APM PMQ FINAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Give one difference between a Project Life Cycle and an Extended
Life Cycle? Answer: A project life cycle contains the phases up to
transition and closure, whereas an extended life cycle goes beyond the
transition and closure phase to include the benefits realisation phase and
adoption of outputs.
⩥ What are the two extra phases of an Extended life cycle? Answer:
Adoption, Benefits Realisation
⩥ What are the different Documentation Requirements for a Project
lifecycle vs. an Extended lifecycle? Answer: A project lifecycle focuses
on documentation required for project execution and closure, such as
project plans, progress reports, and final reviews.
An extended lifecycle requires comprehensive documentation that
extends into operational manuals, long-term maintenance schedules, and
end user support materials.
⩥ How are Changes Managed for a Project lifecycle vs. an Extended
lifecycle? Answer: Project Lifecycle - Changes are managed within the
confines of the project's timeline and aim to minimise disruptions to the
initial plan.
,Extended lifecycle - Incorporates continuous change management to
adapt to evolving technologies, user requirements, and operational
challenges over time.
⩥ How is Quality Assurance carried out in Project lifecycle vs. Extended
Lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Quality assurance processes are
designed to ensure that the project meets defined standards and
specifications at closure.
Extended lifecycle - Ongoing quality assurance is crucial to maintain the
integrity, performance, and safety of the project outcomes throughout
their lifecycle.
⩥ How are Resources Allocated in a Project lifecycle vs. an Extended
lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Resources are allocated and
managed with the goal of project completion, and resource engagement
typically concludes with the project
Extended lifecycle - Resource allocation is dynamic and may increase or
decrease based on the phase of the lifecycle, such as during major
upgrades or routine maintenance.
⩥ How do skills and expertise differ across a Project lifecycle vs. an
Extended Lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Requires skills relevant
to project management and technical execution specific to the project's
requirements.
Extended lifecycle - Demands a broader range of skills, including
operational management, technical support, and lifecycle management
expertise.
,⩥ How do Feedback Mechanisms differ in a Project Lifecycle vs an
Extended Lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Feedback is often
project-focused and gathered during the project to refine processes and
outputs.
Extended lifecycle - Continuous feedback loops are essential for
adapting to user experiences, technological advancements, and market
changes
⩥ How do Sustainability Considerations differ in a Project Lifecycle vs
an Extended Lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Sustainability may
be considered in terms of project deliverables and immediate
environmental impacts.
Extended lifecycle - Includes long-term sustainability planning, focusing
on environmental impact, resource use, and economic viability over the
entire lifecycle.
⩥ How is Legal and Compliance handled in a Project lifecycle vs.
Extended lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Compliance is targeted
at meeting the legal requirements up to the project's delivery
Extended lifecycle - Extends compliance to include regulatory
requirements that affect the ongoing use, updates, and eventual
decommissioning of the project deliverables
⩥ Why might an organisation favour a linear project lifecycle? (5
reasons) Answer: Where a highly structured, predictable and stable
, process is needed which offers transparency and maximum control and
governance.
Where there is availability of relatively perfect knowledge upfront.
Which might be resistant to change and inflexible in terms of corrections
and rework.
Where knowledge / teams are divided into distinct phases, creating silos
and knowledge barriers between the phases, particularly when different
delivery agents will deliver different phases.
Lower appetite for risk
⩥ Why might an organisation favour an iterative lifecycle? (5) Answer:
Where development projects are agile.
Where departments are flexible, adaptable and open to change.
They favour the idea of concurrency, or simultaneous engineering,
where different development steps are allowed to be performed in
parallel.
They can manage uncertainty regarding the scope by allowing the
objectives to evolve throughout the life cycle as learning and discovery
take place.
Prototypes, timeboxes or parallel activities are utilised to acquire new
insights, obtain feedback or explore high-risk options.
