AICP - American Institute of Certified Planners Administration and Management Questions and Answers

Question 1

A planning director is tasked with developing the department's annual budget.
The municipality is facing tight fiscal constraints and the city manager has requested that all departments justify every expense, starting from scratch, rather than simply adjusting the previous year's budget.
Which budgeting method does this process describe?

Accepted Answer

Zero-Based Budgeting

Answer

Performance-Based Budgeting

Answer

Incremental Budgeting

Answer

Capital Budgeting

Question 2

A planning manager is overseeing a complex project to update the city's zoning ordinance. The project involves numerous sequential tasks with clear dependencies. To effectively schedule the project, identify the longest sequence of dependent tasks, and determine the minimum time to completion, which project management tool would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

PERT Chart

Answer

Gantt Chart

Answer

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Answer

Kanban Board

Question 3

A senior planner for a public agency is offered a weekend contract to provide consulting services to a private developer who has an active application with the agency. According to the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, what must the planner do before accepting this assignment?

Accepted Answer

Make full written disclosure to their public employer and receive written permission to proceed.

Answer

Recuse themselves from all future discussions regarding the developer's application.

Answer

Accept the work, as it is outside of normal business hours.

Answer

Only accept the work if the developer agrees to pay the standard consulting fee.

Question 4

Which of the following is a key component of a planning agency's internal organizational management?

Accepted Answer

Developing a professional development and training program for staff.

Answer

Managing relationships with the media.

Answer

Preparing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a consultant.

Answer

Conducting public hearings for the Planning Commission.

Question 5

A planning department wants to track its effectiveness in processing development applications. The director decides to measure the average application review time and the percentage of applications processed within a statutory deadline. These types of metrics are best described as:

Accepted Answer

Process-Oriented Performance Metrics

Answer

Strategic Goals

Answer

Public Engagement Statistics

Answer

Qualitative Assessments

Question 6

The planning director is preparing a staff report for the City Council regarding a controversial rezoning case. According to the AICP Code of Ethics, the director has a primary obligation to:

Accepted Answer

Serve the public interest by providing clear, adequate, and accurate information.

Answer

Ensure the staff recommendation aligns with the mayor's stated preference.

Answer

Advocate for the position that generates the most economic development.

Answer

Protect the interests of the applicant who has invested significantly in the project.