CAPM Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts Practice Test 8 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A project team encounters this error during deployment. Which project document should be updated first?

Accepted Answer

Issue log. An error during deployment is an issue that has already occurred, so it should be logged in the issue log for tracking and resolution. Option A is wrong because the change log is for approved changes, not for unexpected errors. Option C is wrong because the lessons learned register is updated after the project or phase, not immediately. Option D is wrong because the risk register is for uncertain events that may occur, but this error has already happened.

Answer

Change log

Answer

Lessons learned register

Answer

Risk register

Question 2

A project manager is assigned to a project in a matrix organization. Who typically has authority over resource assignment and prioritization?

Accepted Answer

Functional manager. In a matrix organization, functional managers have authority over resource assignment and prioritization, as they control the personnel and their availability. The project manager coordinates the project but does not directly manage resources. Option A is correct. Option B (project sponsor) provides funding and support but not direct resource authority. Option C (project manager) may request resources but does not have authority over them. Option D (customer) defines requirements but not resource allocation.

Answer

Project sponsor

Answer

Project manager

Answer

Customer

Question 3

A project is behind schedule. Which schedule compression technique involves adding additional resources to critical path activities?

Accepted Answer

Crashing. Crashing is the schedule compression technique that adds additional resources to critical path activities to shorten duration, typically at increased cost. It is used when the project must be accelerated and cost is acceptable. Resource leveling, by contrast, adjusts start/finish dates based on resource constraints and often extends duration.

Answer

Resource leveling

Answer

Monte Carlo simulation

Answer

Rolling wave planning

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Defines the total scope. Option B is correct because the WBS decomposes the entire project deliverable into progressively smaller work packages, thereby defining and confirming the total scope of the project and preventing scope creep. Option C is correct because these work packages provide the granular level at which costs can be estimated, budgeted, and later controlled, making the WBS the foundation for cost estimating. Option A is not a WBS benefit because risk identification is performed through risk management processes such as risk identification workshops, not through scope decomposition. Option D is not a WBS benefit because resource assignment occurs in schedule and resource planning activities (for example, using a RACI chart or resource histogram), not in the WBS itself. Option E is not a WBS benefit because activity dependencies are determined through sequence activities techniques such as precedence diagramming, which is part of schedule development rather than scope decomposition.

Answer

Identifies project risks

Answer

Assigns resources to activities

Answer

Shows dependencies between activities

Question 5

Which THREE are components of the project management plan?

Accepted Answer

Cost baseline. The project management plan is the integrated, approved document that describes how the project will be executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, and it formally incorporates the three baselines: the scope baseline (D), the schedule baseline (E), and the cost baseline (B). The scope baseline (D) is the approved version of the scope statement, WBS, and WBS dictionary, and it is a component of the project management plan used to measure scope performance. The schedule baseline (E) is the approved version of the schedule model, and the cost baseline (B) is the approved, time-phased project budget; both are performance measurement baselines contained within the plan. By contrast, the risk register (A) and stakeholder register (C) are project documents, not components of the project management plan, so they do not belong in the answer.

Answer

Risk register

Answer

Stakeholder register

Question 6

Refer to the exhibit. A project administrator applies an organizational policy that requires a project charter signed by the sponsor and the functional manager before project work can commence. A project manager has not yet obtained these signatures. What is the effect on the project team's ability to start work?

Accepted Answer

The team cannot start work until both signatures are obtained.. The project charter is the document that formally authorizes the project and the project manager to apply organizational resources to project activities. Per PMBOK, the charter must be approved (signed) by the sponsor and any other required authorities named in the organizational policy before work can begin. Since the policy explicitly requires both the sponsor's and the functional manager's signatures, the team cannot commence work until both signatures are obtained.

Answer

The team can start work as long as the sponsor has verbally approved.

Answer

The team can start work because the functional manager's approval is optional.

Answer

The team cannot start work regardless of dual approval; other conditions must also be met.

Question 7

A project manager is assigned a project that has a very low tolerance for scope changes. Which development approach is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Predictive. A predictive (waterfall) approach plans the full scope upfront and controls changes through formal change control, making it ideal when scope changes are unacceptable. It emphasizes detailed planning, sequential phases, and baseline management, which aligns with a project that has very low tolerance for scope variation.

Answer

Incremental

Answer

Adaptive

Answer

Iterative

Question 8

In project procurement management, what is the primary purpose of the procurement statement of work (SOW)?

