PMI PBA Certification PMI-PBA Certification Elicitation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In which situation is a focus group MOST appropriate as an elicitation technique?
- When one-on-one privacy is needed to uncover sensitive requirements
- When a representative sample of users' opinions and attitudes is desired (Correct answer)
- When technical specifications must be gathered from subject matter experts
- When the BA needs to observe actual work processes
Correct answer: When a representative sample of users' opinions and attitudes is desired
Focus groups are ideal for gathering group perspectives, attitudes, and reactions from a representative sample of users.
Question 2: What is the main advantage of using interface analysis as an elicitation technique?
- It captures tacit knowledge from experienced users
- It identifies requirements at the boundaries between systems or between users and systems (Correct answer)
- It generates creative ideas beyond current-state thinking
- It quantifies stakeholder priorities across large populations
Correct answer: It identifies requirements at the boundaries between systems or between users and systems
Interface analysis examines how systems or people interact at boundaries, surfacing integration and interaction requirements.
Question 3: A BA is running a brainstorming session and one stakeholder is dominating the conversation. What is the BEST facilitation technique to address this?
- Ask the dominant stakeholder to leave the session
- Use round-robin or anonymous idea submission to ensure all voices are heard (Correct answer)
- Allow the dominant stakeholder to continue since they likely have the most expertise
- Cancel the session and conduct individual interviews instead
Correct answer: Use round-robin or anonymous idea submission to ensure all voices are heard
Round-robin or anonymous techniques prevent dominant voices from suppressing others' ideas and ensure balanced participation.
Question 4: Which of the following BEST describes the relationship between elicitation and analysis in business analysis?
- Elicitation and analysis are completely separate phases with no overlap
- Elicitation must always be fully completed before analysis can begin
- Elicitation and analysis are iterative and often occur concurrently (Correct answer)
- Analysis is a subset of elicitation in the PMI-PBA framework
Correct answer: Elicitation and analysis are iterative and often occur concurrently
In practice, elicitation and analysis are iterative — insights from analysis often drive further elicitation to fill gaps or resolve conflicts.
Question 5: A stakeholder refuses to participate in elicitation activities. What should the BA do FIRST?
- Proceed without their input and document the gap
- Understand and address the reasons for their reluctance (Correct answer)
- Escalate immediately to the project sponsor
- Replace the stakeholder with someone more cooperative
Correct answer: Understand and address the reasons for their reluctance
Understanding the root cause of reluctance—such as time constraints, distrust, or past experiences—allows the BA to address it constructively.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a 'requirements workshop' (also called a JAD session) in elicitation?
- To review and approve the final requirements document
- To bring key stakeholders together to collaboratively define and agree on requirements (Correct answer)
- To train stakeholders on how to write requirements
- To present the BA's drafted requirements for passive review
Correct answer: To bring key stakeholders together to collaboratively define and agree on requirements
Requirements workshops bring diverse stakeholders together to jointly elicit, define, and reach consensus on requirements in a structured setting.
Question 7: When is it MOST appropriate to use a 'lessons learned' review as an input to elicitation planning?
- Only on projects that previously failed
- When planning elicitation to avoid past mistakes and leverage proven techniques (Correct answer)
- After elicitation is complete, to evaluate the process used
- When stakeholders request a historical review of prior projects
Correct answer: When planning elicitation to avoid past mistakes and leverage proven techniques
Lessons learned from past projects inform elicitation planning by highlighting effective techniques and pitfalls to avoid.
PMI PBA Certification PMI-PBA Certification Elicitation 5
In which situation is a focus group MOST appropriate as an elicitation technique?