PMP Practice Test 19 — 15 Questions

Question 1

During project execution, the project manager notices that two team members are in frequent conflict, which is affecting the team's overall performance. The project manager wants to resolve the conflict effectively. Which THREE actions align with PMI's recommended approach?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a joint meeting to discuss the issue and find common ground. Options B, C, and D are correct. The PM should first understand the conflict privately, then facilitate a joint discussion, and finally agree on a solution. Option A is confrontational in public. Option E escalates prematurely.

Answer

Address the conflict in a team meeting to model transparency

Answer

Escalate the conflict to the project sponsor for resolution

Question 2

You are leading a Scrum team. For the past three sprints, the team has consistently completed all committed user stories. The product owner wants to increase the team's velocity by 20%. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a retrospective to identify process improvements that could sustainably increase velocity. Option C is correct because velocity is a measure of past performance, not a target. The team should self-organize to improve. Option A is wrong because forcing a higher velocity can lead to burnout. Option B is wrong because adjusting story points artificially inflates velocity. Option D is wrong because removing testing increases technical debt.

Answer

Reduce the definition of done to skip testing activities

Answer

Instruct the team to commit to more stories each sprint

Answer

Ask the team to estimate stories with lower story points to increase velocity

Question 3

Your project is in execution phase, and a key vendor informs you that they will be unable to deliver a critical component on time due to a supply chain disruption. This risk was identified in the risk register and a contingency plan was developed. The project timeline is tight, and any delay will impact the critical path. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Implement the contingency plan as documented in the risk register and communicate with stakeholders. Option B is correct because the contingency plan already exists for this identified risk. The PM should implement it and communicate the situation to stakeholders. Option A is incorrect because simply alerting without taking action is insufficient. Option C is incorrect because switching vendors without following the contingency plan may introduce new risks and costs. Option D is incorrect because re-baselining the schedule without approval is not appropriate; contingency plans are meant to be used.

Answer

Immediately find an alternative vendor who can deliver on time

Answer

Re-baseline the project schedule to accommodate the delay

Answer

Alert the project sponsor about the delay and ask for additional time

Question 4

You are leading a project with a diverse team including members from different cultures and backgrounds. Which THREE actions should you take to promote an inclusive team environment?

Accepted Answer

Establish a team charter that includes norms for respectful communication and conflict resolution. Options A, C, and E are correct because establishing a team charter with norms for respect, using inclusive language, and celebrating differences all foster inclusion. Option B is incorrect because ignoring cultural differences reduces collaboration. Option D is incorrect because focusing communication in one language may exclude non-native speakers.

Answer

Conduct all meetings in English only to avoid misunderstandings

Answer

Encourage team members to adopt the dominant culture's practices to ensure consistency

Question 5

Your project has a diverse team with members from different cultural backgrounds. A conflict arises because some team members feel their ideas are not being heard during meetings. Which THREE actions should you take to foster inclusion and collaboration?

Accepted Answer

Provide training on cultural diversity and inclusive communication. Option A ensures all voices are heard. Option C provides a less intimidating way to contribute. Option E builds cultural awareness. Option B is wrong because imposing a single communication style may not respect diversity. Option D is wrong because ignoring the issue is not proactive.

Answer

Require all team members to communicate in the same direct style

Answer

Tell the team that conflicts are normal and they should work it out themselves

Question 6

Your project is using a hybrid approach. Mid-project, the sponsor asks you to skip the testing phase to save time and meet the deadline. The team is concerned about quality. Which THREE actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Consult with the team to identify the most critical tests that can be performed within the remaining time. Option A is correct: explaining risks is essential. Option D is correct: proposing alternatives shows proactive problem-solving. Option E is correct: consulting the team leverages their expertise. Option B is wrong because agreeing to skip is unethical. Option C is wrong because escalating without discussion is premature.

Answer

Escalate the issue to the PMO or steering committee without further discussion

Answer

Agree to skip testing to meet the sponsor's request

Question 7

Your agile team has been struggling with low morale and lack of motivation. As a project manager using servant leadership, which THREE actions would be most effective in improving the situation?

Accepted Answer

Identify and remove obstacles that are hindering the team's progress. Servant leadership focuses on removing impediments, empowering the team, and creating a supportive environment. Options A, C, and D align with this approach. Option B is not supportive. Option E focuses on rewards, which may not address root causes.

Answer

Offer monetary incentives for meeting sprint goals

Answer

Set stricter performance metrics to push the team to improve

Question 8

A project manager is using a servant leadership approach. During a sprint, the team is struggling to complete their tasks due to unclear requirements. What should the project manager do?

