PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Test 20 — 15 Questions

Question 1

Your project is facing significant schedule delays due to unforeseen regulatory changes. You need to compress the schedule. Which TWO techniques are appropriate for schedule compression?

Accepted Answer

Fast-tracking: performing activities in parallel that were originally sequential. Crashing and fast-tracking are the two main schedule compression techniques. Crashing adds resources to critical path activities, while fast-tracking performs activities in parallel. Resource leveling is for resource optimization, and scope reduction is a scope change.

Answer

Adding buffers to the schedule

Answer

Resource leveling: smoothing resource demand to avoid peaks

Answer

Reducing scope: removing non-critical deliverables

Question 2

During a sprint retrospective, the team identifies that the daily standup meetings are not effective because they are too long and lack focus. Which THREE actions should the Scrum Master take to improve the standup?

Accepted Answer

Time-box the standup to 15 minutes and enforce it. To improve daily standups, the Scrum Master should enforce time-boxing, encourage focused updates, and perhaps change the format or location to keep them concise. Assigning a rotating facilitator can also help.

Answer

Cancel the standup and replace it with written reports

Answer

Encourage team members to give detailed status reports

Question 3

You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner requests a new feature that was not in the backlog. The team estimates it will take 5 days to implement. What is the BEST action to take?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request and assess the impact on the project baseline.. In a hybrid environment, scope changes must still follow a defined change control process to prevent uncontrolled scope creep and maintain baseline integrity. Option A is correct because submitting a change request allows for impact assessment on cost, schedule, and resources before approval. Option B is too rigid; changes can be allowed but through proper governance. Option C bypasses formal approval and risks integrating unapproved work. Option D adds work without assessing impact, violating change control principles.

Answer

Tell the product owner that no changes are allowed until the project is completed.

Answer

Ask the team to include it in the next sprint and inform the product owner.

Answer

Add the feature to the current sprint as it's small and the team can handle it.

Question 4

Your construction project is in the execution phase. A key vendor informs you that a critical material will be delayed by 3 weeks due to a strike at their factory. This delay will push the project beyond the required completion date. The risk was identified and documented in the risk register with a planned response. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Implement the pre-defined risk response as documented in the risk register.. The planned risk response should be executed as per the risk management plan. Option A is correct because the response is already defined. Option B is reactive; Option C skips the planned response; Option D may be needed later but is not first.

Answer

Inform the sponsor and ask for additional budget to expedite shipping.

Answer

Crash the schedule by adding extra resources to other tasks to recover time.

Answer

Update the risk register and escalate to the steering committee.

Question 5

You are the project manager for a 9-month product launch. At the midpoint review, the earned value analysis shows: EV = $450,000, PV = $500,000, AC = $550,000. The project is underperforming. The sponsor asks for a recovery plan. Which metric should you use to estimate the new total cost at completion assuming no change in cost performance?

Accepted Answer

EAC = BAC / CPI. With no change in cost performance, the Estimate at Completion (EAC) using the cost performance index (CPI) is appropriate: EAC = BAC / CPI. Given EV = $450,000, AC = $550,000, CPI = EV/AC = 0.818, so EAC = BAC / 0.818. Option D is correct. Option A (EAC = AC + (BAC - EV) / (CPI * SPI)) applies when both cost and schedule performance are expected to continue. Option B and C (EAC = AC + (BAC - EV)) assume future work is performed at the budgeted rate, not the current cost performance. Thus, only D is correct under the assumption of no change in cost performance.

Answer

EAC = AC + (BAC - EV) / (CPI * SPI)

Answer

EAC = AC + (BAC - EV)

Answer

EAC = AC + BAC - EV

Question 6

During a daily standup, a developer mentions she is blocked by a dependency from another team. The issue was not previously identified. As the project manager, what is the BEST action?

Accepted Answer

Add the blocker to the issue log and work with the other team to resolve it.. The correct action is to document the blocker in the issue log and collaborate with the other team to resolve it. This ensures the issue is tracked and addressed appropriately. Option A is wrong because reassigning work does not resolve the dependency; Option B delays resolution without proper documentation; Option C bypasses the project manager's role in facilitating cross-team coordination.

Answer

Remove the dependency by reassigning the work to a different developer.

Answer

Ask the developer to find a workaround and report back tomorrow.

Answer

Tell the developer to escalate the issue to the other team's manager directly.

Question 7

Your agile project has been experiencing decreasing velocity over the last three sprints. The team is frustrated and morale is low. The product owner is pressuring for more features. What is the BEST action for the project manager to take?

Accepted Answer

Conduct a retrospective to identify impediments and improvement actions.. The PM should facilitate a retrospective to identify root causes of decreasing velocity and address team morale. Option A is correct because it uses agile ceremonies to collaboratively find improvements. Option B adds pressure without solving root issues; option C ignores team dynamics; option D changes process without understanding impediments.

Answer

Ask the team to work overtime to catch up on velocity.

Answer

Replace the underperforming team members with new resources.

Answer

Increase the sprint length to give the team more time.

