CAM Communication & Documentation 5

Question 1

A CAM's control account shows a favorable cost variance caused by delayed material deliveries. How should this be communicated?

Accepted Answer

Document that the favorable variance is timing-related and flag the future cost and schedule impact

Answer

Favorable variances from delayed work are timing issues that must be explained honestly, including their downstream impacts.

Question 2

What documentation supports the use of management reserve (MR) when it is applied to a CAM's control account?

Accepted Answer

A formal MR change log entry with rationale and program manager approval

Answer

Management reserve transactions require documented rationale and approval in a change log to preserve baseline traceability.

Question 3

During a joint surveillance interview, the CAM cannot explain how their budget values were derived. What documentation gap does this reveal?

Accepted Answer

Missing or unfamiliar basis-of-estimate and work authorization records

Answer

CAMs must know and retain the basis of estimate and authorization documents that justify their budget values.

Question 4

A CAM writes a VAR blaming 'the schedule tool' for a schedule variance. Why would a reviewer reject this explanation?

Accepted Answer

It does not identify the actual work-related root cause or a meaningful corrective action

Answer

Root cause analysis must address what actually happened to the work, not blame reporting mechanics.

Question 5

How should a CAM document risks affecting their control account so they are visible at the program level?

Accepted Answer

Enter them in the program risk register with impacts, likelihood, and mitigation plans

Answer

Control account risks belong in the program risk register with documented impacts and mitigations for program-level visibility.

(CAM) Control Account Manager Certification Practice Test