PMI PMI Certifications PMI-SP Questions & Answers

• Question 121:

  Mark is the project manager of the NHQ Project. Mark wants to create a salience model as part of his communications planning and scheduling. What does a salience model do for a project?

  A. Describes classes of stakeholders based on their power, urgency, and legitimacy.

  B. Classifies stakeholders based on their influence and impact.

  C. Describes classes of stakeholders based on their power and influence.

  D. Groups stakeholders based on their power and interest.

  Correct Answer: A

  A salience model uses three values to classify stakeholders: power, urgency, and legitimacy in the project. The salience model is a technique for categorizing stakeholders according to their importance. The various difficulties faced by the project managers are as follows: How to choose the right stakeholders? How to prioritize competing claims of the stakeholders communication needs? Stakeholder salience is determined by the evaluation of their power, legitimacy and urgency in the organization. Power is defined as the ability of the stakeholder to impose their will. Urgency is the need for immediate action. Legitimacy shows the stakeholders participation is appropriate or not. . The model allows the project manager to decide the relative salience of a particular stakeholder. Answer option D is incorrect. This is a description of a power/ interest grid. Answer option B is incorrect. This is a description of an influence/impact grid over the project. Answer option C is incorrect. This is a description of a power/impact over the project.

• Question 122:

  The figure given below demonstrates the communications model for a project. What role does component C play in the communication model?

  

  A. Encoder

  B. Transporter

  C. Sender

  D. Medium

  Correct Answer: A

  The fax machine is the encoder of the message. The communication model shows the traversal of information between two hosts, known as the sender and the receiver. The key components of the model are as follows: Encode: It is used to crypt or code the message into a language that is understood by others. Decode: It is used to decrypt the message back into the meaningful codes. Message and feedback message: It is the output of encoding. Noise: It is referred to anything, which interferes with the transmission and understanding of the message. Medium: It is the method used to convey the message. In the communication process, it is the duty of the sender to send clear and complete information to the receiver so that it is properly received by the receiver, and for confirming that it is properly understood. The duty of the receiver is to make sure that the information received is understood and acknowledged properly. A failure in communication can negatively impact the project. Answer option C is incorrect. The sender is the person sending the message. Answer option D is incorrect. The medium is the telephone lines between the two fax machines. Answer option B is incorrect. The transporter is not a valid term for the communication model.

• Question 123:

  Which of the following processes involves the periodic collection and analysis of baseline versus actual data to understand and communicate the project progress and performance as well as to forecast the project results?

  A. Identify stakeholders

  B. Performance reporting

  C. Plan communications

  D. Stakeholder analysis

  Correct Answer: B

  The report performance process is used for gathering and distributing performance information. It consists of status reports, progress measurements, and forecasts. The report performance process contains the periodic collection and analysis of baseline versus actual data to understand and communicate the project progress and performance as well as to forecast the project results. Answer option A is incorrect. Identify stakeholder process is used to identify all people or organizations impacted by the project and document relevant information regarding their interest, involvement, and impact on project success. Answer option C is incorrect. Plan communication is the process of determining the project stakeholder information needs and defining a communication approach. Answer option D is incorrect. Stakeholder analysis is the identification of stakeholder needs, wants and expectations. It involves the documentation, prioritization, and quantification of the needs to help define the project scope. Stakeholders' interests may be positively or negatively affected by execution or completion of the project and they may also exert influence over the project and its deliverables.

• Question 124:

  Sam works as a project manager for BlueWell Inc. Which of the following processes will he use for selecting a scheduling method, scheduling tool, incorporating project specific data within that scheduling tool to develop a project specific schedule model, and generating project schedule?

