CompTIA PK0-005 CompTIA Project+ Certification Exam Exam Practice Test

A finish-to-start relationship is a type of logical dependency between two tasks, in which the first task must be completed before the second task can start. In this scenario, the document containing information about how the new system will interact with other systems within the organization is a prerequisite for the configuration of the system in development. Therefore, the document writing task must finish before the configuration task can start, which is a finish-to-start relationship. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 6: Schedule Management1; CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, 3rd Edition, Chapter 6: Schedule Management2

This answer is based on the best practice of conflict resolution in project management, which is to use a collaborative or problem-solving approach that seeks a win-win outcome for all parties involved12. By facilitating a meeting, the project manager can help the team members communicate effectively, understand each other’s perspectives, and find a mutually acceptable solution that meets the project requirements. This way, the project manager can also maintain team morale and cohesion, and avoid imposing a decision that may cause resentment or dissatisfaction among the team members3. References = CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide4, CompTIA Project+ Certification Exam Objectives5, How Do You Handle Conflict in Project Management?1, 7 Strategies for Conflict Resolution in Project Management2, The Conflict Resolution Skills Every Project Manager Needs3

A traceability matrix is a document that maps the requirements of a project to the deliverables, test cases, and changes that are produced to meet those requirements. It helps the project manager to track the origin, status, and impact of each requirement throughout the project life cycle. A traceability matrix can also identify who requested or approved each requirement. Therefore, the project manager can use the traceability matrix to identify who requested the specific item that caused the regression test to fail12.

The project manager should use synchronous communication methods if they prefer to have immediate contact with team members. Synchronous communication is a type of communication that occurs in real time and allows for faster response times and more interactive discussions. Examples of synchronous communication methods include phone calls, video conferences, instant messaging, and face-to-face meetings. Synchronous communication can help to build rapport, clarify doubts, and resolve issues quickly among team members.

Synchronous communication should be used when the project manager prefers to have immediate contact with team members. Synchronous communication allows for real-time interaction and feedback, enabling faster response times and more interactive discussions. References: CompTIA Project+ Study Guide Section 3.1.3

A task board is a visual tool that displays team progress for stand-up meetings. A task board usually consists of columns that represent different stages or statuses of tasks, such as to do, in progress, done, or blocked. Each task is represented by a card or sticky note that can be moved across the columns as the task progresses. A task board can help to facilitate communication, collaboration, and transparency among team members and stakeholders. It can also help to track and manage work flow, prioritize tasks, identify bottlenecks, and resolve issues3

Assess the impact of the request and create a change request. The project manager should assess the impact of the request and create a change request in response to the stakeholder asking to add mobile device functionality to a project that is on track to be completed under budget and ahead of schedule. A change request is a document that formally proposes and records a modification or addition to some aspect of a project, such as scope, schedule, cost, quality, or resources. A change request can help to communicate and justify the need and rationale for the change and its implications on the project objectives and deliverables. A change request also helps to initiate the change control process, which involves reviewing, approving, implementing, and monitoring the change12

The scatter diagram shows a clear negative correlation between time (days) and output (pages), meaning as time progresses, the number of pages completed decreases. This is evident from the downward trend of the plotted points on the graph. References = CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 3: Project Execution, page 130; CompTIA Project+ Certification Exam Objectives, Domain 3.0: Project Execution, Objective 3.3: Analyze project performance by using appropriate tools and techniques, Sub-objective 3.3.2: Given a scenario, interpret the results of data analysis using appropriate tools and techniques, Knowledge of: Scatter diagrams.

A RACI chart would be the most useful option for the project manager to illustrate roles for major project activities for an upcoming project kickoff. A RACI chart is a visual representation of a RACI matrix that shows who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed for each task or activity in a project using a table format. A RACI chart can help to communicate and document the roles and expectations of each team member and stakeholder for the project and ensure alignment and agreement.

 The project manager is creating a quality assurance plan when identifying multiple techniques that will help the project team ensure confidence and alignment with the project scope and goals during a brainstorming meeting. A quality assurance plan is a plan that defines and documents the standards, criteria, methods, activities, and tools for ensuring and verifying that the quality requirements and expectations of a project are met. A quality assurance plan can help to improve the quality of the project processes and deliverables and prevent or reduce defects or errors.

