WGU C722- Project Management - Objective Assessment (PIPO) | OA V1 and V2
| Actual Questions and Answers | 2026 Update | 100% Correct.
Section 1: Project Management Fundamentals
Q1. What is a project?
Answer: A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end that creates a
unique product, service, or result.
Rationale: Projects are temporary and goal-oriented; once the objective is achieved, the project
ends.
Q2. Which characteristic distinguishes a project from operations?
Answer: A project is temporary, while operations are ongoing.
Rationale: Operations support day-to-day business functions and do not have a defined end date.
Q3. What is an operation?
Answer: Ongoing, repetitive work that sustains business activities.
Rationale: Unlike projects, operations continue indefinitely and focus on maintaining outputs.
Q4. What is a product in project management?
Answer: A tangible or intangible output created by a project.
Rationale: Projects exist to create or enhance products, services, or results.
Q5. What is a program?
Answer: A group of related projects managed together to achieve a larger goal.
Rationale: Programs provide coordinated management benefits not available when managing
projects individually.
,Q6. What is a portfolio?
Answer: A collection of programs and projects aligned with organizational strategy.
Rationale: Portfolios focus on strategic alignment and value rather than execution.
Q7. What is a business scenario?
Answer: A description of a real-world business situation used for planning and decision-making.
Rationale: Business scenarios help organizations analyze problems, stakeholders, goals, and
constraints.
Q8. What is a business strategy?
Answer: A long-term plan to achieve competitive advantage and organizational goals.
Rationale: Projects must align with business strategy to justify investment.
Q9. What role do Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) play in projects?
Answer: They provide expert knowledge and guidance but do not manage the project.
Rationale: SMEs support informed decision-making without having managerial authority.
Q10. What is project management?
Answer: The structured process of planning, executing, monitoring, and closing projects to
achieve goals.
Rationale: Project management ensures work stays on schedule, within budget, and meets
quality standards.
Q11. What is the primary responsibility of a project manager?
Answer: Ensuring the project is completed on time, within budget, and within scope.
Rationale: The project manager coordinates people, resources, and processes.
,Q12. What are the three triple constraints of a project?
Answer: Scope, time, and cost.
Rationale: A change to one constraint impacts the other two.
Q13. What happens if project scope increases without adjusting time or cost?
Answer: The project risks delays, cost overruns, or reduced quality.
Rationale: The triple constraint relationship requires balance among all three factors.
Q14. What is the difference between a working PM and a dedicated PM?
Answer: A working PM performs project tasks and management; a dedicated PM only manages
the project.
Rationale: Large or complex projects typically require full-time management.
Q15. What is the purpose of a communication plan?
Answer: To define who receives what information, when, and how.
Rationale: Effective communication prevents confusion and stakeholder dissatisfaction.
Q16. Why are status meetings important?
Answer: They track progress, identify risks early, and align stakeholders.
Rationale: Regular updates help keep projects on track and issues visible.
Q17. What is stakeholder analysis?
Answer: The process of identifying and evaluating individuals or groups affected by the project.
Rationale: Understanding stakeholder power and interest improves engagement and
communication.
Q18. What is a change request (CR)?
, Answer: A formal request to modify project scope, schedule, cost, or requirements.
Rationale: Formal change control prevents uncontrolled scope creep.
Q19. What is the role of a Change Control Board (CCB)?
Answer: To review, approve, or reject change requests.
Rationale: The CCB ensures changes align with business goals and constraints.
Q20. What is a project report used for?
Answer: To communicate project status, progress, risks, and budget information.
Rationale: Reports keep stakeholders informed and support decision-making.
Section 2: Project Life Cycle & Planning
Q21. What are the four phases of the project life cycle?
Answer: Defining (Initiation), Planning, Executing, and Closing.
Rationale: These phases provide structure for managing a project from start to finish.
Q22. What is the main goal of the Defining (Initiation) phase?
Answer: To gain project approval and establish the project foundation.
Rationale: This phase authorizes the project and aligns stakeholders.
Q23. Which document formally authorizes a project to begin?
Answer: The Project Charter.
Rationale: Without a charter, the project manager has no authority to use resources.
Q24. What is the primary purpose of the Planning phase?
Answer: To create a detailed roadmap for completing the project.
