50 of 125 questions · Page 2/2 · Pkp Tools Documentation topic · Answers revealed
A project manager is selecting tools for an Agile project. Which TWO tools are commonly used for Agile project management? (Select two.)
Correct. Trello is a Kanban-based tool popular for Agile.
Why this answer
Jira and Trello are both popular Agile project management tools that support Scrum and Kanban methodologies.
A project manager is analyzing quality control data and wants to identify whether process variation is due to special causes or common causes. Which TWO tools would be most helpful?
Run charts can show non-random patterns indicating special causes.
Why this answer
Control charts (with UCL/LCL) distinguish between special and common cause variation. Run charts can also show trends but may not have control limits. Cause-and-effect diagrams identify root causes, Pareto charts prioritize, histograms show distribution but not special causes.
A project team uses a tool that shows only major events or deadlines, such as the start and end of phases. Which type of chart are they using?
Milestone charts highlight key events or deadlines.
Why this answer
A milestone chart displays key events (milestones) along a timeline. Gantt charts show all tasks, network diagrams show dependencies, and burndown charts track remaining work over time.
A project manager needs to identify the root cause of a recurring defect. Which quality tool uses a fishbone diagram to categorize potential causes?
Correct. The fishbone diagram is a cause-and-effect diagram.
Why this answer
A cause-and-effect diagram (also known as fishbone or Ishikawa) is used to identify root causes by organizing potential causes into categories.
A project manager is creating a RACI matrix for the project. One activity involves conducting security testing. The security lead will perform the testing, the project manager is responsible for ensuring it happens, and the compliance officer needs to be informed of the results. Which assignment is correct?
Correct – security lead does the work, PM is accountable, compliance officer is informed.
Why this answer
In RACI, 'Responsible' does the work (security lead), 'Accountable' answers for the work (project manager), and 'Informed' receives updates (compliance officer).
A project manager is creating a document that formally authorizes the project and assigns the project manager. Which document is being created?
Correct: The project charter authorizes the project and assigns the project manager.
Why this answer
The project charter is the document that formally authorizes the project and identifies the project manager.
Which document defines the communication requirements, including who needs what information, when, and how?
The communication plan specifies the communication requirements and methods.
Why this answer
The communication plan outlines the communication management approach, including stakeholders, information needs, and methods.
Which agile artifact contains the prioritized list of all desired work for a product?
Correct: The product backlog is the single source of requirements for any changes to the product.
Why this answer
The product backlog is a prioritized list of all features, enhancements, and fixes needed for the product.
A project manager creates a visual representation that shows the 20% of causes contributing to 80% of the problems in a project. Which tool is being used?
Pareto chart displays bars in descending order and a cumulative line to show 80/20.
Why this answer
A Pareto chart is based on the 80/20 rule and prioritizes the most significant factors.
A project team uses planning poker to estimate user stories. The product owner describes a story that involves integrating with a third-party API. The team discusses unknowns and then votes. The estimates are 5, 8, 13, and 20 story points. What should the team do next?
Correct – discuss outliers to reach consensus.
Why this answer
When estimates vary widely, the team should discuss the outlier reasons, then re-vote. This is standard planning poker practice.
A project manager uses a diagram to identify the most frequent causes of defects in a process. The diagram displays bars in descending order and a cumulative line. Which quality tool is being used?
Pareto charts display bars in descending order and a cumulative line to show the most significant factors.
Why this answer
A Pareto chart is a bar chart where bars are ordered from highest to lowest frequency, often with a cumulative line, to highlight the 'vital few' causes (80/20 rule). A fishbone diagram shows potential causes but not frequency. A control chart tracks variation over time.
A scatter diagram shows correlation between two variables.
A project has a budget at completion (BAC) of $200,000. The earned value (EV) is $100,000, and the actual cost (AC) is $120,000. What is the estimate at completion (EAC) assuming the current cost performance index (CPI) will remain the same?
Correct – EAC = BAC/CPI = $200,000 / 0.8333 = $240,000.
Why this answer
CPI = EV/AC = 100,000/120,000 = 0.8333. EAC = BAC/CPI = 200,000/0.8333 = 240,000.