The project manager and contractor should review the vendor rules of engagement, which are the guidelines and expectations for the communication and interaction between the project team and the contractor. The vendor rules of engagement can help to prevent or resolve communication conflicts by clarifying the roles and responsibilities, the frequency and mode of communication, the escalation process, the feedback mechanism, and the performance evaluation criteria of the contractor. The vendor rules of engagement are usually part of the contract or the procurement management plan.

The vendor rules of engagement are different from the scope of work, which is the document that describes the work to be performed, the deliverables to be provided, and the acceptance criteria to be met by the contractor. The vendor rules of engagement are also different from the request for proposal, which is the document that solicits proposals from potential contractors by specifying the project requirements, evaluation criteria, and contract terms. The vendor rules of engagement are also different from the project schedule, which is the tool that displays the planned start and finish dates, durations, dependencies, and resources of the project activities and tasks. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 12: Procurement Management1; CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, 3rd Edition, Chapter 12: Procurement Management2; Vendor Rules of Engagement3

A rollback plan is a contingency plan that describes how to revert the system to its previous state in case the change fails or causes problems. A rollback plan is important to minimize the impact of a failed change and ensure the system’s availability and functionality12.

A deployment plan is a document that outlines the steps and procedures for implementing the change in the production environment. A deployment plan is important to ensure the change is executed smoothly, efficiently, and securely, and that the system meets the expected performance and quality standards34.

Phishing is a scenario where someone claiming to be from a legitimate organization sends an email or other message to a target person asking for sensitive information or access to a system or account. Phishing is a type of cyberattack that aims to trick the target into revealing personal or financial data or installing malware on their device. Phishing can compromise the security and privacy of the target and expose them to identity theft, fraud, or other malicious activities.

The number of items in the backlog can be determined by looking at the “Commitment” column for each sprint in the provided chart. For Sprint 5, there is a commitment of completing 23 items, which is the highest among all sprints. This indicates that there are at least 23 items in the backlog to be worked on. This is consistent with the concept of agile project management, which allows for changes and additions to the project scope based on customer feedback and changing requirements. References = CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 14: Agile Project Management, page 321. CompTIA Project+ Cert Guide: Exam PK0-004, Chapter 9: Agile Project Management, page 287

Assessing the resource pool is the process of identifying and evaluating the availability, skills, and costs of the resources needed for the project. The PM reviews the SOW from the contractor to understand the scope and requirements of the project, grades the full-time equivalents’ resumes to determine their qualifications and suitability for the project, evaluates the titles and salaries to estimate the budget and allocation of the resources, and estimates the number of hours for each milestone by full-time equivalents to plan the schedule and workload of the project12.

A change log is a document that records and tracks the changes that are made to the project scope, schedule, budget, or quality. It helps the project manager to monitor and control the project performance and ensure that the changes are aligned with the project objectives and stakeholders’ expectations. A change log can also include information such as the change description, impact, status, approval, and date. A change log is the best source for the PM to use to confirm the assertion that the functionality request was rejected during the planning phase, as it would show the details and reasons for the rejection12.

An issue log is a document that records and tracks any issues that arise during a project and how they are resolved1. It is different from a risk register, which records and tracks potential risks that may or may not occur during a project2. When a risk becomes an issue, it means that it has occurred and has a negative impact on the project. Therefore, the project manager should update the issue log next to document the compliance issue, its cause, its impact, its priority, its owner, and its resolution status3. Updating the issue log will help the project manager communicate the issue to the stakeholders, monitor the progress of the mitigation plan, and prevent similar issues from happening again4. References = CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 11: Executing Projects Part 2, page 331; Project Risk Mitigation Guide + Starter Kit | Smartsheet, Risk Register section; How to Make a Risk Management Plan (Template Included) - ProjectManager, Risk Register section; Issue Log - Project Management Knowledge, Introduction section; Issue Log Template: Free Download | ProjectManager, Introduction and How to Use an Issue Log sections.

The closing phase is when the project manager and the team finalize the project, deliver the outcomes to the customer, obtain formal acceptance, conduct lessons learned, and hand over the project to the operations team. Identifying the baseline go-live date, the operational training, and the handoff procedures are part of the closing activities that ensure a smooth transition and closure of the project. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 14: Closing Projects, p. 333-334.

