PMP Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide E-Book

Kim Heldman

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 1134

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2009

Beschreibung

The much-anticipated update to the highly acclaimed PMP® study guide!The Project Management Profressional (PMP) certification is the most desired skill in today's IT marketplace and candidates are required to have thousands of hours of PM experience even before taking the PMP exam.This fifth edition is completely updated for the newest exam and is the most comprehensive review guide on the shelf. You'll benefit from the detailed discussions on a wide range of PMP topics, concepts, and key terms-all of which cover the Project Management Process and Procedures.* A comprehensive study guide for the PMP certification exam that can also be used as a reference after the exam* Each chapter covers a list of objectives, followed by in-depth discussions of those objectives* Includes hands-on, real-world scenarios to prepare you for the many situations you may face on the job* Companion CD-ROM features a test engine of practice questions, electronic flashcards, and two hours of audioEssential reading both before and after the PMP exam, this study guide is also aimed at anyone studying for the new Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) program.Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.For Instructor: Teaching supplements are available for this title.(CAPM, PMP, and Project Management Professional are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.)

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Introduction

What Is the PMP Certification?

Why Become PMP Certified?

How to Become PMP Certified

Who Should Buy This Book?

How to Use This Book and CD

The Exam Objectives

How to Contact the Author

Assessment Test

Answers to Assessment Test

Chapter 1 - What Is a Project?

Is It a Project?

What Is Project Management?

Skills Every Good Project Manager Needs

Understanding Organizational Structures

Understanding Project Life Cycles and Project Management Processes

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 2 - Creating the Project Charter

Exploring the Project Management Knowledge Areas

Understanding How Projects Come About

Kicking Off the Project Charter

Formalizing and Publishing the Project Charter

Identifying Stakeholders

Introducing the Kitchen Heaven Project Case Study

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 3 - Developing the Project Scope Statement

Developing the Project Management Plan

Collecting Requirements

Documenting the Scope Management Plan

Defining Scope

Writing the Project Scope Statement

Creating the Work Breakdown Structure

Understanding How This Applies to our Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 4 - Creating the Project Schedule

Defining Activities

Understanding the Sequence Activities Process

Estimating Activity Resources

Estimating Activity Durations

Developing the Project Schedule

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 5 - Developing the Project Budget

Creating the Project Cost Management Plan

Estimating Costs

Establishing the Cost Budget Baseline

Communicating the Plan

Plan Communications Inputs

Tools and Techniques for Plan Communications

Communications Management Plan

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 6 - Risk Planning

Planning for Risks

Planning Your Risk Management

Identifying Potential Risk

Analyzing Risks Using Qualitative Techniques

Quantifying Risk

Developing a Risk Response Plan

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 7 - Planning Project Resources

Procurement Planning

Developing the Human Resource Plan

Quality Planning

Bringing It All Together

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 8 - Developing the Project Team

Executing the Project Plan

Acquiring the Project Team

Developing the Project Team

Managing Project Teams

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 9 - Conducting Procurements and Sharing Information

Conducting Procurements

Laying Out Quality Assurance Procedures

Distributing Project Information

Managing Stakeholder Expectations

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 10 - Measuring and Controlling Project Performance

Monitoring and Controlling Project Work

Administering Procurements

Establishing Performance Measurements

Managing Perform Integrated Change Control

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 11 - Controlling Work Results

Monitoring and Controlling Risk

Managing Cost Changes

Monitoring and Controlling Schedule Changes

Utilizing Perform Quality Control Techniques

Verifying Project Scope

Controlling Scope

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 12 - Applying Professional Responsibility

Formulating Project Closeout

Closing Out the Project

Closing Out the Procurements

Balancing Stakeholders’ Interests at Project Close

Professional Responsibility

Applying Professional Knowledge

Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Appendix A - Process Inputs and Outputs

Appendix B - About the Companion CD

Glossary

Index

Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

eISBN : 978-0-470-59607-4

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data.

Heldman, Kim.

PMP : project management professional exam study guide / Kim Heldman.—5th ed.

p. cm.

A study guide to : A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide).

Includes index.

1. Project management—Examinations, questions, etc. I. Guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide) II. Title.

HD69.P75H445 2009

658.4’04—dc22

2009010841

TRADEMARKS: Wiley, the Wiley logo, and the Sybex logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates, in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. PMI, CAMP, PMP, and PMBOK Guide are a registered trademark of Project Management Institute, Inc. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for choosing PMP: Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide, Fifth Edition. This book is part of a family of premium-quality Sybex books, all of which are written by outstanding authors who combine practical experience with a gift for teaching.

Sybex was founded in 1976. More than thirty years later, we’re still committed to producing consistently exceptional books. With each of our titles we’re working hard to set a new standard for the industry. From the paper we print on, to the authors we work with, our goal is to bring you the best books available.

I hope you see all that reflected in these pages. I’d be very interested to hear your comments and get your feedback on how we’re doing. Feel free to let me know what you think about this or any other Sybex book by sending me an email at [e-mail], or if you think you’ve found a technical error in this book, please visit http://sybex.custhelp.com. Customer feedback is critical to our efforts at Sybex.

Best regards,

Neil Edde Vice President and Publisher Sybex, an Imprint of Wiley

To BB, my forever love

—Kimmie

Acknowledgments

Thank you for buying the PMP Project Management Professional Study Guide Fifth Edition to help you study and prepare for the PMP® exam. Thousands of readers worldwide have used previous editions of this book to help them study for and pass the exam. Because of their success and their recommendations to friends and co-workers, we’ve been able to keep this study guide up-to-date to match the changes made in the PMBOK® Guide Fourth Edition.

