IPMA Level D Examination

A project manager can take responsibility for their actions by:

amending contractual terms with a supplier.

consulting with senior internal stakeholders.

realigning their job description to actual task.

taking ownership of both positive and negative results.

Which of the following is not a benefit of producing a high-level project overview?

Uniform roles and responsibilities

Limited planning

Consistent terminology

Standard documentation

Which of the following is the best way in which a project manager could develop and get agreement on the project plan?

Use effective communication

Use transition management

Adopt a proactive management style

Adopt a reactive management style

When assessing the use of critical success factors, which one of the following would demonstrate they are being used correctly?

Critical success factors remain fixed throughout the project

Critical success dactors are measuring if the project is leading and/or lagging in performance

Critical success factors are derived from key performance indicators to measure if the project is achieving strategic goals

Critical success factors are directly aligned to both organisational and project objectives

Which of the following project manager behaviours is most likely to facilitate open communication?

Engaging in two-way communication with stakeholders

Creating a project communication plan

Conducting project team briefings

Talking with members of a project team

Configuration management contributes to the scope configuration by:

ensuring that project costs are controlled.

minimising deficiencies, errors and unintended scope creep.

preventing changes to the project scope.

controlling changes to the project management plan.

Which of the following must a project manager do when prioritising and deciding a project’s requirements and acceptance criteria?

Document and agree the project goal hierarchy

Document and agree the sponsor’s needs and requirements

Document and agree stakeholder needs and requirements

Document and agree lessons learned

Which of the following best explains why a project manager should address personal and professional shortcomings?

Addressing personal and professional shortcomings will always result in the completion of tasks

Addressing personal and professional shortcomings should remove barriers to professional success

Addressing personal and professional shortcomings will always result in professional success

Addressing personal and professional shortcomings should demonstrate ownership of problems

What might the project manager do to best get early buy in to the project?

Organise and facilitate a project start-up workshop

Tell all team members their roles

Produce a risk register

Start as soon as possible to save time

Which of the following statements concerning how a responsible individual evaluates and selects potential suppliers is true?

They ensure the first response scores the highest

They ensure the cheapest proposal scores the highest

They define and apply a set of logical steps in the selection process

They develop selection criteria on receipt of tender responses

Alignment of a project to an organisation’s mission and vision and compliance with organisational constraints and objectives can be effectively achieved by:

establishing a detailed project budget.

using diagnostic management control systems.

developing a balanced scorecard.

writing a project communication strategy.

Which of the following questions is the most appropriate one which a project manager should ask when evaluating decisions and actions?

Will the decision or action improve communication?

Will the decision or action inform the project’s strategy?

Will the decision or action explain how to meet targets?

Will the decision or action threaten the project’s objective?

If the cost of implementing the response is not an issue, what is the best strategy to take the opportunities associated with a positive risk?

To mitigate the opportunity

To accept the opportunity

To exploit the opportunity

To transfer the opportunity

When determining key performance indicators, which statement best describes how they can be used?

Key performance indicators can only be used for project delivery timeliness

Key performance indicators can be leading or lagging measures, either preceding or following an event

Key performance indicators must remain fixed for the duration of the project

Key performance indicators can be used to define critical success factors

Which of the following is not a feature of a negotiation strategy?

Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement

Budgetary conditions and politics

What-if scenarios and power-balance

Negotiating team, their roles and responsibilities

Which of the following would be the most likely way a project manager would review the project’s success criteria?

By scheduling meetings monthly to review progress to date

By scheduling meetings at regular intervals for sponsor and stakeholders

By reviewing workload weekly with the project team

By regularly checking the project’s progress against the formal and informal success criteria

Which of the following statements is false? When identifying the need to procure a product or service, the project manager:

prepares, produces or collects necessary information as input.

defines tender documents and selection criteria based on needs.

defines which supplier will be awarded the work.

defines reasons (based on needs) for procurement or partnership.

What should be considered when planning a project activity where the general public could be put at risk?

Health and safety regulations

Planning regulations

Environmental legislation

Employment legislation

What would be the best approach for a project manager when identifying areas for personal learning and development?