The next step after defining tasks, durations, resources, and costs is to establish baselines. A baseline is an approved version of a project plan that serves as a reference point for measuring progress and performance throughout the project lifecycle. A baseline typically includes scope, schedule, cost, quality, and risk parameters. Establishing baselines involves presenting the project plan to key stakeholders and obtaining their formal agreement on the project objectives and deliverables. Baseline approval can help to establish clear expectations, avoid scope creep, and facilitate change control during project execution34

Operational security (OPSEC) is a process that prevents sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands by viewing operations from the perspective of an adversary1. Facility access is a form of OPSEC that controls who can enter and exit a physical location where sensitive data or equipment is stored or processed. Facility access can include measures such as locks, alarms, badges, biometrics, guards, and cameras. The other options are not correct because:

• Mobile device compliance is a policy that ensures that mobile devices used by employees or contractors meet certain security standards and requirements, such as encryption, password protection, antivirus, and remote wipe. Mobile device compliance is not a form of OPSEC, but rather a form of data security or device management.
• Background screening is a process that checks the criminal, financial, and employment history of a potential employee or contractor before hiring them. Background screening is not a form of OPSEC, but rather a form of human resource management or risk mitigation.
• Multifactor authentication is a method that requires users to provide two or more pieces of evidence to verify their identity before accessing a system or service, such as a password, a code, a token, or a biometric. Multifactor authentication is not a form of OPSEC, but rather a form of access control or identity management. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 10: Executing and Closing Projects, page 314; CompTIA Project+ Certification Exam Objectives, Domain 3: Project Execution, Objective 3.2: Given a scenario, execute and monitor project tasks using traditional methodologies; What is Operational Security? The Five-Step Process, Best Practices, and More

The project manager should develop a rollback plan next after determining the appropriate maintenance window in the operational infrastructure change process. A rollback plan is a contingency plan that describes how to revert to the previous state of the system or infrastructure in case of a failure or disruption during the change implementation. A rollback plan can help to minimize the impact and risk of the change and ensure business continuity and stability.

This answer is based on the best practice of defining access requirements in project management, which is to identify the roles, responsibilities, and permissions of the project team members and other stakeholders who need to access the project information, resources, and deliverables12. The first step in this process is to assess the resource pool, which is the availability and capability of the human resources that can be assigned to the project34. By assessing the resource pool, the project manager can determine the skills, experience, and security clearance of the potential project team members, as well as their reporting relationships, communication preferences, and expectations56. This information can help the project manager to define the access requirements for each role and stakeholder group, and to assign the appropriate level of access to the project data, documents, tools, and systems78. References = CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide9, CompTIA Project+ Certification Exam Objectives10, What is Requirements Management?, How to Write Project Requirements, A Guide to Functional Requirements, Project Requirements Management: A Quick Guide, Creating clear project requirements, How to Define Project Roles and Responsibilities

The statement of work (SOW) would be the next document that a project manager should update once the need to procure goods and/or services is identified. A SOW is a document that defines the scope, deliverables, schedule, and terms and conditions of a project or contract. A SOW typically includes information such as purpose, scope of work, location of work, period of performance, deliverables schedule, applicable standards, acceptance criteria, special requirements, and payment schedule. A SOW can help to establish a common understanding and agreement between the client and the service provider on what needs to be done and how it will be done.

A velocity chart is a tool used in agile project management to track the progress and performance of a project team over time. It shows the number of features or user stories completed in each iteration or sprint. The planned timeline line represents the expected or ideal velocity, while the actual effort line shows the actual or achieved velocity. By comparing the two lines, the Scrum master can identify any gaps, trends, or issues in the project delivery.

Based on the image, the most likely update that the Scrum master can provide to the senior management team is D. The project is trending ahead of schedule. This is because the actual effort line is above the planned timeline line for most of the time, indicating that the project team is completing more features than expected in each sprint. This means that the project is ahead of schedule and has a positive velocity variance. 

Removing access means revoking the contractor’s permissions to access the project data, systems, and devices after the project is closed. This is a crucial security measure to prevent unauthorized access, misuse, or theft of sensitive data by external parties. Closing contracts, project sign-off, and project evaluation are important steps in the project closure process, but they do not necessarily prevent data theft by themselves. They may involve formal agreements, documentation, and feedback, but they do not address the technical aspects of data security. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, Third Edition, Chapter 14: Closing the Project, page 3771; 9 Ways to Prevent Third-Party Data Breaches in 20232; 3 Ways to Prevent Data Theft by Contractors3

A weak matrix organizational structure is one where the project manager has low authority and the functional manager has high authority. The project manager is considered to be a coordinator or an escalator, and the team members are primarily loyal to their functional units. This can cause issues with team motivation, communication, and performance1

According to PRINCE2, a project management methodology, the process of initiating a project includes creating the project plan, which is a high-level plan that covers the whole project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risks. The project plan is based on the project brief, the business case, and the product descriptions. The project plan is used to obtain the authorization from the project board to initiate and execute the project. The project plan is also refined and updated throughout the project life cycle as more information becomes available.

