CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
A project team is struggling with unclear roles and responsibilities, leading to duplicated work and missed tasks. Which document should the project manager create or update to resolve this issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
PMI often tests the distinction between the WBS (what work is done) and the RAM (who does the work), leading candidates to incorrectly choose the WBS when the question specifically asks about roles and responsibilities.
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
✓
Responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) in RACI format
The Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM), particularly in RACI format, is the correct document to resolve unclear roles and responsibilities because it explicitly maps project tasks to team members, defining who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. This eliminates ambiguity, prevents duplicated work, and ensures no tasks are missed by providing a clear, traceable assignment of duties.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Work breakdown structure (WBS)
Why it's wrong here
The WBS decomposes deliverables but does not assign responsibilities.
- ✗
Organizational breakdown structure (OBS)
Why it's wrong here
The OBS depicts the organizational hierarchy, not task-level responsibility assignments.
- ✓
Responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) in RACI format
Why this is correct
The RAM (RACI) maps tasks to roles, showing who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed.
- ✗
Risk register
Why it's wrong here
The risk register focuses on risks, not roles and responsibilities.
Visual reference
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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.