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PK0-005 Practice Question: A project manager is leading a brainstorming…
A project manager is leading a brainstorming session to identify potential risks. The team uses a technique that encourages free thinking and avoids criticism. Which risk identification technique is being used?
⚠ Common exam trap
PK0-005 often tests the distinction between brainstorming and Delphi — candidates confuse 'group idea generation' with 'anonymous expert consensus,' picking Delphi when the scenario emphasizes open, criticism-free discussion.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a group creativity technique where participants freely generate ideas without criticism or judgment, exactly matching the scenario described. The PM leading a session that encourages free thinking and avoids criticism is applying brainstorming for risk identification.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Brainstorming
Why this is correct
Brainstorming directly satisfies the stem's requirement for free thinking without criticism, since its defining rule suspends evaluation to maximise idea generation. The session described is itself brainstorming, making this the technique in use. Other identification methods, such as Delphi or interviews, impose structure or feedback that would constrain the open contribution the stem describes.
- ✗
Assumptions analysis
Why it's wrong here
Assumptions analysis examines documented project assumptions for inaccuracy, instability or incompleteness, so it requires existing assumption logs rather than generating spontaneous ideas. It is tempting because it is a genuine PMBOK risk identification technique, and would be correct when auditing a business case or charter for risks arising from unverified assumptions.
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SWOT analysis
Why it's wrong here
SWOT analysis examines strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to shape strategy, using structured quadrants rather than uncriticised idea generation. It suits organisational planning; free-thinking, criticism-free sessions describe brainstorming, whose sole purpose is generating unfiltered risk ideas.
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Delphi technique
Why it's wrong here
The Delphi technique gathers anonymous expert opinions through iterative questionnaires until consensus emerges, so it never involves a group brainstorming freely without criticism. Delphi suits dispersed experts and disputed forecasts; the described session is brainstorming, which prioritises quantity of ideas over convergence.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This PK0-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PK0-005 exam.