PMP Practice Questions #92
You are leading a multi-national infrastructure development project. A key component of your role is to ensure the effective implementation of a Configuration Management System (CMS). Which of the following best explains the impact of ineffective CMS management?
A) Ineffective CMS management leads to misunderstandings in the project status reports, causing confusion about the project’s actual progress and milestones.
B) Without an effective CMS, there is a lack of synchronization between different project segments and documents, leading to a lack of an integrated approach and potential misalignment in project execution.
C) The absence of a well-managed CMS will lead to poor stakeholder engagement, resulting in diminished participation in project meetings and a lack of informed decision-making.
D) Lack of an effective CMS will result in an increase in contingency reserves, leading to a rise in project costs due to unforeseen changes and adjustments in the project scope and deliverables.
Analysis:
This scenario involves leading a multi-national infrastructure development project with a focus on ensuring effective implementation of a Configuration Management System (CMS). The question seeks to determine the negative impacts of ineffective CMS management, particularly in a large-scale, complex project environment.
Analysis of Options:
Option A: Ineffective CMS management leads to misunderstandings in the project status reports, causing confusion about the project’s actual progress and milestones. This is a secondary effect of poor CMS, as the core function of CMS is not directly related to communication but rather to maintaining artifact integrity.
Option B: Without an effective CMS, there is a lack of synchronization between different project segments and documents, leading to a lack of an integrated approach and potential misalignment in project execution. Directly addresses the core purpose of CMS – maintaining the integrity and synchronization of project documents and segments. An ineffective CMS could lead to misalignment in project execution due to discrepancies in project artifacts, making this option a strong contender.
Option C: The absence of a well-managed CMS will lead to poor stakeholder engagement, resulting in diminished participation in project meetings and a lack of informed decision-making. Proposes that a poorly managed CMS results in diminished stakeholder engagement and decision-making. While this is a potential outcome, it is more of an indirect consequence and not the primary impact of ineffective CMS management.
Option D: Lack of an effective CMS will result in an increase in contingency reserves, leading to a rise in project costs due to unforeseen changes and adjustments in the project scope and deliverables. Indicates that ineffective CMS could lead to increased project costs due to unforeseen changes and scope adjustments. This is a plausible impact, but it represents a longer chain of consequences rather than a direct result of CMS inefficiency.
Conclusion: Option B is the most appropriate choice, as it directly aligns with the fundamental objective of a Configuration Management System – ensuring synchronization and integration of project artifacts and segments. This option highlights the primary impact of ineffective CMS management, which is the potential for misalignment in project execution due to inconsistent or outdated project artifacts. It reflects a deeper understanding of the role of CMS in maintaining project integrity and cohesiveness, which is crucial in a complex, multi-national project setting.
PMP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
|---|---|
| Process | Task 12: Manage project artifacts |
Topics Covered
- Configuration Management System
