CAM CAM Resource Management & Allocation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS) in a control account?
- To list all project deliverables by category
- To organize and categorize the types of resources needed to complete project work (Correct answer)
- To define the hierarchy of project stakeholders
- To document resource costs in the cost baseline
Correct answer: To organize and categorize the types of resources needed to complete project work
The RBS categorizes resources (labor, materials, equipment) hierarchically to facilitate resource planning, allocation, and tracking within control accounts.
Question 2: In EVMS, what does 'Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled (BCWS)' represent in resource planning?
- The actual cost of resources consumed to date
- The value of work planned to be accomplished in a given time period (Correct answer)
- The total resources allocated to the control account
- The forecasted cost of remaining resources
Correct answer: The value of work planned to be accomplished in a given time period
BCWS (also called Planned Value or PV) represents the budgeted cost of the work planned to be completed by a specific point in time.
Question 3: What is 'over-allocation' in resource management?
- Assigning more budget than the WBS element requires
- Assigning a resource to more work than it can complete within the available time (Correct answer)
- Allocating resources to non-critical path activities first
- Distributing overhead costs across too many control accounts
Correct answer: Assigning a resource to more work than it can complete within the available time
Over-allocation occurs when a resource is assigned to more work than its availability allows in a given timeframe, creating a resource conflict.
Question 4: Which type of cost is directly traceable to a single control account and should be assigned directly rather than allocated?
- Indirect costs
- Overhead costs
- Direct costs (Correct answer)
- G&A costs
Correct answer: Direct costs
Direct costs are those specifically identifiable to a single control account or work package and must be directly charged rather than allocated through overhead rates.
Question 5: What is the role of an Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) in resource management?
- To define the sequence of project activities
- To map project work to the organizational units responsible for performing it (Correct answer)
- To document all resource costs by category
- To establish the schedule baseline for each department
Correct answer: To map project work to the organizational units responsible for performing it
The OBS maps the project work from the WBS to the responsible organizational units, establishing management accountability for each control account.
Question 6: What is 'staffing management plan' used for in a CAM's control account?
- To document team training requirements only
- To describe when and how human resource requirements will be met throughout the project (Correct answer)
- To establish individual performance review schedules
- To define the project's reporting hierarchy
Correct answer: To describe when and how human resource requirements will be met throughout the project
The staffing management plan defines when staff will be acquired, how long they are needed, their roles, and release criteria for each phase of the control account.
CAM CAM Resource Management & Allocation 1
What is the primary purpose of a Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS) in a control account?