For a project to be successful, the project manager must take a leadership role in guiding the project from inception to closure. Along the way, a project manager plans the project budget, plans the project activities, monitors the project activities that were planned, reports on the project work, and engages with management outside the project and team members inside the project. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) candidates are tested on four objectives that emphasize the candidate’s understanding of the variety of duties performed and the responsibility given to the project manager.

The 21 practice questions in this chapter are mapped to the style and frequency of question types you will see on the CAPM exam.

Q QUESTIONS

1.   Which project role is generally accountable for the development and maintenance of the business case associated with a project?

A.   Project sponsor

B.   Project manager

C.   Business stakeholder

D.   IT stakeholder

2.   Which of the following statements best describes the role of the project manager?

A.   Implement the business goals

B.   Create the measurable KPIs for the project

C.   Lead the team in achieving project objectives

D.   Carry out the directives from the project sponsor

3.   How is the success of a project manager measured?

A.   By completing the project on time

B.   By achieving the project objectives

C.   By building the right product

D.   By developing the talents of the team

4.   Which of the following is a true statement regarding the project management role?

A.   The role of project manager must be filled by someone who is certified as a project manager.

B.   The role of project manager is the same as the role of the business analyst.

C.   The role of the project manager is tailored to fit the organization.

D.   The role of the project manager is limited to Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing a project.

5.   Who is responsible for what project team members produce?

A.   Each team member’s functional manager is responsible for their employee’s contributions to the team.

B.   The project manager is responsible for what the project team produces.

C.   Human resources is responsible for each team member’s contribution and tracks such for performance appraisal purposes.

D.   The project’s quality manager is responsible for the work created by the project team.

6.   How is the role of functional manager different from the role of project manager?

A.   A functional manager focuses on leading project teams in the business function, while a project manager leads project teams in the technical side of a company.

B.   A project manager focuses on operations and the work of the company, while a functional manager leads business teams to create business requirements.

C.   A project manager focuses on implementation details for development teams, while a functional manager focuses on requirements and designs.

D.   A functional manager focuses on providing management oversight for a functional or business unit, while a project manager focuses on leading a project team to complete project objectives.

7.   How many levels are in a project manager’s sphere of influence?

A.   1

B.   2

C.   3

D.   4

8.   Which of the following demonstrates a project manager’s sphere of influence over the project?

A.   Influencing end users

B.   Influencing governing bodies

C.   Influencing the project team

D.   Influencing the project sponsor

9.   Which of the following is an example of a project manager’s sphere of influence over the organization?

A.   Interacting with other project managers

B.   Staying current with industry trends

C.   Participating in training

D.   Contributing knowledge and expertise at the global level

10.   Which two essential skills are used by the top 2 percent of successful project managers consistently and effectively?

A.   Technical skills and superior time management skills

B.   Business acumen and political influence

C.   Superior relationship and communication skills

D.   Strategy analysis skills and solution evaluation skills

11.   Which of the following is a way a project manager can create positive influence given independent project demands on the same resources sought by the project manager?

A.   Escalating project needs to the PMO

B.   Seeking additional funding early in a project

C.   Running tasks in parallel in the project

D.   Developing relationships with other project managers

12.   As the project manager, which stakeholder do you interact with to address internal political and strategic issues that may affect your project team?

A.   Project management office

B.   Project sponsor

C.   Project business analyst

D.   All stakeholders

13.   What is the difference between leadership and management?

A.   Leadership is about demonstrating the value of project management.

B.   Management is about delivering better strategic outcomes.

C.   Leadership includes making sure the project is delivered on target, on schedule, and on budget.

D.   Leadership involves guiding, motivating, and directing the project team.

14.   According to Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide, the three dimensions of complexity are:

A.   Systems thinking, creative thinking, and problem solving

B.   Goals, objectives, and requirements

C.   System behavior, human behavior, and ambiguity

D.   Tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge, and experiential knowledge

15.   How does a project manager treat the aspect of politics in an organization?

A.   By exerting political influence from a project into the functional or matrix management structure

B.   By reacting to negative political pressures on the project from outside the project

C.   By minimizing the influence that politics has on the project

D.   By understanding how the organization works, the project manager is more likely to be successful

16.   Which of the following combines influence, negotiation, autonomy, and power?

A.   Politics

B.   Conflict resolution

C.   Project initiation

D.   Strategy analysis

17.   The skills of a leader include the ability to manage relationships and conflict. Which quality is critical to this skill?

A.   Choosing the best team

B.   Building trust

C.   Creating a give-and-take relationship with the project sponsor

D.   Establishing two-way communication with the project sponsor

18.   Based on research, what percentage of time do top managers spend communicating during a project?

A.   50 percent

B.   70 percent

C.   85 percent

D.   90 percent

19.   A project manager who exhibits the ability to guide, motivate, and direct a team is demonstrating what type of skill?

