CCC Professional Ethics & Standards 3

Question 1

During a bid evaluation, a contractor offers a cost consultant tickets to a major sporting event. The most ethical course of action is to:

Accepted Answer

Decline the gift because it could influence or appear to influence professional judgment

Answer

Gifts from parties with a stake in the consultant's decisions should be declined to avoid actual or perceived bias.

Question 2

A cost consultant's report will be used to secure project financing. Including optimistic productivity assumptions the consultant knows are unrealistic constitutes:

Accepted Answer

Misrepresentation, a violation of professional ethics

Answer

Knowingly presenting unrealistic assumptions to influence financing decisions is a form of misrepresentation prohibited by ethics codes.

Question 3

Which situation requires a certified cost consultant to disclose a potential conflict of interest before accepting an engagement?

Accepted Answer

The consultant owns stock in the contractor whose claim they will evaluate

Answer

A financial interest in a party being evaluated is a direct conflict that must be disclosed before accepting the work.

Question 4

A junior estimator under a CCC's supervision produces an estimate with unsupported assumptions. The CCC signs off without review due to deadline pressure. This primarily violates the duty of:

Accepted Answer

Professional diligence and responsible oversight

Answer

Certifying work without adequate review breaches the supervising professional's duty of diligence and responsibility for work issued under their name.

Question 5

In marketing their services, a cost consultant may ethically:

Accepted Answer

Describe factual qualifications, certifications, and verifiable project experience

Answer

Advertising must be truthful and factual; guarantees of outcomes and inflated or misappropriated credentials are unethical.

CCC Practice Test

CCC Practice Test

CCC Professional Ethics & Standards 3