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PK0-005 Practice Question: A project sponsor asks for a report showing the…
A project sponsor asks for a report showing the planned vs. actual cost performance. Which project document contains the necessary data to create this report?
⚠ Common exam trap
The PK0-005 exam often tests the distinction between the WBS (scope decomposition) and the cost baseline (budget allocation), leading candidates to mistakenly select the WBS because it is a familiar document, even though it lacks the cost data needed for the report.
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
✓
Cost baseline
The cost baseline is the approved version of the project budget, including contingency reserves, against which actual cost performance is measured. It provides the planned cost data (budgeted cost of work scheduled) and, when combined with actual cost data from the project's accounting system, enables the calculation of cost variance and cost performance index for the report. The sponsor's request for planned vs. actual cost performance directly requires the cost baseline as the reference document.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Stakeholder engagement plan
Why it's wrong here
The stakeholder engagement plan records how stakeholders are engaged and managed, not financial figures, so it holds no planned or actual cost data. It is tempting because engagement activities can consume budget, but that plan would be the right source only when determining stakeholder communication needs and involvement levels.
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Requirements traceability matrix
Why it's wrong here
The requirements traceability matrix links requirements to their origin, status and test coverage; it tracks scope, not expenditure, so it cannot supply planned versus actual cost figures. It would be the correct document when verifying that each requirement maps to a deliverable and has been tested.
- ✓
Cost baseline
Why this is correct
The cost baseline is the time-phased budget that the sponsor approved, so it supplies planned cost per period. Actual costs come from project accounting records, and comparing the two yields cost variance and the CPI. It therefore satisfies the stem's requirement for planned versus actual cost performance data.
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Work breakdown structure
Why it's wrong here
The work breakdown structure decomposes deliverables into work packages but carries no monetary values, so it cannot show planned versus actual cost. It is tempting because cost estimates are built from its work packages; it would be correct when defining scope hierarchy or providing the basis for estimating.
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Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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