PCC Communication Skills & Ethics 4

Question 1

A consultant is asked to provide services outside their area of expertise. What is the ethically appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Disclose the limitation and either decline, refer, or bring in qualified support

Answer

Professional ethics require consultants to work within their competence or transparently arrange qualified help.

Question 2

What does 'closed-ended question' mean in a client interview?

Accepted Answer

A question that can be answered with a short, specific response such as yes, no, or a number

Answer

Closed-ended questions elicit brief, specific answers and are useful for confirming facts.

Question 3

A project sponsor asks the consultant to withhold negative findings from the board. Which principle is most at stake?

Accepted Answer

Honesty and objectivity in reporting

Answer

Suppressing material findings violates the consultant's duty to report honestly and objectively.

Question 4

Which is the best way to handle a difficult question during a presentation when you do not know the answer?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge you don't know, and commit to follow up with an accurate answer by a specific time

Answer

Admitting uncertainty and committing to a timely follow-up preserves trust and credibility.

Question 5

When writing an email to a client about a project delay, which approach is most professional?

Accepted Answer

State the delay clearly upfront, explain the cause, the impact, and the recovery plan

Answer

Clear, prompt communication of problems with a recovery plan maintains trust and allows the client to respond.

PCC - Professional Consultants Certificate Practice Test