PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
The project team is in the process of identifying risks. Which tool or technique should the project manager use to identify risks?
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
✓
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a common technique for risk identification. Options A, B, and D are used in other processes.
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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Quality audits
Why it's wrong here
Quality audits are structured, independent reviews conducted to determine if project activities comply with organizational and project policies, processes, and procedures. They are a tool and technique primarily used in the "Manage Quality" process to ensure adherence to quality standards and identify process improvements. While they contribute to overall project health, quality audits are not a method for proactively identifying potential future uncertainties or new risks that could impact project objectives across all dimensions.
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Earned value management
Why it's wrong here
Earned Value Management (EVM) is a comprehensive project performance measurement methodology that integrates scope, schedule, and cost baselines to objectively assess project progress. It calculates key metrics such as Cost Variance (CV), Schedule Variance (SV), and Cost Performance Index (CPI) to provide insights into current project status and forecast future performance. Although EVM results might indicate existing performance issues that could signal a risk, it is not a technique used to proactively identify new, potential risks at the initial stages or during ongoing risk identification efforts.
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Brainstorming
Why this is correct
Brainstorming is a highly effective data gathering technique where a group of project stakeholders, often including subject matter experts, collaboratively generates a comprehensive list of ideas or solutions related to a specific topic. In the context of risk management, brainstorming sessions are instrumental for identifying potential project risks by encouraging free-flowing thought and diverse perspectives. This collaborative approach helps uncover a broad range of uncertainties, both threats and opportunities, that might not be apparent to individuals working in isolation, making it a core technique for the "Identify Risks" process.
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Critical path method
Why it's wrong here
The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a schedule network analysis technique used to determine the longest path through the project network diagram, which represents the minimum total project duration. It identifies critical activities that, if delayed, will directly delay the entire project completion. While understanding the critical path is essential for managing schedule risks and prioritizing activities, CPM itself is a tool for schedule development and analysis, not a technique for proactively identifying new, unforeseen risks across all project dimensions like scope, cost, or quality.
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