PMP Multiple Select — 20 Questions

Question 1

Which THREE factors are most critical when selecting a conflict resolution technique for a project team? (Choose three.)

Accepted Answer

The personalities and relationship of the conflicting parties.. The personalities and relationship of the conflicting parties directly influence which conflict resolution technique (e.g., collaborating, compromising, avoiding) will be effective. A technique that works for a collaborative team may fail with highly competitive individuals, so understanding interpersonal dynamics is critical for selecting an approach that de-escalates rather than intensifies the conflict.

Answer

The cost of implementing the resolution technique.

Answer

The organizational hierarchy and reporting structure.

Question 2

Your project is in the planning phase, and you are developing the risk management plan. Which THREE tools or techniques should you use to identify risks?

Accepted Answer

SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).. SWOT analysis (B) is a key tool for identifying risks because it examines the project from four angles—Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats—to uncover both internal and external risks. This technique is specifically listed in the PMBOK Guide as a data analysis technique for the Identify Risks process during planning.

Answer

Creating a risk register to document identified risks.

Answer

Probability and impact matrix for ranking risks.

Question 3

A new regulatory requirement has been discovered mid-project. The change will affect the project scope and schedule. Which TWO actions should the project manager take FIRST? (Choose two)

Accepted Answer

Analyze the impact of the regulation on scope, schedule, and cost. The first step when a new regulatory requirement emerges mid-project is to analyze its impact on the triple constraint (scope, schedule, cost). This analysis provides the data needed to determine whether a change request is warranted and what its implications will be. Without this impact analysis, the project manager cannot make an informed decision or properly communicate the change to stakeholders.

Answer

Inform the team to ignore the regulation until the project is complete

Answer

Update the risk register and move on

Answer

Immediately instruct the team to implement the changes to ensure compliance

Question 4

Your agile project has been experiencing declining velocity over the last three sprints. During the retrospective, the team identifies that they are spending too much time on unplanned work and technical debt. The product owner wants to maintain the current scope. Which THREE actions should the project manager take? (Choose three.)

Accepted Answer

Allocate a portion of each sprint to address technical debt. Options B, C, and E are correct. B: Allocating a portion of each sprint to address technical debt directly reduces the accumulation of unplanned work and improves velocity. C: Shielding the team from external interruptions minimizes distractions, allowing more focus on planned work. E: Improving the 'definition of ready' ensures that user stories are sufficiently refined before a sprint begins, reducing ambiguity and rework. Option A is incorrect because reducing scope does not address the root cause of declining velocity (technical debt and unplanned work). Option D is incorrect because adding more developers can increase coordination overhead and may not solve the underlying issues.

Answer

Ask the product owner to reduce the scope of the next sprint

Answer

Add more developers to the team to increase capacity

Question 5

A project manager is developing a business case for a new project. Which TWO elements are essential for a strong business case?

Accepted Answer

Alignment with organizational strategy. Alignment with organizational strategy (A) is essential because a business case must demonstrate how the proposed project supports the organization's strategic goals and objectives. Without this alignment, the project risks being unfunded or deprioritized, as it fails to justify its contribution to the broader business mission.

Answer

Identified risks and mitigation strategies

Answer

Resource allocation plan

Answer

Detailed project schedule

Question 6

Which TWO of the following are typically included in a business case? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Cost-benefit analysis. The business case is a foundational document used to justify the initiation of a project or investment. It must demonstrate that the project is worthwhile, which is why a cost-benefit analysis (Option B) is a core component, quantifying the financial viability. Additionally, the business case must show how the project aligns with the organization's strategic objectives (Option C) to ensure it supports the broader business goals and receives executive sponsorship.

Answer

Risk register

Answer

Detailed project schedule

Answer

Communication plan

Question 7

An agile project team is in the middle of a sprint when the product owner introduces a high-priority change that was not part of the sprint backlog. The team is concerned about their ability to deliver the sprint goal. Which TWO options align with the Scrum framework? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

The product owner cancels the current sprint and starts a new sprint with the revised backlog. The Scrum framework explicitly allows the Product Owner to cancel a sprint if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete, such as when a high-priority change emerges that invalidates the current goal. Cancelling the sprint and starting a new one with the revised backlog ensures the team focuses on the highest-value work without disrupting the sprint's time-box or overloading the team. Option E is correct because the Product Owner can add the new work to the Product Backlog and prioritize it for the next sprint, which respects the current Sprint's commitment and allows the team to complete the Sprint Goal without interruption.