I would also like to thank the countless instructors who use my book in their PMP prep classes. I’ve heard from many of you over the past few months wondering when this edition would be available. Thank you for your continued interest in using the Study Guide in your classes. A big thanks to all the PMI chapters who use this book in their classes as well.

A huge thank you goes to Neil Edde, vice president and publisher at Sybex, for giving me the opportunity to revise and update this edition. Neil took a chance way back when on the first edition of this book. I can’t thank him enough for having the foresight at that time to believe in this little known exam.

This book clearly fits the definition of a project, and the team at Sybex is one of the best project teams you’ll ever find. I appreciate all the hard work and dedication everyone on the team put into producing this book. A special thanks goes to Jeff Kellum, acquisitions editor. Jeff and I have worked on several editions of this book together and I appreciate his diligence and insightful ideas for updates to the book over the years. It’s always a pleasure to work with Jeff.

Next I’d like to thank Alexa Murphy, development editor, for her diligent work in helping me make this edition the best it can be. Her recommendations and clarifications helped make the text much stronger. A big thanks also goes to Christine O’Connor, production editor, for her insightful suggestions and comments and for keeping the latter stages of the book on track. And thanks also to Judy Flynn, copyeditor, for all her help.

There were many folks involved behind the scenes who also deserve my thanks. They are Publication Services, Inc., proofreaders, and Nancy Guenther, indexer.

Next I’d like to thank Terri Wagner, technical editor, for her keen eye and valuable suggestions for improvements to the text. Terri is the president of Mentor Source, Inc. and uses this book in her classes. Her suggestions came from years of classroom exposure and student questions and suggestions. I have had the pleasure of working with Terri on several occasions and would recommend her classes. Thanks, Terri, for helping make this the best edition of the Study Guide ever!

I have a special heartfelt thanks for Brett Feddersen, who served as the final technical editor on the book. I have had the great pleasure of working with Brett over the last several years and have delighted in our friendship and in watching him stretch and grow professionally while dealing with the many challenges that came his way. If you are ever in need of the best project manager in the world, Brett is your man (but you can’t have him because he works for me!).

Last, but always the first on my list, is my best friend for a couple of decades and counting, BB. I love you and I would never have accomplished what I have to date without your love and support. You’re the best! And I’d be remiss if I didn’t also thank Jason and Leah, Noelle, Amanda and Steve, and of course the two best granddaughters on the planet, Kate and Juliette, for their support and understanding.

About the Author

Kim Heldman, MBA, PMP, is the deputy enterprise architect for the state of Colorado and the chief information officer for the Colorado Department of Transportation. Kim is responsible for managing projects with IT components ranging from small in scope and budget to multimillion dollar, multiyear projects. She has over 19 years experience in information technology project management. Kim has served in a senior leadership role for over 11 years and is regarded as a strategic visionary with an innate ability to collaborate with diverse groups and organizations, instill hope, improve morale, and lead her teams in achieving goals they never thought possible.

Kim has extensive experience in the government sector managing projects of various size and scope. Currently, Kim is working with the governor’s Office of Information Technology assisting in the oversight of one of the largest projects ever undertaken in the state of Colorado. She is also about to kick off a major upgrade project for the Department of Transportation’s ERP system.

In addition to her project management experience, Kim also has experience managing application development, web development, network operations, infrastructure, security, and customer service teams.

Kim wrote the first edition of the PMP Project Management Professional Study Guide, published by Sybex, in 2002. Since then, thousands of people worldwide have used the Study Guide in preparation for the PMP® Exam. Kim is also the author of Project Management JumpStart 2nd Edition and Project Manager’s Spotlight on Risk Management and co-author of Excel 2007 for Project Managers. Kim has also published several articles and is currently working on a leadership book.

Most of the Real World Scenarios in the Study Guide are based on Kim’s real life experiences. The names and circumstances have been changed to protect the innocent.

Kim continues to write on project management best practices and leadership topics and she speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can contact Kim at [e-mail]. She personally answers all her email.

Introduction

This book was designed for anyone thinking of taking the Project Management Professional (PMP®) exam sponsored by the Project Management Institute (PMI®). This certification is growing in popularity and demand in all areas of business. PMI has experienced explosive growth in membership over the last few years, and more and more organizations are recognizing the importance of project management certification.

Although this book is written primarily for those of you taking the PMP® exam, you can also use this book to study for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) exam. The exams are similar in style, and the information covered in this book will help you with either exam.

This book has been updated to reflect the latest edition of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), Fourth Edition. It assumes you have knowledge of general project management practices, although not necessarily specific to the PMBOK®Guide. It’s written so that you can skim through areas you are already familiar with, picking up the specific PMBOK® Guide terminology where needed to pass the exam. You’ll find that the project management processes and techniques discussed in this book are defined in such a way that you’ll recognize tasks you’ve always done and be able to identify them with the PMBOK® Guide process names or methodologies.

PMI offers the most recognized certification in the field of project management, and this book deals exclusively with its procedures and methods. Project management consists of many methods, each with its own terminology, tools, and procedures. If you’re familiar with another organized project management methodology, don’t assume you already know the PMBOK® Guide processes. I strongly recommend that you learn all of the processes—their key inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs. Take the time to memorize the key terms found at the end of every chapter as well. Sometimes just understanding the definition of a term will help you answer a question. It might be that you’ve always done that particular task or used the methodology described but called it by another name. Know the name of each process and its primary purpose.

