Practice Free PMP Exam Online Questions
A customer is concerned about the time required to complete a project and is asking the project team to reduce the number of iterations required to complete the product.
Which approach should the project manager take?
- A . Ask the team to raise blockers or impediments in daily meetings.
- B . Prioritize deliverables based on business value and define frequent releases.
- C . Ask the team to challenge the project estimations for a faster delivery.
- D . Prioritize the tasks with high risks to reduce the number of iterations required.
B
Explanation:
In situations where a customer is concerned about the project timeline, it is essential to focus on delivering value efficiently. Prioritizing deliverables based on business value ensures that the most critical features are developed first. Defining frequent releases allows for quicker feedback loops and the ability to adjust priorities as needed, which can lead to a reduction in the number of iterations required to complete the product. This approach aligns with agile methodologies, which emphasize the importance of delivering valuable features quickly and continuously1.
Reference: PMI’s Practice: Iteration Planning Meeting1.
PMI’s A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)2.
PMI’s The PMI Guide to Business Analysis3.
A project manager notices that a team member is upset during a team meeting. The project manager assesses the situation and determines that the team member does not collaborate with some of the other team members.
What should the project manager do?
- A . Give some advice to the team member to reduce their stress and anxiety.
- B . Review team participation in the next retrospective meeting with all team members.
- C . Reach out to the team member to discuss and address their concerns as soon as possible.
- D . Evaluate upcoming project deadlines and reorganize team member assignments.
C
Explanation:
In situations involving emotional cues or interpersonal issues, the project manager should address the concern directly and privately with the individual involved. This approach supports emotional intelligence, empathy, and psychological safety within the team.
According to the PMBOK® Guide C Seventh Edition (Team Performance Domain), direct communication and timely conflict resolution are critical to maintaining a healthy team environment.
Option A is superficial and does not address root causes.
Option B may expose sensitive issues publicly and worsen team dynamics.
Option D changes workload distribution without addressing the interpersonal issue.
Reference: PMBOK® Guide C Seventh Edition, Team Performance Domain
PMI Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Management Guidelines
A mandatory compliance requirement that will impact the project software is introduced during the execution phase of an iterative project. The team is aware of the compliance requirement.
What should the project manager do next?
- A . Update the product backlog item with this new requirement.
- B . Escalate the issue of project impact to the project sponsor.
- C . Escalate the issue of project impact to the product owner.
- D . Update the stakeholder register to include the requirement owner.
B
Explanation:
In an iterative project, when a new compliance requirement is introduced that impacts the project, it is essential to update the project documentation to reflect this change. The product backlog is a living document that captures all the requirements, including new and changed ones, that need to be addressed in the project. By updating the product backlog, the project manager ensures that the team is aware of the new compliance requirement and can plan for its implementation in upcoming iterations. This action aligns with the agile principle of welcoming changing requirements, even late in development, as a means to enhance customer competitive advantage (as per the Agile Manifesto).
: = The answer is based on the best practices outlined in the PMBOK® Guide and the Agile Practice Guide, which are part of the PMP certification materials. These guides emphasize the importance of maintaining an up-to-date product backlog and incorporating changes that may arise during the project lifecycle.
A company’s key product is evolving and requires the use of a new technology. No one on the team is familiar with this technology; however, experienced developers on the team volunteered to study the concepts and application and believe they will be able to take full responsibility for the new technology.
What should the project manager do?
- A . Descope this requirement as the developers have more important tasks.
- B . Support the developers with their intention to learn the new technology.
- C . Hire externally since the internal developers already have assigned work.
- D . Outsource the technology work to a third party so as not to delay work.
B
Explanation:
According to the principles of project integration management, it is essential to coordinate all elements of a project, including tasks, resources, and stakeholder expectations. When facing new technologies, supporting the team’s initiative to learn and adapt is aligned with fostering an environment of continuous improvement and skill development. This approach not only leverages existing resources but also builds team capability and ownership, which are critical for the long-term success of the project1.
: = A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK 6), which emphasizes the importance of integrating various processes and activities within the project management process groups2. Additionally, adapting to new technologies is a significant aspect of project management professional skills as outlined in the PMP certification resources1.
A project is continuously overlapping phases. Due to a recent human error, the team, which is made up of senior members, is experiencing distrust issues from other departments and lacking initiative. This is impacting overall performance and putting the project objectives at risk.
What should the project manager do when executing the next sprint?
- A . Coach those responsible for the error so that the whole team understands they are not responsible for it.
- B . Explain high-level objectives and ask team members to self-organize around their tasks to meet the objectives.
- C . Request offsite team-building activities and deploy incentive plans around their tasks.
- D . Identify the poor performers and ask their functional managers to assign them a mentor.
A project manager has just been assigned a major, ongoing project. The project team is not working in harmony and their performance is decreasing. Some team members are autocratic in their approach whereas others are in avoidance mode.
How should the project manager proceed?
- A . Emphasize their autonomy as project manager, implying that they will not allow team disunity.
- B . Appeal for cooperation from all of the team members, emphasizing the benefit of the project outcome to the company.
- C . Assess the various team behaviors through the use of personality indicators to appropriately deal with each personality type.
- D . Request for removal of the autocratic members who obviously are not interested in the project.
C
Explanation:
In team dysfunction situations, especially with mixed behavior styles (e.g., autocratic and avoidant), a project manager must first seek to understand before intervening. One effective leadership tool is the use of personality assessments or behavioral analysis tools (e.g., DISC, MBTI) to understand team dynamics and communication styles. This approach allows the project manager to adapt their leadership style and foster collaboration based on real data.