The other processes are not directly involved in creating the project plan. Starting up a project is a pre-project process that ensures the project is viable and worthwhile, and produces the project brief and the initiation stage plan. Managing product delivery is a process that coordinates the delivery of products from the team managers to the project manager, and ensures that the work conforms to the quality criteria and the project plan. Directing a project is a process that enables the project board to oversee and control the project, and make key decisions and approvals. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 5: Project Scope Management1; CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, 3rd Edition, Chapter 5: Project Scope Management2; PRINCE2 Processes - 7 Processes Of PRINCE2 Explained3; Initiating a Project Process – This process is the procedure which defines the product quality, Project Product, project timeline, costs, the commitment of resources, risk analysis, and assembles the Project Initiation Documentation (PID)4

When a project team lacks hands-on experience and decides to involve a third-party vendor for product development, the first document to expedite is a Request for Proposal (RFP). An RFP outlines the project requirements and asks potential vendors to submit proposals detailing how they would meet those requirements and at what cost. This allows the project manager to evaluate the capabilities and offerings of different vendors before making a decision.

References = CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide (PK0-005)

The product owner is the person who is responsible for managing the product backlog, which includes adding, removing, or changing items based on stakeholder feedback and business value. The product owner is also the one who can collaborate with the development team and the scrum master to decide if a change can be accommodated in the current sprint or deferred to a future sprint. Therefore, the stakeholder should have asked the product owner to request the change instead of the team member, who is not authorized to make changes to the sprint backlog12.

The project manager should validate against the scope statement and ask for sign-off after a system was implemented and testing was successfully completed. The scope statement is a document that defines and documents the project scope, objectives, deliverables, requirements, assumptions, and constraints. The scope statement can help to establish a common understanding and agreement between the project manager and the stakeholders on what the project aims to achieve and deliver. Validating against the scope statement means checking whether the project deliverables meet the agreed-upon scope criteria and quality standards. Asking for sign-off means requesting formal acceptance and approval of the project deliverables from the stakeholders.

Issue log and change log are documents that should be used to record the event where the project team has just experienced an unexpected event and implemented a work-around. An issue log is a document that tracks and records any issues or problems that arise during a project and how they are resolved. An issue log can help to monitor and control the project performance and quality and prevent any negative impacts on the project objectives and deliverables. A change log is a document that tracks and records any changes or modifications that are made to the project scope, schedule, cost, quality, or resources during a project. A change log can help to document the change request, approval, implementation, and impact of each change and ensure traceability and transparency.

the brand of a project should deliver the message about its value and goals, and a proper brand helps the project get the necessary support and increases loyalty. The project that promotes new initiatives to expand its benefit to other communities is the one that best represents the project impact to a company’s brand value, as it shows the company’s vision, cause, and reputation.

Application deployment typically involves making a software application available for use, often involving downtime or unavailability of the application. The description of the project manager notifying users about the application being unavailable for a certain period aligns with standard practices during deployment phases. The other options, such as rollback plans, validation checks, and maintenance window schedules, although important, do not directly indicate the action of making an application available for use, as described in the scenario.

The project manager has taken a risk mitigation approach by buying the item from another vendor who can supply it immediately. Risk mitigation is a strategy that involves reducing the probability and/or impact of a negative risk to an acceptable level. By purchasing the item from another vendor, the project manager has reduced the impact of the delay on the project schedule, even though it may have increased the project cost. Risk mitigation is different from risk transfer, which involves shifting the responsibility or burden of a risk to a third party, usually through a contract or insurance. Risk acceptance is a strategy that involves acknowledging the risk and being prepared to deal with its consequences. Risk sharing is a strategy that involves allocating some or all of the ownership of a risk to another party who is willing to take on that risk, usually for some form of incentive or reward. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 7: Risk Management1; CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, 3rd Edition, Chapter 7: Risk Management2

Update the project charter. Updating the project charter would be the next step for the project manager after identifying the project team during the project initiation phase. A project charter is a document that formally authorizes a project and defines its purpose, scope, objectives, deliverables, milestones, roles and responsibilities, assumptions, constraints, risks, budget, and timeline. A project charter can help to align the expectations and interests of all stakeholders involved in a project and provide direction and guidance for planning and executing the project.