All of the process group names—including their inputs, tools and techniques, outputs, and descriptions—found throughout this book are from the PMBOK® Guide.

What Is the PMP Certification?

The PMI is the leader and the most widely recognized organization in terms of promoting project management best practices. The PMI strives to maintain and endorse standards and ethics in this field and offers publications, training, seminars, chapters, special interest groups, and colleges to further the project management discipline.

The PMI was founded in 1969 and first started offering the PMP® certification exam in 1984. PMI is accredited as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards developer and also has the distinction of being the first organization to have its certification program attain International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 recognition.

The PMI boasts a worldwide membership of more than 265,000, with members from 170 different countries. Local PMI chapters meet regularly and allow project managers to exchange information and learn about new tools and techniques of project management or new ways to use established techniques. I encourage you to join a local chapter and get to know other professionals in your field.

Why Become PMP Certified?

The following benefits are associated with becoming PMP certified:

• It demonstrates proof of professional achievement.

• It increases your marketability.

• It provides greater opportunity for advancement in your field.

• It raises customer confidence in you and in your company’s services.

Demonstrates Proof of Professional Achievement

PMP® certification is a rigorous process that documents your achievements in the field of project management. The exam tests your knowledge of the disciplined approaches, methodologies, and project management practices as described in the PMBOK® Guide.

You are required to have several years of experience in project management before sitting for the exam, as well as 35 hours of formal project management education. Your certification assures employers and customers that you are well grounded in project management practices and disciplines. It shows that you have the hands-on experience and a mastery of the processes and disciplines to manage projects effectively and motivate teams to produce successful results.

Increases Your Marketability

Many industries are realizing the importance of project management and its role in the organization. They are also seeing that simply proclaiming a head technician to be a “project manager” does not make it so. Project management, just like engineering, information technology, and a host of other trades, has its own specific qualifications and skills. Certification tells potential employers that you have the skills, experience, and knowledge to drive successful projects and ultimately improve the company’s bottom line.

A certification will always make you stand out above the competition. If you’re certified and you’re competing against a project manager without certification, chances are you’ll come out as the top pick. As a hiring manager, all other things being equal, I will usually opt for the candidate who has certification over the candidate who doesn’t have it. Certification tells potential employers you have gone the extra mile. You’ve spent time studying techniques and methods as well as employing them in practice. It shows dedication to your own professional growth and enhancement and to adhering to and advancing professional standards.

Provides Opportunity for Advancement

PMP® certification displays your willingness to pursue growth in your professional career and shows that you’re not afraid of a little hard work to get what you want. Potential employers will interpret your pursuit of this certification as a high-energy, success-driven, can-do attitude on your part. They’ll see that you’re likely to display these same characteristics on the job, which will help make the company successful. Your certification displays a success-oriented, motivated attitude that will open up opportunities for future career advancements in your current field as well as in new areas you might want to explore.

Raises Customer Confidence

Just as the PMP certification assures employers that you’ve got the background and experience to handle project management, it assures customers that they have a competent, experienced project manager at the helm. Certification will help your organization sell customers on your ability to manage their projects. Customers, like potential employers, want the reassurance that those working for them have the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out the duties of the position and that professionalism and personal integrity are of utmost importance. Individuals who hold these ideals will translate their ethics and professionalism to their work. This enhances the trust customers will have in you, which in turn will give you the ability to influence them on important project issues.

How to Become PMP Certified

You need to fulfill several requirements in order to sit for the PMP exam. The PMI has detailed the certification process quite extensively at its website. Go to www.pmi.org , and click the Professional Development and Careers tab to reveal the Certifications selection and get the latest information on certification procedures and requirements.

As of this writing, you are required to fill out an application to sit for the PMP exam. You can submit this application online at the PMI’s website. You also need to document 35 hours of formal project management education. This might include college classes, seminars, workshops, and training sessions. Be prepared to list the class titles, location, date, and content.

In addition to filling out the application and documenting your formal project management training, there is one set of criteria you’ll need to meet to sit for the exam. The criteria in this set fall into two categories. You need to meet the requirements for only one of these categories:

• Category 1 is for those who have a baccalaureate degree. You’ll need to provide proof, via transcripts, of your degree with your application. In addition, you’ll need to complete verification forms—found at the PMI website—that show 4,500 hours of project management experience that spans a minimum of three years and no more than six years.

• Category 2 is for those who do not have a baccalaureate degree but do hold a high school diploma or equivalent. You’ll need to complete verification forms documenting 7,500 hours of project management experience that spans a minimum of five years and no more than eight years.

The exam fee at the time this book is being published is $405 for PMI members in good standing and $555 for non-PMI members. Testing is conducted at Thomson Prometric centers. You can find a center near you on the PMI website. You have six months from the time PMI receives and approves your completed application to take the exam. You’ll need to bring a form of identification such as a driver’s license with you to the Thomson Prometric center on the test day. You will not be allowed to take anything with you into the testing center. You will be given a calculator, pencils, and scrap paper. You will turn in all scrap paper, including the notes and squiggles you’ve jotted during the test, to the center upon completion of the exam.

The exam is scored immediately, so you will know whether you’ve passed at the conclusion of the test. You’re given four hours to complete the exam, which consists of 200 randomly generated questions. Only 175 of the 200 questions are scored. A passing score requires you to answer 106 of the 175 questions correctly. Twenty-five of the 200 questions are “pretest” questions that will appear randomly throughout the exam. These 25 questions are used by PMI to determine statistical information and to determine whether they can or should be used on future exams. The questions on the exam cover the following process groups and areas:

• Initiating

• Planning

• Executing

• Monitoring and Controlling

• Closing

• Professional Responsibility

All unanswered questions are scored as wrong answers, so it benefits you to guess at an answer if you’re stumped on a question.