A.   Project management

B.   Leadership

C.   Negotiation

D.   Problem solving

20.   A project manager who is participating in training, continuing education, and development is demonstrating which aspect of project management?

A.   Knowledge transfer and integration

B.   Training future project managers

C.   Learning business analysis techniques

D.   Collecting the right number of PDUs in a one-year cycle

21.   Which of the following skill sets does a project manager demonstrate when exhibiting knowledge of and expertise in the industry and the organization with a focus on better outcomes?

A.   Technical project management

B.   Generic project management

C.   Leadership and research

D.   Strategic and business management

QUICK ANSWER KEY

1. A

2. C

3. B

4. C

5. B

6. D

7. C

8. C

9. A

10. C

11. D

12. B

13. D

14. C

15. D

16. A

17. B

18. D

19. B

20. A

21. D

ANSWERS A

1.   Which project role is generally accountable for the development and maintenance of the business case associated with a project?

A.   Project sponsor

B.   Project manager

C.   Business stakeholder

D.   IT stakeholder

  A. The project sponsor is responsible for funding the project and ensuring that it takes place. A business analyst may assist in writing the business case, but the project sponsor is accountable for the deliverable.

  B, C, and D are incorrect. B is incorrect because the business case precedes the project charter, which links a project manager to a project. C and D are incorrect because although either may be in the role of project sponsor, in which case they would be responsible, this would only be in the role of business or IT stakeholder—there is no power to authorize a project.

2.   Which of the following statements best describes the role of the project manager?

A.   Implement the business goals

B.   Create the measurable KPIs for the project

C.   Lead the team in achieving project objectives

D.   Carry out the directives from the project sponsor

  C. The project is assigned to the project manager by the performing organization to lead the team responsible for achieving the project objectives.

  A, B, and D are incorrect. A is incorrect because implementing the business goals is the responsibilities of all company employees and is not isolated to the project manager. B is incorrect because while key performance indicators (KPIs) are helpful to measure progress, KPIs can be created by the project team as a whole as well as the organization itself. D is incorrect because while the project sponsor is the original source for identifying the business need, the word directives implies that the sponsor can direct the project manager to do tasks that may not be related to the business need, and this is not the case.

3.   How is the success of a project manager measured?

A.   By completing the project on time

B.   By achieving the project objectives

C.   By building the right product

D.   By developing the talents of the team

  B. A project manager is successful when the project objectives have been achieved and the stakeholders are satisfied.

  A, C, and D are incorrect. A is incorrect because completing a project on time is but one variable a project manager is responsible for—a project that completes on time but does not achieve the project objectives is not a success. C is incorrect because building the right project is important but if other variables are compromised (timeline, budget), then the project objectives have not been met. D is incorrect because while developing the talents of the team is important, meeting the project objectives is more important.

4.   Which of the following is a true statement regarding the project management role?

A.   The role of project manager must be filled by someone who is certified as a project manager.

B.   The role of project manager is the same as the role of the business analyst.

C.   The role of the project manager is tailored to fit the organization.

D.   The role of the project manager is limited to Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing a project.

  C. Just as the project management processes are tailored to fit the project, the role of the project manager is tailored to fit the organization.

  A, B, and D are incorrect. A is incorrect because project management certification is advisable but is not mandatory. B is incorrect because the project manager is responsible for the project, while the business analyst is responsible for specifying the product requirements. D is incorrect because a project manager may also be involved in the strategy analysis before a project begins and in the solution evaluation after a solution is created by the project.

5.   Who is responsible for what project team members produce?

A.   Each team member’s functional manager is responsible for their employee’s contributions to the team.

B.   The project manager is responsible for what the project team produces.

C.   Human resources is responsible for each team member’s contribution and tracks such for performance appraisal purposes.

D.   The project’s quality manager is responsible for the work created by the project team.

  B. Like an orchestra conductor, the project manager is responsible for the project outcome the team produces.

  A, C, and D are incorrect. The functional manager in a matrix organization is responsible for the employee’s career growth and HR is responsible for staffing, but neither is responsible for the product being created by the employee as a part of the project. A project’s quality manager is responsible for the quality of the product.

6.   How is the role of functional manager different from the role of project manager?

A.   A functional manager focuses on leading project teams in the business function, while a project manager leads project teams in the technical side of a company.

B.   A project manager focuses on operations and the work of the company, while a functional manager leads business teams to create business requirements.

C.   A project manager focuses on implementation details for development teams, while a functional manager focuses on requirements and designs.

