CSM Project Management & Resource Allocation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In software project estimation, which technique averages optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates using the formula (O + 4M + P) / 6?
- Analogous estimating
- Parametric estimating
- Three-point estimating (PERT) (Correct answer)
- Bottom-up estimating
Correct answer: Three-point estimating (PERT)
Three-point PERT estimating uses the weighted average formula to account for uncertainty and produce a statistically balanced estimate.
Question 2: A team's velocity drops 30% after two senior engineers rotate off a Scrum project. The BEST short-term response for the CSM is to:
- Increase sprint length to compensate
- Re-baseline the project schedule with updated velocity (Correct answer)
- Replace the engineers immediately before the next sprint
- Cancel the current sprint and restart planning
Correct answer: Re-baseline the project schedule with updated velocity
Re-baselining with the new, realistic velocity gives stakeholders an accurate forecast rather than committing to unachievable targets.
Question 3: Which document formally authorizes a project and appoints the project manager, granting authority to use organizational resources?
- Project management plan
- Project charter (Correct answer)
- Statement of work
- Resource breakdown structure
Correct answer: Project charter
The project charter is the formal document that authorizes the project and gives the project manager authority to apply organizational resources.
Question 4: A software project manager is told to reduce costs by 15% without reducing scope. Which resource strategy is most aligned with this goal?
- Replace senior developers with junior developers on non-critical tasks (Correct answer)
- Add more developers to every task to finish faster
- Increase the number of project phases
- Implement daily status meetings to improve efficiency
Correct answer: Replace senior developers with junior developers on non-critical tasks
Substituting lower-cost junior developers on non-critical tasks reduces the blended team rate while preserving scope and schedule for critical work.
Question 5: In project management, 'float' (also called slack) represents:
- The amount of budget reserve available
- The maximum time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project finish (Correct answer)
- The overlap between two parallel activities
- The difference between planned and actual costs
Correct answer: The maximum time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project finish
Float is the amount of time a task can be delayed without affecting the project's critical path or end date.
Question 6: A CSM is using a burndown chart and notices the actual line is consistently above the ideal line. This indicates:
- The team is completing work faster than planned
- The team has more work remaining than the ideal pace requires (Correct answer)
- The project is under budget
- Sprint velocity has improved
Correct answer: The team has more work remaining than the ideal pace requires
When the actual burndown line sits above the ideal line, remaining work exceeds what should be left at that point, signaling the team is behind pace.
Question 7: Which conflict resolution approach is most effective for long-term resource disputes between project teams in a matrix organization?
- Forcing (directing)
- Smoothing (accommodating)
- Collaborating (problem-solving) (Correct answer)
- Avoiding (withdrawing)
Correct answer: Collaborating (problem-solving)
Collaborating addresses root causes by finding mutually acceptable solutions, making it the most effective long-term approach for resource conflicts.
CSM Project Management & Resource Allocation 3
In software project estimation, which technique averages optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates using the formula (O + 4M + P) / 6?