After you’ve received your certification, you’ll be required to earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) every three years to maintain certification. Approximately one hour of structured learning translates to one PDU. The PMI website details what activities constitute a PDU, how many PDUs each activity earns, and how to register your PDUs with PMI to maintain your certification. As an example, attendance at a local chapter meeting earns one PDU.

How to Become CAPM Certified

If you find you don’t have quite enough experience or education to sit for the PMP exam, you should consider sitting for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam. The CAPM exam is structured like the PMP exam only the requirements are not as strict as they are for the PMP. CAPM candidates typically work in a supporting role with a project manager or as a subproject manager. Like the PMP, CAPM has two categories of requirements; each category requires 23 hours of project management education:

• Category 1 is for those who have a baccalaureate degree. You’ll need to provide proof, via transcripts, of your degree with your application. In addition, you’ll need to complete verification forms that show 1,500 hours of project management experience that spans a minimum of two years and no more than three years.

• Category 2 is for those who do not have a baccalaureate degree but do have a high school diploma or equivalent. You’ll need to complete verification forms documenting 2,500 hours of project management experience that spans a minimum of two years and no more than three years.

The CAPM® exam fee at the time of this publication is $225 for PMI members in good standing and $ 300 for non-PMI members.

Included on the CD with this book is a sample CAPM exam. If you’re sitting for the CAPM exam, I encourage you to answer all of the end-of-chapter questions and take the bonus exams in addition to the sample CAPM exam. You’ll get a much broader sense of the types of questions and the topics you’ll encounter on the actual exam by using all of the sample questions provided in this book and on the CD.

Who Should Buy This Book?

If you are serious about passing the PMP exam (or the CAPM exam for that matter), you should buy this book and use it to study for the exam. This book is unique in that it walks you through the project processes from beginning to end, just as projects are performed in practice. When you read this book, you will benefit by learning specific PMBOK® Guide processes and techniques coupled with real-life scenarios that describe how project managers in different situations handle problems and the various issues all project managers are bound to encounter during their career. This study guide describes in detail the exam objective topics in each chapter and has attempted to cover all of the important project management concepts.

How to Use This Book and CD

We’ve included several testing features, both in the book and on the companion CD. Following this introduction is an assessment test that you can use to check your readiness for the actual exam. Take this test before you start reading the book. It will help you identify the areas you may need to brush up on. The answers to the assessment test appear after the last question of the test. Each answer includes an explanation and a note telling you in which chapter this material appears.

An Exam Essentials section appears at the end of every chapter to highlight the topics you’ll most likely find on the exam and help you focus on the most important material covered in the chapter so that you’ll have a solid understanding of those concepts. However, it isn’t possible to predict what questions will be covered on your particular exam, so be sure to study everything in the chapter.

Like the exam itself, this Study Guide is organized in terms of process groups and the natural sequence of events a project goes through in its life cycle. By contrast, in other study guides, material is organized by Knowledge Area—Human Resource Management, Communications Management, and so on—and it can be confusing when studying for the exam to map the processes in each Knowledge Area to process groups.

Review questions are also provided at the end of every chapter. You can use these to gauge your understanding of the subject matter before reading the chapter and to point out the areas in which you need to concentrate your study time. As you finish each chapter, answer the review questions and then check to see whether your answers are right—the correct answers appear on the pages following the last question. You can go back to reread the section that deals with each question you got wrong to ensure that you answer the question correctly the next time you are tested on the material. If you can answer at least 80 percent of the review questions correctly, you can probably feel comfortable moving on to the next chapter. If you can’t answer that many correctly, reread the chapter, or the section that seems to be giving you trouble, and try the questions again. You’ll also find more than 200 flashcard questions on the CD for on-the-go review. Download them right onto your PDA device for quick and convenient reviewing.

Don’t rely on studying the review questions exclusively as your study method. The questions you’ll see on the exam will be different from the questions presented in the book. There are 200 randomly generated questions on the PMP exam and 150 on the CAPM, so it isn’t possible to cover every potential exam question in the Review Questions section of each chapter. Make sure you understand the concepts behind the material presented in each chapter and memorize all the formulas as well.

In addition to the assessment test and the review questions, you’ll find bonus exams on the CD. Take these practice exams just as if you were actually taking the exam (that is, without any reference material). When you have finished the first exam, move on to the next exam to solidify your test-taking skills. If you get more than 85 percent of the answers correct, you’re ready to take the real exam.

The CD also contains an audio file that you can download to your favorite MP3 player to hear a recap of the key elements covered in each chapter.

Finally, you will notice various Real-World Scenario sidebars throughout each chapter. These are designed to give you insight into how the various processes and topic areas apply to real-world situations.

Additionally, if you are going to travel but still need to study for the PMP exam and you have a laptop with a CD drive, you can take this entire book with you just by taking the CD. This book is available in PDF (Adobe Acrobat), so it can be easily read on any computer.

Also on the CD in PDF is the appendix, “Process Inputs and Outputs.”

For those of you who purchased the Deluxe Edition, you’ll find a series of scenarios and exercises that map to each chapter. These workbook exercises are designed to help you put the theories you’ve learned in each chapter into practice.

