PMP Practice Test 49 — 15 Questions

Question 1

You are the project manager for a hybrid software development project. During a sprint review, a key stakeholder requests a new feature that was not in the original scope. The product owner believes it adds significant value. The team estimates it will take two additional sprints. What should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request through the Integrated Change Control process. According to PMI, any change to scope must go through the formal change control process. The project manager should first submit a change request to assess impact on schedule, cost, and resources before any decision is made.

Answer

Add the feature to the product backlog and let the team work on it in a future sprint without formal approval

Answer

Ask the team to start working on the feature immediately to satisfy the stakeholder

Answer

Inform the stakeholder that no changes are allowed after the project has started

Question 2

During a project, an executive stakeholder bypasses you and directly assigns work to your team members. This has caused confusion and rework. What is the best action for you to take?

Accepted Answer

Speak directly to the executive and explain the impact of bypassing the project manager. The project manager should communicate with the executive to clarify the proper communication channels and reinforce the project management plan. This aligns with PMI's emphasis on stakeholder engagement and communication.

Answer

Instruct the team to ignore any direct requests from the executive

Answer

Escalate the issue to the sponsor without talking to the executive first

Answer

Update the communications management plan to prohibit direct stakeholder-to-team communication

Question 3

You are the project manager for a large infrastructure project. The project is in the execution phase when a key vendor notifies you that they will be unable to deliver a critical component on time due to a supply chain disruption. Which TWO actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Assess the impact on the project schedule and budget. The correct actions are to assess the impact on the project schedule and budget, and to evaluate alternative vendors or solutions to mitigate the delay. Both are proactive steps aligned with PMI's risk management practices.

Answer

Ignore the issue because the vendor will likely resolve it

Answer

Ask the team to work overtime to compensate for the delay

Answer

Immediately terminate the contract with the vendor and hire a new one

Question 4

In an agile project, the team's velocity has dropped for three consecutive sprints. What should the project manager do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a retrospective to identify the root causes and address them. Option C is correct because the PM should investigate the root cause of the velocity drop before taking action. Option A is wrong because adding team members may not address the underlying issue and can disrupt the team. Option B is wrong because increasing overtime can lead to burnout. Option D is wrong because reducing scope without understanding the cause may hide problems.

Answer

Ask the team to work overtime to catch up

Answer

Add more team members to increase capacity

Answer

Reduce the sprint scope to match the current velocity

Question 5

Your organization is adopting SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) to improve alignment across multiple agile teams. As a project manager, you are responsible for ensuring that the transformation is successful. Which THREE actions should you take to support the agile transformation?

Accepted Answer

Ensure that value streams are identified and aligned with the organization's strategic goals. Options A, B, and D are correct. A: Training helps everyone understand the new framework. B: Aligning value streams to strategy ensures business value. D: Establishing Communities of Practice fosters knowledge sharing. Option C is wrong because using a command-and-control style contradicts agile principles. Option E is wrong because reducing communication hinders collaboration.

Answer

Implement a command-and-control management style to enforce consistency

Answer

Reduce communication between teams to minimize distractions

Question 6

You are the project manager for a software development project using Scrum. During the sprint, the product owner requests a change that would significantly increase the value of the product but also expands scope. Which TWO actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Work with the product owner to prioritize the change for a future sprint. In Scrum, the product owner can change the backlog, but the project manager should first assess the impact on the current sprint and, if accepted, ensure the change is added after the current sprint unless it is an emergency. The correct actions are to assess impact and work with the product owner to prioritize the change for a future sprint.

Answer

Add the change to the current sprint immediately to maximize value

Answer

Reject the change because it was not in the original plan

Answer

Escalate to the project sponsor for approval

Question 7

You are managing a portfolio of three projects. Project A is on track and aligned with strategic goals. Project B is behind schedule but has high strategic value. Project C is on time but its strategic value has diminished due to market changes. The steering committee asks you to recommend which project to prioritize. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Present the status and strategic alignment of each project to the committee and facilitate a decision. Option A is correct because the PM should present an objective analysis of each project's status, strategic alignment, and trade-offs, allowing the committee to make an informed decision. Option B is wrong because the PM should not make the decision alone. Option C is wrong because it is biased and ignores the diminished value of Project C. Option D is wrong because it avoids the issue.

Answer

Recommend increasing resources for Project B to get it back on track

Answer

Recommend stopping Project C and reallocating resources to Project B

Answer

Ask each project manager to submit a recovery plan and then decide

Question 8

A key vendor notifies you that they cannot deliver a critical component for another three weeks. This component is on the critical path. You have identified this risk in the risk register with a contingency plan to use a backup supplier. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Execute the contingency plan by contacting the backup supplier and updating the project schedule and budget accordingly. Option D is correct because the risk has occurred (an issue), so the PM should implement the contingency plan as per the risk register. Option A is wrong because the PM should follow the plan, not add new buffer unnecessarily. Option B is wrong because starting a new risk assessment delays action. Option C is wrong because escalation is not needed if a plan exists.

