ENGV 380: Project and Construction
Management exam with correct
questions and verified answers
with rationale updated 2026
graded A+
Section 1: Introduction to Project & Construction Management (Q1–
Q10)
1. Which of the following best defines a "project"?
A) An ongoing, repetitive operation to produce goods
B) A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result
C) A permanent organizational function
D) A routine maintenance activity
Answer: B) A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product,
service, or result
Rationale: According to PMI's PMBOK Guide, a project is temporary (has a defined start
and end) and produces a unique deliverable, distinguishing it from ongoing operations.
2. The primary role of a construction project manager is to:
A) Design the structural components of a building
B) Integrate and balance scope, time, cost, and quality to meet stakeholder needs
C) Perform manual labor on site
D) Approve building codes
Answer: B) Integrate and balance scope, time, cost, and quality to meet
stakeholder needs
Rationale: The project manager coordinates all knowledge areas and trade-offs; design
and code approval are separate professional roles.
3. The "triple constraint" in project management traditionally refers to:
A) Safety, productivity, and morale
B) Scope, time, and cost
,C) Planning, execution, and closure
D) Owners, contractors, and designers
Answer: B) Scope, time, and cost
Rationale: The classic triple constraint (iron triangle) is scope, time, and cost, with
quality often at the center; changes to one affect the others.
4. A program is best described as:
A) A single large project
B) A group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits not
available from managing them individually
C) The same as a portfolio
D) A short-term task
Answer: B) A group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain
benefits not available from managing them individually
Rationale: Programs group related projects for synergistic benefits; portfolios are
broader collections aligned with strategic objectives.
5. The construction industry is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Fragmentation among many specialized trades
B) Unique, one-of-a-kind products
C) Stable, predictable demand and low risk
D) Weather-dependent and site-specific production
Answer: C) Stable, predictable demand and low risk
Rationale: Construction is cyclical, risky, and uncertain; fragmentation, uniqueness, and
weather sensitivity are well-documented industry traits.
6. The primary difference between a project and ongoing operations is:
A) Projects have larger budgets
B) Projects are temporary and unique; operations are ongoing and repetitive
C) Operations require more planning
D) Projects never use resources
Answer: B) Projects are temporary and unique; operations are ongoing and
repetitive
Rationale: Temporariness and uniqueness are the defining characteristics of projects
per PMBOK.
7. A stakeholder is:
A) Only the person paying for the project
B) Any individual or group who can affect or be affected by the project
C) Only the contractor
D) Only government regulators
Answer: B) Any individual or group who can affect or be affected by the project
Rationale: Stakeholders include owners, designers, contractors, users, regulators,
community, and suppliers.
, 8. Project management knowledge areas include all EXCEPT:
A) Scope management
B) Risk management
C) Marketing management
D) Procurement management
Answer: C) Marketing management
Rationale: PMBOK's ten knowledge areas include scope, schedule, cost, quality,
resources, communications, risk, procurement, stakeholder, and integration—not
marketing.
9. The project life cycle typically includes:
A) Initiation, planning, execution, and closure
B) Design only
C) Bidding only
D) Operation and maintenance
Answer: A) Initiation, planning, execution, and closure
Rationale: These are the standard process groups; operation and maintenance occur
after project closure.
10. Which document formally authorizes a project?
A) Work breakdown structure
B) Project charter
C) Gantt chart
D) Change order
Answer: B) Project charter
Rationale: The charter formally authorizes the project and gives the PM authority to
apply resources.
Section 2: Project Delivery Methods (Q11–Q20)
11. In the Design-Bid-Build (DBB) delivery method, the owner:
A) Hires one entity for both design and construction
B) Separately contracts the designer and then the contractor
C) Uses a single contract for design-build
D) Self-performs all work
Answer: B) Separately contracts the designer and then the contractor
Rationale: DBB is the traditional sequential method: design fully, then bid, then build
under separate contracts.