Rationale: Planning defines scope, schedule, budget, roles, and risks.
| Actual Questions and Answers | 2026 Update | 100% Correct.
Section 1: Project Management Fundamentals
Q1. What is a project?
Answer: A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end that creates a
unique product, service, or result.
Rationale: Projects are temporary and goal-oriented; once the objective is achieved, the project
ends.
Q2. Which characteristic distinguishes a project from operations?
Answer: A project is temporary, while operations are ongoing.
Rationale: Operations support day-to-day business functions and do not have a defined end date.
Q3. What is an operation?
Answer: Ongoing, repetitive work that sustains business activities.
Rationale: Unlike projects, operations continue indefinitely and focus on maintaining outputs.
Q4. What is a product in project management?
Answer: A tangible or intangible output created by a project.
Rationale: Projects exist to create or enhance products, services, or results.
Q5. What is a program?
Answer: A group of related projects managed together to achieve a larger goal.
Rationale: Programs provide coordinated management benefits not available when managing
projects individually.
,Q6. What is a portfolio?
Answer: A collection of programs and projects aligned with organizational strategy.
Rationale: Portfolios focus on strategic alignment and value rather than execution.
Q7. What is a business scenario?
Answer: A description of a real-world business situation used for planning and decision-making.
Rationale: Business scenarios help organizations analyze problems, stakeholders, goals, and
constraints.
Q8. What is a business strategy?
Answer: A long-term plan to achieve competitive advantage and organizational goals.
Rationale: Projects must align with business strategy to justify investment.
Q9. What role do Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) play in projects?
Answer: They provide expert knowledge and guidance but do not manage the project.
Rationale: SMEs support informed decision-making without having managerial authority.
Q10. What is project management?
Answer: The structured process of planning, executing, monitoring, and closing projects to
achieve goals.
Rationale: Project management ensures work stays on schedule, within budget, and meets
quality standards.
Q11. What is the primary responsibility of a project manager?
Answer: Ensuring the project is completed on time, within budget, and within scope.
Rationale: The project manager coordinates people, resources, and processes.
,Q12. What are the three triple constraints of a project?
Answer: Scope, time, and cost.
Rationale: A change to one constraint impacts the other two.
Q13. What happens if project scope increases without adjusting time or cost?
Answer: The project risks delays, cost overruns, or reduced quality.
Rationale: The triple constraint relationship requires balance among all three factors.
Q14. What is the difference between a working PM and a dedicated PM?
Answer: A working PM performs project tasks and management; a dedicated PM only manages
the project.
Rationale: Large or complex projects typically require full-time management.
Q15. What is the purpose of a communication plan?
Answer: To define who receives what information, when, and how.
Rationale: Effective communication prevents confusion and stakeholder dissatisfaction.
Q16. Why are status meetings important?
Answer: They track progress, identify risks early, and align stakeholders.
Rationale: Regular updates help keep projects on track and issues visible.
Q17. What is stakeholder analysis?
Answer: The process of identifying and evaluating individuals or groups affected by the project.
Rationale: Understanding stakeholder power and interest improves engagement and
communication.
Q18. What is a change request (CR)?
, Answer: A formal request to modify project scope, schedule, cost, or requirements.
Rationale: Formal change control prevents uncontrolled scope creep.
Q19. What is the role of a Change Control Board (CCB)?
Answer: To review, approve, or reject change requests.
Rationale: The CCB ensures changes align with business goals and constraints.
Q20. What is a project report used for?
Answer: To communicate project status, progress, risks, and budget information.
Rationale: Reports keep stakeholders informed and support decision-making.
Section 2: Project Life Cycle & Planning
Q21. What are the four phases of the project life cycle?
Answer: Defining (Initiation), Planning, Executing, and Closing.
Rationale: These phases provide structure for managing a project from start to finish.
Q22. What is the main goal of the Defining (Initiation) phase?
Answer: To gain project approval and establish the project foundation.
Rationale: This phase authorizes the project and aligns stakeholders.
Q23. Which document formally authorizes a project to begin?
Answer: The Project Charter.
Rationale: Without a charter, the project manager has no authority to use resources.
Q24. What is the primary purpose of the Planning phase?
Answer: To create a detailed roadmap for completing the project.
Rationale: Planning defines scope, schedule, budget, roles, and risks.