Accepted Answer

Work with the product owner to clarify the requirements and provide the team with the necessary information. Option B is correct because servant leadership involves removing obstacles for the team. Clarifying requirements removes the impediment. Option A does not help the team directly. Option C bypasses the team's autonomy. Option D is reactive rather than proactive.

Answer

Take over the task of clarifying requirements and update the user stories yourself

Answer

Coach the team to ask better questions during sprint planning

Answer

Wait until the sprint retrospective to discuss the issue

Question 9

You are leading a virtual team across three time zones. A team member from the offshore location has been consistently missing deadlines, causing delays. When you inquire, the member says they are overloaded with work from another project. What is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Discuss the situation with the member and their functional manager to resolve the workload conflict. Option C is correct because the PM should first understand the root cause and address resource conflicts. Option A is wrong because replacing the member without investigation may lose valuable skills. Option B is wrong because assigning more work without resolving the overload will worsen the issue. Option D is wrong because remote team members need support, not just blame.

Answer

Assign additional resources to help the member complete tasks

Answer

Replace the team member with someone who can meet deadlines

Answer

Issue a formal warning to the team member about performance expectations

Question 10

A new government regulation has been enacted that affects your project's deliverables. The regulation requires additional compliance checks that were not in the original scope. What should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request to incorporate the compliance checks and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost. Option B is correct because new regulations often require a change request through integrated change control. Option A is wrong because ignoring the regulation could lead to non-compliance. Option C is wrong because rejecting the regulation outright is not feasible. Option D is wrong because the PM should assess impact before discussing with stakeholders.

Answer

Refuse to comply with the regulation because it increases project costs

Answer

Discuss with stakeholders before taking any action

Answer

Inform the team to ignore the regulation as it was not part of the original plan

Question 11

You are managing a project where an executive stakeholder has been bypassing you and directly giving instructions to the team members. This has caused confusion and rework. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Have a private meeting with the executive stakeholder to discuss the importance of following the communication plan. Option A is correct because the PM should address the issue directly with the stakeholder, clarify roles, and reinforce the communication management plan. Option B is incorrect because instructing the team to ignore the stakeholder without addressing the stakeholder may cause conflict. Option C is incorrect because escalating to the sponsor prematurely without first discussing with the stakeholder is not the first step. Option D is incorrect because revising the plan without stakeholder buy-in will not solve the issue.

Answer

Instruct the team to ignore any instructions that do not come through you

Answer

Update the communication management plan to require all communications to go through you

Answer

Escalate the issue to the project sponsor and ask them to intervene

Question 12

You are managing a project where a key stakeholder requests a scope change that would add significant value but also increase risk and cost. Which TWO actions should you take FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Document the change request and submit it through the change control process. Options B and C are correct because assessing the impact on the project and documenting a change request are the first steps in the change control process. Option A is incorrect because accepting without analysis bypasses due diligence. Option D is incorrect because rejecting without assessment is premature. Option E is incorrect because re-baselining without approval is not appropriate.

Answer

Reject the change because it introduces additional risk

Answer

Accept the change because it adds value to the project

Answer

Update the project baseline to include the new scope

Question 13

An executive stakeholder has been bypassing you and directly assigning tasks to team members. The team is confused about priorities and some tasks conflict with the project plan. Which THREE actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Schedule a private meeting with the executive to discuss the impact of bypassing the project manager. Option A addresses the direct communication issue. Option C clarifies roles. Option E reinforces the communication plan. Option B is wrong because confronting the executive publicly may damage relationships. Option D is wrong because ignoring is not proactive.

Answer

Publicly remind the executive during a team meeting to follow the communication plan

Answer

Ignore the situation and let the team sort out priorities

Question 14

Your project team is distributed across four countries with significant time zone differences. Communication has been challenging, leading to misunderstandings and delays. Which THREE actions would most effectively improve collaboration?

Accepted Answer

Schedule a weekly synchronous meeting at a time that rotates to accommodate different time zones. Using asynchronous tools, establishing communication guidelines, and rotating meeting times address the root causes of time zone challenges. Option B is not a primary solution. Option D is reactive. Option E is too rigid.

Answer

Reduce the frequency of communication to minimize coordination overhead

Answer

Require all team members to be available during a fixed 4-hour overlap window each day

Question 15

You are a project manager for a marketing campaign project. A team member has proposed a new approach that could improve the campaign's effectiveness but would require additional budget and extend the timeline. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request with an analysis of the benefits, costs, and risks. Option C is correct because any change to scope, schedule, or budget must go through formal change control. The PM should evaluate the proposed change and submit a change request. Option A bypasses change control. Option B discourages innovation. Option D approves without assessment.

Answer

Encourage the team member to implement the new approach informally

Answer

Approve the change since it improves effectiveness

Answer

Reject the proposal to stay within the original plan