PMI Scheduling Professional Practice Test v1.0 (PMI-SP)

Answer : C

Explanation:
The estimate at completion can be calculated by dividing the budget at completion by the cost performance index. Here,

CPI =EV/AC -
= (0.40*2,208,456)/725000
= 1.21846

EAC = BAC/CPI -
= 2,208,456/1.21846
= 1,812,498
What is Estimate at Completion (EAC)? Estimate at Completion (EAC) is a field that displays the final cost of the project including the actual costs and the forecast of remaining costs based on the cost performance index (CPI) so far. The formula used to calculate this estimate is as follows: ACWP+(BAC-BCWP)/CPI

Answer : D

Explanation:
According to the question, you are required to calculate the cost performance index (CPI) of the project. Cost performance index (CPI) is used to calculate performance efficiencies. It is used in trend analysis to predict future performance. CPI is the ratio of earned value to actual cost. The CPI is calculated based on the following formula: CPI = Earned Value (EV) / Actual Cost (AC) If the CPI value is greater than 1, it indicates better than expected performance, whereas if the value is less than 1, it shows poor performance. The CPI value of 1 indicates that the project is right on target. Now, putting the provided values in the formula: CPI
= EV / AC = 325 / 410 = 0.792 As the CPI 0.792 is lesser than 1, it shows that the schedule performance is below expectation. What is BCWP (or EV)? Budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP) or Earned Value (EV) is the value of completed work. It is the budgeted amount for the work actually completed on the schedule activity during a given time period. What is BCWS (or PV)? Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled (BCWS) or Planned Value (PV) is the authorized budget assigned to the scheduled work to be accomplished for a schedule activity or Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) component. What is ACWP (or AC)? Actual cost of work performed (ACWP) or Actual Cost (AC) is the total costs actually incurred and recorded in accomplishing work performed during a given time period for a schedule activity. It is the cost of the work to date, including direct and indirect costs. AC is money that has actually been expended to date.

Answer : D

Explanation:
A corrective action is a change implemented to address a weakness identified in a management system. Normally corrective actions are implemented in response to a customer complaint, abnormal levels of internal nonconformity, nonconformities identified during an internal audit or adverse or unstable trends in product and process monitoring such as would be identified by SP.
It is method of identifying and eliminating the causes of a problem, thus preventing their reappearance. Examples of a corrective action are: Improvements to maintenance schedules; Improvements to material handling or storage
Incorrect Answers:
A: Lessons learned is a documentation of the errors and how they were resolved, not a method to prevent the errors from occurring again.
B: Risk analysis examines the risk events, its probability, and its impact on the project.
C: Preventive action addresses any action or act in which the project management team and the team leader provide documented direction to carry out an activity that is meant to decrease the possibility of negative consequences related to project risk.

Answer : D

Explanation:
When the project manager relies on consultants or the project team (or both), it is an example of expert judgment. Expert judgment is a technique based on a set of criteria that has been acquired in a specific knowledge area or product area. It is obtained when the project manager or project team requires specialized knowledge that they do not possess. Expert judgment involves people most familiar with the work of creating estimates. Preferably, the project team member who will be doing the task should complete the estimates. Expert judgment is applied when performing administrative closure activities, and experts should ensure the project or phase closure is performed to the appropriate standards.
Incorrect Answers:
A: This is not an example of using a project template.
B: This is not an example of rolling wave planning.
C: This is not an example of decomposition.

Answer : A

Explanation:
This is an example of a parametric estimate. This estimate type uses a parameter, such as four hours of painting per hotel room, and multiplies this value across the total number of units, such as 1,500 rooms. 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.
Incorrect Answers:
B: A definitive estimate type accounts for the duration or costs of each work package in the WBS.
C: An analogous estimate type uses a similar project's duration as a basis for the current project's estimate duration.
D: A bottom-up estimate, also known as a definitive estimate, accounts for the duration or costs of each work package in the WBS.

Answer : A

Explanation:
Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory, also known as Two Factor Theory, was developed by Frederick Herzberg, a psychologist who found that job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction acted independently of each other. Two Factor Theory states that there are certain factors in the workplace that cause job satisfaction, while a separate set of factors cause dissatisfaction. Two Factor Theory distinguishes between the following: Motivators (e.g. challenging work, recognition, responsibility) which give positive satisfaction, arising from intrinsic conditions of the job itself, such as recognition, achievement, or personal growth. Hygiene factors (e.g. status, job security, salary and fringe benefits) which do not give positive satisfaction, although dissatisfaction results from their absence. These are extrinsic to the work itself, and include aspects, such as company policies, supervisory practices, or wages/salary. Essentially, hygiene factors are needed to ensure an employee is not dissatisfied. Motivation factors are needed in order to motivate an employee to higher performance, Herzberg also further classified our actions and how and why we do them, for example, if you perform a work-related action because you have to, then that is classed as movement, but if you perform a work-related action because you want to, then that is classed as motivation.
Incorrect Answers:
B: It describes the five layer of needs we all have.
C: McGregor's X and Y theory describes the team members and their behavior on the project and how management responds.
D: It explains the processes that an individual undergoes to make choices.