Smoothing is a conflict resolution technique that involves emphasizing the areas of agreement and minimizing the areas of difference. It is useful when the conflict is minor and the relationship between the parties is more important than the issue. Smoothing can help maintain harmony and avoid further escalation of the conflict1.

A focus group is a technique that involves gathering a group of people who share some characteristics or interests related to a product, service, or issue, and asking them for their opinions, perceptions, or feedback. The project manager acts as a moderator or facilitator who guides the discussion and records the results. A focus group can help to collect information from a representative sample of the target population, explore ideas, identify needs and preferences, and support the completion of larger projects. The other options are not correct because:

• A demonstration is a technique that involves showing the features or capabilities of a product, service, or process to the stakeholders or customers, usually in a live or simulated environment. A demonstration can help to validate the requirements, obtain feedback, and verify the functionality of a deliverable.
• A workshop is a technique that involves bringing together a group of stakeholders or experts to work on a specific topic, problem, or issue, usually in a structured and facilitated way. A workshop can help to define the scope, plan the activities, identify the risks, resolve the conflicts, and generate the solutions of a project.
• Brainstorming is a technique that involves generating a large number of ideas or alternatives for a problem or opportunity, usually in a creative and spontaneous way. Brainstorming can help to enhance the creativity, diversity, and quality of the ideas, and encourage the participation and collaboration of the team members. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 6: Planning Projects, Part 2 (Scope, Quality, and Risk), page 191; CompTIA Project+ Certification Exam Objectives, Domain 2: Project Planning, Objective 2.1: Given a scenario, create a project charter and project management plan.

These are two of the key activities in the closing phase, as they involve finalizing the use of resources and resolving any remaining risks that may affect the project performance or quality. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide1, Chapter 12: Closing Phase Activities

The project manager should have a meeting with the project sponsor and main stakeholders first after discovering that some of the legal requirements have not been addressed during the project concept preparation. The project sponsor and main stakeholders are the key decision-makers and influencers of the project. They have the authority and responsibility to approve or reject any changes to the project scope, budget, or schedule. Having a meeting with them can help to communicate the issue, assess the impact, explore alternatives, and seek guidance on how to proceed with the project34

The project manager should address the issue of damage to the monitor first because it has the highest percentage (40%) among the issues observed. This means that it is the most frequent and severe issue that affects the quality and functionality of the refurbished desktops. Addressing this issue first can help to improve customer satisfaction, reduce rework, and avoid waste1

A burndown chart is a visual representation of the remaining work versus the time required to complete it1. It is commonly used by agile teams to track the progress of each iteration or sprint and to forecast the project completion date2. A burndown chart shows the ideal work remaining line and the actual work remaining line, which can help the team identify any deviations or impediments and adjust accordingly1. A burndown chart is different from a Pareto chart, which shows the frequency of different causes of problems; a milestone chart, which shows the key events and deliverables of a project; and a Gantt chart, which shows the dependencies and durations of tasks in a project3. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 6: Planning Projects Part 2, page 173; Burndown Chart: What Is It & How to Use One for Agile - ProjectManager, Introduction and Components of a Burndown Chart sections; Burndown Chart: What it is, How to Use it, Example [2023] • Asana, Introduction and What is a burndown chart? sections.

The project manager should put in place a time and materials contract before work begins for a third party that needs to perform a short-term task for which the duration cannot be accurately estimated and the cost cannot be calculated in advance. A time and materials contract is a type of contract where the buyer pays the seller based on the actual time spent and materials used during the project. A time and materials contract is suitable for projects that have uncertain or variable scope, duration, or cost. A time and materials contract can provide flexibility and adaptability for both parties and allow them to adjust to changing requirements or circumstances.

The process is out of control and should be revised. The project manager can use the rule of seven to determine the status of the process based on the control chart. The rule of seven states that if seven or more consecutive measurements fall on one side of the mean that there’s an assignable cause that needs investigation. In this case, the last seven data points are all below the mean, which indicates that the process is out of control and in need of adjustment12

The waterfall methodology is a project management framework that follows a linear and sequential process, where each stage of the project must be completed before moving on to the next one. The stages of the waterfall model are initiation, planning, execution, and closure, as described in the question12.

