APMP EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT LATEST UPDATE
Three advantages of a matrix organization structure when utilized in a project
environment are listed and described below. Clearly see resources skills and
availability-resource utilized to max potential
Tailor to each project -
Share good practice across organization, retained skills
Describe two disadvantages of a matrix organisation structure when applied to a project
environment (20 marks) - ANSWER Project and functional conflicting priorities and
loyalties
requires complex resource management at top level
Explain the importance of reviews (10 marks) - ANSWER "A Critical evaluation of a
deliverable, business case or project management process - Provide a mechanism for
monitoring progress against the base-lined project management plan and implementing
control measures where appropriate.
Below describe four different types of review that may be carried out during a project
and their main purpose. - ANSWER Gate review - Formal review requested by the
sponsoring organisation -part of governance - formal agenda - checklist of products and
criteria. Happen as a minimum at the end of the Concept and Definition Phases.
Audit -usually external by an independant body- assure the organisation that the project
is conforming to its stated principles and procedures - check project can succeed -
Audits usually financial or procedural but may include health and safety.
,Post evaluation review - Project evaluation reviews are carried out to determine the
status of the project at a particular .time. assess how well project is being managed -
used when Significant change to the scope - Achieving major milestones or Change of
management
Peer review - typically formal or informal - conducted by someone of appropriate
skills/experience - a resource from another function to provide objective opinion
Five activities are listed and described here that the project sponsor performs during
the project life cycle. (50 marks) - ANSWER Owns the business case-delivers benefits to
user-primary risk taker-approves budget-manages issues
Describe the overall aim of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 1974 and four
duties of an employer. - ANSWER Securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at
work. Protecting persons, other than persons at work, against risks to health or safety
arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work.
employer must: Provide appropriate personal protective equipment - The project work
group is adequately trained - Ensuring risk assessments are carried out - Health, Safety
and Environmental Management Plan is in place
List and describe five key environmental legislative requirements which the project
manager should consider when planning a project (50 marks) - ANSWER
Explain two reasons why the scope of a project may need to change (20 marks) -
ANSWER Scope creep is the addition of features or functions of a new product beyond
agreed scope.
1.Legislation change- environmental protection act would force disposal teams at MoD
to change the scope of their disposal - the same with noise studies could force MoD to
change specifications of the vehicles to adhere to legality.
, 2. If the project is overrunning/resource unavailability. This could be due to unforeseen
circumstances, example - the contractor is delayed on his work, for example the digger
for the foundations is delivered a week later, breaks down and there is no other
available digger.
Explain three ways that change control can reduce and manage scope creep on a
project (30 marks) - ANSWER Change freeze -End of development phase-change freeze
could installed--make sure no further changes are made impacting time, cost, quality
and benefits-reduce the scope screep The project sponsor will implement--make sure
no further delays to the project are incurred.
Formal change process: Will reduce and manage scope creep on a project. It ensures
proper record keeping and easy location of information, with a defined baseline which
has clearly stated project time, cost, and quality parameters. Prevents confusion in
communication.
Consequent to this, the presence of a changed control process would result in fewer
changes being requested. The more elaborate, more bureaucratic, and requiring a
business justification to approve-can help reduce the number of requests put forth.
Exemplify the following methods of resource scheduling ; resource smoothing, resource
levelling. (20 marks) - ANSWER RS - Time constrained, move resources without
effecting the end date. e.g. living room must be painted for party occuring on 27th.
decorators must be available.
Smoothing of ResourcesResource-limited, cannot look at only total float as resource is
not available, e.g., specialist decorator is only available 8 hours a day, but the task
requires 36 hours of work to be done.