Question 8

You are managing a software upgrade project. A senior executive bypasses you and directly instructs a team member to include a new feature in the release. The team member is confused and asks for your direction. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Speak with the executive to explain the change control process and the impact of the request.. The correct first action is to speak with the executive to explain the change control process and the impact of the request. This directly addresses the bypass, reinforces proper procedures, and allows the PM to discuss the implications without escalating prematurely. Option A is wrong because submitting a change request without assessment circumvents the process. Option B is wrong because following the instruction would bypass change control and could lead to scope creep. Option C is wrong because immediate escalation is not the first step; the PM should first attempt to resolve the issue with the executive directly.

Answer

Submit a change request on behalf of the executive without assessment.

Answer

Advise the team member to follow the executive's instruction.

Answer

Escalate the situation to the executive's manager immediately.

Question 9

During project execution, the quality assurance team finds that a deliverable does not meet the specified requirements. What should the project manager do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Document the nonconformance in the issue log and create a corrective action plan.. The project manager should first document the nonconformance in the issue log and create a corrective action plan. This follows the Perform Integrated Change Control process and ensures proper tracking and resolution. Option A ignores the issue, which could lead to quality problems later. Option C is premature because immediate rework without analysis may bypass change control or impact other areas. Option D escalates to the sponsor without first analyzing the issue internally.

Answer

Proceed with the deliverable as-is and note it in lessons learned.

Answer

Ask the team to rework the deliverable immediately.

Answer

Inform the sponsor that the deliverable is delayed.

Question 10

Your project is using a hybrid approach. During a sprint, the team realizes that a critical dependency from another project will not be ready on time, impacting the critical path. The dependency was not identified in the risk register. What is the BEST action?

Accepted Answer

Add the dependency to the issue log, assess the impact on the schedule, and engage the other project manager.. The best action is to first document the unexpected dependency as an issue in the issue log, assess its impact on the schedule, and then engage the other project manager to coordinate a resolution. This follows the proper issue management process of identifying, analyzing, and responding. Option A (crashing) is premature without impact analysis; Option B (escalation) bypasses direct communication; Option C (workaround) assumes a solution without understanding the impact.

Answer

Crash the schedule by adding resources to the dependent task.

Answer

Escalate to the project management office for resource reallocation.

Answer

Ask the team to find a workaround to bypass the dependency.

Question 11

In the middle of a project, new government regulations are introduced that affect your deliverables. Compliance is mandatory. The project is currently on schedule and on budget. What should the project manager do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request to assess the impact of the regulation on the project baselines.. The PM must assess the impact of the regulation and then follow change control. Option D is correct. Option A bypasses process; Option B is premature; Option C may be needed later but not first.

Answer

Incorporate the changes to comply with the regulation immediately.

Answer

Notify the sponsor that the project will be delayed and over budget.

Answer

Consult legal to determine the exact requirements.

Question 12

You are managing a project using a predictive approach. A key stakeholder requests a minor change that does not affect the critical path but will add two days to the schedule. The team has some idle time. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request to the change control board for evaluation.. Even minor changes must follow the formal change control process. The project manager should submit a change request to the change control board (CCB) for evaluation, as changes affecting the schedule baseline require approval. Option A bypasses the process; Option C incorrectly refuses without evaluation; Option D assumes approval without proper analysis.

Answer

Tell the team to implement the change and update the schedule later.

Answer

Refuse the change to protect the schedule baseline.

Answer

Approve the change since it is minor and the team can absorb the delay.

Question 13

Your project is in the execution phase. The earned value metrics are: EV=$200,000, PV=$250,000, AC=$220,000. The project is behind schedule and over budget. You need to present a recovery plan to the steering committee. Which combination of actions is BEST aligned with PMI best practices?

Accepted Answer

Conduct root cause analysis of variances, then consider fast tracking or crashing as appropriate.. The correct approach is to first perform root cause analysis to understand the reasons for the variances, then evaluate schedule compression techniques such as fast tracking or crashing. This aligns with PMI's guidance on taking corrective action. Option A is not sustainable and may not address root causes; option C requires formal change control and may not be the best first step; option D jumps to crashing without analysis and may escalate costs.

Answer

Ask the team to work overtime without additional cost.

Answer

Reduce scope to meet the schedule and cost baselines.

Answer

Crash the schedule by adding resources and request additional budget.

Question 14

A project is running over budget due to underestimation of effort. The project manager wants to bring costs under control. Which THREE actions are MOST appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request to reduce scope.. Submitting a change request to reduce scope is a formal control action that directly lowers costs. Option C is correct because implementing a continuous improvement program to reduce waste cuts costs without affecting scope or schedule. Option D is correct because re-estimating remaining work using bottom-up estimating provides a more accurate cost baseline, enabling better control. Options B and E are incorrect: working overtime without pay is unethical and unsustainable, and fast-tracking increases risk and typically does not reduce costs.

Answer

Ask the team to work overtime without additional pay.

Answer

Fast-track remaining activities to finish earlier.

Question 15

A project manager is planning stakeholder engagement for a complex project with many interested parties. Which THREE techniques are MOST effective for analyzing stakeholders?

Accepted Answer

Stakeholder engagement assessment matrix. The three most effective techniques for analyzing stakeholders are the stakeholder engagement assessment matrix (B), power/interest grid (C), and stakeholder mapping/salience model (E). Option A (communication requirements analysis) is a tool for planning communication, not for analyzing stakeholders. Option D (affinity diagram) is a quality management tool for grouping ideas, not for stakeholder analysis.

Answer

Communication requirements analysis

Answer

Affinity diagram