12. A key advantage of Design-Build is:
A) Lowest first cost guaranteed
Management exam with correct
questions and verified answers
with rationale updated 2026
graded A+
Section 1: Introduction to Project & Construction Management (Q1–
Q10)
1. Which of the following best defines a "project"?
A) An ongoing, repetitive operation to produce goods
B) A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result
C) A permanent organizational function
D) A routine maintenance activity
Answer: B) A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product,
service, or result
Rationale: According to PMI's PMBOK Guide, a project is temporary (has a defined start
and end) and produces a unique deliverable, distinguishing it from ongoing operations.
2. The primary role of a construction project manager is to:
A) Design the structural components of a building
B) Integrate and balance scope, time, cost, and quality to meet stakeholder needs
C) Perform manual labor on site
D) Approve building codes
Answer: B) Integrate and balance scope, time, cost, and quality to meet
stakeholder needs
Rationale: The project manager coordinates all knowledge areas and trade-offs; design
and code approval are separate professional roles.
3. The "triple constraint" in project management traditionally refers to:
A) Safety, productivity, and morale
B) Scope, time, and cost
,C) Planning, execution, and closure
D) Owners, contractors, and designers
Answer: B) Scope, time, and cost
Rationale: The classic triple constraint (iron triangle) is scope, time, and cost, with
quality often at the center; changes to one affect the others.
4. A program is best described as:
A) A single large project
B) A group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits not
available from managing them individually
C) The same as a portfolio
D) A short-term task
Answer: B) A group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain
benefits not available from managing them individually
Rationale: Programs group related projects for synergistic benefits; portfolios are
broader collections aligned with strategic objectives.
5. The construction industry is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Fragmentation among many specialized trades
B) Unique, one-of-a-kind products
C) Stable, predictable demand and low risk
D) Weather-dependent and site-specific production
Answer: C) Stable, predictable demand and low risk
Rationale: Construction is cyclical, risky, and uncertain; fragmentation, uniqueness, and
weather sensitivity are well-documented industry traits.
6. The primary difference between a project and ongoing operations is:
A) Projects have larger budgets
B) Projects are temporary and unique; operations are ongoing and repetitive
C) Operations require more planning
D) Projects never use resources
Answer: B) Projects are temporary and unique; operations are ongoing and
repetitive
Rationale: Temporariness and uniqueness are the defining characteristics of projects
per PMBOK.
7. A stakeholder is:
A) Only the person paying for the project
B) Any individual or group who can affect or be affected by the project
C) Only the contractor
D) Only government regulators
Answer: B) Any individual or group who can affect or be affected by the project
Rationale: Stakeholders include owners, designers, contractors, users, regulators,
community, and suppliers.
, 8. Project management knowledge areas include all EXCEPT:
A) Scope management
B) Risk management
C) Marketing management
D) Procurement management
Answer: C) Marketing management
Rationale: PMBOK's ten knowledge areas include scope, schedule, cost, quality,
resources, communications, risk, procurement, stakeholder, and integration—not
marketing.
9. The project life cycle typically includes:
A) Initiation, planning, execution, and closure
B) Design only
C) Bidding only
D) Operation and maintenance
Answer: A) Initiation, planning, execution, and closure
Rationale: These are the standard process groups; operation and maintenance occur
after project closure.
10. Which document formally authorizes a project?
A) Work breakdown structure
B) Project charter
C) Gantt chart
D) Change order
Answer: B) Project charter
Rationale: The charter formally authorizes the project and gives the PM authority to
apply resources.
Section 2: Project Delivery Methods (Q11–Q20)
11. In the Design-Bid-Build (DBB) delivery method, the owner:
A) Hires one entity for both design and construction
B) Separately contracts the designer and then the contractor
C) Uses a single contract for design-build
D) Self-performs all work
Answer: B) Separately contracts the designer and then the contractor
Rationale: DBB is the traditional sequential method: design fully, then bid, then build
under separate contracts.
12. A key advantage of Design-Build is:
A) Lowest first cost guaranteed