The client provided a statement of work (SOW) to the project manager and suggested that the project manager and team just need to execute the plan. A SOW is a document that defines the scope, deliverables, schedule, and terms and conditions of a project or contract. A SOW typically includes information such as purpose, scope of work, location of work, period of performance, deliverables schedule, applicable standards, acceptance criteria, special requirements, and payment schedule. A SOW can help to establish a common understanding and agreement between the client and the service provider on what needs to be done and how it will be done.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is a type of software that integrates various business functions and processes, such as accounting, finance, inventory, sales, purchasing, human resources, and more. ERP software helps businesses store, organize, and manage information related to business transactions, such as invoices, payments, orders, receipts, and reports. ERP software also provides real-time data analysis, reporting, and forecasting capabilities12.

A formal contract is a legal document that defines the terms and conditions of the agreement between the project parties, such as the scope, schedule, budget, quality, deliverables, roles and responsibilities, payment methods, and dispute resolution mechanisms. A formal contract is essential for external projects, especially when there is an exchange of money involved, to protect the interests and rights of both parties and to ensure mutual understanding and compliance. A formal contract is different from a business requirement, which is a statement of the needs and expectations of the customer or stakeholder for the project outcome. A formal contract is also different from a client statement of work, which is a document that describes the work to be performed, the deliverables to be provided, and the acceptance criteria to be met by the project vendor or contractor. A formal contract is also different from a project charter, which is a document that authorizes the project and provides the high-level information about the project objectives, scope, stakeholders, and project manager. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 4: Project Integration Management1; CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, 3rd Edition, Chapter 4: Project Integration Management2; 11 Essential Documents To Use as a Project Manager3

Releasing the project resources is the process of formally ending the involvement of the project team members and other resources in the project. It also involves updating the resource availability and performance records, and providing feedback and recognition to the resources. Releasing the project resources is an important part of the project closure phase, and it helps to avoid unnecessary costs and conflicts. If the project manager neglects to release the project resources, the team members may still charge time to the project and be unable to work on new projects12.

This is where an existing application that is highly utilized by clients is moving to a new release, as it involves deploying and operating it in a live environment. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide1, Chapter 4: Project Environments

The current stage of the project team is norming, which is the third stage of the five stages of team development. In this stage, the team members have resolved their conflicts and differences, and have established a sense of cohesion and collaboration. They are more productive, supportive, and cooperative, and they follow the agreed norms and rules of the team. They also communicate effectively and seek feedback and assistance from each other. The norming stage is preceded by the forming stage, where the team members get to know each other and the project goals, and the storming stage, where the team members experience disagreements and challenges. The norming stage is followed by the performing stage, where the team members work efficiently and autonomously towards the project outcomes, and the adjourning stage, where the team members complete the project and celebrate their achievements. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 11: Team Management1; CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, 3rd Edition, Chapter 11: Team Management2; The 5 Stages of Team Development (Including Examples)3

The project manager should ask the developer to create a change request, which is a formal document that describes the proposed change, its benefits, costs, risks, and impacts on the project scope, schedule, budget, and quality. A change request is the first step in the change control process, which involves evaluating, approving, or rejecting changes to the project baselines. The project manager should not do nothing, because ignoring the recommendation could result in poor performance and customer dissatisfaction. The project manager should not ask the developer to implement the recommendation without following the change control process, because that could cause scope creep, which is the uncontrolled expansion of the project scope without proper authorization or adjustment of the project resources and objectives. The project manager should not communicate the change status before the change request is submitted and approved, because that could create confusion and false expectations among the project stakeholders. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 4: Project Integration Management1; CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, 3rd Edition, Chapter 4: Project Integration Management2; What is a Change Request and How to Manage It3

Mitigate is a risk strategy that involves taking actions to reduce the probability or impact of a risk. By applying new updates to a program in a sandbox environment, the software engineer is testing the changes before implementing them in the actual system, thus minimizing the chance of errors or failures that could affect the project1.

An RFP (request for proposal) is a document that solicits proposals from potential vendors for a specific project or service. An RFP typically describes the project scope, requirements, evaluation criteria, and instructions for submitting proposals. An RFP is the best document for the company to use to obtain and compare information on cabling services and costs from various vendors, as it allows the company to evaluate the vendors’ qualifications, experience, approach, and pricing12.

A dashboard is a tool that the project manager will most likely use to update the project sponsor and senior stakeholders about the progress of a project. A dashboard is a graphical tool that displays key performance indicators (KPIs), metrics, and data related to a project using charts, graphs, tables, or other visual elements. A dashboard can help to provide a quick and easy overview of the project status and performance and highlight any issues or risks that need attention.