Answer : A

Explanation:
The project will end on a Wednesday. If the project work commences on a Tuesday, there will be four days to complete in that week. That will bring the project work down to 63 days of remaining work. Each work week counts as five days of work. 63 divided by 5 is 12 work weeks with three days remaining. The 63rd remaining day will complete on a Wednesday.
Incorrect Answers:
B, C, D: These are not the valid answers.

Answer : B

Explanation:
Apportioned effort is effort applied that you cannot subdivide into work packages, but it is related to, usually in a supportive role, to the completion of the project work packages. The project management overhead, such managing the project work, is an example of apportioned effort. Apportioned effort (AE) is the effort that is applied to the project-related work that cannot be easily and readily divided into discrete efforts for those tasks, but which is associated in a direct proportion to the discrete work efforts that are capable of being measured. The presence of apportioned effort relies particularly on the performance of further efforts.
Incorrect Answers:
A: This is an example of a scope change that has not been approved.
C: This is an example of discrete effort.
D: This is an example of a scheduling technique.

Answer : C

Explanation:
In severe cases, new schedule duration estimates with new forecasted start and finish dates are needed. In these instances, it is an example of using the control schedule process. Control schedule process is a method of monitoring the status of the project to update project progress and deal with the changes to the schedule baseline. It is concerned with: Determining the current status of the project Influencing the factors that create schedule changes Determining that the project schedule has changed Managing the actual changes as they occur Control schedule is a component of the Perform Integration Change Control process.
Incorrect Answers:
A: This is a tempting choice, but according to the PMBOK, new schedules are part of the control schedule process.
B: The activity resources would only address the addition or replacement of resources needed to complete the project work.
D: Develop schedule is not the best choice for this question. It is a process of analyzing activity sequences, durations, resource requirements, and schedule constraints to create the project schedule.

Answer : B

Explanation:
The schedule variance is the earned value minus the planned value. In this instance, it is $938,260-$1,055,543 = -$117,282. 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.
Incorrect Answers:
A: This is the variance at completion.
C: This is the inverse of the earned value.
D: This is the cost variance for the project.

Answer : C

Explanation:
The role of a functional manager is to perform various management roles within an administrative or functional area of the business, such as human resources, finance, accounting, or procurement. He is assigned his own permanent staff to carry out the ongoing work. He should have a clear directive to manage all tasks within his functional area of responsibility.
Incorrect Answers:
A: Seller is also known as a vendor, supplier or contractor. They are external company's elements that enter into a contractual agreement to provide components or services necessary for the project.
B: The role of operations manager is to perform various management roles in a core business area, such as research and development, design, manufacturing, provisioning, testing, or maintenance. The operations manager directly deals with constructing and maintaining the saleable products or services of the enterprise.
D: A project manager is an expert in the field of project management. He is responsible for the entire project from inception to completion. The project manager leads the team and helps negotiate the multiple relationships within any project whether with clients, team members, firm principals or any variety of partners and functions as the hub of a project.

Answer : Scope

Explanation:
Project scope is the effort that must be required to gather a client's plan, goals for space, purpose, properties, impact, and stage of eminence. Scope management sets the boundaries for the project and is the foundation on which the other project elements are built. Scope management helps to organize the work responsibilities and their requirements for successful completion. Managing the project scope is primarily concerned with defining and controlling what is and what is not included in the project.

Answer : B

Explanation:
Schedule data is an output of the Develop Schedule process. The nine inputs to the Develop Schedule process are: activity list, activity attributes, project schedule network diagrams, activity resource requirements, resource calendars, activity duration estimates, project scope statement, enterprise environmental factors, and organizational process assets.
Incorrect Answers:
A, C, D: These are the inputs to the Develop Schedule process.

Answer : A

Explanation:
The graphic shown in the figure is a communications bull's eye. The project manager must keep the project within the boundaries defined by the bull's eye or he will need to generate a performance report. This is an example of management by exception because the project manager only communicates with management when there is an exception, or variance, within the project.
Incorrect Answers:
B, C, D: These are not valid terms for the communications bull's eye.

Answer : BCD

Explanation:
Constructability analysis takes into account the location, logistics, resource availability analysis, the average price of general labor in the area, and labor productivity studies from previous similar projects in the area. 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.
Incorrect Answers:
A: This comes under the quality assurance phase.