Ignore feedback from the team but seek discussion with project sponsor

Measure own performance, use feedback and then review

Identify training courses and then discuss with line manager

Wait to hear from line manager if improvement is necessary

Reporting on progress by exception would usually be used when:

the project team has no leader.

the project team has external contractors.

the project team is experienced.

the project team is newly formed.

As a project manager you have identified a high impact commercial risk suitable for mitigation through transfer. Which of the following is the most appropriate action to address this risk?

Handover ownership of the risk to the health and safety manager

Escalate the risk ownership to the sponsor and steering committee

Arrange for the risk to be owned by an insurance company

Arrange for the risk ownership be taken over by the risk manager

Identifying the social and environmental consequences of a project will help to ensure a project:

complies with sustainability principles and objectives.

aligns to appropriate codes of conduct.

establishes relevant professional standards.

develops required health and safety protocols.

Which of the following is most likely to facilitate open, honest and frank communication?

A reward and retribution system

Permitting disagreement and conflict

A mutually respectful atmosphere

A strong approach to leadership

When prioritising and deciding a project’s requirements and acceptance criteria, a project manager should document and agree:

lessons learned.

stakeholder needs and requirements.

the project plan and financial budget.

the project goal hierarchy.

Which one of the following statements best describes how agreement can be reached from a negotiation process?

It always makes use of best practice tools and techniques

It can be reached over an extended time-frame and may proceed in phases

It can be reached by focussing on short term gains for both parties

It always makes use of the Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA)

Preparing and implementing a contingency plan will most likely help to:

assure stakeholder risk is controlled.

improve schedule and cost accuracy

reduce cost of risk mitigation.

address risks and opportunities.

Which of the following would help a project manager to control performance against the project plan and take remedial action where necessary?

An integrated work breakdown structure

An integrated lessons learned log

An integrated project reporting system

An integrated communication plan

When defining and developing the project goal hierarchy, a project manager should:

create an appropriate work breakdown structure and work packages.

establish the relationship between the organisational and project goals.

establish the needs of key internal stakeholders only.

create and communicate the project charter with all stakeholders.

When seeking to overcome resistance to change from those most affected by the change initiative, a project manager should:

collaborate with the sponsor.

design manageable work packages.

communicate with all stakeholders.

design a coherent intervention plan.

Which of the following is most likely to help a project manager define work packages?

The purpose of the goal hierarchy

The resources required and their duration

The aims and objectives of the project

The environment in which the project is located

Which of the following should be done by the project manager when selecting a supplier for the project?

Make a choice of supplier from those previously used when allocating work as they will know the requirements

Always use the cheapest quote as projects are cost driven, as long as it satisfies the contract conditions

Allocate on recommendation from others within the company as long as contract conditions are generally satisfied

Go out to tender and evaluate the bids checking the detail and allocating to the supplier that satisfies all of the requirement

A project manager seeking to identify how to influence organisational strategy must:

use their network to influence the board about their opinions.

show stakeholders that failing projects reflect poorly defined strategy.

reflect on pre-set strategic goals and the tools and methods needed to question these goals.

apply theoretical strategy models to the organisation.

Which of the following statements is false when preparing for a negotiation?

The best alternative to a negotiated solution should be identified

Trade-offs should be developed during preparation and shouldn’t change

Trade-offs should be developed during preparation and modified as needed

Alternative solutions should be developed before the process begins

Which of the following would best help the project manager to select an overall project management approach?

Assessment of the constraints and complexity of the project

Understand the strengths of the project team and work accordingly

Identify the approach used on a previous project and copy it

Discuss what would best suit the project suppliers

What of the following would be the best way for a project manager to show responsibility for own personal learning and development?

By seeking new roles within the organisation

By never accepting criticism and seeking others to blame

By discussion with line manager to identify training courses

By accepting feedback and focussing on improving own work and capacities

Assessing and prioritising project requirements will help a project manager to:

focus on continuous improvement.

promote the project to all stakeholders.

optimise project outcomes and success.

demonstrate an ability to get things done.

Tools and techniques such as scenario planning, probabilistic impacts, Monte Carlo analysis and decision trees are most closely associated with which of the following disciplines in project management?

