CAPM Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies Practice Test 5 — 15 Questions

Question 1

In a predictive project, the project manager has calculated the critical path and determined that the project duration is 100 days. The total float for a non-critical activity is 5 days. If the project manager wants to reduce the overall project duration by 3 days, which action is MOST appropriate?

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

Accepted Answer

Fast-track the project by overlapping activities on the critical path. To reduce project duration, the focus must be on the critical path. Fast-tracking by overlapping activities on the critical path can reduce duration with less risk than crashing. Adding resources to a non-critical activity or increasing float will not affect the project duration.

Answer

Increase the total float of the critical path by adding buffer

Answer

Add more resources to the non-critical activity to reduce its duration

Answer

Crash the non-critical activity to reduce its duration by 3 days

Question 2

During the planning phase of a predictive project, the project manager is estimating costs. Which cost estimation technique uses historical data from similar projects?

Accepted Answer

Analogous estimating. Analogous estimating uses historical data from similar projects as a basis for cost estimation. It is less accurate but quick. Bottom-up is detailed, three-point uses ranges, and parametric uses statistical relationships.

Answer

Bottom-up estimating

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Three-point estimating

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Parametric estimating

Question 3

A project manager is reviewing the project schedule and notices that a task has a lead time of 2 days. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

The task can start 2 days before its predecessor finishes. Lead time allows a successor activity to start before its predecessor finishes. A lead of 2 days means the successor can start 2 days before the predecessor finishes. Lag is the opposite (wait time). Float is not directly related.

Answer

The task has 2 days of float

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The task duration is 2 days

Answer

The task cannot start until 2 days after its predecessor finishes

Question 4

In a predictive project, the project sponsor requests a scope change that will significantly increase the project cost. The project manager should FIRST:

Accepted Answer

Evaluate the impact of the change on the project constraints. When a scope change is requested, the project manager must first evaluate the impact on project constraints (cost, schedule, quality, etc.) before proceeding. Updating the charter or rejecting the change without evaluation is premature.

Answer

Reject the change as it impacts budget

Answer

Update the project charter

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Implement the change immediately

Question 5

Which document formally authorizes the project manager to use organizational resources to execute the project?

Accepted Answer

Project charter. The project charter is the document that formally authorizes the project and the project manager to apply resources to project activities. The project management plan guides execution but does not authorize. The scope statement and business case are inputs.

Answer

Business case

Answer

Scope statement

Answer

Project management plan

Question 6

A project manager identifies a risk that could cause a 10-day delay. The probability of occurrence is 30%. What is the expected monetary value (EMV) of this risk?

Accepted Answer

3 days. EMV is calculated as Probability × Impact. Here, 0.3 × 10 days = 3 days. EMV is used to quantify risk in monetary terms, but in this case impact is in days.

Answer

10 days

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0.3 days

Answer

30 days

Question 7

During project execution, a stakeholder requests a new feature that was not in the original scope. The project manager determines that the feature can be accommodated without affecting the critical path, but will increase costs. According to the predictive plan-based methodology, what should the project manager do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Submit the change request to the change control board. All changes must go through formal change control. The project manager should submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) for evaluation and approval. Approving the change unilaterally or updating the plan without approval violates the change management process.

Answer

Approve the change to improve stakeholder satisfaction

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Inform the stakeholder that the change cannot be accepted

Answer

Update the project management plan to include the feature

Question 8

Which TWO of the following are outputs of the 'Define Activities' process in predictive project management?

Accepted Answer

Activity attributes. Options B and D are correct. The Define Activities process in predictive project management outputs the activity list and activity attributes. Option A (project schedule) is an output of the Develop Schedule process. Option C (work breakdown structure) is an input to Define Activities. Option E (resource breakdown structure) is an output of the Estimate Activity Resources process.

Answer

Project schedule

Answer

Work breakdown structure

Answer

Resource breakdown structure

Question 9

Which THREE of the following are key components of a project management plan for a predictive project?

Accepted Answer

Schedule baseline. The project management plan includes subsidiary management plans (e.g., scope, schedule, cost, quality, etc.) and baselines (scope, schedule, cost). The risk register is a project document, not part of the plan. The cost performance index is a performance measure, not a plan component.

Answer

Cost performance index

Answer

Risk register

Question 10

Which THREE of the following are considered key schedule management tools for predictive projects?

Accepted Answer

Critical path method. Gantt charts, critical path method (CPM), and PERT analysis are classic schedule management tools used in predictive projects. Burndown charts and Kanban boards are typically used in agile methodologies.

Answer

Burndown chart

Answer

Kanban board

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

Refer to the exhibit. Which risk requires the most immediate response attention?

Accepted Answer

R3. Risk R3 has both high probability and high impact, making it the highest priority risk requiring immediate response. The planned response for R3 is 'Avoid', which is appropriate for a high-high risk. In contrast, R1 and R2 have only one high dimension (e.g., high probability but low impact, or vice versa), and R4 has low probability and low impact. Therefore, R3 demands the most immediate attention.

Answer

R1

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R2

Answer

R4

Question 13

Refer to the exhibit. If Activity B takes 2 extra days, what is the impact on the project finish date?

Accepted Answer

2 days delay. Original critical path: A-B-C = 5+4+3=12 days; A-D = 11 days. After B takes 2 extra days, A-B-C = 5+6+3=14 days, still the longest path. Therefore, project finish is delayed by 2 days (from day 12 to day 14).

Answer

No impact

Answer

1 day delay

Answer

1 day early

Question 14

A project manager is developing a work breakdown structure (WBS) for a construction project. Which approach should be used to ensure all deliverables are identified?

Accepted Answer

Decomposition. Decomposition is the process of breaking down deliverables into smaller components, which ensures all are identified. Other options are estimating or planning techniques.

Answer

Analogous estimating

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Bottom-up estimating

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Rolling wave planning

Question 15

During a predictive project, a team member reports that a critical path activity is behind schedule by two days. To recover the schedule, the project manager should first:

Accepted Answer

Perform schedule compression analysis. The first step is to analyze potential options for schedule compression before taking action.

Answer

Fast-track the project

Answer

Add resources to the critical path

Answer

Accept the delay and update the baseline