CVS CVS Value Methodology and Job Plan Questions and Answers 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a value study of a hospital expansion, the team leader notices members proposing solutions during the Information Phase. What should the team leader do?
- Redirect the team to gathering data and defer idea generation to the Creativity Phase (Correct answer)
- Capture the solutions immediately as final recommendations
- Skip ahead to the Evaluation Phase to score the ideas
- End the study since the team has already found answers
Correct answer: Redirect the team to gathering data and defer idea generation to the Creativity Phase
The Job Plan is sequential, and premature solution-finding undermines the function-based discipline of the methodology, so ideas should be parked until the Creativity Phase.
Question 2: A value team defines the function of a highway guardrail as 'protect motorists.' Which classification best describes this function?
- Basic function (Correct answer)
- Secondary function
- Aesthetic function
- Unwanted function
Correct answer: Basic function
The basic function is the primary purpose for which the item exists, and a guardrail exists fundamentally to protect motorists.
Question 3: In the Function Analysis Phase, a team builds a FAST diagram and tests logic by asking 'How?' Moving in which direction on the diagram answers this question?
- Left to right, toward more specific functions (Correct answer)
- Right to left, toward the higher-order function
- Vertically upward along the scope lines
- Diagonally across the critical path
Correct answer: Left to right, toward more specific functions
In FAST diagramming, asking 'How?' moves left to right toward more specific supporting functions, while 'Why?' moves right to left.
Question 4: A value study on a pump assembly reveals a component whose cost is 30% of the total but contributes only 5% of the worth of functions performed. What does this ratio primarily indicate?
- A strong opportunity for value improvement through cost-to-worth mismatch (Correct answer)
- The component should be immediately eliminated without analysis
- The study scope was incorrectly defined
- The component performs the basic function
Correct answer: A strong opportunity for value improvement through cost-to-worth mismatch
A high cost-to-worth ratio flags a value mismatch, identifying that function as a prime target for value improvement alternatives.
Question 5: During the Evaluation Phase, a team has 200 ideas from brainstorming. What is the recommended first step?
- Screen ideas quickly against basic criteria to eliminate clearly infeasible ones (Correct answer)
- Develop detailed cost estimates for every idea
- Present all 200 ideas to management for a decision
- Rank all ideas using a full weighted matrix immediately
Correct answer: Screen ideas quickly against basic criteria to eliminate clearly infeasible ones
Coarse screening reduces the idea pool to a manageable set before applying more rigorous evaluation techniques like weighted matrices.
Question 6: A facilitator is planning a value study and must decide who attends the workshop. According to value methodology best practice, the team should be:
- Multidisciplinary, including stakeholders and subject matter experts relevant to the project (Correct answer)
- Limited strictly to the original design engineers
- Composed only of certified value specialists
- Selected solely by seniority within the organization
Correct answer: Multidisciplinary, including stakeholders and subject matter experts relevant to the project
A multidisciplinary team brings diverse perspectives that fuel function analysis and creativity, which is central to value methodology.
Question 7: In the Presentation Phase, the value team's primary objective is to:
- Communicate recommendations and their benefits to decision-makers to gain acceptance (Correct answer)
- Implement the approved changes into the final design
- Generate additional alternatives for later review
- Audit the project's original cost estimate
Correct answer: Communicate recommendations and their benefits to decision-makers to gain acceptance
The Presentation Phase focuses on persuasively conveying developed alternatives so decision-makers commit to implementation.
During a value study of a hospital expansion, the team leader notices members proposing solutions during the Information Phase.
What should the team leader do?