  A. Constructability Analysis process

  B. Schedule Maintenance process

  C. Schedule Development process

  D. Perform Integrated Change Control process

  Correct Answer: C

  The schedule development process is used for selecting a scheduling method, scheduling tool, incorporating project specific data within that scheduling tool to develop a project specific schedule model, and generating project schedule. Schedule development is the process of analyzing activity sequences, durations, resource requirements, and schedule constraints to create the project schedule. Inserting the activities, durations, and resources into the scheduling tool generates a schedule with planned dates for completing the project activities. The goal of the schedule development is to form the processes such that the stakeholders can use it in the creation of the project. Schedule development consists of two main sections: ArticlesItemsReportsHelp 1.Input and Data: The starting point for any schedule is the input of information developed during the planning process. Define schedule scope Breakdown structure relationships Schedule specification Feedback from stakeholders Cost estimate model 2.Creating Schedule: This process provides basic knowledge in an outline structure for a study of the means, methods, and tools necessary for the project schedule development process. Types of schedules Activities Durations Relationships Constraints and calendars Cost and resource loading Schedule quality analysis and compliance review Schedule basis documentation Answer option B is incorrect. Schedules maintenance is a method to account progress and to forecast trends, progress, and completion. Schedules are used to manage successful execution of projects. A schedule models the plan using resources and execution strategy to gather the project objectives. Periodic updates are undertaken to determine the actual progress achieved. Information obtained in the updating process, along with trend analysis and forecast of future progress, is reported to stakeholders. These progress updates include schedule maintenance to account for nominal changes to the execution plan. Depending upon the nature of change, the schedule and assumptions upon which the schedule was based significantly change. The schedule must be re-examined and updated, as necessary, to develop a new baseline for measuring further progress. Schedule maintenance consists of the following elements: Baseline Schedule Tracking Schedule Progress Cost and Resource Management Schedule Change Management Acceleration Schedule Maintenance Feedback Answer option D is incorrect. Perform Integrated Change Control is the process of reviewing all change requests, approving changes, and controlling changes to the deliverables and organizational process assets in a project. Perform Integrated Change Control has to do with influencing the things that cause change, determining that the change is required or has happened, and managing the change. Answer option A is incorrect. Constructability analysis is a process that starts in the initial planning phases and persists all over the entire planning cycle and into the implementation phase of the project. Constructability analysis during the planning process examines the methods and cost of installed equipment and materials, technology, site conditions, resources, and related infrastructure. The benefit of constructability analysis is to reduce both the time and cost of a project. Constructability analysis is repeatedly performed throughout the life-cycle of a project in order to optimize cost, plan, and schedule while mitigating risk. It is a very important process that needs to be performed early in planning to allow alternatives to be considered and integrated into the design.

• Question 125:

  You work as a Project Manager for Tech Perfect Inc. Several projects are running under your supervision. Martha, a team leader of a project, informs you about the performance indexes of her project. The schedule performance index (SPI) of her project is 0.835. What does this figure indicate?

  A. The schedule performance is right on target.

  B. The schedule performance is better than expected.

  C. The cost performance is better than expected.

  D. The schedule performance is below expectation.

  Correct Answer: D

  According to the question, the SPI of Martha's project is 0.835. This figure is less than 1. Hence, it shows that the schedule performance is below expectation. What is SPI? Schedule performance index (SPI) is the measure of schedule efficiency on a project. It is used in trend analysis to predict future performance. SPI is the ratio of earned value to planned value. The SPI is calculated based on the following formula: SPI = Earned Value (EV) / Planned Value (PV) If the SPI value is greater than 1, it indicates better than expected performance, whereas if the value is less than 1, it shows poor performance. The SPI value of 1 indicates that the project is right on target. Answer options B and A are incorrect. An SPI value of 1 or above indicates that the schedule performance is either right on target or better than expected. Answer option C is incorrect. SPI has nothing to do with cost performance.

• Question 126:

  You are the project manager of the NHA Project. This project is expected to last one year with quarterly milestones throughout the year. Your project is supposed to be at the third milestone today, but you are likely to be only 60 percent complete. Your project has a BAC of $745,000 and you have spent $440,000 of the budget-to-date. What is your cost variance for this project?

  A. 11,667

  B. $-111,750

  C. There is no variance.

  D. $7,000

  Correct Answer: D

  The cost variance is the earned value minus the actual costs. In this project, you have spent less than what the project is worth, so the project has a positive cost variance. Cost variance (CV) is a measure of cost performance on a project. The variance notifies if costs are higher than budgeted or lower than budgeted. The cost variance is calculated based on the following formula: CV = Earned Value (EV) - Actual Cost (AC) A positive value means that spending is less than budgeted, whereas a negative value indicates that costs are higher than originally planned for the project. Answer option B is incorrect. -$111,750 is the cost variance of the project. Answer option A is incorrect. This is the variance at completion for the project. Answer option C is incorrect. There is a cost variance, albeit a positive one.

• Question 127:

  You work as a Project Manager for Tech Perfect Inc. Several projects are running under your supervision. Martha, the team leader of a project, provides you performance indexes of her project. The cost variance (CV) of her project is -20. What does this figure depict?