A project manager is selecting two documents that are essential for defining project scope. Which TWO documents should they choose?
The WBS decomposes the project scope into work packages.
Why this answer
The WBS breaks down the work into manageable components, and the scope statement defines the project scope, deliverables, and boundaries. The risk register lists risks, the communication plan defines communication, and the RACI matrix assigns responsibilities.
An agile team uses story points for estimating effort. During sprint planning, the team's average velocity is 30 story points per sprint. The product owner wants to commit to 35 story points for the upcoming sprint. What should the team do?
Correct – use velocity to set realistic expectations.
Why this answer
Committing to more than the historical velocity increases risk of incomplete work. The team should use velocity to size the sprint backlog realistically.
A project manager is creating a visual timeline that displays tasks as horizontal bars, shows dependencies between tasks, and highlights the critical path. Which tool should the manager use?
Correct. A Gantt chart is a timeline bar chart that shows dependencies and can highlight the critical path.
Why this answer
A Gantt chart displays tasks as bars, shows dependencies via arrows, and can highlight the critical path. The other options do not provide all of these features.
A project manager is reviewing earned value data: PV = $150,000, EV = $120,000, AC = $130,000. Which THREE statements are correct?
SPI = EV/PV = 120000/150000 = 0.8.
Why this answer
SV = EV - PV = 120,000 - 150,000 = -30,000 (negative, behind schedule). CV = EV - AC = 120,000 - 130,000 = -10,000 (negative, over budget). SPI = EV/PV = 0.8 (less than 1, behind schedule).
CPI = EV/AC = 0.923 (less than 1, over budget).
A project manager is analyzing project performance using earned value management. Which THREE metrics are used to calculate the estimate at completion (EAC)?
AC is used in EAC = AC + (BAC - EV)/CPI etc.
Why this answer
EAC can be calculated using BAC/CPI, or AC + ETC, but ETC often uses CPI. So BAC, AC, and CPI are directly involved. EV is not directly in the formula.
In an Agile project, the team uses story points to estimate effort. During sprint planning, they select user stories from the product backlog and assign them to the sprint. What is the resulting list of items committed for the sprint called?
The sprint backlog includes items committed for the current sprint.
Why this answer
The sprint backlog is the set of product backlog items selected for the sprint, along with a plan for delivering them. The product backlog is the full list of requirements; burndown/burnup charts track progress.
A project has a planned value (PV) of $50,000, earned value (EV) of $40,000, and actual cost (AC) of $45,000. What is the schedule variance (SV) and cost variance (CV)?
Correct: SV negative indicates behind schedule; CV negative indicates over budget.
Why this answer
Schedule variance (SV) is calculated as EV - PV = $40,000 - $50,000 = -$10,000, indicating the project is behind schedule. Cost variance (CV) is EV - AC = $40,000 - $45,000 = -$5,000, indicating the project is over budget. Option D correctly states both negative variances.
Exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the formulas for SV and CV, swapping the order of subtraction (e.g., using PV - EV for SV or AC - EV for CV), leading to incorrect positive values instead of the correct negative ones.
How to eliminate wrong answers
Option A is wrong because it incorrectly calculates SV as -$5,000 (likely confusing it with CV) and CV as -$10,000 (reversing the values). Option B is wrong because it correctly calculates SV as -$10,000 but incorrectly calculates CV as +$5,000 (using AC - EV instead of EV - AC). Option C is wrong because it incorrectly calculates SV as +$10,000 (using PV - EV instead of EV - PV) and CV as +$5,000 (using AC - EV instead of EV - AC).
A project manager needs to identify which tasks are critical to the project's completion date. After creating the project schedule, which tool should be used to visualize the critical path?
Correct – network diagrams are used to identify the critical path.
Why this answer
A network diagram (activity-on-node) with dependencies allows identification of the critical path (longest path with zero float).
During a project, the project manager calculates the following: Earned Value (EV) = $50,000, Planned Value (PV) = $60,000, Actual Cost (AC) = $55,000. Which statement accurately describes the project's performance?