Accepted Answer

To describe the work to be performed by the seller. The procurement Statement of Work (SOW) describes the work the seller is to perform — the deliverables, scope, and requirements the buyer needs. It is included in the procurement documents and becomes part of the contract, giving sellers enough detail to prepare proposals and giving the buyer a basis for evaluating them. PMBOK places the SOW as a key input to the Conduct Procurements process.

Answer

To manage the vendor relationship after contract award

Answer

To evaluate vendor proposals

Answer

To define the contract terms and conditions

Question 9

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 10

A medium-sized software company is developing a new mobile application. The project manager, Alex, has a team of 10 developers and 2 testers. The organization uses a hybrid approach combining waterfall planning for the overall phases and agile for individual iterations. In the first iteration, the team committed to completing 20 user stories. During the sprint, two developers left the company, and the remaining team members had to pick up their tasks. The product owner is concerned about the delivery date. Alex needs to communicate the impact to stakeholders. What should Alex do first?

Accepted Answer

Re-estimate the remaining user stories using the new team capacity to determine the impact on the schedule.. When team capacity changes due to unexpected departures, the project manager must first assess the impact on the schedule by re-estimating the remaining work with the new team capacity. This provides accurate data to communicate to stakeholders. Only after understanding the impact can Alex inform the sponsor or take corrective actions.

Answer

Immediately inform the project sponsor that the release date will be delayed.

Answer

Ask the remaining team members to work overtime to make up for the lost capacity.

Answer

Add more developers from another project to the team.

Question 11

A construction project manager, Maria, is overseeing the building of a bridge. The project has a fixed budget and schedule. During the execution phase, the quality audit reveals that the concrete used does not meet the specified strength requirements. The concrete supplier insists that the concrete meets industry standards. However, the project specifications require a higher strength grade. Maria must decide on corrective action. What should she do?

Accepted Answer

Stop work and request the supplier to provide concrete that meets the project specifications.. The project specifications are the authoritative requirements. Non-conforming material must be rejected to ensure safety and quality. Maria should stop work and require the supplier to provide concrete that meets the project specifications. Option D is correct. Option A (document and proceed) ignores the issue. Option B (revise specifications) is inappropriate as the specifications were established based on design requirements. Option C (accepting the concrete) violates specifications.

Answer

Document the situation in the issue log and proceed with construction.

Answer

Revise the project specifications to match the delivered concrete's strength.

Answer

Accept the concrete as is because it meets industry standards.

Question 12

In which project management process group is the project charter developed?

Accepted Answer

Initiating. The project charter is developed during the Initiating process group, specifically in the 'Develop Project Charter' process. This is the first formal process that authorizes the project and gives the project manager authority to apply organizational resources. It precedes all planning activities and produces the charter as its key output.

Answer

Monitoring and Controlling

Answer

Planning

Answer

Executing

Question 13

A project team is using a colocation (war room) technique. What is the primary benefit?

Accepted Answer

Improved communication and collaboration among team members. Colocation, also called a war room, places the project team in a single physical location to enhance communication and collaboration. The primary benefit is faster, richer information exchange — team members can resolve issues face-to-face, share knowledge informally, and build trust. PMBOK lists colocation as a tool/technique in Develop Project Team and Plan Communications Management.

Answer

Lower project costs

Answer

Reduced project risk

Answer

Faster decision making

Question 14

A project manager is evaluating two project proposals. Proposal A has a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.2 and a payback period of 3 years. Proposal B has a BCR of 1.5 and a payback period of 4 years. The organization has limited funds and wants to maximize return on investment. Which proposal should the project manager recommend?

Accepted Answer

Proposal B, because it has a higher benefit-cost ratio. Proposal B should be recommended because it has a higher benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.5 versus 1.2 for Proposal A. BCR measures the ratio of benefits to costs, so a higher BCR indicates greater return per unit of investment. Since the organization wants to maximize ROI with limited funds, the higher BCR is the decisive metric, even though Proposal A has a shorter payback period.

Answer

Neither proposal; the organization should wait for better options

Answer

Proposal A, because it has a shorter payback period

Answer

Both proposals are equal; select based on non-financial criteria

Question 15

During the initiation phase of a project, the project manager needs to identify stakeholders. What is the primary purpose of stakeholder identification at this stage?

Accepted Answer

To understand stakeholder expectations and influence. Stakeholder identification in the initiation phase is performed to recognize everyone affected by or able to affect the project, and to capture their expectations, interests, and relative influence. This understanding feeds the stakeholder register and informs engagement and communication strategies later. Assigning roles, budgeting, and communication planning are downstream activities that depend on first knowing who the stakeholders are and what they care about.

Answer

To assign roles and responsibilities to stakeholders

Answer

To determine the project budget and schedule

Answer

To create a communication plan for the project