D.   A functional manager focuses on providing management oversight for a functional or business unit, while a project manager focuses on leading a project team to complete project objectives.

  D. A functional manager focuses on providing management oversight for a functional or business unit, while the project manager leads the team that is responsible for achieving project objectives.

  A, B, and C are incorrect. None of these answers identifies that the project manager is the person responsible for leading the team that is in turn responsible for achieving a project’s objectives.

7.   How many levels are in a project manager’s sphere of influence?

A.   1

B.   2

C.   3

D.   4

  C. There are three levels in the sphere of influence for a project manager: those over which they directly influence, those that are outside the project and not considered stakeholders of the project, and those that are considered stakeholders of the project.

  A, B, and D are incorrect. There are three levels in the sphere of influence for a project manager: those over which they directly influence, those that are outside the project and not considered stakeholders of the project, and those that are considered stakeholders of the project.

8.   Which of the following demonstrates a project manager’s sphere of influence over the project?

A.   Influencing end users

B.   Influencing governing bodies

C.   Influencing the project team

D.   Influencing the project sponsor

  C. A project manager has direct influence over the project team and resource managers.

  A, B, and D are incorrect. A is incorrect because a project manager seeks to understand project stakeholders but does not influence them because they are outside the project team. B is incorrect because governing bodies influence the project manager, not the other way around. D is incorrect because like governing bodies, the project manager is influenced by the sponsor, who is not a part of the project team.

9.   Which of the following is an example of a project manager’s sphere of influence over the organization?

A.   Interacting with other project managers

B.   Staying current with industry trends

C.   Participating in training

D.   Contributing knowledge and expertise at the global level

  A. By proactively interacting with project managers, the project manager can influence the organization in situations where other independent projects may affect their own project.

  B, C, and D are incorrect because staying current with industry trends, participating in training, and contributing knowledge at the global level are all outside of influencing the current organization.

10.   Which two essential skills are used by the top 2 percent of successful project managers consistently and effectively?

A.   Technical skills and superior time management skills

B.   Business acumen and political influence

C.   Superior relationship and communication skills

D.   Strategy analysis skills and solution evaluation skills

  C. Research shows that project managers who are in the top 2 percent of successful project managers have mastered excellent relationship and communication skills in addition to having a positive attitude.

  A, B, and D are incorrect. A is incorrect because while technical skills are important to the project manager, successful project managers have excellent relationship and communication skills in addition to having a positive attitude. B is incorrect because while business acumen and political influence may be helpful, they are not essential. D is incorrect because strategy analysis and solution evaluation skills are business analyst skills.

11.   Which of the following is a way a project manager can create positive influence given independent project demands on the same resources sought by the project manager?

A.   Escalating project needs to the PMO

B.   Seeking additional funding early in a project

C.   Running tasks in parallel in the project

D.   Developing relationships with other project managers

  D. Interacting with other project managers helps to create a positive influence for fulfilling human, technical, and financial resource needs of the project. Seeking to develop relationships with other project managers can help the team.

  A, B, and C are incorrect. A is incorrect because escalating to the project management office (PMO) should be a path explored only after interacting directly with the competing project’s manager. B is incorrect because while seeking additional funding early in a project is a good idea if the need for funding is anticipated, additional funding may not solve the problem of the same person being needed by more than one project during the exact same time period unless the funding is used to train or hire an alternative resource (which the question and answer do not imply). C is incorrect because running tasks in parallel in a single project does not diminish the need for the same resource needed by the competing project.

12.   As the project manager, which stakeholder do you interact with to address internal political and strategic issues that may affect your project team?

A.   Project management office

B.   Project sponsor

C.   Project business analyst

D.   All stakeholders

  B. A project’s sponsor is typically a high-level advocate for the project who approves funding for the project and therefore has insight into the political and strategic issues a project may encounter.

  A, C, and D are incorrect. A is incorrect because the PMO establishes processes, policies, and procedures used by all projects in a company, which is different from political and strategic insight. C is incorrect because the project business analyst is focused on the requirements for the project, which is tactical in nature. D is incorrect because not all stakeholders are responsible for political nuances and strategy of a company.

13.   What is the difference between leadership and management?

A.   Leadership is about demonstrating the value of project management.

B.   Management is about delivering better strategic outcomes.

C.   Leadership includes making sure the project is delivered on target, on schedule, and on budget.

D.   Leadership involves guiding, motivating, and directing the project team.

  D. Leadership involves working with others through discussion or debate to guide them from one point to another.

  A, B, and C are incorrect. A is incorrect because management is about demonstrating the value of project management. B is incorrect because leadership is about delivering better strategic outcomes. C is incorrect because project management is the art and science of getting the project done—on target, on schedule, and on budget.