Negative SV means behind schedule; negative CV means over budget.
Why this answer
Schedule Variance (SV) = EV - PV = $50,000 - $60,000 = -$10,000, indicating behind schedule. Cost Variance (CV) = EV - AC = $50,000 - $55,000 = -$5,000, indicating over budget.
A project is experiencing cost overruns. The project manager wants to calculate key earned value metrics. Which THREE metrics are needed to compute the cost performance index (CPI) and schedule performance index (SPI)? (Select three.)
Correct. AC is used in CPI.
Why this answer
CPI = EV/AC, SPI = EV/PV. So EV, AC, and PV are required.
A project team is using Jira for agile development. They have a list of features to be developed over multiple sprints. What is the term for this list, which represents all the work planned for the project?
Correct. The product backlog is the master list of all work.
Why this answer
In agile, the product backlog is a prioritized list of all desired work for the project. Sprint backlog is for a single sprint.
In an Agile project, the team uses a tool to manage user stories and tasks. Which tool is specifically designed for Agile project management, supporting Scrum and Kanban boards?
Correct. Jira is tailored for Agile with boards, sprints, and backlog.
Why this answer
Jira is a widely used Agile project management tool that supports Scrum and Kanban boards, epics, stories, and sprints.
In an agile project, the team is using user stories to capture requirements. Which of the following is the correct format for a user story?
Correct format: As a [role], I want [feature], so that [benefit].
Why this answer
Option A follows the standard user story format: 'As a [user role], I want [goal], so that [benefit].' This structure is prescribed by agile methodologies like Scrum and XP to ensure requirements are user-centric, testable, and value-driven. The 'so that' clause provides the business rationale, which is critical for prioritization and acceptance criteria definition.
Exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between user stories and traditional requirements by embedding a correct user story among system-imperative statements or mixed-format options, tricking candidates who memorize only the 'As a... I want...' part without requiring the 'so that' clause.
How to eliminate wrong answers
Option B is wrong because it uses a system-centric imperative ('The system shall...') typical of traditional requirements documents, not the user-role format required for a user story. Option C is wrong because it is a vague, implementation-focused statement ('must be implemented') that lacks a user role, goal, or benefit, making it untestable and non-value-driven. Option D is wrong because it mixes a user story opening with a non-functional requirement ('the system must be secure') in the same sentence, violating the single-goal principle and conflating the 'so that' benefit with a technical constraint.
A project manager is reviewing a control chart for a manufacturing process. Several data points fall outside the upper control limit (UCL). What type of variation do these points indicate?
Points outside limits indicate special cause (assignable cause) variation.
Why this answer
Data points outside control limits indicate special cause variation, which is unusual and not part of the normal process. Common cause variation is inherent and stays within limits. Random variation is not a standard term; it is similar to common cause.
Assignable cause is another term for special cause, but the question asks for the type of variation, not the cause.
An agile team uses story points to estimate user stories. During planning poker, one developer consistently gives much higher estimates than the rest of the team. What is the best action for the team?
Correct: Discussing estimates helps align understanding and improve accuracy.
Why this answer
The team should discuss the reasoning behind the high estimates to uncover hidden assumptions or risks, leading to a shared understanding.
A project manager wants to identify the most significant causes of delays in a software development project. Which quality tool should she use to prioritize the causes based on the Pareto principle?
Correct. A Pareto chart uses the 80/20 rule to prioritize causes.
Why this answer
The Pareto chart is based on the 80/20 rule, helping prioritize the most impactful issues.
During a sprint review, the team shows that they completed 30 story points this sprint, which is consistent with their average velocity. The product owner asks how much work the team can likely complete in the next two sprints. Using velocity, what is the best estimate?
Correct. 30 points per sprint × 2 sprints = 60 story points.
Why this answer
Velocity is the average story points completed per sprint. With a consistent velocity of 30 points per sprint, over two sprints the team can complete approximately 60 points.
Which document formally authorizes a project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources?
The charter provides formal authorization and assigns the PM.
Why this answer
The project charter is the document that formally authorizes the project and assigns the project manager.
