APMP Example Questions based on APMP syllabus in BoK sequence

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1 APMP Example Questions based on APMP syllabus in BoK sequence These questions are drawn from appropriate areas of the Body of Knowledge to address the specific learning outcomes defined in the APMP syllabus. As far as possible, they have been structured to follow the exam format and are provided for evening work, revision and exam practice. Section 1 Project Management in Context 1. Explain the role of projects in managing change. Make five points (50 2. Explain 5 distinct benefits to be gained from managing groups of projects as a programme rather than as individual, unconnected initiatives (50 3. Explain five differences between the characteristics of a project and business as usual (50 Marks) 4. Explain the Programme and Portfolio management (20 Describe Explain three key differences between them (30 Marks). 5. Explain five key responsibilities of a programme manager (50 6. Explain five distinct benefits from managing groups of projects as a portfolio (50 7. Explain the meaning of the project context (10 Explain four parts or factors that should be considered when establishing a project s context (40 8. Describe the role and typical responsibilities of the project sponsor across the project life cycle. Make five points (50 9. Describe five duties typically performed by a project office (50 Section 2 Planning the Strategy 1. Explain five uses of success criteria and or key performance indicators (KPIs) during the lifetime of the project (50 2. Explain a stakeholder analysis process. Make five points (50 3. Explain the purpose of the project management plan (10 Describe four relevant policies or plans that would typically be addressed by the project management plan (40 4. Explain five actions that a project manager would take to prepare a project management plan (50 1

2 5. Explain five benefits of planning (50 6. Describe the meaning of success factors (10 Give four common examples (40 7. Provide a diagram to show the risk management process and the iterative characteristics of the process steps (10 Describe four stages of the process (40 8. Explain five techniques used for risk identification and describe situations in which they could be applied (50 9. List in priority order, the top five risks (10 State four responses that might be appropriate to top priority risks (threats or opportunities) (20 In addition to choosing the response strategy state four actions that a project manager should take when preparing responses to top priority risks ( Describe the purpose of project quality management (10 Describe four key processes in quality management ( Explain how a project manager would ensure the quality requirements are achieved during the project. Make five points. (50 marks) 12. Explain five actions that employers and/or the project manager should take to comply with Health and Safety legislation and why it should benefit project management ( Explain the overall aim of the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 (10 Explain four specific duties of employers or employees regarding health and safety at work (50 Section 3 Executing the Strategy 1. Describe five typical benefits from using product breakdown or work breakdown structures in planning and controlling projects (50 2. Provide a diagram to illustrate a PBS, WBS or a combined PBS/WBS (10 Explain four benefits of structures in planning and controlling projects (40 3. Explain the purpose of scope management (10 Describe four actions that a project manager would take to produce the project scope (40 4. Complete a network analysis for the activities below. State Total and Free Float, and Critical Path (50 marks) Activity A B C D E F G H J K L M Duration Predecessor - A A A B C E F D H,G J K,L 2

3 5. Develop a Gantt chart from the network diagram resulting form the previous question. Identify the Critical Path and Total Float on the chart and state free float for each activity. (50 marks) 6. Using the information below, produce a histogram and S curve from the Gantt chart produced in the previous question (30 Explain the effect of changing the amount of resources available (20 Utilisation A B C D E F G H J K L M Describe how milestones are used in planning and monitoring the progress of a project (five points). (50 marks) 8. Explain the purpose of budgeting and cost management in a project (10 Describe four types of cost information needed to manage project costs (40 9. i)explain the differences between accrued and committed costs (20 marks) ii) Why is it necessary to control committed costs? (30 Marks) 10. Explain five features of a change control process ( Explain the purpose of change control (10 Describe four actions a project manager should take to control project changes ( Three different numeric questions, two at project level and one at work package/project level. Plot graph and forecast cost/duration at completion. 13. Explain five benefits from using earned value analysis in projects ( Describe 5 components of the Information Management system ( Describe five actions that would be taken when archiving project information ( Explain the importance of issue management in projects (10 Provide an example of an issue log and enter appropriate details of an example of an issue ( Explain the use of an issue log in the management of a project (10 Describe four actions a project manager may take to manage issues (40 Section 4 Techniques 1. Explain the purpose of requirements management. Make five points (50 marks) 3

4 2. Explain how estimating changes during the project life cycle (10 Explain two estimating techniques (40 3. Explain three different estimating methods that can be used during project planning 30 Choose two of the methods explained and for each, give an example of a situation to illustrate appropriate application of the method (20 4. i) Explain the term estimating (10 marks) ii) Describe two types (20 marks) iii) Describe one disadvantage of each (20 marks) 5. Explain how a project cost estimate may be produced and its relationship to the project budget (50 6. Describe five roles in the Project Organisation associated with Configuration Management and describe the contribution of each (50 7. Describe five activities performed by the configuration management process (50 marks) Section 5 Business and Commercial 1. Explain two reasons why the project sponsor must own the business case (20 List and describe the use of three techniques for investment appraisal (30 2. Describe five limitations of investment appraisal techniques (50 3. Explain what is meant by the term procurement (10 Describe eight aspects to be considered if a contract strategy is to be completely outsourced (40 4. Explain five contractual relationships that may be considered for managing procurement. (50 marks) Section 6 Organisation and Governance 1. Explain five benefits of a structured approach to the project life cycle (50 2. Explain the handover process (10 marks) and describe four key activities (40 3. List five considerations a project manager must make when planning a post project review (10 Describe four key activities that would typically be performed to prepare for a post project review (40 4. Describe five weaknesses of the project organisation structure (50 4

5 5. Explain five advantages or disadvantages of managing projects in a matrix organisation structure (50 6. List five roles that need to be defined with respect to a project and describe responsibilities of each role (50 7. Explain five advantages gained by an organisation adopting a structured method for project management (50 8. List five principles of the governance of projects. Explain five benefits gained by an organisation through governance of projects (50 9. State six principles of the governance of project management that would help avoid common causes of project failure (30 For each of two distinct principles stated, explain the possible effects of not practising them (20 Section 7 People and the Profession 1. Explain five considerations a project manager should make when developing a communication plan (50 2. Explain the stages in the development of a project team after its selection (50 3. Describe five behavioural characteristics of a good leader (50 4. Explain a conflict resolution model appropriate to managing conflicts in projects (10 Explain four methods that may be used to deal with conflict in projects (40 5. Describe situational leadership and its main stages (50 6. Explain the five stages of Negotiation (50 7. List five actions that need to be done to prepare for a negotiation with a supplier of goods and services to a project. Describe the relevance of each action (50 5