CPM Monitoring & Controlling Processes 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Monitoring & Controlling process ensures that only approved changes are implemented in the project?
- Monitor Risks
- Perform Integrated Change Control (Correct answer)
- Validate Scope
- Control Quality
Correct answer: Perform Integrated Change Control
Perform Integrated Change Control reviews all change requests and ensures only formally approved changes are implemented across the project.
Question 2: A project's SPI is 1.15 and CPI is 0.90 after the second reporting period. What is the BEST interpretation?
- The project is on schedule but over budget
- The project is ahead of schedule and under budget
- The project is behind schedule and over budget
- The project is ahead of schedule and over budget (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The project is ahead of schedule and over budget
SPI > 1.0 means ahead of schedule; CPI < 1.0 means over budget — so the project is progressing faster than planned but spending more than planned.
Question 3: What is the difference between Validate Scope and Control Quality?
- Validate Scope checks deliverables meet quality standards; Control Quality obtains customer acceptance
- Control Quality checks conformance to requirements; Validate Scope obtains formal acceptance from stakeholders (Correct answer)
- Validate Scope is performed before planning; Control Quality is performed after closing
- They are the same process performed at different project phases
Correct answer: Control Quality checks conformance to requirements; Validate Scope obtains formal acceptance from stakeholders
Control Quality verifies deliverables meet quality requirements before submission, while Validate Scope obtains formal stakeholder acceptance of completed deliverables.
Question 4: During a project status meeting, a team member reports a risk has materialized into an actual issue. What document should be updated FIRST?
- Risk register
- Issue log (Correct answer)
- Lessons learned register
- Change log
Correct answer: Issue log
When a risk becomes an actual issue, it must be recorded in the issue log so it can be tracked, assigned, and resolved.
Question 5: Which metric represents the amount of work that has been accomplished expressed in terms of the approved budget for that work?
- Planned Value (PV)
- Actual Cost (AC)
- Earned Value (EV) (Correct answer)
- Budget at Completion (BAC)
Correct answer: Earned Value (EV)
Earned Value (EV) is the value of work actually performed, expressed in terms of the approved budget allocated for that work.
Question 6: A project manager receives a change request that was not submitted through the formal change control process. What is the BEST response?
- Implement the change immediately to avoid delay
- Ignore the request since it bypassed the process
- Ask the requestor to submit it through the proper change control process (Correct answer)
- Reject the change permanently for non-compliance
Correct answer: Ask the requestor to submit it through the proper change control process
All change requests must go through the formal integrated change control process regardless of source, so the PM should direct the requestor to submit it properly.
Question 7: What is the To-Complete Performance Index (TCPI) used for?
- Measuring the efficiency of work completed to date
- Forecasting the total project cost at completion
- Calculating the cost efficiency needed to meet a financial goal (Correct answer)
- Comparing planned value against earned value
Correct answer: Calculating the cost efficiency needed to meet a financial goal
TCPI measures the cost performance efficiency that must be achieved on remaining work to meet a specified management goal (BAC or EAC).
CPM Monitoring & Controlling Processes 3
Which Monitoring & Controlling process ensures that only approved changes are implemented in the project?