CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
A project manager is assigned to a project in a matrix organization. Who typically has authority over resource assignment and prioritization?
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
✓
Functional manager
In a matrix organization, functional managers have authority over resource assignment and prioritization, as they control the personnel and their availability. The project manager coordinates the project but does not directly manage resources. Option A is correct. Option B (project sponsor) provides funding and support but not direct resource authority. Option C (project manager) may request resources but does not have authority over them. Option D (customer) defines requirements but not resource allocation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Functional manager
Why this is correct
In a matrix organisation, functional managers retain line authority over the people in their departments, so they typically control who is assigned to project work and how that work is prioritised against departmental duties. The project manager coordinates the work but usually negotiates rather than directs resource allocation.
- ✗
Project sponsor
Why it's wrong here
The sponsor owns the business case and escalates issues, but functional managers control resource assignment and prioritisation in a matrix. It is tempting because the sponsor authorises the project and resolves resource conflicts at governance level, and would be correct where the question asks who provides funding or approves the project charter.
- ✗
Project manager
Why it's wrong here
In a matrix organisation the project manager coordinates work but functional managers retain line authority over assigning and prioritising their staff. It is tempting because the project manager owns schedule and delivery, and would be correct in a projectised organisation where team members report directly to them.
- ✗
Customer
Why it's wrong here
The customer funds and accepts the product but holds no line authority over functional resources, so cannot assign or prioritise them. It is tempting because the customer defines requirements and acceptance criteria, and would be the right answer where the question concerns sign-off of deliverables rather than resourcing.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This CAPM question is part of Courseiva's 451-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAPM practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 CAPM exam.