PMP Practice Questions – Project Management Fundamentals

What is a Project ?

Project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service.

  • Projects are unique.
  • Projects are temporary in nature and have a definite beginning and ending date.
  • Projects are completed when the project goals are achieved or it.s determined the project is no longer viable.
  • A successful project is one that meets or exceeds the expectations of your stakeholders.

How Unique ?

  • Product characteristics are progressively elaborated.
  • The product or service is different in some way from other product or services.

How Temporary ?

  • Has a definite beginning and end and not an ongoing effort.
  • Ceases when objective has been attained.
  • Team is disbanded upon project completion.

Example

Building a road is an example of a project. The process of building a road takes a finite amount of time, and produces a unique product.

Operations on the other hand are repetitive. Generating bills every month, and broadcasting news everyday are examples of operations.

Subprojects are components of a project that often contracted out.


What is Project Management?

Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements.

Project management is accomplished through the use of the processes such as:

  • Initiation
  • Planning
  • Execution
  • Controlling
  • Closing

Project managers or the organization can divide projects into above phases to provide better management control with appropriate links to the ongoing operations of the performing organization. Collectively, these phases are known as the project life cycle which we would see in next chapter.

Project managers deliver projects while balancing the following constraints:

  • Scope
  • Schedule
  • Quality
  • Resources
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Risk

These all are so intertwined that a change in one will most often cause a change in at least one of the others

For example:

  • If time is extended, the cost of the project will increase.
  • If time extended with the same cost then quality of the product will reduce.
  • If scope is extended then cost and time will also extend.

Changes to any of these legs sets off a series of activities that are needed to integrate the change across the project.


What is Program Management ?

A program consists of a related group of projects and Program management is the process of managing multiple on going projects. An example would be that of designing, manufacturing and providing support infrastructure for an automobile make.

Program management involves centrally managing and coordinating groups of related projects to meet the objectives of the program.

In some cases Project Management is a subset of Program Management. The project manager may report to the program manager in such cases. A portfolio consists of multiple programs.


What is Portfolio Management ?

A portfolio is a collection of projects or programs and other work that are grouped together to facilitate effective management of that work to meet strategic business objectives.Organizations manage their portfolios based on specific goals.

Senior managers or senior management teams typically take on the responsibility of portfolio management for an organization.

Portfolio management encompasses managing the collections of programs and projects in the portfolio. This includes weighing the value of each project, or potential project, against the portfolio’s strategic objectives.

Portfolio management also concerns monitoring active projects for adherence to objectives, balancing the portfolio among the other investments of the organization, and assuring the efficient use of resources.


Why do we need Project Management?

  • Exponential expansion of human knowledge
  • Global demand for goods and services
  • Global competition
  • Team is required to meet the demand with quality and standard.
  • Improved control over the project
  • Improved performance
  • Improved budget and quality

Project Management Skills:

Many of the tools and techniques for managing projects are specific to project management. However, effective project management requires that the project management team acquire the following three dimensions of project management competencies:

  • Project Management Knowledge Competency: This refers to what the project management team knows about project management.
  • Project Management Performance Competency: This refers to what the project management team is able to do or accomplish while applying their project management knowledge.
  • Personal Competency: This refers to how the project management team behaves when performing the project or activity.

Interpersonal Skills Management:

The management of interpersonal relationships includes:

  • Effective communication: The exchange of information
  • Influencing the organization: The ability to “get things done”
  • Leadership: Developing a vision and strategy, and motivating people to achieve that vision and strategy
  • Motivation: Energizing people to achieve high levels of performance and to overcome barriers to change
  • Negotiation and conflict management: Conferring with others to come to terms with them or to reach an agreement
  • Decision Making: Ability to take decision independently.
  • Political and cultural awareness: Important to handle various personal and professional issues.
  • Team Building: Ability to create a productive team.

What is PMBOK ® Guide?

PMBOK ® Guide is the bible for Project Management. It stands for Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ® Guide) . There are nine knowledge areas defined in PMBOK ® Guide, which are as follows

  • Project Integration Management
  • Project Scope Management
  • Project Cost Management
  • Project Time Management
  • Project Risk Management
  • Project Quality Management
  • Project HR Management
  • Project Communication Management
  • Project Procurement Management

Each Knowledge area has further Processes. There are a total of 42 processes. Each process has following three important parts.

  • Inputs
  • Tools & Techniques
  • Outputs

The PMBOK primarily covers each of the processes and its inputs, outputs and related tools and techniques.

