TOPIC: PMI-ACP Question/Topic of the week : Season-1

Hello PMI-ACP Achievers and Aspirants!! Hope you all are doing good. Today, we are bringing back our old initiative where one question/topic from PMI-ACP syllabus will be posted every week. The main purpose of this activity is to generate a healthy discussion and get your doubts clarified in order to be better prepared for the exam. Always remember that knowledge increases by sharing and not by saving.

Good luck with your prep!!

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

On your Agile project you have just completed the creation of a potentially shippable product increment. The time it took to create this product increment is referred to as?


A) Actual Time
B ) Cycle Time
C) Lead Time
D) Real Time

Note: Answer will be posted before Friday 5pm EST.

Correct Answer: B

Cycle Time refers to the time it takes (from beginning to end) to complete the creation of a potentially shippable product increment.

Reference: Agile Project Management with Scrum, Ken Schwaber, 2004.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 2: You are a Product Owner working on an agile software development project and you have brought all the Scrum team members together for the first Iteration Planning meeting. You read the user stories to the team, and they have provided estimates to complete these user stories. You have promised to leave them alone during the iteration to get the work done and they have agreed to complete the work 100% according to the definition of done. What is this an example of?

A) Two-way communication
B ) Reciprocal commitment
C) Bi-partisan agreement
D) Emotional intelligence

Correct Answer: B

This is an example of Reciprocal Commitment, where the Agile project team commits to delivering the specified functionality 100 % according the definition of done at the end of the iteration, and the product owner, organization and customer agree not to change priorities during the iteration and leave the team alone to "do the work".

Reference: Agile Game Development with Scrum, Clinton Keith, 2010.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp
Please let us know if you are looking for any particular topic to be discussed to help you with the exam preparation.

Question 3: One of the major tools and techniques used in Lean Software Development is value stream mapping. What is the primary purpose of value stream mapping?

A) To improve business processes
B ) To identify and eliminate waste
C) To ensure product quality
D) To increase customer value

Correct Answer: B

The single most important goal of using Value Stream Mapping is to identify and eliminate waste.

Reference: Theory of Constraints, Eliyahu M. Goldratt, 1984.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 4: An agile practitioner has developed a prioritized matrix that describes which product features will be delivered in each release over time. What has the agile practitioner created?

A. The product vision statement
B. A product wireframe
C. The product roadmap
D. A product theme

Correct Answer: C

A product roadmap is a prioritized matrix that describes product features that the team will deliver in each release over time.

Exam Reference: Agile Practice Guide, Project Management Institute Inc., 2017, Page(s) 52; see also Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products - 2nd Edition, Jim Highsmith, 2009, Product Roadmap

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 5: At the daily standup meeting, the agile team has raised an impediment where one of the developers has been withdrawn from the team by the developer’s line manager to complete their previously committed tasks from another project. As the result, the team will be unable to meet their sprint goal. What should have been done differently to avoid this impediment?

A. The team should have considered human resources availability while planning the sprint.
B. The team should have worked faster during the sprint before the developer has been withdrawn.
C. The team should have added buffers to each user story to account for the unknown risks.
D. The line manager should have not let the developer go to work on the agile project in the first place.

Correct Answer: A

Prioritization of work is not solely based on the customer value. There are other factors to consider, such as risks, dependencies between user stories, and people’s availability, to name the few.

Reference: Exploring Scrum: The Fundamentals, 2nd Edition, Dan Rawsthorne with Doug Shimp, 2013, Prioritization Factors

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 6: An agile coach suggests that a lean product development team use a value stream mapping technique in their continuous improvement efforts. What is the primary purpose of this technique?

A. Improving and applying consistent coding standards
B. Identifying and eliminating non-essential process tasks or activities to decrease cycle time
C. Ensuring only the highest value and highest quality deliverables are produced
D. Creating a visual map of a process that can be used by other teams to build value for their customers

Correct Answer: B

Value stream mapping is used to break down and map a multi-step process with the goal of identifying those tasks or activities that cause unnecessary delay and inefficiency. The identification and elimination of these non-value added activities decrease cycle times and improve the overall process efficiency.

Exam Reference: PMI-ACP Exam Prep, 2nd Edition: A Course in a Book for Passing the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) Exam, Mike Griffiths, 2012, Value stream mapping

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 7: What is the Agile term for the technique of creating a group of rules that govern how team members interact?

A) Standard Operating Procedures
B ) Teaming Agreements
C) Working Agreements
D) Rules of Engagement

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You are Correct!!

Correct Answer: C

Working Agreements is an Agile Project Management term that refers to the standards that each Agile team defines (by consensus) to outline the specific rules for how the team will work together during the course of the project. They are normally considered a 'verbal contract', and should be displayed as an information radiator in the team’s Commons space. These are sometimes referred to as Rules of Engagement on non-Agile projects. Teaming Agreements are contractual arrangements between two or more entities to form a partnership or joint venture for the duration of a project. Standard Operating Procedures are used in both Project Management and Organizational Management and are not specific to Agile.

Reference: Agile Project Management with Scrum, Ken Schwaber, 2004

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 8: What type of planning describes the technique of applying incremental delivery cycles to perform the work on an Agile project?

A) Rolling Wave Planning
B ) Adaptive Planning
C) Progressive Planning
D) Incremental Planning

Correct Answer to Q#8: B

Adaptive planning is a technique the employs iterative development cycles in order to produce incremental product deliverables and allows you to adapt your project plans based on the current reality that surrounds and affects your Agile project. Rolling Wave Planning is a form of Progressive Elaboration that focuses more on the near term plans and rolls into the longer term as more information becomes available about the project requirements. Progressive Planning and Incremental Planning are not terms associated with Agile product development.