Limiting access to members of the project team is a way to minimize the risk of compromising the project details if a cloud service is used. This means that only authorized and trusted individuals can access, view, modify, or share the project information stored in the cloud. Limiting access can prevent unauthorized access, data leakage, cyberattacks, or espionage from external parties who might want to steal or sabotage the new technology. Limiting access can also reduce the risk of human error, negligence, or misconduct from internal parties who might accidentally or intentionally expose or misuse the project information123. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 4: Project Communications, p. 143; Cloud Security Risks and How to Mitigate Them | Cloud Academy; Cloud Security: How to Secure Your Data in the Cloud | Kaspersky; Cloud Security: Best Practices for Securing Cloud Computing | Cloud Security Alliance

When stakeholders express concerns about the volume of communication, it’s important to review and adjust the communication plan to ensure it meets the project’s needs and stakeholders’ preferences. A RACI matrix is useful for defining roles and responsibilities but does not address communication frequency or methods directly. Escalating the issue may not be necessary if it can be resolved by revising the plan. Informing the CCB (Change Control Board) to stop communication is not advisable as the CCB’s role is to oversee changes, not to manage day-to-day communications. References = The CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide provides detailed information on managing the project life cycle, establishing communication plans, and handling stakeholder concerns1.

The dependency between software installation and desktop installation is a mandatory dependency. A mandatory dependency is a type of dependency that is inherent in the nature or logic of the work and cannot be avoided or changed. It is also known as a hard dependency or a hard logic dependency. A mandatory dependency means that one task must be completed before another task can start or finish. For example, software installation can only start after desktop installation is finished5

The dependency between desktop installation and software installation represents a mandatory dependency. A mandatory dependency is a type of task dependency that is inherent in the nature of the work being performed. In this case, software installation cannot begin until desktops are installed and powered on, and therefore, the dependency is mandatory. References: CompTIA Project+ Study Guide, Chapter 3: Project Integration Management, Objective 3.1: Identify the project management processes and the interactions between them.

The project manager should communicate with the affected stakeholders first after realizing that the sign-off for the project scope baseline is delayed due to multiple changes and that the budget for this project is restricted by the project sponsor. The affected stakeholders are those who have an interest or influence on the project and may be impacted by any changes or delays. Communicating with them can help to explain the situation, assess the impact, seek feedback, and manage expectations.

The project manager should communicate the change deployment next after updating the project plan with the newest project end date as a result of an approved change. Communicating the change deployment involves informing all relevant parties about when and how the change will be implemented and what are the expected outcomes and benefits. Communicating the change deployment can help to ensure alignment, readiness, and support for the change and avoid any confusion or resistance.

The RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) matrix is used to document which resources are responsible for which tasks. The RACI matrix is a tool that helps to clarify roles and responsibilities on a project. It assigns a level of responsibility to each resource involved in the project. References: CompTIA Project+ Study Guide Section 3.4.

The project manager should use a RACI matrix to document which resources are responsible for which tasks. A RACI matrix is a type of responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) that plots the roles and responsibilities of resources on a project team. RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. A RACI matrix can help to clarify who does what on a project, avoid confusion and duplication of work, and improve communication and collaboration among team members.

The critical path is the sequence of tasks that determines the minimum project duration. It is the longest path through the network diagram and has the least amount of slack or float. Based on the provided network diagram, the critical path is A-C-G-K-M, which has the longest total duration when adding up the individual task durations. References = The concept of the critical path is covered in the CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide1. For more detailed information on how to calculate and identify the critical path in project management, you can refer to the study guide and other project management resources2.

The project sign-off is the formal acceptance of the project deliverables by the client, stakeholder, or customer. It also marks the closure of the project and the release of the final payment. If the project sign-off is not completed, the project may still incur costs and liabilities, which can explain the losses in the financial report. Therefore, the project manager should complete the project sign-off as soon as possible to avoid further losses12.

A project manager did not release the resources. A project manager not releasing the resources could most likely be the cause of this issue where several employees’ allocations from the past month appear to be 200% even though they are only assigned to a particular project. Releasing resources is a process of freeing up or reallocating any human or material resources that were used for a project after its completion or closure. Releasing resources can help to update the resource availability and utilization records and avoid any conflicts or errors in resource allocation or reporting.

