SMARTSHEET PROJECT MANAGEMENT
CERTIFICATION 2026 LIKELY QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWER EXPLANATIONS
◉ Control Chart. Answer: A graphic display of process data over
time and against established control limits, which has a centerline
that assists in detecting a trend of plotted values toward either
control limit.
◉ run chart. Answer:
◉ Pareto Diagram. Answer: A histogram, ordered by frequency of
occurrence, that shows how many results were generated by each
identified cause.
◉ Ishikawa/Fishbone/Why-Why Diagram. Answer: Helps establish
cause-and-effect by identifying factors that contribute to outcomes
or problems; the factors are categories as People, Machines,
Methods, Measurements, Materials, and Environment and include
intentional and unintentional consequences and influence quality
performance.
◉ Total Quality Management (TQM). Answer: a management
philosophy that focuses on satisfying customers through
,empowering employees to be an active part of continuous quality
improvement
◉ Kaizen. Answer: continuous improvement
◉ Just-in-time (JIT). Answer: An inventory-management approach in
which supplies arrive just when needed for production or resale
◉ ISO 9000. Answer: Set of international standards on quality
management and quality assurance, critical to international
business
◉ Six Sigma Quality. Answer: a quality measure that allows only 3.4
defects per million opportunities
◉ Three Sigma Quality. Answer: 2,700 defects per million
opportunities
◉ One Sigma Quality. Answer: 317,000 defects per million
opportunities
◉ mutually exclusive. Answer: Events that cannot occur at the same
time.
,◉ Statistical Independence. Answer: The absence of an association
or covariation between two variables
◉ standard deviation. Answer: a measure of variability that
describes an average distance of every score from the mean
◉ Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Answer: (level 1) Physiological
Needs, (level 2) Safety and Security, (level 3) Relationships, Love and
Affection, (level 4) Self Esteem, (level 5) Self Actualization. Meeting
needs in one category does not motivate unless the lower level
needs are already met.
◉ Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory. Answer: A need theory
that distinguishes between motivator needs (related to the nature of
the work itself) and hygiene needs (related to the physical and
psychological context in which the work is performed) and proposes
that motivator needs must be met for motivation and job satisfaction
to be high.
◉ McGregor's Theory. Answer: Theory X - the assumption that
employees dislike work, are lazy, avoid responsibility, and must be
coerced to perform.
Theory Y - the assumption that employees are creative, enjoy work,
seek responsibility, and can exercise self-direction.
, ◉ Fiedler's Contingency Theory. Answer: theory stating that
leadership effectiveness is dependent on the characteristics of the
leader and the characteristics of the situation
◉ McClelland's Theory of Needs. Answer: a theory that states
achievement, power, and affiliation are three important needs that
help explain motivation
◉ Expectancy Theory. Answer: the theory that people will be
motivated to the extent to which they believe that their efforts will
lead to good performance, that good performance will be rewarded,
and that they will be offered attractive rewards
◉ Number of Communication Channels. Answer: (n(n-1))/2 where n
is the number of people involved
◉ Constructive Team Roles. Answer: clarifiers, encouragers,
information givers, information seekers, initiators, gate keepers,
harmonizers, and summarizers
◉ Destructive Team Roles. Answer: aggressors, blockers,
dominators, devil's advocate, recognition seekers, topic jumpers,
withdrawers
◉ Forms of Power. Answer: reward
CERTIFICATION 2026 LIKELY QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWER EXPLANATIONS
◉ Control Chart. Answer: A graphic display of process data over
time and against established control limits, which has a centerline
that assists in detecting a trend of plotted values toward either
control limit.
◉ run chart. Answer:
◉ Pareto Diagram. Answer: A histogram, ordered by frequency of
occurrence, that shows how many results were generated by each
identified cause.
◉ Ishikawa/Fishbone/Why-Why Diagram. Answer: Helps establish
cause-and-effect by identifying factors that contribute to outcomes
or problems; the factors are categories as People, Machines,
Methods, Measurements, Materials, and Environment and include
intentional and unintentional consequences and influence quality
performance.
◉ Total Quality Management (TQM). Answer: a management
philosophy that focuses on satisfying customers through
,empowering employees to be an active part of continuous quality
improvement
◉ Kaizen. Answer: continuous improvement
◉ Just-in-time (JIT). Answer: An inventory-management approach in
which supplies arrive just when needed for production or resale
◉ ISO 9000. Answer: Set of international standards on quality
management and quality assurance, critical to international
business
◉ Six Sigma Quality. Answer: a quality measure that allows only 3.4
defects per million opportunities
◉ Three Sigma Quality. Answer: 2,700 defects per million
opportunities
◉ One Sigma Quality. Answer: 317,000 defects per million
opportunities
◉ mutually exclusive. Answer: Events that cannot occur at the same
time.
,◉ Statistical Independence. Answer: The absence of an association
or covariation between two variables
◉ standard deviation. Answer: a measure of variability that
describes an average distance of every score from the mean
◉ Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Answer: (level 1) Physiological
Needs, (level 2) Safety and Security, (level 3) Relationships, Love and
Affection, (level 4) Self Esteem, (level 5) Self Actualization. Meeting
needs in one category does not motivate unless the lower level
needs are already met.
◉ Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory. Answer: A need theory
that distinguishes between motivator needs (related to the nature of
the work itself) and hygiene needs (related to the physical and
psychological context in which the work is performed) and proposes
that motivator needs must be met for motivation and job satisfaction
to be high.
◉ McGregor's Theory. Answer: Theory X - the assumption that
employees dislike work, are lazy, avoid responsibility, and must be
coerced to perform.
Theory Y - the assumption that employees are creative, enjoy work,
seek responsibility, and can exercise self-direction.
, ◉ Fiedler's Contingency Theory. Answer: theory stating that
leadership effectiveness is dependent on the characteristics of the
leader and the characteristics of the situation
◉ McClelland's Theory of Needs. Answer: a theory that states
achievement, power, and affiliation are three important needs that
help explain motivation
◉ Expectancy Theory. Answer: the theory that people will be
motivated to the extent to which they believe that their efforts will
lead to good performance, that good performance will be rewarded,
and that they will be offered attractive rewards
◉ Number of Communication Channels. Answer: (n(n-1))/2 where n
is the number of people involved
◉ Constructive Team Roles. Answer: clarifiers, encouragers,
information givers, information seekers, initiators, gate keepers,
harmonizers, and summarizers
◉ Destructive Team Roles. Answer: aggressors, blockers,
dominators, devil's advocate, recognition seekers, topic jumpers,
withdrawers
◉ Forms of Power. Answer: reward
