Section 2: Integration Management

QUESTION 21
You have always been asked by your management to cut your project estimate by 10 percent after you have given it to them. The scope of your new project is unclear and there are over 30 stakeholders. Management expects a 25 percent reduction in downtime as a result of the project. Which of the following is the BEST course of action in this situation?
A. Replan to achieve a 35 percent improvement in downtime.
B. Reduce the estimates and note the changes in the risk response plan.
C. Provide an accurate estimate of the actual costs and be able to support your estimate.
D. Meet with the team to identify where you can find 10 percent savings.

Answer: C
Explanation:
This is a common problem on projects that many inexperienced project managers handle by doing choice B or D. If your estimates are accurate, you are ethically bound to stand by them (choice C). Management’s only option to cut cost is to support the project manager looking for alternatives related to all project constraints. Choice A does not address the issue at hand, costs.
Source: PMP® Exam Prep Page: 232

QUESTION 22
You are a new project manager for Company B. You previously worked for Company A, which had an extensive project management practice. Company B has its own procedures, but you are more familiar with those from Company A. You should:
A. Use the practices from Company A but include any forms from Company B.
B. Use the forms from Company B and begin to instruct them on ways to upgrade them.
C. Talk about changes to the change control board of Company B.
D. Interact with others in an ethical way by sharing the good aspects of Company A’s procedures.
Answer: B
Explanation:
You need to follow Company B’s procedures while you try to influence improvement via the change management processes.
Source: PMP® Exam Prep Page: 483

QUESTION 23
You are a project manager on an international project of great importance to the client. The client is from another country and is so excited by how well the project is going that he presents you with a company automobile for your personal use. The BEST thing for you to do would be to:
A. Thank him and offer a gift in exchange.
B. Politely turn down the gift.
C. Ask that the gift be exchanged for something that can be shared by the team.
D. Ask for a gift that can be used up before you return home.
Answer: B
Explanation:
The only allowable or ethical choice is B. You cannot accept the gift, or any gift of the magnitude of a car.
Source: PMP® Exam Prep Page: 489

QUESTION 24
Adhering to legal requirements, satisfying competing needs, providing accurate and truthful representations, and disclosing conflicts of interest are all:
A. Examples of scope management.
B. Examples of the professional and social responsibility of the project manager.
C. Examples of project closure activities.
D. Examples of the intellectual property requirements of subcontractors.
Answer: B
Explanation:
The project manager must manage professional and social responsibility.
Source: PMP® Exam Prep Page: 431

QUESTION 25
In the course of completing work on the project, the project manager needs to complete an activity that she has never done before. During this time, the project manager attends a professional association discussion where the presenter discusses how he completed a difficult activity on his project that is similar to the project manager’s activity. He provides a handout describing his process. The project manager should:
A. Use the process to complete the activity.
B. Ask the speaker for permission to use the information.
C. Ignore the information.
D. Ask her manager for guidance.
Answer: B
Explanation:
Any document created by someone else should be considered copyrighted information. Asking permission would be the best choice.
Source: PMP® Exam Prep Page: 486

QUESTION 26
You are taken to lunch by one of your sellers who has become a friend. He gives you an opportunity to participate in a new venture in association with his company, unrelated to your current employment. What should you do?
A. Refuse to participate.
B. Participate.
C. Participate, but advise your employer of the offer.
D. Request your employer’s consent for your participation.
Answer: D
Explanation:
There could be an apparent conflict of interest in the offer. Your employer may waive such conflicts, but it is best to speak with the management of your company. If they refuse and you want to participate in the offer, you would most likely need to leave your current position.
Source: PMP® Exam Prep Page: 490

QUESTION 27
A good friend at work tells you that when his wife was diagnosed with cancer, he stole items from work and sold them, using the money for her treatment. He has since paid back the money taken, in ways that kept his theft secret. Ethically, what should you do?
A. Advise your friend to tell his company and do nothing.
B. Report him to his manager.
C. Talk with a lawyer to see if this can be justified.
D. Attempt to gather evidence to determine whether or not the theft in fact occurred.
Answer: B
Explanation:
All theft must be reported.
Source: PMP® Exam Prep Page: 486

QUESTION 28
A family member has a copy of a software program. He offers it to you at no cost because it will solve a business problem you have discussed with him. What should you do?
A. Do not accept the software, and advise the family member that such activity is in violation of copyright law.
B. Refuse the software, and notify the owner of the software.
C. Accept the software, and use it until you are able to buy the software yourself.
D. Accept the software with thanks since the software creator will not find out.
Answer: A
Explanation:
Did this one trick you? Normally, one would report a copyright violation. Here there isn’t a copyright violation.
The family member is offering, they have not already done it. This is why the correct answer is A. Don’t worry, you will get used to these tricky questions. Remember that the questions you will see on the actual exam may have different words, but they will test the same concepts. Watch out for this type of tricky question where the situation is changed just slightly from what one would expect, which therefore changes the answer.
Source: PMP® Exam Prep Page: 487

QUESTION 29
You have designed an improved system for a consumer product that could decrease repair cost for the consumer. Management is impressed with your idea, but has decided to wait until next year to implement it.
What is the BEST thing to do?
A. Advise government officials that there is a better alternative that could save the public money.
B. Wait until next year.
C. Go to one of your competitors with the idea in order to save consumers cost.
D. Tell everyone you come in contact with that you have a better design.
Answer: B
Explanation:
You need to wait until management approves the effort.
Source: PMP® Exam Prep Page: 483

QUESTION 30
While reading a magazine article, you discover there is a tool of project management that other companies are using, but that your company has never heard of. What should you do?
A. Copy the article and pass it around your company.
B. Talk to your colleagues and see if they know about it.
C. Arrange a meeting with your manager to discuss it.
D. Summarize your opinion of the benefits of using this information in your company. Present your analysis to your manager.
Answer: D
Explanation:
You want to present options to your boss, therefore D is the best answer. Answer A is a violation of copyright law and unethical. Answers B and C don’t really solve the problem.
Source: PMP® Exam Prep Page: 486