During the stabilization phase of recently deployed software, the project manager will most likely use a defect log to track and manage reported bugs. A defect log is a document that contains information about the defects or issues identified during testing or after the deployment of software. It includes the severity of the defect, the steps to reproduce the problem, and the actions taken to resolve the defect. References: CompTIA Project+ Study Guide Section 4.1.

The project manager will most likely use a defect log during the stabilization phase for recently deployed software to record a bug that is compromising data integrity. A defect log is a tool that tracks and documents any errors or flaws found in a software product or system during testing or operation. It usually includes information such as defect ID, description, severity, priority, status, resolution, and responsible person. A defect log can help to monitor and manage the quality of the software product or system and ensure that all defects are identified and resolved before delivery or release.

The velocity chart typically shows the amount of work completed over time. If the “Actual Effort” line is below the “Planned Timeline,” it indicates that the project is not progressing as fast as planned, hence it is behind schedule. This is inferred by comparing the actual work completed against what was scheduled.

References = The answer is based on standard project management practices and the typical interpretation of velocity charts in project management. For detailed information, please refer to the CompTIA Project+ Study Guide and other official CompTIA resources.

The Scrum team should break the stories into workable items that can be completed within one sprint, which is a time-boxed period of 7 to 30 days, during which the team delivers a potentially releasable product increment. Breaking the stories into smaller and more manageable items can help the team to estimate them more accurately, plan them more effectively, and deliver them more reliably. Breaking the stories also aligns with the agile principle of delivering working software frequently and satisfying the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.

The other options are not the best steps for the Scrum team to take next. Assigning more resources to complete similar stories in the future may not solve the problem of underestimation, and may introduce additional complexity and communication overhead. Extending the sprint duration when required with the approval of the product owner may compromise the consistency and predictability of the Scrum process, and may delay the feedback and validation from the stakeholders. Releasing the current progress into production and carrying over the rest of the code for the next sprint may result in an incomplete or unstable product increment, and may violate the definition of done, which is a shared understanding of the quality criteria that the product increment must meet. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 5: Project Scope Management1; CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, 3rd Edition, Chapter 5: Project Scope Management2; The 3 Scrum Roles and Responsibilities Explained3; Implementation of Scrum - 7 Steps for an Effective Process4

A project closure meeting is a formal gathering held at the end of a project timeline. Its chief purpose is to evaluate the project’s performance, identify and discuss the achieved outcomes, successes, and challenges, and confirm that all predefined tasks and objectives have been completed successfully1. The project closure meeting also involves obtaining project sign-off from all necessary parties, such as the project sponsor, the client, the stakeholders, and the team members. Project sign-off is the official approval that the project has met the agreed-upon criteria and quality standards, and that the project is formally closed2.

The project manager should use the project management plan to document the input from the stakeholders on the minimum viable product that would be acceptable for the project. The project management plan is a document that describes how the project will be executed, monitored, controlled, and closed. It usually includes information such as scope statement, work breakdown structure (WBS), schedule baseline, cost baseline, quality plan, risk plan, communication plan, stakeholder plan, and change management plan. The project management plan can help to define and communicate the project requirements, deliverables, assumptions, constraints, and expectations to all stakeholders involved in the project.

The project management plan would be used to document the input obtained from stakeholders during the meeting to review the requirements and agree on the minimum viable product. The project management plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the approach, scope, schedule, budget, quality, resources, and communication for a project. The document is updated throughout the project lifecycle and serves as a guide for project execution, monitoring, and control. References: CompTIA Project+ Study Guide, Chapter 3: Project Integration Management, Objective 3.3: Identify the components of the project management plan.

The project manager should review existing artifacts to get an understanding of the purpose of the project. Existing artifacts are documents or records that provide information about the project background, context, scope, objectives, requirements, stakeholders, and deliverables. They may include documents such as project proposal, project charter, business case, feasibility study, statement of work (SOW), or contract. Reviewing existing artifacts can help to clarify the project vision and expectations and provide a basis for planning and executing the project.

A control chart is a graphical tool that displays the variation of a process over time and compares it to predetermined control limits. It can be used to determine whether a sample product is within an acceptable range by checking if the sample values fall within the upper and lower control limits, which indicate the expected variation of the process. If the sample values are outside the control limits or show a non-random pattern, it indicates that the process is out of control and there may be some assignable causes of variation that need to be investigated and corrected. References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide: Exam PK0-005, 3rd Edition, Chapter 8: Quality Management1; CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, 3rd Edition, Chapter 8: Quality Management2