PK0-005 Practice Test 21 — 15 Questions

Question 1

During the planning phase, a project manager conducts a stakeholder analysis. Which of the following is the primary purpose of this activity?

Accepted Answer

To identify and categorize stakeholders based on their interest and influence. The primary purpose of stakeholder analysis during the planning phase is to identify and categorize stakeholders based on their interest and influence, so the project manager can develop appropriate engagement strategies. This helps prioritize communication and manage expectations effectively. It is a foundational step in stakeholder management.

Answer

To identify potential risks that stakeholders might introduce

Answer

To assign team members to project tasks

Answer

To define the project scope and deliverables

Question 2

A project has completed the planning phase and is about to begin execution. However, a key stakeholder raises a concern that a critical requirement is missing. What is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Assess the impact of the missing requirement and submit a change request. When a critical requirement is identified as missing after planning but before or during execution, the proper project management approach is to assess the impact (scope, schedule, cost, risk) and then submit a formal change request through the change control process. This ensures the change is evaluated, approved or rejected by the appropriate authority, and baselined if approved.

Answer

Delay the start of execution until the stakeholder approves the project plan

Answer

Inform the stakeholder that requirements were finalized and cannot be changed

Answer

Add the requirement immediately to avoid customer dissatisfaction

Question 3

A project manager is leading a team that is developing a new mobile application. During the execution phase, the product owner requests additional features that were not included in the original scope. What should the project manager do first?

Accepted Answer

Ask the product owner to submit a formal change request. In a predictive/waterfall project environment, any change to the agreed scope must go through the formal Integrated Change Control process. The PM should not unilaterally add features, extend deadlines, or reject the request outright. The first step is to have the product owner submit a formal change request so the change can be documented, evaluated for impact on scope, schedule, cost, and risk, and then approved or rejected by the change control board.

Answer

Add the features but extend the project deadline

Answer

Update the project plan to include the new features immediately

Answer

Reject the request because it will increase the scope

Question 4

A company is deploying a new web server. Which TWO security measures should the project manager include in the project plan? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Firewall rules. Option D (Firewall rules) is correct because a web server exposed to a network must have firewall rules that restrict inbound traffic to only the required ports (e.g., TCP 80/443) and block unauthorized access, which is a fundamental security control for protecting the server. Option E (TLS certificate) is correct because it enables HTTPS encryption, ensuring data in transit between clients and the web server is protected via TLS, which is essential for securing web communications and preventing eavesdropping or tampering. Option A (UPS) is incorrect because an uninterruptible power supply addresses availability and power continuity, not security. Option B (Load balancer) is incorrect because it primarily provides availability, scalability, and traffic distribution rather than being a security measure. Option C (RAID array) is incorrect because RAID provides disk redundancy and fault tolerance for data availability, not protection against security threats.

Answer

UPS

Answer

Load balancer

Answer

RAID array

Question 5

A project manager is assigned to a new software development project. During the initiation phase, the project sponsor is hesitant to approve the project charter because the business case does not clearly quantify the expected benefits. The project manager has gathered initial requirements and conducted a feasibility study. What should the project manager do next to move the project forward?

Accepted Answer

Work with the sponsor to refine the business case and quantify benefits more clearly.. The sponsor's concern is that the business case lacks quantified benefits, which is a prerequisite for charter approval. The project manager should collaborate with the sponsor to refine the business case and make the benefits measurable, addressing the root cause before seeking approval. This keeps the project moving while respecting the sponsor's gatekeeping role in initiation.

Answer

Proceed to the planning phase to create a detailed schedule and budget.

Answer

Escalate the issue to the program manager or steering committee.

Answer

Ignore the sponsor's concern and continue with the charter as is.

Question 6

After a change request is approved by the Change Control Board, what must be updated to reflect the approved changes? (Choose the best answer.)

Accepted Answer

The project plan and baselines. After the Change Control Board (CCB) approves a change request, the project manager must update the project management plan and the associated baselines (scope, schedule, cost) to incorporate the approved change. Baselines are the approved versions of the project plan against which performance is measured, so any approved change must be reflected there to keep performance measurement accurate. This is a core part of the Perform Integrated Change Control process.

Answer

The issue log

Answer

Only the risk register

Answer

The stakeholder register

Question 7

Which TWO of the following are characteristics of the waterfall project management methodology?