⩥ What Organisational Context and Culture would define the influence
on life cycle choice for an organisation? (3) Answer: Risk Tolerance,
Decision making style, Change Readiness
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Give one difference between a Project Life Cycle and an Extended
Life Cycle? Answer: A project life cycle contains the phases up to
transition and closure, whereas an extended life cycle goes beyond the
transition and closure phase to include the benefits realisation phase and
adoption of outputs.
⩥ What are the two extra phases of an Extended life cycle? Answer:
Adoption, Benefits Realisation
⩥ What are the different Documentation Requirements for a Project
lifecycle vs. an Extended lifecycle? Answer: A project lifecycle focuses
on documentation required for project execution and closure, such as
project plans, progress reports, and final reviews.
An extended lifecycle requires comprehensive documentation that
extends into operational manuals, long-term maintenance schedules, and
end user support materials.
⩥ How are Changes Managed for a Project lifecycle vs. an Extended
lifecycle? Answer: Project Lifecycle - Changes are managed within the
confines of the project's timeline and aim to minimise disruptions to the
initial plan.
,Extended lifecycle - Incorporates continuous change management to
adapt to evolving technologies, user requirements, and operational
challenges over time.
⩥ How is Quality Assurance carried out in Project lifecycle vs. Extended
Lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Quality assurance processes are
designed to ensure that the project meets defined standards and
specifications at closure.
Extended lifecycle - Ongoing quality assurance is crucial to maintain the
integrity, performance, and safety of the project outcomes throughout
their lifecycle.
⩥ How are Resources Allocated in a Project lifecycle vs. an Extended
lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Resources are allocated and
managed with the goal of project completion, and resource engagement
typically concludes with the project
Extended lifecycle - Resource allocation is dynamic and may increase or
decrease based on the phase of the lifecycle, such as during major
upgrades or routine maintenance.
⩥ How do skills and expertise differ across a Project lifecycle vs. an
Extended Lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Requires skills relevant
to project management and technical execution specific to the project's
requirements.
Extended lifecycle - Demands a broader range of skills, including
operational management, technical support, and lifecycle management
expertise.
,⩥ How do Feedback Mechanisms differ in a Project Lifecycle vs an
Extended Lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Feedback is often
project-focused and gathered during the project to refine processes and
outputs.
Extended lifecycle - Continuous feedback loops are essential for
adapting to user experiences, technological advancements, and market
changes
⩥ How do Sustainability Considerations differ in a Project Lifecycle vs
an Extended Lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Sustainability may
be considered in terms of project deliverables and immediate
environmental impacts.
Extended lifecycle - Includes long-term sustainability planning, focusing
on environmental impact, resource use, and economic viability over the
entire lifecycle.
⩥ How is Legal and Compliance handled in a Project lifecycle vs.
Extended lifecycle? Answer: Project lifecycle - Compliance is targeted
at meeting the legal requirements up to the project's delivery
Extended lifecycle - Extends compliance to include regulatory
requirements that affect the ongoing use, updates, and eventual
decommissioning of the project deliverables
⩥ Why might an organisation favour a linear project lifecycle? (5
reasons) Answer: Where a highly structured, predictable and stable
, process is needed which offers transparency and maximum control and
governance.
Where there is availability of relatively perfect knowledge upfront.
Which might be resistant to change and inflexible in terms of corrections
and rework.
Where knowledge / teams are divided into distinct phases, creating silos
and knowledge barriers between the phases, particularly when different
delivery agents will deliver different phases.
Lower appetite for risk
⩥ Why might an organisation favour an iterative lifecycle? (5) Answer:
Where development projects are agile.
Where departments are flexible, adaptable and open to change.
They favour the idea of concurrency, or simultaneous engineering,
where different development steps are allowed to be performed in
parallel.
They can manage uncertainty regarding the scope by allowing the
objectives to evolve throughout the life cycle as learning and discovery
take place.
Prototypes, timeboxes or parallel activities are utilised to acquire new
insights, obtain feedback or explore high-risk options.
⩥ What Organisational Context and Culture would define the influence
on life cycle choice for an organisation? (3) Answer: Risk Tolerance,
Decision making style, Change Readiness
