CCC Quality Assurance & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document formally establishes the quality standards and procedures that a project team must follow throughout the project lifecycle?
- Quality Management Plan (Correct answer)
- Work Breakdown Structure
- Project Charter
- Risk Register
Correct answer: Quality Management Plan
A Quality Management Plan defines quality standards, objectives, and procedures that guide quality assurance activities for a project.
Question 2: A cost consultant discovers that unit cost data submitted by a contractor does not align with published industry benchmarks. What is the FIRST step the consultant should take?
- Report the discrepancy to the project owner immediately
- Request supporting documentation and a breakdown from the contractor (Correct answer)
- Reject the estimate outright and reassign the work
- Submit a formal notice of default
Correct answer: Request supporting documentation and a breakdown from the contractor
Before escalating, the consultant should request supporting documentation to determine whether the discrepancy is justified or erroneous.
Question 3: In cost estimating, what is the primary purpose of a peer review?
- To assign blame for estimation errors
- To replace internal quality checks
- To independently verify the accuracy and completeness of an estimate (Correct answer)
- To negotiate final contract prices
Correct answer: To independently verify the accuracy and completeness of an estimate
Peer reviews provide an independent verification of estimates to identify errors, omissions, and inconsistencies before they impact the project.
Question 4: Which of the following BEST describes a quality audit in the context of cost management?
- A financial audit conducted by external accountants
- A structured review to determine whether project activities comply with established policies and procedures (Correct answer)
- A contractor performance evaluation for payment purposes
- An inspection of physical deliverables on site
Correct answer: A structured review to determine whether project activities comply with established policies and procedures
A quality audit is a structured, independent review that assesses whether project processes and activities comply with defined standards and procedures.
Question 5: The AACE International Cost Engineering Terminology standard defines 'accuracy range' in estimating primarily as a function of which variable?
- Contractor experience level
- Project complexity and available definition (Correct answer)
- Market conditions at time of estimate
- Number of estimators involved
Correct answer: Project complexity and available definition
Accuracy range in AACE's classification system is primarily driven by the level of project definition (scope maturity) available at the time of the estimate.
Question 6: Which quality concept requires that cost data be collected consistently so that comparisons across projects remain valid?
- Benchmarking
- Data normalization (Correct answer)
- Scope creep management
- Variance analysis
Correct answer: Data normalization
Data normalization ensures that cost data is adjusted to a consistent basis (time, location, scope) so that cross-project comparisons are meaningful.
Question 7: When performing a quality review of a Class 3 estimate, which element should the reviewer scrutinize MOST carefully?
- The project's organizational chart
- The assumptions log and basis of estimate document (Correct answer)
- The project master schedule milestone list
- The contractor's safety record
Correct answer: The assumptions log and basis of estimate document
The basis of estimate and assumptions log document the key decisions and limitations underlying a Class 3 estimate and are critical targets for quality review.
CCC Quality Assurance & Compliance 2
Which document formally establishes the quality standards and procedures that a project team must follow throughout the project lifecycle?