The PMBOK® Guide C Seventh Edition discusses the importance of tailoring leadership and communication approaches based on individual and team personality traits. It also encourages team building through understanding behavioral characteristics.
Option A is authoritarian and not aligned with modern leadership practices.
Option B is motivational but not diagnostic―it won’t address root causes.
Option D is extreme and violates conflict resolution principles.
Reference: PMBOK® Guide C Seventh Edition, Section 3.1: Project Team Performance
PMI Talent Triangle: Leadership, Behavioral Awareness
A project manager is leading a large-scale project to be deployed in another country, for an external company. After working with the project team, the project manager learns there are many stakeholders from the project manager’s organization, the client organization, and the local community.
What should the project manager do after identifying the stakeholders?
- A . Prioritize stakeholders from the client’s organization and the local community.
- B . Prioritize stakeholders from the project manager’s own organization.
- C . Prioritize the stakeholders that are more interested in the success of the project.
- D . Prioritize the stakeholders that may have more impact on the development of the project.
D
Explanation:
Comprehensive and Detailed
According to PMI, stakeholders should be prioritized based on their level of influence (power) and interest in the project. Those who can significantly impact the project’s outcome should be engaged more proactively. This supports effective stakeholder engagement planning.
* A and B are biased and not based on objective criteria.
* C focuses only on interest, not impact.
* D is correct: impact and influence are key.
Reference: * PMBOK® Guide C Seventh Edition, Stakeholder Performance Domain
* PMI Stakeholder Engagement Guidelines
A virtual project team has members located on four continents. The project director is concerned about the declining motivational levels of team members and feelings of noninclusion by other team members. The project director has tasked the project manager with finding a solution.
What should the project manager do?
- A . Develop a plan for individual team members’ growth and organize more team-building events.
- B . Recommend that the project director appoint project managers for each continent.
- C . Set up ground rules for team engagement, taking into consideration different cultures.
- D . Take differences in time zones into consideration when scheduling team meetings.
C
Explanation:
In virtual and culturally diverse teams, inclusivity and engagement are best supported by agreed-upon team norms and working agreements. Ground rules that respect time zones, cultures, and communication styles foster equity and psychological safety.
PMBOK® Guide C Seventh Edition and the Agile Practice Guide both emphasize the importance of team agreements, team charters, and cultural awareness in virtual settings.
Option A is supportive but doesn’t address inclusion issues directly.
Option B adds bureaucracy and fragmentation.
Option D is one part of inclusion but not a complete solution.
Reference: PMBOK® Guide C Seventh Edition, Team and Communication Performance Domains
Agile Practice Guide, Chapter 4: “Agile Teams and Cultural Considerations”
A project manager is assigned to a time-bound internal project on quality improvement. During project execution, the project manager observes that a specific team member is being isolated by other team members.
Which three actions should the project manager take? (Choose three)
- A . Arrange and conduct team-building sessions to improve team effectiveness.
- B . Allow team members to resolve personal issues without involving the project manager.
- C . Get feedback from other team members to understand what led to this situation.
- D . Identify the isolated team member as a risk and document the situation in the risk register.
- E . Obtain feedback from the isolated team member to understand the situation.
A,C,E
Explanation:
The project manager should take actions to address the issue of team member isolation, as it can affect the team’s performance, morale, and communication. The project manager should not ignore the issue or leave it to the team members to resolve it by themselves, as this may worsen the situation or create conflicts. The project manager should also not identify the isolated team member as a risk and document it in the risk register, as this may be seen as blaming or stigmatizing the individual. Instead, the project manager should do the following:
Arrange and conduct team-building sessions to improve team effectiveness. Team-building activities can help to foster trust, collaboration, and cohesion among team members. They can also help to resolve interpersonal issues, clarify roles and expectations, and enhance team identity and culture. Team-building sessions can be formal or informal, and can include exercises, games, workshops, or social events. The project manager should plan and facilitate the team-building sessions according to the team’s needs, preferences, and goals.
Get feedback from other team members to understand what led to this situation. The project manager should communicate with the other team members to understand their perspectives and opinions on why the specific team member is being isolated. The project manager should use active listening, open-ended questions, and empathy to elicit honest and constructive feedback. The project manager should also avoid making assumptions, judgments, or accusations, and instead focus on facts and feelings. The project manager should use the feedback to identify the root causes of the problem and possible solutions.
Obtain feedback from the isolated team member to understand the situation. The project manager should also communicate with the isolated team member to understand their situation and needs. The project manager should show respect, support, and concern for the individual, and create a safe and confidential space for them to share their thoughts and feelings. The project manager should also ask the isolated team member what they need or want from the team and the project, and how they can be more involved and engaged. The project manager should use the feedback to address the individual’s concerns and expectations, and to help them reconnect with the
team.
Reference: Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification | PMI, Team Building in Project Management | PMI, Team Building | Project Management Professional (PMP) – GreyCampus, How to Provide Effective Feedback to Project Team Members | PMI, The most important feedback in a project and how to receive them – Twproject: project management software, resource management, time tracking, planning, Gantt, kanban
An important project to build a new airport was suddenly stopped because of complaints from residents in the surrounding communities. The residents stated they were not consulted and that the project would cause ecological and pollution damage.
What should the project manager have done first to avoid this situation?
- A . Identified the stakeholders and their expectations
- B . Presented the project to the community
- C . Added this situation to the risk register
- D . Added these requests to the project scope statement