The Exam Objectives

Behind every certification exam, you can be sure to find exam objectives—the broad topics in which the exam developers want to ensure your competency. The official PMP exam objectives are listed at the beginning of every chapter in this book.

Exam objectives are subject to change at any time without prior notice and at PMI’s sole discretion. Please visit the Certification page of the PMI’s website, www.pmi.org, for the most current listing of exam objectives.

How to Contact the Author

I welcome your feedback about this book or about books you’d like to see from me in the future. You can reach me at [e-mail]. For more information about my work, please visit my website at KimHeldman.com.

Sybex strives to keep you supplied with the latest tools and information you need for your work. Please check the website at www.sybex.com, where we’ll post additional content and updates that supplement this book if the need arises. Enter PMP Project Management Professional Study Guide in the Search box (or type the book’s ISBN—9780470455586), and click Go to get to the book’s update page.

Assessment Test

1. The project sponsor has approached you with a dilemma. The CEO announced at the annual stockholders meeting that the project you’re managing will be completed by the end of this year. The problem is that this is six months prior to the scheduled completion date. It’s too late to go back and correct her mistake, and stockholders are expecting implementation by the announced date. You must speed up the delivery date of this project. Your primary constraint before this occurred was the budget. Choose the best action from the options listed to speed up the project.

a. Hire more resources to get the work completed faster.

b. Ask for more money so that you can contract out one of the phases you had planned to do with in-house resources.

c. Utilize negotiation and influencing skills to convince the project sponsor to speak with the CEO and make a correction to her announcement.

d. Examine the project plan to see whether there are any phases that can be fast tracked, and then revise the project plan to reflect the compression of the schedule.

2. These types of dependencies can create arbitrary total float values and limit your scheduling options.

a. Discretionary

b. External

c. Mandatory

d. Hard logic

3. Project managers spend what percentage of their time communicating?

a. 90

b. 85

c. 75

d. 50

4. Inspections are also called each of the following except for which one?

a. Reviews

b. Assessment

c. Walk-throughs

d. Audits

5. The primary function of the Closing processes is to perform which of the following?

a. Formalize lessons learned and distribute this information to project participants.

b. Perform audits to verify the project results against the project requirements.

c. Formalize project completion and disseminate this information to project participants.

d. Perform post-implementation audits to document project successes and failures.

6. During your project meeting, a problem was discussed, and a resolution to the problem was reached. During the meeting, the participants started wondering why they thought the problem was such a big issue. Sometime after the meeting, you received an email from one of the meeting participants saying they’ve changed their mind about the solution reached in the meeting and need to resurface the problem. The solution reached during the initial project meeting is a result of which of the following conflict resolution techniques?

a. Confrontation

b. Forcing

c. Smoothing

d. Storming

7. What are decision models?

a. Project selection criteria

b. Project selection methods

c. Project selection committees

d. Project resource and budget selection methods

8. You’ve been assigned as a project manager on a research and development project for a new dental procedure. You’re working in the Scope Management Knowledge Area. What is the purpose of the project scope management plan?

a. The project scope management plan describes and documents a scope baseline to help make future project decisions.

b. The project scope management plan decomposes project deliverables into smaller units of work.

c. The project scope management plan describes how project scope will be developed and how changes will be managed.

d. The project scope management plan describes how cost and time estimates will be developed for project scope changes.

9. All of the following statements are true regarding Ishikawa diagrams in the Identify Risks process except which one?

a. Ishikawa diagrams are also called cause-and-effect diagrams.

b. Ishikawa diagrams are also called fishbone diagrams.

c. Ishikawa diagrams are part of the diagramming tool and technique of this process.

d. Ishikawa diagrams show the steps needed to identify the risk.

10. All of the following are outputs of the Perform Integrated Change Control process except for which one?

a. Change request status updates

b. Project management plan updates

c. Organizational process assets updates

d. Project document updates

11. What is one of the most important skills a project manager can have?

a. Negotiation skills

b. Influencing skills

c. Communication skills

d. Problem-solving skills

12. All of the following are a type of project ending except for which one?

a. Extinction

b. Starvation

c. Desertion

d. Addition

13. You are the project manager for a construction company that is building a new city and county office building in your city. Your CCB recently approved a scope change. You know that scope change might come about as a result of all of the following except which one?

a. Schedule revisions

b. Product scope change

c. Changes to the agreed-upon WBS

d. Changes to the project requirements

14. You are the project manger for Xylophone Phonics. It produces children’s software programs that teach basic reading and math skills. You’re performing cost estimates for your project and don’t have a lot of details yet. Which of the following techniques should you use?

a. Analogous estimating techniques, because this is a form of expert judgment that uses historical information from similar projects

b. Bottom-up estimating techniques, because this is a form of expert judgment that uses historical information from similar projects

c. Monte Carlo analysis, because this is a modeling technique that uses simulation to determine estimates

d. Parametric modeling, because this is a form of simulation used to determine estimates

15. Project managers have the highest level of authority and the most power in which type of organizational structure?

a. Projectized

b. Strong matrix

c. Functional

d. Balanced matrix

16. This process is concerned with determining the information stakeholders will need throughout the project and the methods of communication.

a. Distribute Information

b. Report Performance

c. Plan Communications

d. Identify Stakeholder Needs

17. All of the following statements are true regarding risk events except which one? Choose the least correct answer.

a. Project risks are uncertain events.

b. If risks occur, they can have a positive or negative effect on project objectives.

c. Unknown risks are threats to the project objectives, and nothing can be done to plan for them.

d. Risks that have more perceived rewards to the organization than consequences should be accepted.

