easyMultiple Choice
PK0-005 Practice Question: A project manager is leading a team in a…
A project manager is leading a team in a functional organization. Which statement BEST describes the project manager's authority?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that project managers in functional organizations have shared authority with functional managers, when in reality they have limited authority and act primarily as coordinators.
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
✓
The project manager has limited authority and acts as a coordinator.
In a functional organization, the project manager's role is primarily that of a coordinator or expediter, with limited authority over project resources and team members. Functional managers retain authority over personnel and budget, leaving the project manager to facilitate communication and track progress without direct control.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The project manager has full authority over project resources.
Why it's wrong here
Functional organisations concentrate authority with functional managers, leaving the project manager minimal power over resources, budget and team allocation. Full resource authority is tempting because it describes a projectised organisation, where the project manager genuinely controls resources, but that structure is the opposite of the scenario given.
- ✓
The project manager has limited authority and acts as a coordinator.
Why this is correct
In a functional organisation, authority rests with the functional managers, so the project manager coordinates rather than directs. This satisfies the stem's constraint by matching the weak, liaison-style authority typical of that structure, where team members report primarily to their line managers and the project manager has little control over resources or priorities.
- ✗
The project manager shares authority with functional managers.
Why it's wrong here
Shared authority with functional managers describes a matrix organisation, where power is divided between both roles. It is tempting because matrix structures are common and involve dual reporting, but a functional organisation vests authority solely in the functional managers, leaving the project manager with little to none.
- ✗
The project manager has authority only over project budget.
Why it's wrong here
In a functional organisation the project manager holds little to no authority over budget, resources or team members; the functional manager controls these. Budget-only authority is tempting because some weak matrix roles carry limited cost oversight, but that describes a matrix arrangement, not a functional one.
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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.