Risk assessment

Planning and scheduling

Budgets and cost control

Tracking and controls

Establishment of the project deliverables is best achieved by the use of:

scope definition techniques.

using expert judgement.

the available resources.

stakeholder wish lists.

Which of the following would help a project manager to choose an appropriate communication style?

Taking a unilateral decision.

Use an organisational template.

Adopting a previous project style.

Establishing the target audience.

When initiating and managing the transition to a new phase of the project, a project manager would usually:

facilitate a start-up workshop.

reconfirm the project management plans.

change the communication plan.

control project performance.

Which of the following is the best way a project manager could maintain effective communication with virtual teams?

Hold regular face to face meetings

Provide reliable communication equipment

Hold regular tele-conferences

Establish clear lines of communication

When managing deviation from contracts, the first thing a project manager must do is to:

take action within their organisation.

issue a penalty as soon as possible.

request a renegotiation as soon as possible.

take legal action as soon as possible.

How would a project manager most likely evaluate and monitor risk responses?

Request a report of progress from the project team

Perform a review of the project risk with the risk owner periodically

Evaluate the risk register at project gate reviews

Check with senior management to ensure buy in

Which of the following would best explain how project managers could establish their contribution to the success of a project?

Produce a personal reflection which includes a general overview of the contribution

Produce a personal reflection which focuses on the work allocated by the sponsor

Produce a personal reflection on the areas where the project manager has influenced decisions

Produce a personal reflection on input in all areas and identify how value has been added

When identifying and assessing project stakeholder needs and requirements, a project manager must understand that needs and expectations are:

not the same as stated requirements.

the same as stated requirements.

internal considerations.

external considerations.

Any changes to the project scope should be evaluated against which one of the following?

The project manager’s availability

The project’s objectives and agreed outcomes

The views of the project team

The disruption to work already completed

Which of the following would be the best way for a project manager to identify and reflect on personal motivations to set goals and maintain focus?

Identify professional goals during annual appraisal

Identify long term and short-term goals with management influence

Set personal and professional goals and priorities

Discuss personal and professional goals with mentor

When establishing and maintaining scope configuration, it is important for a project manager to know that scope configuration management is a:

continuous process.

time bound process.

feature of a work breakdown structure.

work package boundary.

A project manager seeking to ensure the ongoing validity of the business justification for their project must:

identify how the scope will shape the success criteria.

identify the project objectives to shape the benefits.

await the development of the business case by the project sponsors.

reflect on and define the business justification in a formal document.

Which of the following best describes why it is important for a project manager to complete tasks thoroughly?

Project managers have responsibility

Demonstrates correct actions to be taken

Meets quality requirement

Gives others confidence in the project manager’s ability

In preparing for a negotiation, the best way an individual can understand the interests of all involved parties, is to:

ensure they get to know the relevant parties before the negotiation begins and conduct analysis later.

collect, document and analyse relevant hard and soft information about the parties.

gather facts on individual’s interests as the negotiation progresses.

use formal means to collect and analyse information they have found during the negotiation.

Which of the following best explains what a project manager should do to understand the impact of change on an organisation to ensure the project’s continuing success?

Establish new key performance indicators based on the change

Adopt a flexible approach to change

Review the requirements of the change

Assess the organisation’s ability to change

Which of the following is a project manager most likely to do when seeking to overcome continued resistance to change once the change initiative has been implemented?

Collaborate with the sponsor

Communicate with all stakeholders

Redesign the work packages

Use reinforcement techniques

Which of the following best explains what a project manager should do to identify and ensure a project complies with codes of conduct and professional regulation?

Identify relevant codes of conduct and professional regulation and ensure they are complied with

Identify all codes of conduct and professional regulation and ensure they are complied with

Identify breaches to relevant codes of conduct and professional regulation and ensure they are corrected

Identify breaches to all codes of conduct and professional regulation and ensure they are corrected

Which of the following best explains what a project manager should do to help ensure a project complies with health, safety, security and environmental (HSSE) regulations?

Know the professional standards which apply to all projects

Know all of the HSSE regulations and policies

Know the HSSE risks associated with a project

Know which of the HSSE regulations are relevant to the project