During a software development project, the team estimates story points using planning poker. A story is estimated at 8 points, while a similar story was previously estimated at 5 points. What is the primary reason for using relative sizing with story points?
Story points are relative sizing, not absolute.
Why this answer
Story points are a relative measure of effort; the exact values are less important than the relative comparison. Planning poker facilitates consensus.
In a manufacturing project, the team uses a Pareto chart to analyze defects. The chart shows that 80% of defects come from 20% of the causes. Which principle does this illustrate?
Correct; Pareto principle.
Why this answer
The Pareto principle states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes, used to prioritize issues.
A project manager is creating the project management plan. Which TWO subsidiary plans should be included? (Select TWO.)
A subsidiary plan of the PMP.
Why this answer
The project management plan is a formal, approved document that defines how the project is executed, monitored, and controlled. The Risk Management Plan (D) and Scope Management Plan (E) are two of the subsidiary plans that must be included, as they detail processes for identifying, analyzing, and responding to risks, and for defining, validating, and controlling scope, respectively. These are mandated by the PMBOK Guide and are core components of a comprehensive project management plan.
Exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between project management plan components (subsidiary plans) and project documents or artifacts (like backlogs, charts, or matrices), leading candidates to mistakenly select tools or outputs instead of formal planning documents.
A project manager notices that the actual cost (AC) is $50,000, the earned value (EV) is $45,000, and the planned value (PV) is $55,000. Which statement is true regarding schedule and cost performance?
SV = -$10,000 (behind schedule), CV = -$5,000 (over budget).
Why this answer
Schedule variance (SV) = EV - PV = $45,000 - $55,000 = -$10,000 (negative, behind schedule). Cost variance (CV) = EV - AC = $45,000 - $50,000 = -$5,000 (negative, over budget).
In an agile project using Jira, the product owner wants to prioritize the work for the next iteration. Which document or artefact should they refer to?
Product backlog is the prioritized list of all desired work.
Why this answer
The product backlog is the prioritized list of user stories and work items for the product. The sprint backlog is for the current sprint.
In an agile project using Jira, the team creates a board that visualizes the workflow with columns such as 'To Do', 'In Progress', and 'Done'. Which type of board is this?
Kanban board visualizes the flow of work across columns.
Why this answer
A Kanban board displays workflow stages and limits work in progress.
A project manager notices that a task is taking longer than planned and the project is falling behind schedule. The project manager wants to identify the root cause of the delay. Which quality tool would be most appropriate?
Fishbone diagram helps identify and categorize root causes.
Why this answer
The cause-and-effect diagram (also known as a fishbone or Ishikawa diagram) is the most appropriate quality tool for identifying the root cause of a delay because it systematically maps potential causes (e.g., resources, processes, environment) to the observed effect (the schedule delay). Unlike other tools that show data distribution or trends, this diagram is designed for root cause analysis by visually brainstorming and categorizing contributing factors.
Exam trap
The trap here is that candidates confuse a Pareto chart (which ranks causes by frequency) with root cause analysis, but the Pareto chart only shows what is most common, not the underlying cause-effect relationships that the cause-and-effect diagram explicitly maps.
How to eliminate wrong answers
Option A is wrong because a histogram displays the frequency distribution of data (e.g., task durations) but does not identify causal relationships or root causes of a delay. Option B is wrong because a control chart monitors process stability over time against control limits, but it only signals when a process is out of control, not the specific root cause of a delay. Option D is wrong because a Pareto chart prioritizes issues by frequency (the 80/20 rule) but does not explore cause-and-effect relationships; it shows what problems are most common, not why a specific delay occurred.
Which document formally authorizes a project and assigns the project manager?
Correct. The charter gives formal authorization.
Why this answer
The project charter is a document that formally authorizes the project and identifies the project manager. It provides authority to use resources.
During a sprint planning meeting, the development team estimates user stories using story points. They each have a set of cards with values like 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13. After discussing a story, all team members simultaneously reveal their chosen card. What technique are they using?
Planning poker involves team members simultaneously revealing estimation cards.