Explain three approaches responses which a project manager might consider when
optimizing the resource allocation for a project. Identify in your answer any assumptions
and implications made. (30 marks) - ANSWER crashing - throw resources at a project in
order to get it done e.g. pay for more builders
fast tracking - challenges the dependencies; can task B start before Task finishes
CORRECT LATEST UPDATE
Three advantages of a matrix organization structure when utilized in a project
environment are listed and described below. Clearly see resources skills and
availability-resource utilized to max potential
Tailor to each project -
Share good practice across organization, retained skills
Describe two disadvantages of a matrix organisation structure when applied to a project
environment (20 marks) - ANSWER Project and functional conflicting priorities and
loyalties
requires complex resource management at top level
Explain the importance of reviews (10 marks) - ANSWER "A Critical evaluation of a
deliverable, business case or project management process - Provide a mechanism for
monitoring progress against the base-lined project management plan and implementing
control measures where appropriate.
Below describe four different types of review that may be carried out during a project
and their main purpose. - ANSWER Gate review - Formal review requested by the
sponsoring organisation -part of governance - formal agenda - checklist of products and
criteria. Happen as a minimum at the end of the Concept and Definition Phases.
Audit -usually external by an independant body- assure the organisation that the project
is conforming to its stated principles and procedures - check project can succeed -
Audits usually financial or procedural but may include health and safety.
,Post evaluation review - Project evaluation reviews are carried out to determine the
status of the project at a particular .time. assess how well project is being managed -
used when Significant change to the scope - Achieving major milestones or Change of
management
Peer review - typically formal or informal - conducted by someone of appropriate
skills/experience - a resource from another function to provide objective opinion
Five activities are listed and described here that the project sponsor performs during
the project life cycle. (50 marks) - ANSWER Owns the business case-delivers benefits to
user-primary risk taker-approves budget-manages issues
Describe the overall aim of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 1974 and four
duties of an employer. - ANSWER Securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at
work. Protecting persons, other than persons at work, against risks to health or safety
arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work.
employer must: Provide appropriate personal protective equipment - The project work
group is adequately trained - Ensuring risk assessments are carried out - Health, Safety
and Environmental Management Plan is in place
List and describe five key environmental legislative requirements which the project
manager should consider when planning a project (50 marks) - ANSWER
Explain two reasons why the scope of a project may need to change (20 marks) -
ANSWER Scope creep is the addition of features or functions of a new product beyond
agreed scope.
1.Legislation change- environmental protection act would force disposal teams at MoD
to change the scope of their disposal - the same with noise studies could force MoD to
change specifications of the vehicles to adhere to legality.
, 2. If the project is overrunning/resource unavailability. This could be due to unforeseen
circumstances, example - the contractor is delayed on his work, for example the digger
for the foundations is delivered a week later, breaks down and there is no other
available digger.
Explain three ways that change control can reduce and manage scope creep on a
project (30 marks) - ANSWER Change freeze -End of development phase-change freeze
could installed--make sure no further changes are made impacting time, cost, quality
and benefits-reduce the scope screep The project sponsor will implement--make sure
no further delays to the project are incurred.
Formal change process: Will reduce and manage scope creep on a project. It ensures
proper record keeping and easy location of information, with a defined baseline which
has clearly stated project time, cost, and quality parameters. Prevents confusion in
communication.
Consequent to this, the presence of a changed control process would result in fewer
changes being requested. The more elaborate, more bureaucratic, and requiring a
business justification to approve-can help reduce the number of requests put forth.
Exemplify the following methods of resource scheduling ; resource smoothing, resource
levelling. (20 marks) - ANSWER RS - Time constrained, move resources without
effecting the end date. e.g. living room must be painted for party occuring on 27th.
decorators must be available.
Smoothing of ResourcesResource-limited, cannot look at only total float as resource is
not available, e.g., specialist decorator is only available 8 hours a day, but the task
requires 36 hours of work to be done.
Explain three approaches responses which a project manager might consider when
optimizing the resource allocation for a project. Identify in your answer any assumptions
and implications made. (30 marks) - ANSWER crashing - throw resources at a project in
order to get it done e.g. pay for more builders
fast tracking - challenges the dependencies; can task B start before Task finishes