18. This process applies evaluation criteria to the bids and proposals received from potential vendors.

a. Plan Procurements

b. Administer Procurements

c. Conduct Procurements

d. Perform Quality Assurance

19. You are the project manger for Xylophone Phonics. This company produces children’s software programs that teach basic reading and math skills. You are ready to assign project roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships. Which project Planning process are you working on?

a. Estimate Activity Resources

b. Develop Human Resource Plan

c. Acquire Project Team

d. Plan Organizational Resources

21. You are a project manager who has recently held a project team kickoff meeting where all the team members were formally introduced to each other. Some of the team members know each other from other projects and have been working with you for the past three weeks. Which of the following statements is true?

a. Team building improves the knowledge and skills of team members.

b. Team building builds feelings of trust and agreement among team members, which can improve morale.

c. Team building can create a dynamic environment and cohesive culture to improve productivity of both the team and the project.

d. Team building occurs throughout the life of the project and can establish clear expectations and behaviors for project team members, leading to increased productivity.

22. You are a project manager for the Swirling Seas Cruises food division. You’re considering two different projects regarding food services on the cruise lines. The initial cost of Project Fish’n for Chips will be $800,000, with expected cash inflows of $300,000 per quarter. Project Picnic’s payback period is six months. Which project should you recommend?

a. Project Fish’n for Chips, because its payback period is two months shorter than Project Picnic’s

b. Project Fish’n for Chips, because the costs on Project Picnic are unknown

c. Project Picnic, because Project Fish’n for Chips’s payback period is four months longer than Project Picnic’s.

d. Project Picnic, because Project Fish’n for Chips’s payback period is two months longer than Project Picnic’s.

23. Which of the following compression techniques increases risk?

a. Crashing

b. Resource leveling

c. Fast tracking

d. Lead and lag

24. Name the ethical code you’ll be required to adhere to as a PMP.

a. Project Management Policy and Ethics Code

b. PMI Standards and Ethics Code of Conduct

c. Project Management Code of Professional Ethics

d. PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

25. You have been assigned to a project that will allow job seekers to fill out applications and submit them via the company website. You report to the VP of human resources. You are also responsible for screening applications for the information technology division and setting up interviews. The project coordinator has asked for the latest version of your changes to the online application page for his review. Which organizational structure do you work in?

a. Functional organization

b. Weak matrix organization

c. Projectized organization

d. Balanced matrix organization

26. You are the project manager for Lucky Stars Candies. You’ve identified the requirements for the project and documented them where?

a. In the requirements document, which will be used as an input to the Create WBS process

b. In the project scope statement, which is used as an input to the Create WBS process

c. In the product requirements document, which is an output of the Define Scope process

d. In the project specifications document, which is an output of the Define Scope process

27. What is the purpose of the project charter?

a. To recognize and acknowledge the project sponsor

b. To recognize and acknowledge the existence of the project and commit organizational resources to the project

c. To acknowledge the existence of the project team, project manager, and project sponsor

d. To describe the selection methods used to choose this project over its competitors

28. Which of the following are tools and techniques of the Identify Stakeholder process?

a. Stakeholder analysis and expert judgment

b. Stakeholder analysis, expert judgment, and stakeholder register

c. Stakeholder analysis

d. Stakeholder analysis, stakeholder management strategy, and expert judgment

29. You are a project manager working on a software development project. You’ve developed the risk management plan, identified risks, and determined risk responses for the risks. A risk event occurs, and you implement the response. Then, another risk event occurs as a result of the response you implemented. What type of risk is this called?

a. Trigger risk

b. Residual risk

c. Secondary risk

d. Mitigated risk

30. You are working on a project that will upgrade the phone system in your customer service center. You have used analogous estimating, parametric estimating, bottom-up estimating, and three-point estimates to determine activity costs. Which process does this describe?

a. Estimating Activity Resources

b. Estimate Costs

c. Determine Budget

d. Estimating Activity Costs

31. Failure costs are also known as which of the following?

a. Internal costs

b. Cost of poor quality

c. Cost of keeping defects out of the hands of customers

d. Prevention costs

32. Feeding buffers and the project buffer are part of which of the following Develop Schedule tool and technique?

a. Critical path method

b. Schedule network analysis

c. Applying leads and lags

d. Critical chain method

33. You are working on a project that will upgrade the phone system in your customer service center. You have used bottom-up estimating techniques to assign costs to the project activities and have determined the cost performance baseline. Which of the following statements is true?

a. You have completed the Estimate Cost process and now need to complete the Determine Budget process to develop the project’s cost performance baseline.

b. You have completed the Estimate Cost process and established a cost performance baseline to measure future project performance against.

c. You have completed the Determine Budget process and now need to complete the Schedule Development process to establish a project baseline to measure future project performance against.

d. You have completed the Determine Budget process, and the cost performance baseline will be used to measure future project performance.

34. Each of the following statements describes an element of the Develop Project Management Plan process except for which one?

a. Project charter

b. Outputs from other planning processes

c. Configuration management system

d. Organizational process assets

35. There are likely to be team loyalty issues in a matrixed environment. All of the following are true regarding this situation as it pertains to the Manage Project Team process except for which one?

a. Two of the tools and techniques you might use to manage these relationships effectively are communications methods and conflict management.

b. In this type of structure, team members report to both a functional manager and a project manager. Both managers should have input to the project performance appraisal for this team member, which is a tool and technique of this process.

c. The project manager is generally responsible for managing this relationship.

d. The effective management of these reporting relationships is often a critical success factor for the project.

