answer

Analyze the impact on the project constraints and submit a change request.. The correct first step is to analyze the impact on the project constraints (scope, time, cost, quality) and submit a formal change request. This follows the Integrated Change Control process, ensuring the sponsor and change control board (CCB) evaluate the trade-offs before any work begins. In software development, adding a feature without analysis risks scope creep and uncontrolled budget or schedule deviations.

Answer

Refuse the request because it is out of scope.

Answer

Instruct the team to implement the feature and track extra time as overtime.

Answer

Immediately update the project schedule and budget.

Question 12

A project team is working on a construction project. The project manager notices that the actual cost is consistently higher than planned. Which project management process is most directly responsible for monitoring and controlling costs?

Accepted Answer

Control Costs. The Control Costs process is directly responsible for monitoring project expenditures and managing changes to the cost baseline. When actual cost consistently exceeds planned cost, the project manager must use Control Costs to analyze variance, forecast future costs, and implement corrective actions to bring spending back in line with the budget.

Answer

Estimate Costs

Answer

Plan Cost Management

Answer

Determine Budget

Question 13

A project manager is assigned to a project that is in execution phase. The project has a cost performance index (CPI) of 0.8 and a schedule performance index (SPI) of 1.1. Which of the following best describes the current status of the project?

Accepted Answer

The project is over budget but ahead of schedule.. A CPI of 0.8 means the project is earning only $0.80 for every $1.00 spent, indicating it is over budget. An SPI of 1.1 means the project is earning $1.10 for every $1.00 of planned work, indicating it is ahead of schedule. Therefore, the project is over budget but ahead of schedule, making option C correct.

Answer

The project is under budget and ahead of schedule.

Answer

The project is under budget and behind schedule.

Answer

The project is over budget and behind schedule.

Question 14

Refer to the exhibit. What is the total float of Task B?

Accepted Answer

1 day. Task B has a total float of 1 day because it lies on a non-critical path. The critical path (A-C-D) has a duration of 11 days, while the path containing Task B (A-B-D) has a duration of 10 days. Total float is calculated as the difference between the duration of the critical path and the duration of the path containing the task, which is 11 - 10 = 1 day.

Answer

3 days

Answer

2 days

Answer

0 days

Question 15

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 16

Which TWO of the following are outputs of the Identify Risks process?

Accepted Answer

Risk report. The Identify Risks process produces the risk register and risk report as its primary outputs. The risk register captures individual risks, their causes, and potential responses, while the risk report summarizes overall project risk exposure and key risk information for stakeholders.

Answer

Risk management plan

Answer

Risk response plan

Answer

Project management plan

Question 17

Which THREE of the following are components of the project charter?

Accepted Answer

Project purpose or justification. The project charter formally authorizes the project and the project manager. It includes the project purpose or justification (A) to establish the business need, a summary budget (B) to provide high-level financial constraints, and high-level risks (D) to identify potential uncertainties early. These are key components per the PMBOK Guide.

Answer

Detailed project schedule

Answer

Work breakdown structure

Question 18

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 19

A project manager is leading a software development project. During the planning phase, the team identifies a significant risk that a key third-party API may be deprecated before the project completes. The project sponsor asks for a risk response strategy. Which strategy should the project manager recommend to best address this risk?

Accepted Answer

Mitigate the risk by developing a workaround using an alternative API or building a fallback mechanism.. Developing a workaround using an alternative API or building a fallback mechanism directly reduces the probability and/or impact of the API deprecation risk. This is a classic risk mitigation strategy that proactively ensures the project can continue even if the third-party API becomes unavailable, which is a common technical risk in software projects.

Answer

Accept the risk and plan to deal with the issue if it arises.

Answer

Transfer the risk by purchasing insurance against API deprecation.

Answer

Enhance the risk by increasing the use of the API to benefit from it before deprecation.

Question 20

A project team is struggling with unclear roles and responsibilities, leading to duplicated work and missed tasks. Which document should the project manager create or update to resolve this issue?

Accepted Answer

Responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) in RACI format. The Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM), particularly in RACI format, is the correct document to resolve unclear roles and responsibilities because it explicitly maps project tasks to team members, defining who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. This eliminates ambiguity, prevents duplicated work, and ensures no tasks are missed by providing a clear, traceable assignment of duties.

Answer

Work breakdown structure (WBS)

Answer

Organizational breakdown structure (OBS)

Answer

Risk register