Answer

Replace the least important sprint backlog item with the new work and adjust the sprint goal accordingly

Answer

Instruct the team to include the new work in the current sprint and extend the sprint duration

Answer

Add the new work to the sprint backlog and ask the team to work overtime

Question 8

Your project is in the execution phase when a key risk event from the risk register occurs: a critical team member resigns unexpectedly. You need to minimize the impact on the project. Which THREE actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Implement the planned risk response from the risk register. The risk register contains a pre-planned risk response for this identified risk event. Implementing that response is the most efficient and effective way to minimize impact, as it was designed and approved during risk planning. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's guidance on executing risk responses during the execution phase.

Answer

Inform the sponsor and ask for a project extension

Answer

Immediately hire a replacement with the same skills

Question 9

Your project team is experiencing conflict between two senior members who have different opinions on the technical approach. The conflict is starting to affect the entire team's morale. Which THREE actions should you take to resolve the conflict effectively?

Accepted Answer

Use a collaborative problem-solving approach to find a win-win solution. Collaborative problem-solving directly addresses the root cause of the conflict by seeking a win-win solution that satisfies both senior members' technical concerns. This approach aligns with the PMP's emphasis on conflict resolution techniques that preserve team relationships and leverage diverse expertise to improve the technical approach. By focusing on mutual gains, you avoid the morale damage of a win-lose outcome and foster a culture of shared ownership.

Answer

Escalate the conflict to the project sponsor for resolution

Answer

Make a unilateral decision on the technical approach to end the conflict quickly

Question 10

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. Consulting with the team to identify the most critical tests aligns with the hybrid approach's principle of balancing agility with quality. By focusing on high-risk or high-value test cases, you can reduce testing time while still mitigating key defects, preserving the project's quality standards within the sponsor's deadline constraint.

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 11

During a project, the team encounters a risk event that was identified in the risk register. The project manager needs to implement a response. Which THREE actions should the project manager take?

Accepted Answer

Implement the response plan defined in the risk register.. When a risk event occurs, the project manager should first implement the planned response as documented in the risk register (A). After the response is executed, the outcome should be documented (E) to capture what happened. Finally, the lessons learned should be updated (B) to benefit future projects. Option C is incorrect because the team should follow the existing plan, not brainstorm new responses immediately. Option D is incorrect because requesting additional contingency reserve is not the first action; the planned response should be executed using existing reserves if needed.

Answer

Immediately convene the team to brainstorm new responses.

Answer

Request additional contingency reserve from the sponsor.

Question 12

You are managing a pharmaceutical research project using a predictive approach. A new regulation requires additional clinical trials that will extend the project by 6 months. The sponsor wants to know how this affects the business case. Which THREE documents should you review to provide an informed response?

Accepted Answer

Risk register. (Risk register) is correct because the risk register contains assumptions, constraints, and risks that may be affected by the regulatory change. The impact of the regulation on project risks should be assessed. Option B (Business case) is correct because it documents the justification and financial analysis; the sponsor wants to know how the change affects the business case. Option E (Project management plan schedule and cost baselines) is correct because the schedule and cost baselines are needed to quantify the extension and cost increase to inform the business case. Option C (Stakeholder register) is incorrect; it lists stakeholders and their interests but does not contain financial or schedule information needed to assess impact on the business case. Option D (Work breakdown structure dictionary) is incorrect; it defines work packages and deliverables, not the business case impact.

Answer

Stakeholder register

Answer

Work breakdown structure dictionary

Question 13

Your project team is struggling with low morale due to a heavy workload and unclear priorities. As a project manager, which TWO actions would BEST help improve team motivation? (Choose two)

Accepted Answer

Recognize and celebrate team achievements publicly. Options B and E are correct. Recognizing and celebrating team achievements (B) directly boosts morale through positive reinforcement, a key motivator according to Herzberg's theory. Clarifying priorities and removing non-essential tasks (E) reduces confusion and workload stress, addressing the root cause of low morale. Option A (monetary bonuses) is not the best here because financial incentives are often short-term and less effective for ongoing motivation. Option C (empowering self-organization) is generally beneficial but does not directly solve the immediate issues of unclear priorities and heavy workload. Option D (overtime) would worsen morale by increasing the workload and stress.

Answer

Offer monetary bonuses for meeting deadlines

Answer

Empower the team to self-organize and make decisions

Answer

Ask the team to work overtime to reduce the backlog

Question 14

Your agile team is consistently completing 30 story points per sprint. In the next sprint planning, the product owner wants to commit to 40 points. The team feels this is too ambitious. Which THREE actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Suggest decomposing larger stories into smaller ones to improve estimation accuracy. Decomposing larger stories into smaller ones can improve estimation accuracy and make the work more manageable. Option C is correct because the team should feel empowered to push back if they believe the goal is unattainable, as they know their capacity best. Option D is correct because reviewing historical velocity data provides objective evidence to support a realistic commitment during sprint planning. Option A is wrong because forcing the team to accept an overly ambitious goal undermines self-organization and trust. Option E is wrong because increasing sprint length is a process change that typically requires team agreement and may not address the root cause of overcommitment.