36. Monte Carlo analysis can help predict the impact of risks on project deliverables. This is an element of one of the tools and techniques of which of the following processes?

a. Plan Risk Responses

b. Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis

c. Identify Risks

d. Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis

37. All of the following statements are true regarding configuration management except which one?

a. Configuration management requires acceptance decisions for all change requests to be made through the CCB.

b. Change control systems are a subset of the configuration management system.

c. Configuration management focuses on the specifications of the deliverables of the project.

d. Configuration management validates and improves the project by evaluating the impact of each change.

38. Which performance measurement tells you what the projected total cost of the project will be at completion?

a. ETC

b. EV

c. AC

d. EAC

39. Which of the following contracts should you use for projects that have a degree of uncertainty and require a large investment early in the project life cycle?

a. Fixed price

b. Cost reimbursable

c. Lump sum

d. T&M

40. According to the PMBOK® Guide, the project manager is identified and assigned during which process?

a. During the Develop Project Charter process

b. At the conclusion of the Develop Project Charter process

c. Prior to beginning the Planning processes

d. Prior to beginning the Define Scope process

41. All of the following are tools and techniques of the Close Procurements process except for which one?

a. Expert judgment

b. Procurement audits

c. Negotiated settlements

d. Records management system

42. The inputs of the Report Performance process include all of the following except for which one?

a. Work performance information

b. Work performance measurements

c. Budget forecasts

d. Performance reviews

43. All of the following statements are true regarding risks except for which one?

a. Risks might be threats to the objectives of the project.

b. Risks are certain events that may be threats or opportunities to the objectives of the project.

c. Risks might be opportunities to the objectives of the project.

d. Risks have causes and consequences.

44. Which performance measurement tells you the cost of the work that has been authorized and budgeted for a WBS component?

a. PV

b. EV

c. AC

d. BCWP

45. Which of the following statements is true regarding the Project Management Knowledge Areas?

a. They include Initiation, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing.

b. They consist of nine areas that bring together processes that have things in common.

c. They consist of five processes that bring together phases of projects that have things in common.

d. They include Planning, Executing, and Monitoring and Controlling processes because these three processes are commonly interlinked.

46. You have just prepared an RFP for release. Your project involves a substantial amount of contract work detailed in the RFP. Your favorite vendor drops by and offers to give you and your spouse the use of their company condo for your upcoming vacation. It’s located in a beautiful resort community that happens to be one of your favorite places to go for a get-away. What is the most appropriate response?

a. Thank the vendor, but decline the offer because you know this could be considered a conflict of interest.

b. Thank the vendor, and accept. This vendor is always offering you incentives like this, so this offer does not likely have anything to do with the recent RFP release.

c. Thank the vendor, accept the offer, and immediately tell your project sponsor so they’re aware of what you’re doing.

d. Thank the vendor, but decline the offer because you’ve already made another arrangement for this vacation. Ask them whether you can take a rain check and arrange another time to use the condo.

47. What are the Define Scope process tools and techniques?

a. Cost benefit analysis, scope baseline, expert judgment, and facilitated workshops

b. Product analysis, alternatives identification, and expert judgment

c. Product analysis, alternatives identification, expert judgment, and facilitated workshops

d. Alternatives identification, stakeholder analysis, and expert judgment

48. You are the project manager for Heartthrobs by the Numbers Dating Services. You’re working on an updated Internet site that will display pictures as well as short bios of prospective heartbreakers. You have your activity list and resource requirements in hand and are planning to use parametric estimates and reserve analysis to determine activity durations. Which of the following statements is true?

a. You are using inputs from the Estimate Activity Duration process.

b. You are using tools and techniques of the Estimate Cost process.

c. You are using tools and techniques of the Estimate Activity Durations process.

d. You are using inputs of the Estimate Costs process.

49. Your team is developing the risk management plan. Which tool and technique of this process is used to develop risk cost elements and schedule activities that will be included in the project budget and schedule?

a. Planning meetings and analysis

b. Strategies for both threats and opportunities

c. Information gathering techniques

d. Risk data quality assessment

50. What type of organization experiences the least amount of stress during project closeout?

a. Projectized

b. Functional

c. Weak matrix

d. Strong matrix

51. You are the project manager for Xylophone Phonics. It produces children’s software programs that teach basic reading and math skills. You are performing the Plan Quality process and are identifying nonproductive activities. Part of this involves capturing information such as process boundaries, process configurations, and process metrics. Which of the following does this describe?

a. The process improvement plan

b. The quality management plan

c. The quality metrics

d. The cost of quality

52. You need to convey some very complex, detailed information to the project stakeholders. What is the best method for communicating this kind of information?

a. Verbal

b. Vertical

c. Horizontal

d. Written

53. You are the project manager for Heartthrobs by the Numbers Dating Services. You’re working on an updated Internet site that will display pictures as well as short bios of prospective heartbreakers. You’ve just completed your project staff assignments and published the project team directory. Which process are you in?

a. Develop Human Resource Plan

b. Manage Project Team

c. Develop Project Team

d. Acquire Project Team

54. You are a project manager for Waterways Houseboats, Inc. You’ve been asked to perform a cost-benefit analysis for two proposed projects. Project A costs $2.4 million, with potential benefits of $12 million and future operating costs of $3 million. Project B costs $2.8 million, with potential benefits of $14 million and future operating costs of $2 million. Which project should you recommend?

a. Project A, because the cost to implement is cheaper than Project B

b. Project A, because the potential benefits plus the future operating costs are less in value than the same calculation for Project B

c. Project B, because the potential benefits minus the implementation and future operating costs are greater in value than the same calculation for Project A

d. Project B, because the potential benefits minus the costs to implement are greater in value than the same calculation for Project A

55. These diagrams rank-order factors for corrective action by frequency of occurrence. They are also a type of histogram.

a. Control charts

b. Process flowcharts

c. Scatter diagrams

d. Pareto charts

56. You are a project manager working in a foreign country. You observe that some of your project team members are having a difficult time adjusting to the new culture. You provided them with training on cultural differences and the customs of this country before arriving, but they still seem uncomfortable and disoriented. Which of the following statements is true?

a. This is the result of working with teams of people from two different countries.

b. This condition is known as culture shock.

c. This is the result of jet lag and travel fatigue.

d. This condition is known as global culturalism.

