CSM Project Management Fundamentals 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document formally authorizes a project and grants the project manager authority to apply organizational resources?
- Project Management Plan
- Project Charter (Correct answer)
- Statement of Work
- Business Case
Correct answer: Project Charter
The Project Charter formally authorizes the project and gives the project manager authority to use organizational resources.
Question 2: In the context of project scheduling, what is a 'milestone'?
- A task with the longest duration on the critical path
- A significant point or event in the project with zero duration (Correct answer)
- A summary task that groups related activities
- A resource-leveling checkpoint
Correct answer: A significant point or event in the project with zero duration
A milestone is a significant event or point in the project schedule with zero duration, used to mark key deliverables or decision points.
Question 3: Which conflict resolution technique is considered the most effective for achieving long-term resolution?
- Smoothing
- Forcing
- Compromising
- Collaborating (Problem Solving) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Collaborating (Problem Solving)
Collaborating or problem solving addresses the root cause of conflict and leads to a win-win outcome, making it the most effective long-term resolution technique.
Question 4: A project manager notices that actual costs are running higher than planned but work is being completed faster than scheduled. Which EVM indicators reflect this scenario?
- CPI > 1, SPI < 1
- CPI < 1, SPI > 1 (Correct answer)
- CPI < 1, SPI < 1
- CPI > 1, SPI > 1
Correct answer: CPI < 1, SPI > 1
CPI < 1 indicates cost overrun (spending more than planned) and SPI > 1 indicates schedule efficiency (completing work faster than planned).
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?
- To assign resources to project tasks
- To decompose project scope into manageable work packages (Correct answer)
- To create a sequenced schedule of activities
- To document project risks and mitigation plans
Correct answer: To decompose project scope into manageable work packages
The WBS decomposes the total project scope into smaller, more manageable components called work packages.
Question 6: Which type of project organizational structure gives the project manager the MOST authority?
- Functional
- Weak Matrix
- Balanced Matrix
- Projectized (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Projectized
In a projectized organization, the project manager has full authority and team members report directly to them.
Question 7: During project execution, a key stakeholder requests a change that would expand the project scope. What should the project manager do FIRST?
- Implement the change immediately to keep the stakeholder satisfied
- Reject the change to protect the original scope
- Evaluate the impact and submit through the integrated change control process (Correct answer)
- Update the project charter to reflect the new scope
Correct answer: Evaluate the impact and submit through the integrated change control process
All scope changes must be evaluated for impact and processed through integrated change control before implementation.
CSM Project Management Fundamentals 2
Which document formally authorizes a project and grants the project manager authority to apply organizational resources?