Subsequent chapters will explain each process, its inputs, tools and techniques and outputs (ITTO) required.

Further the discipline of Project Management has five process groups.

These are:

  • Initiation
  • Planning
  • Execution
  • Control
  • Closure

Each process is part of one of these five project phases. It is important to know the process group for each of the 42 processes.

Prerequisites and Application for the PMP Certification

The PMP exam is offered by PMI as a computer test.

During four hours of testing time, 200 multiple-choice questions have to be answered. Each question has 4 answer options, out of which one is right. 175 of these 200 questions are scoring, the other die 25 questions are undergoing a test by the candidates.

Participants have to answer app. 75% (?, estimated number, the actual passing score is no more communicated by PMI) correctly, following a weighted scoring process.

The test result is assessed immediately at the end of the session. Candidates who do not pass on the first attempt have an option to repeat the test.

Exam Locations

The exams are performed at Prometric Testing Centers, which are available in many countries. Please see the Prometric website to locate a center nearby.

Exam Languages

The exam language is English.

PMI provides aids (translations on a mouseclick) for the following languages:

– German               – Korean

– French                 – Mandarin-Chinese

– Hebrew               – Portuguese (Brazil)

– Italian                  – Russian

– Japanese           – Spanish

Exam Times

The exam date can be appointed at a convenient time during normal working hours.

Application

  1. Download PMP Credential Handbook
  2. Online application at https://www.pmi.org/certapp

Exam costs

Prerequisites

Please see pages 4 and 5 of the PMP Credential Handbook.

A brief overview can also be found here.

PMP Certification Exams Overview

Project Management Professional (PMP) is certification administered by Project Management Institute (PMI), USA. The PMP designation following your name tells current and potential employers that you have demonstrated a solid foundation of Project Management Knowledge.

The PMI’s salary survey has found that, in the United States and other countries, PMP certified Project Managers are being offered at least 10% more than those without this certification.

Pre-Requisite Qualification:

Here is the pre-requisite qualification and experience to appear for the examination:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a globally equivalent university.
  • A minimum of 4500 hours of project management experience in last three years.

OR

  • A high school graduate from a globally equivalent college/university.
  • A minimum of 7500 hours of project management experience in last five years.

AND

  • Candidate has obtained 35 contact hours of project management education from a registered education provider.

Required supporting documents

  • Education Background certificates
  • Experience verification Forms(s) which can be a proof of the management experience.
  • 35 Contact hours of Project Management Education meeting above criteria.

NOTE: Candidates can satisfy the requirement related to 35 Contact Hours of Education – Professional Development Units (PDUs), by successfully attending a training, course or workshop sessions through PMI’s Global Registered Education Provider. 1 Hour of training is equivalent to 1PDU.


PMP Certification Expenses

Here is the structure of the expenses you would have to beer to get this prestigious certificate.

  • Fees to earn 35 PDUs vary country to country and Education Provider to Education Provider. It may vary from $300 to $5000.
  • Initial Certification Fees:
    • If you are a member of PMI then this fees will be $405.00
    • If you are not a member of PMI then it will cost you $555.00
  • Re-Examination Fees:
    • If you are a member of PMI then this fees will be $275.00
    • If you are not a member of PMI then it will cost you $375.00

NOTE: If you are not able to qualify the examination in first attempt then you can give another attempts by paying re-examination fees which is mentioned above.


PMP Exams Structure

PMI has released a new version of Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)® and now certification exams will be conducted based on the new version.

This tutorial has been re-written based on new version of PMBOK, 4th Edition. All the required changes has been incorporated in old tutorial which was based on PMBOK third Edition v1.2

To become a PMP you would have to pass a rigorous multiple-choice examination. This exam is designed to objectively assess and measure your ability to apply project management knowledge in the following six domains:

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This computer-based examination is administered globally with translation aids in 10 languages. You will have 4 hours time to answer 200 questions related to the above six domain.

Out of 200 questions there will be 25 pretest questions and they would not effect your scoring. These questions will be placed randomly in question paper and you would not be able to differentiate these questions from other live question.

Passing Score:

As such PMI does not disclose total passing score for any candidate but to pass the exams you need to give correct answer for 61% of live questions ( ie. 61% of 175 questions ). There is no negative marks with any wrong answer, so don’t leave any question without answer.

One more important note is that 60% questions will be based on your real experience. Books and tutorials definitely help but real experience is a must to pass this examination.