Project Execution and Control

• Topic 01

  Directing and Managing Project Work

  15 questions
• Topic 02

  Earned Value Management (EVM) — SPI, CPI, EAC, ETC

  15 questions
• Topic 03

  Change Control Process and CCB

  15 questions
• Topic 04

  Issue Identification, Logging, and Resolution

  15 questions
• Topic 05

  Procurement Execution and Contract Administration

  15 questions
• Topic 06

  Performance Measurement and Reporting

  15 questions
• Topic 07

  Knowledge Management and Lessons Learned

  15 questions
• Topic 08

  Configuration Management

  15 questions
• Topic 09

  Managing Project Communications

  16 questions
• Topic 10

  Project Monitoring and Controlling Dashboards

  15 questions

A few questions from this unit, with the answer and a full explanation. The complete bank is available when you start practising.

1. The PM receives an approved change request from the CCB. What is the PM's most appropriate next action?

   • A
     Actively manage the implementation of the approved change request during Direct and Manage Project Work
     Correct answer
   • B
     Submit the change request back to the CCB for a second review before acting
   • C
     Seek the sponsor's verbal confirmation before implementing the approved change
   • D
     File the change request and wait for the team to discover it during their regular work
   Explanation

   Approved change requests are a key input to Direct and Manage Project Work and must be actively managed and implemented by the PM — they do not implement themselves. The PM must assign responsibility, track completion, and verify the change was executed as approved. Waiting for the team to discover the change, seeking additional approval, or treating the change as a risk are all incorrect approaches.

2. Using PV = $300,000, EV = $270,000, AC = $260,000, what is the Schedule Performance Index (SPI)?

   • A
     0.96
   • B
     0.90
     Correct answer
   • C
     0.867
   • D
     1.038
   Explanation

   SPI = EV / PV = \$270,000 / \$300,000 = 0.90. An SPI below 1.0 means the project is behind schedule — it is earning only 90% of the value planned for this point in time. Note that CPI = EV / AC = \$270,000 / \$260,000 ≈ 1.038, meaning the project is actually slightly under budget. The SPI and CPI can move independently; this project is behind schedule but under budget.

3. A vendor on an FFP contract is three weeks behind schedule on a critical deliverable. The vendor claims the delay was caused by the buyer's late provision of technical specifications. The PM believes the specifications were provided on time. The vendor has submitted a formal claim for additional time and compensation. What is the most appropriate PM response?

   • A
     Approve a change order for the additional time but not the compensation, since schedule extensions do not require CCB approval in FFP contracts
   • B
     Reject the claim immediately since FFP contracts place all schedule risk on the seller
   • C
     Escalate directly to legal counsel to initiate arbitration proceedings since the vendor has filed a formal claim
   • D
     Document the claim, review records of when specifications were provided, consult the contract for excusable delay provisions, and respond formally to the seller within the contract's response window — accepting or disputing with supporting evidence
     Correct answer
   Explanation

   Under an FFP contract, the seller bears cost risk — but if the buyer caused the delay (by late specification delivery), the seller may have a valid claim for additional time and potentially additional cost compensation. The PM must: (1) document the claim, (2) review contemporaneous records to establish the facts about specification delivery dates, (3) follow the contract's claims procedure, and (4) attempt negotiation before escalating to formal dispute resolution. A factual investigation is required before either accepting or rejecting the claim. Immediate rejection without investigation, automatic acceptance, or immediate legal escalation are all inappropriate first responses. FFP does not automatically negate buyer-caused claims.