PMP Practice Test 43 — 15 Questions

Question 1

Your project is using a hybrid approach. At the end of the first iteration, the customer provides feedback that significantly changes the priority of features. The team has already started work on the next iteration's backlog. As the project manager, which THREE actions should you take? (Select exactly three.)

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

Accepted Answer

Communicate the changes and their impact to all relevant stakeholders. The correct actions are to communicate the changes to stakeholders (A), assess the impact on schedule and budget (B), and update the risk register (C). Communicating ensures transparency and alignment; assessing impact is necessary for informed decision-making; updating the risk register captures the new uncertainty. Option D (proceeding without adjustment) ignores stakeholder feedback, and option E (immediate adjustment without analysis) bypasses proper change management.

Answer

Proceed with the current iteration backlog to avoid disrupting the team

Answer

Immediately adjust the iteration backlog to reflect the new priorities

Question 2

During a sprint retrospective, the team identifies that unclear requirements from the product owner are causing rework. The team suggests improvements. Which THREE actions should the project manager (Scrum Master) take?

Accepted Answer

Introduce a requirements clarification step before each sprint planning. Options C, D, and E are correct because they address the root cause of unclear requirements: adding a clarification step before sprint planning, implementing one of the team's suggested improvements per sprint, and ensuring the product owner attends all planning and grooming sessions to clarify requirements in real time. Option A is incorrect because adding buffer time does not prevent rework; it only accommodates it. Option B is incorrect because proceeding with best interpretation invites further rework and violates the principle of transparency.

Answer

Add buffer time to the sprint plan to accommodate potential rework

Answer

Instruct the team to proceed with their best interpretation of requirements

Question 3

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, B, and C are correct because establishing a team charter with norms for respectful communication (A), celebrating cultural holidays and encouraging sharing of traditions (B), and using inclusive language while avoiding assumptions (C) all foster an inclusive team environment. Option D is incorrect because conducting meetings only in English may exclude non-native speakers, reducing inclusivity. Option E is incorrect because encouraging adoption of a dominant culture undermines diversity and inclusion.

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 4

A team member consistently misses deadlines, causing delays in the project. The project manager has had informal conversations with the team member, but the issue persists. What is the BEST next step?

Accepted Answer

Schedule a private meeting with the team member to discuss the issue, identify root causes, and create a performance improvement plan with clear expectations. The correct action because it directly addresses the performance issue collaboratively, aiming to understand root causes and set clear expectations through a documented performance improvement plan. This aligns with PM best practices for managing team member performance. Option A is incorrect because reassigning without addressing the root cause may shift the problem rather than solve it. Option B escalates prematurely before attempting direct resolution. Option D is punitive and may damage team morale without understanding underlying issues.

Answer

Reassign the team member to a less critical task to minimize impact

Answer

Escalate the issue to the team member's functional manager immediately

Answer

Remove the team member from the project and replace them with a more reliable resource

Question 5

You are managing a project to implement a new customer relationship management (CRM) system. During a status meeting, the IT director (a key stakeholder) announces that the team must use a different database platform than planned, citing corporate policy. This change will require significant rework. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Perform an impact analysis on scope, schedule, and cost, and then submit a change request.. The correct first step is to analyze the impact of the proposed change on scope, schedule, and cost before submitting a formal change request. Option B is incorrect because updating the project management plan without analyzing the impact violates change control processes. Option C is incorrect because escalation should occur after analysis, not before. Option D is incorrect because changes due to corporate policy still require impact assessment and formal change management.

Answer

Update the project management plan to reflect the new platform.

Answer

Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for a decision.

Answer

Agree to the change because it's a corporate policy.

Question 6

During project execution, you discover that a key vendor will not be able to deliver a critical component on time, which will delay the project by two weeks. The vendor was selected based on the procurement plan. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Contact the vendor to understand the reason for the delay and explore options to expedite delivery.. The first step in addressing a vendor delay is to gather information directly from the vendor to understand the root cause and explore mitigation options, such as expedited shipping or partial deliveries. This aligns with the PMI's principle of 'manage communications' and the iterative nature of risk response, where immediate escalation or schedule changes without data would be premature. The procurement plan guides vendor selection, but execution issues require collaborative problem-solving before any formal change request.

Answer

Initiate a change request to replace the vendor with a new one.

Answer

Immediately escalate the issue to senior management and request intervention.

Answer

Update the project schedule and continue working on other tasks.

Question 7

During the execution phase of a construction project, two senior engineers have a heated disagreement over the technical approach for a critical structural component. The conflict is causing delays and affecting team morale. As the project manager, what should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Meet with each engineer separately to understand their perspectives. The PM should first gather facts privately from each engineer to understand the root cause of the technical disagreement without escalating emotions. This aligns with the PMP's conflict resolution process, which starts with data collection before any collaborative or directive action. Addressing the conflict openly or unilaterally could damage trust and miss critical technical nuances.

Answer

Call a team meeting to resolve the conflict openly

Answer

Make a decision yourself based on your technical expertise

Answer

Ask the sponsor to mediate the conflict

Question 8

You are managing a project that is currently in the execution phase. A risk event that was identified and included in the risk register has occurred. The planned response is to mitigate the risk. Which TWO documents should you update to reflect the occurrence and response? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Risk register. The risk register is updated to document the occurrence of the risk and the response taken. The lessons learned register is updated to capture knowledge about the risk response for future projects. The stakeholder engagement plan is not updated for risk occurrences; the project schedule is only updated if the risk response impacts schedule activities; the cost baseline is only updated if the response impacts the budget. Therefore, options B and C are correct.