57. Your project involves the research and development of a new food additive. You’re ready to release the product to your customer when you discover that a minor reaction might occur in people with certain conditions. The reactions to date have been very minor, and no known long-lasting side effects have been noted. As project manager, what should you do?

a. Do nothing because the reactions are so minor that very few people will be affected.

b. Inform the customer that you’ve discovered this condition and tell them you’ll research it further to determine its impacts.

c. Inform your customer that there is no problem with the additive except for an extremely small percentage of the population and release the product to them.

d. Tell the customer you’ll correct the reaction problems in the next batch, but you’ll release the first batch of product to them now to begin using.

58. The project manager has the greatest influence over quality during which process?

a. Plan Quality

b. Perform Quality Assurance

c. Perform Quality Control

d. Perform Quality Change Control

59. You are the project manager for a construction company that is building a new city and county office building in your city. You recently looked over the construction site to determine whether the work to date was conforming to the requirements and quality standards. Which tool and technique of the Perform Quality Control process are you using?

a. Defect repair review

b. Inspection

c. Sampling

d. Quality audit

60. All of the following statements are true of the project Closing processes except for which one?

a. Probability for success is greatest in the project Closing processes.

b. The project manager’s influence is greatest in the project Closing processes.

c. The stakeholders’ influence is least in the project Closing processes.

d. Risk is greatest in the project Closing processes.

61. You are refining the product description for your company’s new line of ski boots. Which of the following statements is true?

a. You are in the Initiating processes of your project and know that the product description will contain more detail in this stage and that a decreasing amount of detail will be added to it as the project progresses.

b. You are in the Planning processes of your project and know that the product description will contain less detail in this stage and greater detail as the project progresses.

c. You are in the Planning processes of your project and know that the product description should contain the most detail possible at this stage because this is critical information for the Planning process.

d. You are in the Initiating process of your project and know that the product description will contain less detail in this stage and greater detail as the project progresses.

62. Every status meeting should have time allotted for Risk Monitoring and Control. Which of the following sentences is not true?

a. Risk identification and monitoring should occur throughout the life of the project.

b. Risk audits should occur throughout the life of the project and are specifically interested in measuring the team’s performance in the Identify Risk and Monitor and Control Risk processes.

c. Risks should be monitored for their status and to determine whether the impacts to the objectives have changed.

d. Technical performance measurement variances may indicate that a risk is looming and should be reviewed at status meetings.

63. The business need, product scope description, and strategic plan together describe elements of which of the following?

a. Organizational process assets

b. Tools and techniques of the Initiating processes

c. The project statement of work

d. The project charter

64. Which of the following statements is true regarding constraints and assumptions?

a. Constraints restrict the actions of the project team, and assumptions are considered true for planning purposes.

b. Constraints are considered true for planning purposes, and assumptions limit the options of the project team.

c. Constraints consider vendor availability and resource availability to be true for planning purposes. Assumptions limit the project team to work within predefined budgets or timelines.

d. Constraints and assumptions are inputs to the Initiation process. They should be documented because they will be used throughout the project Planning process.

65. People are motivated by the need for achievement, power, or affiliation according to which theory?

a. Expectancy Theory

b. Achievement Theory

c. Contingency Theory

d. Theory X

66. As a result of a face-to-face meeting you recently had to discuss the items in your issue log, you have resolved issues and come away with an approved corrective action and an update to the project management plan. Which process does this describe?

a. Manage Stakeholder Expectations

b. Report Performance

c. Distribute Information

d. Manage Project Team

67. You’ve just completed the WBS. Which of the following statements is true?

a. The WBS breaks the project deliverables down to a level where alternatives identification can be used to determine how level-two assignments should be made.

b. The WBS breaks the project deliverables down to a level where project constraints and assumptions can be easily identified.

c. The WBS breaks the project deliverables down to the work package level, where product analysis can be documented.

d. The WBS breaks the project deliverables down to the work package level, where cost and time estimates can be easily determined.

68. As a PMP, one of your responsibilities is to ensure integrity on the project. When your personal interests are put above the interests of the project or when you use your influence to cause others to make decisions in your favor without regard for the project outcome, this is considered which of the following?

a. Conflict of interest

b. Using professional knowledge inappropriately

c. Culturally unacceptable

d. Personal conflict issue

69. Which of the following describes the Executing process group?

a. Project plans are put into action.

b. Project performance measurements are taken and analyzed.

c. Project plans are developed.

d. Project plans are published.

70. All of the following statements are true regarding the ADM method except which one?

a. The ADM method is a tool and technique of Sequence Activities.

b. The ADM method uses one time estimate to determine durations.

c. The ADM method is also called AOA.

d. The ADM method is rarely used today.

Answers to Assessment Test