DAU PM Practitioner Certification Exam
– 150+ Questions & Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Adaptive
Acquisition Framework, Program
Management, Cost & EVM | A+ Verified
Solutions
DAU PM PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION
ORIGINAL PRACTICE EXAM — QUESTIONS 1–200
Program Management • Adaptive Acquisition Framework • Cost • EVM
QUESTION 1
What is the primary responsibility of a DoD Program Manager?
A. Manage only the contractor's employees
B. Focus exclusively on technical performance
C. Integrate cost, schedule, performance, risk, and other program considerations to achieve
program objectives
D. Manage only the program's annual budget
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Program management requires integration of multiple dimensions of program
execution. DAU guidance emphasizes considering cost in conjunction with schedule, technical
performance, and risk rather than treating cost in isolation.
QUESTION 2
Which statement best describes the Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF)?
,A. It provides multiple acquisition pathways tailored to different types of products and
capabilities
B. It requires every program to follow the same acquisition process
C. It eliminates milestone decision authorities
D. It applies only to software programs
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The AAF provides different pathways intended to tailor acquisition approaches to the
characteristics and needs of the capability being acquired.
QUESTION 3
A Program Manager is reviewing whether a program can meet its approved objectives within
available resources. Which combination is most important?
A. Office layout, travel schedule, and personnel directory
B. Cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk
C. Contractor location and employee count
D. Training attendance and meeting frequency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Effective program management integrates cost, schedule, technical performance,
and risk to support informed decisions.
QUESTION 4
What is the primary purpose of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?
A. Establish employee performance ratings
B. Replace the program schedule
C. Determine contractor profit
D. Decompose the program's scope into manageable, product-oriented elements
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A WBS organizes the total scope into increasingly detailed elements so that work can
be planned, assigned, scheduled, costed, and measured.
,QUESTION 5
Which EVM term represents the authorized budget for work that has actually been performed?
A. Earned Value (EV)
B. Actual Cost (AC)
C. Planned Value (PV)
D. Estimate at Completion (EAC)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Earned Value represents the budgeted value of work actually accomplished. PV
represents scheduled work, while AC represents the actual cost incurred.
QUESTION 6
A program has PV = $10 million, EV = $8 million, and AC = $9 million. What is the Cost
Performance Index (CPI)?
A. 0.89
B. 1.13
C. 0.80
D. 1.25
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: CPI = EV ÷ AC = $8M ÷ $9M = 0.89. A CPI below 1.0 indicates that the program is
receiving less earned value for each dollar spent than planned.
QUESTION 7
Using the same data—PV = $10M, EV = $8M, AC = $9M—what is the Schedule Performance
Index (SPI)?
A. 1.13
B. 0.89
C. 0.80
D. 1.25
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: SPI = EV ÷ PV = $8M ÷ $10M = 0.80. An SPI below 1.0 indicates that progress is
occurring more slowly than planned.
QUESTION 8
A CPI of 1.10 generally indicates:
A. The program is behind schedule
B. The program is earning more value per dollar spent than planned
C. The program has no remaining budget
D. Actual cost is greater than earned value
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CPI = EV/AC. A CPI greater than 1.0 indicates favorable cost efficiency because earned
value exceeds actual cost.
QUESTION 9
Which document establishes the relationship among program scope, schedule, and cost
objectives and provides a baseline for measuring performance?
A. Acquisition Program Baseline
B. Employee handbook
C. Meeting agenda
D. Travel authorization
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Acquisition Program Baseline (APB) establishes key program objectives and
constraints and serves as an important reference for program performance.
QUESTION 10
What is a major purpose of risk management?
A. Guarantee that no risks occur
B. Eliminate the need for program decisions
C. Identify, analyze, handle, and monitor uncertainties that could affect objectives
D. Transfer every program risk to the contractor
– 150+ Questions & Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Adaptive
Acquisition Framework, Program
Management, Cost & EVM | A+ Verified
Solutions
DAU PM PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION
ORIGINAL PRACTICE EXAM — QUESTIONS 1–200
Program Management • Adaptive Acquisition Framework • Cost • EVM
QUESTION 1
What is the primary responsibility of a DoD Program Manager?
A. Manage only the contractor's employees
B. Focus exclusively on technical performance
C. Integrate cost, schedule, performance, risk, and other program considerations to achieve
program objectives
D. Manage only the program's annual budget
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Program management requires integration of multiple dimensions of program
execution. DAU guidance emphasizes considering cost in conjunction with schedule, technical
performance, and risk rather than treating cost in isolation.
QUESTION 2
Which statement best describes the Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF)?
,A. It provides multiple acquisition pathways tailored to different types of products and
capabilities
B. It requires every program to follow the same acquisition process
C. It eliminates milestone decision authorities
D. It applies only to software programs
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The AAF provides different pathways intended to tailor acquisition approaches to the
characteristics and needs of the capability being acquired.
QUESTION 3
A Program Manager is reviewing whether a program can meet its approved objectives within
available resources. Which combination is most important?
A. Office layout, travel schedule, and personnel directory
B. Cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk
C. Contractor location and employee count
D. Training attendance and meeting frequency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Effective program management integrates cost, schedule, technical performance,
and risk to support informed decisions.
QUESTION 4
What is the primary purpose of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?
A. Establish employee performance ratings
B. Replace the program schedule
C. Determine contractor profit
D. Decompose the program's scope into manageable, product-oriented elements
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A WBS organizes the total scope into increasingly detailed elements so that work can
be planned, assigned, scheduled, costed, and measured.
,QUESTION 5
Which EVM term represents the authorized budget for work that has actually been performed?
A. Earned Value (EV)
B. Actual Cost (AC)
C. Planned Value (PV)
D. Estimate at Completion (EAC)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Earned Value represents the budgeted value of work actually accomplished. PV
represents scheduled work, while AC represents the actual cost incurred.
QUESTION 6
A program has PV = $10 million, EV = $8 million, and AC = $9 million. What is the Cost
Performance Index (CPI)?
A. 0.89
B. 1.13
C. 0.80
D. 1.25
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: CPI = EV ÷ AC = $8M ÷ $9M = 0.89. A CPI below 1.0 indicates that the program is
receiving less earned value for each dollar spent than planned.
QUESTION 7
Using the same data—PV = $10M, EV = $8M, AC = $9M—what is the Schedule Performance
Index (SPI)?
A. 1.13
B. 0.89
C. 0.80
D. 1.25
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: SPI = EV ÷ PV = $8M ÷ $10M = 0.80. An SPI below 1.0 indicates that progress is
occurring more slowly than planned.
QUESTION 8
A CPI of 1.10 generally indicates:
A. The program is behind schedule
B. The program is earning more value per dollar spent than planned
C. The program has no remaining budget
D. Actual cost is greater than earned value
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CPI = EV/AC. A CPI greater than 1.0 indicates favorable cost efficiency because earned
value exceeds actual cost.
QUESTION 9
Which document establishes the relationship among program scope, schedule, and cost
objectives and provides a baseline for measuring performance?
A. Acquisition Program Baseline
B. Employee handbook
C. Meeting agenda
D. Travel authorization
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Acquisition Program Baseline (APB) establishes key program objectives and
constraints and serves as an important reference for program performance.
QUESTION 10
What is a major purpose of risk management?
A. Guarantee that no risks occur
B. Eliminate the need for program decisions
C. Identify, analyze, handle, and monitor uncertainties that could affect objectives
D. Transfer every program risk to the contractor
