PMI PBA Certification PMI-PBA Certification Tasks & Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A BA is evaluating two solution options. Option A costs less but delivers fewer features; Option B costs more and delivers all features. The sponsor asks for a recommendation. Which technique provides the most structured basis for the decision?
- SWOT Analysis
- Weighted Criteria Decision Matrix (Correct answer)
- Benchmarking
- Gap Analysis
Correct answer: Weighted Criteria Decision Matrix
A weighted criteria decision matrix scores each option against prioritized criteria (cost, features, risk) to produce an objective, auditable recommendation.
Question 2: In the PMI-PBA framework, 'solution scope' is BEST described as:
- The business problem the project is solving
- The features and functions the solution will provide (Correct answer)
- The list of in-scope and out-of-scope requirements
- The project deliverables listed in the WBS
Correct answer: The features and functions the solution will provide
Solution scope defines the specific capabilities, features, and functions the solution will deliver to address the business need.
Question 3: A BA discovers mid-project that a critical regulatory requirement was missed during elicitation. Which immediate action is MOST appropriate?
- Add it to the backlog for the next release
- Inform the PM and submit a change request immediately (Correct answer)
- Implement it quietly to avoid schedule disruption
- Wait until the next requirements review cycle
Correct answer: Inform the PM and submit a change request immediately
A missed regulatory requirement is a critical gap that must be immediately escalated through change control so the team can assess impact on scope, schedule, and cost.
Question 4: Which elicitation technique is MOST effective when subject matter experts are geographically dispersed and cannot meet synchronously?
- Focus Groups
- Observation
- Survey/Questionnaire (Correct answer)
- Joint Application Development (JAD)
Correct answer: Survey/Questionnaire
Surveys and questionnaires allow distributed SMEs to provide structured input asynchronously, making them ideal when synchronous collaboration is impractical.
Question 5: A business analyst is reviewing a use case and finds that an actor can trigger multiple alternative flows. In use case modeling, these are called:
- Pre-conditions
- Extensions (Correct answer)
- Inclusions
- Post-conditions
Correct answer: Extensions
Extensions (also called alternative flows or exception flows) describe variations from the main success scenario triggered by specific actor actions or system states.
Question 6: During solution evaluation, a BA compares planned KPIs against actual post-implementation performance metrics. This activity is BEST described as:
- Acceptance testing
- Benefits realization assessment (Correct answer)
- Quality assurance review
- Functional validation
Correct answer: Benefits realization assessment
Benefits realization assessment measures whether the solution actually delivered the expected business value by comparing pre-defined KPIs against actual outcomes.
Question 7: A BA is preparing a business requirements document (BRD). Which type of requirement belongs in the BRD but NOT in a functional requirements specification (FRS)?
- Screen layout specifications
- Business rules and policies driving the solution (Correct answer)
- Data field validations
- System interface definitions
Correct answer: Business rules and policies driving the solution
Business requirements documents capture the business-level goals, rules, and policies; functional specifications translate those into system behaviors and are a separate artifact.
PMI PBA Certification PMI-PBA Certification Tasks & Techniques 3
A BA is evaluating two solution options.
Option A costs less but delivers fewer features; Option B costs more and delivers all features.
The sponsor asks for a recommendation.
Which technique provides the most structured basis for the decision?