Accepted Answer

Distinct phase gates. Option C (Distinct phase gates) is correct because waterfall organizes work into discrete stages such as requirements, design, implementation, verification, and maintenance, with formal review gates or sign-offs required before a phase can be considered complete and the next one begins. Option D (Linear and sequential phases) is correct because waterfall follows a strictly linear progression in which each phase must be finished before the next starts, and there is typically no going back once a phase is approved. Options A and B are incorrect because continuous delivery of small increments and iterative cycles with feedback are hallmarks of Agile and iterative methodologies, not waterfall. Option E is incorrect because waterfall generally resists flexible scope changes; scope is baselined early and changes are handled through formal change control, which is why it is often described as inflexible.

Answer

Continuous delivery of small increments

Answer

Iterative cycles with feedback

Answer

Flexible scope changes

Question 8

Which project scheduling tool displays tasks as horizontal bars on a timeline, shows dependencies between tasks, and can highlight the critical path?

Accepted Answer

Gantt chart. A Gantt chart is a project scheduling tool that displays tasks as horizontal bars on a timeline, shows dependencies between tasks, and can highlight the critical path. It provides a visual representation of the project schedule, making it easy to see task durations, start and end dates, and overlaps.

Answer

Kanban board

Answer

Network diagram

Answer

Milestone chart

Question 9

A project manager is leading a software development project. The team has completed the coding phase and is about to begin system testing. The project sponsor requests a demonstration of the software to key stakeholders before testing begins. What should the project manager do?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request to the change control board for approval to conduct the demonstration.. Introducing a demonstration after the coding phase constitutes a scope change that could impact the project schedule, resources, and testing timeline. The project manager must follow formal change control procedures by submitting a change request to the change control board (CCB) for approval, ensuring that all impacts are assessed and authorized before proceeding.

Answer

Inform the sponsor that the demonstration cannot be accommodated and proceed as planned.

Answer

Schedule the demonstration and adjust the project schedule accordingly without formal approval.

Answer

Delay the start of system testing to accommodate the demonstration without a change request.

Question 10

A project is behind schedule. The project manager decides to start the testing phase before the development phase is completely finished. This is an example of which schedule compression technique?

Accepted Answer

Fast-tracking. Fast-tracking is a schedule compression technique where activities that would normally be performed sequentially are performed in parallel. Starting testing before development is fully complete overlaps two phases that are typically sequential, which is the textbook definition of fast-tracking. It compresses the schedule by accepting the risk of rework if defects are found in unfinished development work.

Answer

Crashing

Answer

Resource leveling

Answer

Monte Carlo simulation

Question 11

Which document is used to track all changes made throughout a project, including their status and impact?

Accepted Answer

Change log. The change log records all change requests and their disposition.

Answer

Configuration management plan

Answer

Risk register

Answer

Issue log

Question 12

A project has earned value (EV) of $120,000, planned value (PV) of $100,000, and actual cost (AC) of $110,000. What is the cost performance index (CPI)?

Accepted Answer

1.09. Cost Performance Index (CPI) is calculated as EV / AC. With EV = $120,000 and AC = $110,000, CPI = 120,000 / 110,000 ≈ 1.09. A CPI greater than 1.0 indicates the project is under budget — it is getting more value per dollar spent than planned.

Answer

0.91

Answer

1.10

Answer

1.20

Question 13

During project execution, two team members disagree on who is responsible for a specific task, leading to delays. Which project document should the project manager consult to resolve this conflict?

Accepted Answer

RACI matrix. The RACI matrix (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) is the definitive project document for clarifying roles and responsibilities for specific tasks or deliverables. When team members disagree on task ownership, the project manager should consult the RACI matrix to identify who is designated as 'Responsible' for performing the work, thereby resolving the ambiguity and preventing further delays.

Answer

Issue log

Answer

Stakeholder register

Answer

Communication plan

Question 14

A project has an Earned Value (EV) of $50,000, Actual Cost (AC) of $60,000, and Planned Value (PV) of $55,000. What is the Cost Performance Index (CPI), and what does it indicate?

Accepted Answer

0.83; over budget. CPI = EV / AC = $50,000 / $60,000 = 0.83. A CPI below 1.0 means the project is earning less value than it is spending, indicating it is over budget.

Answer

1.20; under budget

Answer

0.83; on budget

Answer

0.91; under budget

Question 15

A project has an Earned Value (EV) of $50,000, Planned Value (PV) of $60,000, and Actual Cost (AC) of $55,000. What is the cost performance index (CPI) and what does it indicate?

Accepted Answer

CPI = 0.91; project is over budget. CPI is calculated as EV / AC. Here, EV = $50,000 and AC = $55,000, so CPI = 50,000 / 55,000 ≈ 0.91. A CPI below 1.0 means the project is spending more than the value earned, indicating it is over budget.

Answer

CPI = 1.10; project is on budget

Answer

CPI = 1.09; project is under budget

Answer

CPI = 0.83; project is over budget