Answer

Instruct the team to accept the 40-point goal to satisfy the product owner

Answer

Increase the sprint length to 3 weeks to allow more time

Question 15

Your agile team has been experiencing a decline in sprint velocity over the past three sprints. During the retrospective, the team identifies unclear requirements and frequent interruptions as root causes. Which TWO actions should you take to address these issues?

Accepted Answer

Work with the product owner to improve user story refinement and ensure acceptance criteria are clear. (work with the product owner to improve user story refinement) addresses unclear requirements by ensuring stories are well-defined before sprints. Option D (establish a policy to shield the team from interruptions) helps the team maintain focus and velocity.

Answer

Ask the team to work overtime to compensate for lost velocity

Answer

Add more team members to the next sprint to increase capacity

Answer

Reduce the sprint length to increase accountability

Question 16

A project manager is building a new project team. Which TWO actions are most effective for establishing a high-performing team?

Accepted Answer

Conduct a kick-off meeting to align on goals and build rapport.. A kick-off meeting aligns the team on project goals, establishes shared understanding, and builds rapport among members, which are foundational for collaboration and high performance. Option E is correct because developing a team charter with the team's input fosters ownership, clarifies norms, and sets expectations for communication and decision-making, directly contributing to team cohesion and effectiveness.

Answer

Avoid discussing potential conflicts to maintain harmony.

Answer

Mandate overtime to meet aggressive deadlines.

Answer

Assign roles and responsibilities without team input.

Question 17

Your agile team is working on a mobile app. The product owner wants to add a new feature that was not in the original backlog. Which TWO actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Ask the product owner to submit a change request for formal evaluation. Following change control and prioritizing the new feature against existing work are appropriate. Directly adding or ignoring are not.

Answer

Tell the team to work overtime to include the feature

Answer

Add the feature to the current sprint backlog because the product owner requested it

Answer

Ignore the request because it was not in the original scope

Question 18

Which THREE of the following are effective techniques for motivating a project team according to PMI?

Accepted Answer

Empower team members with autonomy and decision-making authority.. Empowering team members with autonomy and decision-making authority is a core motivation technique in PMI's leadership framework. It aligns with the 'Servant Leadership' approach, where the project manager enables the team by removing impediments and trusting them to own their work, which increases engagement and accountability.

Answer

Offer competitive salaries and bonuses.

Answer

Closely monitor team members' work to ensure compliance.

Question 19

You are the PM for a highway construction project. A key vendor informs you that they cannot deliver the steel beams on time due to a factory fire. This risk was identified in the risk register with a mitigation plan to have a backup supplier. However, the backup supplier's price is 20% higher. Which TWO actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Inform the sponsor about the cost increase and request a budget adjustment. When the identified risk materializes, the contingency plan (backup supplier) should be executed, but the associated cost increase must be communicated to the sponsor and a budget adjustment should be requested. Option D is correct because the previously planned contingency plan is to engage the backup supplier, which is the appropriate immediate action. Option B is incorrect because the vendor's failure is not a new risk—it is the occurrence of an already identified risk. Option C is incorrect because sourcing alternative materials locally would bypass the established contingency plan and could introduce new risks without proper evaluation. Option E is incorrect because changing the construction method would require a formal change request and is not the immediate response to the risk occurrence.

Answer

Add the vendor's failure to the risk register as a new risk

Answer

Authorize the team to source alternative materials locally

Answer

Update the project management plan to use a different construction method

Question 20

You are managing a hybrid project with a co-located core team and remote subject matter experts. Two senior developers argue daily about the technical approach for a critical module. The conflict is delaying sprint planning and affecting team morale. Which TWO actions should you take first?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a private meeting between the two developers to understand their perspectives and guide them toward a resolution. Facilitating a private meeting between the two developers allows you to understand the root cause of the technical disagreement (e.g., architectural trade-offs between microservices vs. monolith for the module) and guide them toward a collaborative resolution. As a hybrid project manager, you must address conflict directly and early to prevent further delays in sprint planning and restore team morale, aligning with the PMI People domain's emphasis on conflict resolution as a key leadership skill.

Answer

Reassign one developer to a different module to reduce interaction

Answer

Ignore the conflict and hope it resolves on its own

Answer

Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for a decision