14.   According to Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide, the three dimensions of complexity are:

A.   Systems thinking, creative thinking, and problem solving

B.   Goals, objectives, and requirements

C.   System behavior, human behavior, and ambiguity

D.   Tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge, and experiential knowledge

  C. Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide cites the dimensions of complexity as the interdependencies of components and systems, the interplay between diverse individuals and groups, and the uncertainty of emerging issues and lack of understanding or confusion.

  A, B, and D are incorrect. A is incorrect because these are examples of analytical thinking and problem solving. B is incorrect because goals, objectives, and requirements are components of strategy but not of complexity. D is incorrect because tacit, explicit, and experiential are types of knowledge held by subject matter experts but are not directly related to complexity.

15.   How does a project manager treat the aspect of politics in an organization?

A.   By exerting political influence from a project into the functional or matrix management structure

B.   By reacting to negative political pressures on the project from outside the project

C.   By minimizing the influence that politics has on the project

D.   By understanding how the organization works, the project manager is more likely to be successful

  D. Political aspects are not good, bad, positive, or negative all by themselves, and this means that a project manager who understands how the organization works can integrate the political aspects of a project successfully.

  A, B, and C are incorrect. A is incorrect because projects do not have political influence. B is incorrect because political pressures are not always negative. C is incorrect because a project manager would not want to minimize positive political influence.

16.   Which of the following combines influence, negotiation, autonomy, and power?

A.   Politics

B.   Conflict resolution

C.   Project initiation

D.   Strategy analysis

  A. Politics involves influence, negotiation, autonomy, and power.

  B, C, and D are incorrect. B is incorrect because conflict resolution is defined as a skill useful in reaching consensus inside and outside a team. C is incorrect because Project Initiation is a project management phase, and is not the definition of politics. D is incorrect because strategy analysis is the work done to fully understand the business need in order to initiate a project.

17.   The skills of a leader include the ability to manage relationships and conflict. Which quality is critical to this skill?

A.   Choosing the best team

B.   Building trust

C.   Creating a give-and-take relationship with the project sponsor

D.   Establishing two-way communication with the project sponsor

  B. Building trust is an underlying aspect of managing relationships and conflict. Other aspects are satisfying concerns; seeking consensus; balancing competing and opposing goals; using persuasion, compromise, and conflict resolution skills; developing and nurturing personal and professional networks; taking a long-term view; and continuously developing and applying political acumen.

  A, C, and D are incorrect. A is incorrect because not all managers choose a team—some inherit a team—and they still have to be able to manage relationships and conflict. C is incorrect because managing conflicts and relationships happens between the project managers and stakeholders other than the project sponsor. D is incorrect because leadership is not focused on just the relationship with the project sponsor.

18.   Based on research, what percentage of time do top managers spend communicating during a project?

A.   50 percent

B.   70 percent

C.   85 percent

D.   90 percent

  D. Research shows that top project managers spend about 90 percent of their time in communicating while on a project.

  A, B, and C are incorrect because research shows that top project managers spend about 90 percent of their time in communicating while on a project.

19.   A project manager who exhibits the ability to guide, motivate, and direct a team is demonstrating what type of skill?

A.   Project management

B.   Leadership

C.   Negotiation

D.   Problem solving

  B. Leadership involves the ability to guide, motivate, and direct a team.

  A, C, and D are incorrect. A is incorrect because project management is not a skill—it is a methodology. C and D are incorrect because they both represent essential capabilities that are part of leadership.

20.   A project manager who is participating in training, continuing education, and development is demonstrating which aspect of project management?

A.   Knowledge transfer and integration

B.   Training future project managers

C.   Learning business analysis techniques

D.   Collecting the right number of PDUs in a one-year cycle

  A. Continuing knowledge transfer is important for a project manager. Participating in training, continuing education, and development in the project management profession, related professions, or other professions demonstrates the ongoing need to maintain project management expertise.

  B, C, and D are incorrect. B is incorrect because training future managers is not the main focus of a project manager. C is incorrect because the question does not relate to business analysis. D is incorrect because the question does not pertain to the PMI requirement to maintain 60 professional development units (PDUs) in a three-year cycle.

21.   Which of the following skill sets does a project manager demonstrate when exhibiting knowledge of and expertise in the industry and the organization with a focus on better outcomes?

A.   Technical project management

B.   Generic project management

C.   Leadership and research

D.   Strategic and business management

  D. Knowledge of and expertise in the industry and the organization with a focus on better outcomes demonstrates strategic and business management.

  A, B, and C are incorrect. A is incorrect because technical project management is the knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to specific business domains. B is incorrect because generic project management focuses internally, not strategically. C is incorrect because while leadership is a key skill for a project manager, research is not.