Answer

Escalate the issue to the project sponsor immediately

Answer

Conduct a new risk assessment for the vendor delay

Answer

Add a 3-week buffer to the project schedule to absorb the delay

Question 9

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. Option C is correct because PMI requires all scope changes to go through the Integrated Change Control process. The PM must evaluate the impact and obtain approval before any work begins. Option A is wrong because implementing the change without approval bypasses change control. Option B is wrong because refusing outright without assessing impact is not the correct approach. Option D is wrong because telling the team to start work immediately violates the change control process.

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

Answer

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

Question 10

You are the project manager for a government IT project. Midway through, a new regulation is enacted that requires additional data privacy controls. The team estimates this will add 4 weeks to the schedule and increase costs by 10%. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request to the change control board to incorporate the required changes. Option A is correct because the new regulation is a compliance requirement that must be addressed. The PM should assess the impact and submit a change request through the change control process. Option B is wrong because ignoring the regulation could result in legal penalties. Option C is wrong because the PM should not implement changes without approval. Option D is wrong because stopping the project is premature before exploring options.

Answer

Instruct the team to start implementing the new controls immediately

Answer

Ignore the regulation until the project is complete to avoid delays

Answer

Recommend stopping the project until the regulation is clarified

Question 11

In a hybrid project, the project sponsor asks you to skip the testing phase to meet the deadline. The product is critical for an upcoming trade show. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Explain the risks of skipping testing and propose reducing the scope of testing to high-risk areas only. Option B is correct because the PM should explain the risks of skipping testing and propose alternatives that balance quality and schedule. Option A is wrong because skipping testing may lead to defects and reputational damage. Option C is wrong because the PM is responsible for quality and should not simply accept the request. Option D is wrong because it does not address the sponsor's concern.

Answer

Tell the sponsor that testing is mandatory and cannot be skipped

Answer

Skip testing as requested to meet the deadline

Answer

Ask the quality assurance manager to decide

Question 12

During a sprint review, the product owner is unhappy with the delivered functionality and insists that the team redo the work to meet their expectations, even though the team met the acceptance criteria defined in the sprint planning. What should the scrum master do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a discussion between the product owner and the team to clarify expectations and revisit the acceptance criteria. Option C is correct because the scrum master should facilitate a discussion to understand the product owner's concerns and clarify the acceptance criteria. Option A is wrong because redoing work without understanding the issue wastes effort. Option B is wrong because ignoring the product owner's feedback damages stakeholder relationships. Option D is wrong because escalation is premature before discussion.

Answer

Ask the team to redo the work to satisfy the product owner

Answer

Inform the product owner that the work is complete and cannot be changed

Answer

Escalate the issue to the project sponsor

Question 13

Your organization uses a lessons learned repository. During project closure, you discover that a similar project previously faced scope creep due to unclear requirements. Which THREE actions should you take to apply this knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Ensure that the current project's scope management plan includes a robust change control process. Options A, B, and D are correct. A: Reviewing requirements processes prevents recurrence. B: Updating the repository ensures future projects benefit. D: Applying the lessons to the current project reduces risk. Option C is wrong because the PM can implement changes without sponsor approval for process improvements. Option E is wrong because scheduling a workshop may be redundant now.

Answer

Schedule a workshop with all stakeholders to discuss the lessons learned

Answer

Request approval from the sponsor to implement the lessons

Question 14

Your project is in the execution phase when an executive stakeholder bypasses you and gives direct orders to the team to add a new feature. This feature is not in the scope. Which TWO actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Assess the impact of the new feature on scope, schedule, and cost in preparation for a formal change request. Options A and B are correct. The PM should address the stakeholder's behavior privately to clarify the communication protocol and assess the impact of the requested feature through the change control process. Option C is wrong because implementing without approval bypasses change control. Option D is wrong because the PM should not escalate without first addressing the issue directly. Option E is wrong because the team should not follow unofficial instructions.

Answer

Immediately escalate the issue to the project sponsor

Answer

Tell the team to ignore the executive's request

Answer

Ask the team to implement the feature as requested by the executive

Question 15

Your project is being audited for compliance with a new data protection regulation. The audit reveals several non-compliance issues. Which TWO actions should you take FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Conduct a root cause analysis to understand why non-compliance occurred. Options B and D are correct. B: Analyzing the root cause helps prevent recurrence. D: Remediation plan is needed to address non-compliance. Option A is wrong because the PM should handle it without immediate escalation. Option C is wrong because ignoring the report is not acceptable. Option E is wrong because reassigning the team is not the first step.

Answer

Ignore the audit report until the project is complete

Answer

Escalate the audit findings to executive management immediately

Answer

Reassign the project team to different tasks to avoid further issues