  A. Spending is right on target.

  B. Costs are lower than planned.

  C. The project is behind schedule.

  D. Costs are higher than planned.

  Correct Answer: D

  According to the question, the cost variance of the project is -20, which is a negative figure. The negative CV depicts that the costs are higher than planned. What is CV? Cost variance (CV) is a measure of cost performance on a project. The variance notifies if costs are higher than budgeted or lower than budgeted. The cost variance is calculated based on the following formula: CV = Earned Value (EV) - Actual Cost (AC) A positive value means that spending is less than budgeted, whereas a negative value indicates that costs are higher than originally planned for the project. Answer option B is incorrect. This result is drawn when the CV value is positive. Answer option A is incorrect. If the CV is zero, it shows that spending is right on target. Answer option C is incorrect. This result is depicted by viewing the schedule variance (SV), not the CV. What is SV? Schedule variance (SV) is a measure of schedule performance on a project. The variance notifies that the schedule is ahead or behind what was planned for this period in time. The schedule variance is calculated based on the following formula: SV = Earned Value (EV) - Planned Value (PV) If the resulting schedule is negative, it indicates that the project is behind schedule. A value greater than 0 shows that the project is ahead of the planned schedule. A value of 0 indicates that the project is right on target.

• Question 128:

  You are the project manager of the NHQ project. Your project has a budget of $1,258456 and is scheduled to last for three years. Your project is currently forty percent complete though it should be forty-five percent complete. In order to reach this point of the project, you have spent $525,000. Management needs a performance report regarding the NHQ project. Management is concerned that this project will be over budget upon completion. Based on the current performance value what should you report to management regarding the variance at completion?

  A. -$21,618

  B. -$62,922

  C. Zero - you would not know what this will cost until the project is complete.

  D. -$54,044

  Correct Answer: D

  The variance at completion can be found by subtracting the estimate at completion from the budget at completion. In this instance, it is:

  Variance at completion = EAC - BAC

  = $1,258,456 - $1,312,500.

  = -$54,044

  Answer option C is incorrect. You can calculate the variance at completion. Answer option A is incorrect. This is the cost variance for the project. Answer option B is incorrect. This is the schedule variance for the project.

• Question 129:

  Andy is the project manager for his project. Andy and his project team are identifying stakeholders who can significantly impact the project, what the level of participation for each identified stakeholder may be, and classifying the stakeholders by common characteristics, concerns, and their perception of the project. Andy and his project team want to define an approach as a result of this information to gain support from the stakeholders for their project. What should Andy and his project team create in this scenario?

  A. Stakeholder assessment information

  B. Stakeholder register

  C. Communications management plan

  D. Stakeholder management strategy

  Correct Answer: D

  Andy and his project team are creating the stakeholder management strategy. The goal is to identify a method to gain support through communications for the project. The stakeholder management strategy is an approach to raise the support and decrease negative impacts of stakeholders during the complete project life cycle. It consists of the following essential elements: Key stakeholders who can significantly impact the project Level of participation in the project desired for each identified stakeholder Stakeholder groups and their management Answer option B is incorrect. The stakeholder register contains the stakeholder's identification information, assessment information, and stakeholder classification, but not the management strategy. Answer option A is incorrect. Stakeholder assessment information is part of the stakeholder register. Answer option C is incorrect. The communications management plan defines how and when communication will happen.

• Question 130:

  A project team installs 2,500 light fixtures in a new office building, and each light fixture takes one hour to install. The project manager can predict that it will take 2,500 hours to complete the work. However, which of the following statements most accurately describes this parametric estimate assumption?

  A. As workers complete the installation, efficiency will increase and durations will decrease.

  B. As workers complete the installation, errors and risks will increase the actual completion.

  C. As workers complete the installation, effort will diminish and efficiency will decrease.

  D. As workers complete the installation, labor will diminish so duration will increase.

  Correct Answer: A

  When project team workers complete repetitive tasks, efficiency through learning will diminish the overall duration of the project tasks. A parametric estimate is an estimate that uses a parameter to predict the costs of the project, such as cost

  per network drop or cost per software license. Parametric estimating technique utilizes the statistical relationship that exists between a series of historical data and a particular delineated list of other variables.

  Answer options B, D, and C are incorrect. These are not the valid statements.