During the implementation of a project, the project team discovered a new opportunity. After an internal review, the project team agreed that the opportunity is outside of theproject scope. The project manager decided to update the risk register and escalate the opportunity to a higher level.
What should the project manager do next with this opportunity?

1. A. Establish a contingency reserve to support the opportunity.
2. B. No more action is required.
3. C. Further monitor the opportunity.
4. D. Share this opportunity with another project.

Correct Answer: D
According to the PMBOK Guide, 7th edition, one of the key practices for project delivery is to “identify and respond to risks and opportunities” (p. 122). This practice involves identifying, analyzing, prioritizing, and implementing responses to risks and opportunities that may affect the project objectives, scope, schedule, cost, quality, or stakeholder satisfaction. The project manager should share the opportunity with another project that may benefit from it, as this will help to maximize the value creation and optimize the use of resources. Establishing a contingency reserve, taking no more action, or further monitoring the opportunity are noteffective ways to handle the situation, as they do not address the root cause of the problem, which is the opportunity that is outside of the project scope. References: PMBOK Guide, 7th edition, p. 122; PMP Exam Content Outline, Domain II: Process, Task 4.

A project manager is using an agile approach. During the sprint planning meeting, the product owner flagged a backlog item as high business value and easy to implement.
However, the other team members identified a high dependency between this item and another item that is flagged as low business value and high complexity.
What should the project manager do to support the backlog prioritization?

1. A. Facilitate the discussion until the team reaches an agreement about the two items.
2. B. Prioritize the item flagged as a dependency with low business value and high complexity.
3. C. Prioritize the item flagged as high business value and low complexity for this sprint.
4. D. Support the team to move both items to the next sprint when the team will know more

Correct Answer: A
According to the Agile Practice Guide, one of the agile principles is to “collaborate with others”. This means that the project manager should foster a collaborative project team environment and engage stakeholders effectively. The project manager should also use appropriate techniques and tools to facilitate the backlog prioritization process, such as value-based analysis, MoSCoW, Kano model, and relative ranking. The Agile Practice Guide also states that “prioritization is a key activity for agile teams and their stakeholders”. The project manager should support the product owner and the team to prioritize the backlog items based on various factors, such as value, urgency, dependencies, and feedback. The project manager should also help the team to resolve any conflicts or issues that may arise during the prioritization process, and reach a consensus on the best course of action. Therefore, the best answer is A. References: Agile Practice Guide, pages 9, 10, 35, 36, 37.

Product implementation portions of a project are nearing completion. The project manager schedules a series of meetings to meet with the marketing management team. During the meeting, the marketing
manager tells the project manager that some key members of the department will not be available to work on the implementation for the next 3 months.
What should the project manager do?

1. A. Cancel the meeting series until the marketing team provides a solution.
2. B. Consult the project team and discuss the key team members’ availability.
3. C. Shift those key members and assign them to another project.
4. D. Consult the resource management plan and escalate to the sponsor.

Correct Answer: D
The resource management plan is a component of the project management plan that describes how the project resources are acquired, allocated, monitored, and controlled. It also defines the roles and responsibilities of the project team members and the reporting structure. The resource management plan is an important input for managing project resources and resolving resource conflicts. If the project manager faces a situation where some key resources are not available for the project, he or she should consult the resource management plan and escalate the issue to the sponsor or other appropriate stakeholders. The sponsor can help the project manager negotiate with the functional managers or other resource providers to secure the required resources for the project. The sponsor can also authorize changes to the project scope,schedule, or budget to accommodate the resource constraints. The other options are not appropriate because they do not address the root cause of the problem and may lead to further delays or risks for the project. References: PMBOK Guide, 7th edition, section 9.1.3.1, page 309; PMI, PMP Exam Content Outline, 2021, Domain II: Process, Task 5.

A few stakeholders missed the session that was conducted to validate project alignment with organizational strategy and expected business value. For this reason, their inputs were not collected. This is the root cause of some conflicts in the decision-making process. What should the project manager do first to resolve this situation?

1. A. Reschedule the session.
2. B. Recognize and understand the conflict.
3. C. List alternative courses of action.
4. D. Apply risk assessment techniques.

Correct Answer: B
According to the PMP reference materials, conflict is a natural and inevitable occurrence in any project, and it can have both positive and negative effects on the project performance and outcomes12. Therefore, the project manager should be able to identify, analyze, and manage conflict effectively, using various conflict resolution techniques and skills12. According to the best practices for conflict resolution, the first step in resolving any conflict is to recognize and understand the conflict, its sources, types, and impacts34. This step involves listening to the different perspectives of the parties involved, acknowledging their feelings and emotions, and clarifying the facts and assumptions34. This step helps the project manager to gain a deeper insight into the nature and scope of the conflict, and to identify the underlying needs and interests of the stakeholders34. The other options are not the best actions to take as the first step to resolve this situation, as they either skip or delay the recognition and understanding of the conflict, or they are not relevant or feasible for the scenario. Rescheduling the session (A) may not be possible or effective, as it may not address the root cause of the conflict, or it may aggravate the situation by creating more delays and dissatisfaction. Listing alternative courses of action © may be a useful step later in the conflict resolution process, but it requires a prior understanding of the conflict and its implications. Applying risk assessment techniques (D) may not be appropriate or necessary, as the conflict may not be a risk, but a reality, and it may not be resolved by applying risk management tools or methods. References: 1: Manage Project Team - Project Management Institute 2: Conflict Management - Project Management Knowledge 3: Conflict Resolution Tips and Conflict Resolution Techniques for the PMP …3 4: 5 Conflict Resolution Techniques in Project Management - PM Study Circle1

A project is halfway through its execution phase. The quality specifications for the project deliverables are formally accepted. However, a key stakeholder is dissatisfied, stating that the deliverables do not meet the quality specifications. What should the project manager do in this situation?

1. A. Notify the stakeholder that arbitration procedures will be followed.
2. B. Review the requirements traceability matrix and conduct inspections.
3. C. Document the issue in the issue log and send a report to management.
4. D. Inform the project sponsor of the stakeholder's dissatisfaction.

Correct Answer: B
The requirements traceability matrix is a tool that links the project requirements to the project scope, deliverables, quality criteria, and verification methods. It helps to ensure that the project meets the stakeholder expectations and the quality standards. By reviewing the matrix and conducting inspections, the project manager can identify any gaps or discrepancies between the quality specifications and the deliverables, and take corrective actions if needed. The other options are not appropriate in thissituation, as they do not address the root cause of the stakeholder’s dissatisfaction or the quality issue. References: PMBOK Guide, 7th edition, page 101, 103, 108.