Answer

Stakeholder engagement plan

Answer

Project schedule

Answer

Cost baseline

Question 9

A team member consistently misses deadlines, causing delays in dependent tasks. During a one-on-one meeting, the team member admits to feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to prioritize work. What should the project manager do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Provide coaching and training on time management and prioritization techniques. The team member's issue stems from feeling overwhelmed and lacking prioritization skills. The project manager should first address the root cause by providing coaching or training on time management and prioritization, which aligns with the PM's role as a servant leader and coach. Option A is incorrect because reassigning tasks without addressing the underlying problem does not help the team member develop and may cause further issues. Option C is incorrect because escalating to the sponsor is premature and should be considered only after the PM has taken appropriate actions to support the team member. Option D is incorrect because documenting in the performance record is punitive and not a first step; the PM should first offer support.

Answer

Reassign the team member's tasks to other team members to avoid further delays

Answer

Inform the project sponsor that a team member is underperforming and may need to be replaced

Answer

Formally document the issue in the team member's performance record

Question 10

You are managing a marketing campaign project. Midway, you discover that the team has been working on additional features requested by the sales director without formal approval. The project is now 10% over budget. Which TWO actions should you take FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Meet with the sales director to explain the change control process and the consequences. The correct first actions are to document the unauthorized changes and assess their impact (Option E) and to meet with the sales director to explain the change control process and consequences (Option D). Option E is essential to understand the full effect on budget and schedule before any corrective action. Option D addresses the root cause by educating the stakeholder who initiated the unauthorized changes. Option A is incorrect because accepting changes without proper approval violates project governance and may set a bad precedent. Option B is premature; escalation to sponsor should occur only after internal assessment and discussion with the sales director. Option C is not a primary action; finance should be informed after the impact is assessed and a decision is made.

Answer

Accept the changes and update the project baseline accordingly

Answer

Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for a decision

Answer

Report the budget overrun to the finance department immediately

Question 11

Order the steps for creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

Accepted Answer

Identify deliverables, then Decompose deliverables, then Assign codes, then Verify decomposition, then Create WBS dictionary. The WBS process starts with identifying deliverables, decomposing them, coding, verifying, and documenting in the dictionary.

Answer

Decompose deliverables, then Identify deliverables, then Assign codes, then Verify decomposition, then Create WBS dictionary

Answer

Identify deliverables, then Assign codes, then Decompose deliverables, then Verify decomposition, then Create WBS dictionary

Answer

Identify deliverables, then Decompose deliverables, then Verify decomposition, then Assign codes, then Create WBS dictionary

Question 12

You are the project manager for a large construction project. Midway through, a key supplier informs you that a critical component will be delayed by 6 weeks due to raw material shortages. The component is on the critical path and has zero float. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Conduct a schedule impact analysis and evaluate options such as fast-tracking or crashing. The correct first step when faced with a delay on the critical path is to assess the impact and explore options before taking action or communicating. Option D is correct because conducting a schedule impact analysis allows you to evaluate techniques like fast-tracking or crashing to mitigate the delay. Option A is premature without understanding the full impact or alternatives. Option B (working overtime) is a form of crashing, but it should only be considered after analysis to determine if it's feasible. Option C is incorrect because stakeholders should be informed after analysis and with a proposed recovery plan.

Answer

Terminate the contract with the supplier and find a new one

Answer

Ask the team to work overtime to compress the schedule

Answer

Notify the sponsor and stakeholders that the project will be delayed by 6 weeks

Question 13

You are a project manager overseeing a 12-month ERP implementation. During sprint 6 of 20, the product owner informs you that a key stakeholder wants to add a new reporting module that was not in the original scope. The team estimates this would add 3 weeks to the schedule. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request through the Integrated Change Control process and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost. According to PMI, any change to scope must go through the Integrated Change Control process. The project manager must first submit a change request to formally assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost before obtaining approval. Option A is wrong because adding to the backlog without formal approval bypasses change control. Option B is wrong because starting work immediately violates the change control process. Option C is wrong because refusing changes outright without assessment is not appropriate; changes can be made through proper control.

Answer

Add the requirement to the product backlog and let the team address it in a future sprint without formal approval

Answer

Ask the team to begin work on the module immediately to accommodate the stakeholder

Answer

Inform the stakeholder that no changes can be made once the project has started

Question 14

During project execution, a key supplier notifies you that they will be unable to deliver a critical component on time. This component is on the critical path. The risk was identified, and the response strategy was to accept the risk. Which THREE actions should you take? (Select exactly three.)

Accepted Answer

Document the issue in the issue log and update the risk register. The correct actions are to document the issue in the issue log and update the risk register (A), communicate the delay to key stakeholders and sponsor (B), and evaluate alternative suppliers or workarounds to minimize schedule impact (E). These steps align with proactive risk management: first record the issue, then inform stakeholders, and finally explore alternatives to mitigate the delay. Option C (escalating to sponsor) is premature without first exploring options, and option D (waiting for supplier) is a passive approach that does not address the schedule risk.

Answer

Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for a decision

Answer

Wait for the supplier to provide a new delivery date before taking action

Question 15

A project manager is leading a software development project using Scrum. The product owner frequently changes priorities mid-sprint, causing the team to lose focus. What should the project manager do to address this?

Accepted Answer

Coach the product owner on the importance of stable sprint goals and managing changes through the product backlog. Coaching the product owner on Scrum principles addresses the root cause: the product owner needs to understand that sprint goals should be stable once the sprint starts, and changes should be managed through the product backlog for future sprints. Option B (asking the sponsor to replace the product owner) is an escalation without first attempting to resolve the issue through coaching. Option C (letting the product owner continue) fails to address the disruption to the team. Option D (instructing the team to accept all changes) violates Scrum by undermining the sprint goal and team focus.

Answer

Ask the sponsor to replace the product owner

Answer

Let the product owner continue because they have authority over priorities

Answer

Instruct the team to accept all changes as they come