PMP CERTIFICATION EXAM STUDY GUIDE
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Correct
Answer-A PMI publication that defines widely accepted project management
practices. The CAPM and PMP exam are based on this book.
Application areas Correct Answer-The areas of expertise, industry, or
function where a project is centered. Examples of application areas include
architecture, IT, healthcare, or manufacturing.
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Correct Answer-A person
who has slightly less project management experience than a PMP, but who has
qualified for and then passed the CAPM examination.
Cultural and social environment Correct Answer-Defines how a project
affects people and how those people may affect the project. Cultural and social
environments include the economic, educational, ethical, religious,
demographic, and ethnic composition of the people affected by the project.
Deliverable Correct Answer-A product, service, or result created by a project.
Projects can have multiple deliverables.
General management skills Correct Answer-These include the application of
accounting, procurement, sales and marketing, contracting, manufacturing,
logistics, strategic planning, human resource management, standards and
regulations, and information technology.
International and political environment Correct Answer-The consideration of
the local and international laws, languages, communication challenges, time
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zone differences, and other non-collocated issues that affect a project's ability to
progress.
Interpersonal skills Correct Answer-The ability to interact, lead, motivate,
and manage people.
Iron Triangle of Project Management Correct Answer-A triangle with the
characteristics of time, cost, and scope. Time, cost, and scope each constitute
one side of the triangle; if any side of the Iron Triangle is not in balance with the
other sides, the project will suffer. The Iron Triangle of Project Management is
also known as the Triple Constraints of Project Management, as all projects are
constrained by time, cost, and scope.
Physical environment Correct Answer-The physical structure and
surroundings that affect a project's work.
Program Correct Answer-A collection of related projects working in unison
toward a common deliverable.
Progressive elaboration Correct Answer-The process of gathering project
details in steady, uniform steps. This process uses deductive reasoning, logic,
and a series of information-gathering techniques to identify details about a
project, product, or solution.
Project Correct Answer-A short-term endeavor to create a unique product,
service, or result. The end result of a project is also called a deliverable.
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Project environment Correct Answer-The location and culture of the
environment where the project work will reside. The project environment
includes the social, economic, and environmental variables the project must
work with or around.
Project Management Institute (PMI) Correct Answer-An organization of
project management professionals from around the world, supporting and
promoting the careers, values, and concerns of project managers.
Project management office (PMO) Correct Answer-A central office that
oversees all projects within an organization or within a functional department. A
PMO supports the project management through software, training, templates,
policies, communication, dispute resolution, and other services.
Project Management Professional (PMP) Correct Answer-A person who has
proven project management experience and has qualified for and then passed
the PMP certification examination.
Project portfolio management Correct Answer-The management and
selection of projects, that support an organization's vision and mission. It is the
balance of project priority, risk, reward, and return on investment. This is a
senior management process.
Subprojects Correct Answer-A smaller project managed within a larger,
parent project. Subprojects are often contracted work whose deliverable allows
the larger project to progress.
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Triple Constraints of Project Management Correct Answer-Also known as the
Iron Triangle. This theory posits that time, cost, and scope are three constraints
that every project has.
A series of activities to create a unique product or service by a specific date is
best described as which one of the following?
A. A program
B. An operation
C. A project
D. A subproject Correct Answer-C. A project is a temporary endeavor to
create a unique product, service, or result. Deadlines and cost constraints are
tied to the project. A is incorrect because programs are a collection of projects
working toward a common cause. B is incorrect because operations are ongoing
activities of an organization. D, a subproject, describes a project that is part of
and supports a larger project.
Which of the following is likely to be part of an operation?
A. Providing electricity to a community
B. Designing an electrical grid for a new community
C. Building a new dam as a source of electricity
D. Informing the public about changes at the electrical company. Correct
Answer-A. Providing electricity to a community is the best example of
operations, as it is an ongoing activity. B, C, and D are all examples of projects,
as they are temporary and create a unique product, service, or result.
Of the following, which one is the best examples of progressive elaboration?
A. It is the process of decomposing the work into small, manageable, tasks.