Why this answer
Planning poker is a consensus-based estimation technique where team members use cards with story point values and reveal their estimates simultaneously.
A project manager is selecting a project management tool for a hybrid project that requires both a Gantt chart view for waterfall tasks and a Kanban board for agile tasks. Which TWO tools would best meet these requirements?
Supports both Gantt (via plugins) and Kanban.
Why this answer
Jira (with add-ons) offers Gantt charts and Kanban boards. Monday.com also provides both views. Trello is primarily Kanban, Asana mainly task lists, Smartsheet is spreadsheet-based.
A project has a BAC of $200,000. After three months, the earned value (EV) is $80,000 and the actual cost (AC) is $90,000. What is the cost variance (CV) and what does it indicate?
Correct calculation and interpretation.
Why this answer
CV = EV - AC = $80,000 - $90,000 = -$10,000. Negative CV means over budget.
Which document is used to track and manage changes to the project baseline?
Change log records all change requests and their disposition.
Why this answer
The change log records all changes and their status, helping manage baseline changes.
A project manager is reviewing the schedule performance and finds that the earned value (EV) is $50,000 and the planned value (PV) is $60,000. What does this indicate?
Correct. Negative SV means behind schedule.
Why this answer
Schedule variance (SV) = EV - PV = $50,000 - $60,000 = -$10,000. A negative SV means the project is behind schedule.
A project manager is using a control chart to monitor quality. The data points fall within the control limits but show a run of seven points above the mean. What does this indicate?
Correct. The rule of seven indicates special cause variation.
Why this answer
A run of seven or more points on one side of the mean is a rule for identifying special cause variation, even if within control limits.
Which TWO documents are typically created during project initiation?
The charter is created in initiation.
Why this answer
The project charter is created during project initiation to formally authorize the project and provide the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources. It documents the business case, high-level scope, and key stakeholders, serving as the foundational document for all subsequent planning.
Exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between documents created during initiation versus planning, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly associate the risk register or issue log with initiation because they are common project documents, but they are formally created in later phases.
Which document contains the subsidiary plans for scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, communication, risk, and procurement?
Correct. The project management plan includes all subsidiary plans.
Why this answer
The project management plan is the comprehensive document that includes all subsidiary management plans.
A project manager is selecting tools for agile project management. Which TWO tools are specifically designed for agile methodologies?
Jira is built for agile teams.
Why this answer
Jira is widely used for agile project management, and Trello supports Kanban boards, a common agile tool. Microsoft Project is more traditional. Smartsheet and Monday.com are not specifically agile-only.
Which TWO documents are typically found in a project's procurement management plan?
RFP is used to solicit bids from vendors.
Why this answer
Procurement documents include SOW (Statement of Work) and RFP (Request for Proposal). The project charter and WBS are not procurement-specific; the risk register is a risk document.
Which document defines the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in a project and is often presented as a matrix?
Correct: RACI matrix assigns responsibility and accountability for tasks.
Why this answer
The RACI matrix (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) is the correct document because it explicitly defines stakeholder roles and responsibilities in a project and is presented as a matrix format. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide and the PK0-005 exam objectives for Tools and Documentation, where the RACI matrix is the standard tool for clarifying participation levels across project tasks.
Exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the stakeholder register (a list) with the RACI matrix (a matrix of roles and responsibilities), leading them to select Option C instead of the correct matrix-based document.
How to eliminate wrong answers
Option B (Communication plan) is wrong because it defines how, when, and by whom project information is distributed, not the specific roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in a matrix format. Option C (Stakeholder register) is wrong because it is a list of stakeholders with basic identification and classification details, not a matrix that maps roles to tasks. Option D (Project charter) is wrong because it authorizes the project and assigns the project manager, but does not provide a detailed matrix of stakeholder roles and responsibilities across activities.
A project manager is using a quality tool that displays data points over time with upper and lower control limits. The tool helps distinguish between common cause and special cause variation. Which tool is this?
Control charts display data over time with control limits.
Why this answer
A control chart plots data over time with control limits to identify variation types.
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