Reference: Agile Almanac - Book 1: Single-Team Projects and Exam Prep, John Stenbeck, 2015

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 9: During a retrospective meeting after a failed sprint, emotions run high as the team members blame each other for the failure. Phrases like “He always forgets to check in his code!” or “You never listen to what I have to say!” predominate this heated debate. What is the first thing that an experienced agile coach should do in such situation?

A) Sit back for a while and observe the team members
B ) Intervene immediately to avoid further harm
C) Call in a human resources department representative
D) Start a coaching session with the team members

Correct Answer to Q#9: A

Sitting back and observing the team members’ may be interpreted as a lack of action. However, as a first step, it is important for an experienced agile coach to sufficiently observe the situation.

Reference: Coaching Agile Teams: A Companion for ScrumMasters, Agile Coaches, and Project Managers in Transition, Lyssa Adkins, 2010, Levels of Conflict

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 10: Alistair Cockburn created the Crystal Family of Agile Methods, all of whose names contain colors of quartz crystals taken from geology. What two characteristics of an Agile project are used to determine the color of the Crystal method that should be implemented?

A) Size and complexity
B ) Duration and complexity
C) Size and criticality
D) Duration and criticality

Correct Answer to Q#10: C

Crystal comes from Alistair Cockburn’s characterization of projects along the two dimensions of “size” (meaning the size of the project team) and “criticality” (meaning the damage that will be caused if the developed product or system fails).

Reference: Crystal Clear – A Human-Powered Methodology for Small Teams, Alistair Cockburn, 2004.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 11: When it comes to estimating the requirements on your Agile projects, there are three different “Sizing Units” that can be used to determine the size (referring here specifically to “Level of Effort”) of your Agile project requirements (referring here specifically to “user stories”), and the specific tasks to meet those requirements. Which of the Following is not recognized as a “unit” that can be used for estimating the size of the requirements on your Agile project?

A) Real time
B ) Relative size
C) Ideal time
D) Ideal size

Correct Answer to Q#11: D

"When it comes to estimating the effort to complete the requirements on your Agile projects, there are three different “Sizing Units” that can be used:

Real Time, which is sometimes called Real Days or Actual Days. This refers to the actual time during each day that the team members are available and are productively working on specific Agile project tasks.

Ideal Time, or Ideal Days, where you make the assumption that your Agile project team members will have no interruptions in their work, such as checking email or attending meetings, and will be 100% productive every hour of every day.

Relative Size, which is the recommended “sizing unit” to use for requirements size estimation on your Agile project. This sizing unit allows you to estimate the “level of effort” a user story will take to complete, relative to the other user stories you will be performing on your Agile project.

Ideal Size is not a recognized sizing unit for estimating the level effort of effort to complete an Agile project requirement."

Reference: Agile Estimating and Planning, Mike Cohn, 2005.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 12: Which of the following techniques is considered most effective when used as a method for project team members to generate ideas for solving problems or meeting open-ended challenges?

A) Brainstorming
B ) Fist of Five
C) Free-For-All
D) Silent Idea Generation

Correct Answer to Q#12: A

There are three types of techniques that Agile project teams can use for solving problems or meeting open-ended challenges. These are Brainstorming, Free-For-All and Silent Idea Generation. Of these three techniques, Brainstorming is considered the most effective. Fist of Five is a technique used in Agile estimation.

Reference: PMI-ACP and Certified Scrum Professional Exam Prep and Desk Reference, John Stenbeck, 2011.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 13: Which of the following is an example of a continuous process improvement ceremony on an Agile Project?

A) Release Planning Meeting
B ) Iteration Retrospective Meeting
C) Product Demonstration Meeting
D) Iteration Planning Meeting

Correct Answer to Q#13: B

Although Continuous Process Improvement should always be on the minds of all Agile project team members, the Iteration Retrospective Meeting is a formal ceremony used in Agile. This event is held at the end of each iteration where lessons learned during the iteration are reviewed, and specific plans of action are implemented during the very next iteration to prevent these issues from occurring again on the project.

Reference: Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great, Esther Derby, Diana Larsen, 2006.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 14: A new scrum team is looking to improve its process for their next project. Which approach would an agile practitioner say is most likely to help the team improve its process?

A. Adopt the process used by the most successful team in the organization
B. Tailor the process for the new project
C. Focus on 'work not done' and reflection
D. Consult with the scrum master and the project sponsor

Correct Answer to Q#14: C

Simplicity and reflection are core agile practices. Simplicity, "the art of maximizing the amount of work not done", is one of the Agile Manifesto principles. Reflection is in the center of iteration retrospectives aimed to improve the team's process and performance. Focusing on reflection and simplicity will most likely help the team improve its process, making this the best answer to the question asked.

Reference: Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products - 2nd Edition, Jim Highsmith, 2009, Chapter 5: An Agile Project Management Model, Selecting and Integrating Practices

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 15: An Agile artifact that that describes the incremental nature of how a product will be built and delivered over time, along with the important factors that drive each individual release is called?

A) Product Vision Statement
B ) Product Wireframe
C) Product Roadmap
D) Product Theme

Correct Answer to Q#15: C

A Product Roadmap is an Agile artifact that describes the incremental nature of how a product will be built and delivered over time, along with the important factors that drive each individual release.

Reference: The Art of Agile Development, James Shore, Shane Warden, 2007.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 16: The Value Stream Mapping process has four distinct steps. Which of the following is not a recommended step in the Value Stream Mapping process?

A) Define the current state
B ) Describe the opportunity
C) Identify the value stream target
D) Depict the desired future state

Correct Answer to Q#16: B

The four distinct steps in the Value Stream Mapping process are (in order); 1) Identify the value stream target, 2) Define the current state, 3) Clarify the opportunity, and 4) Depict the desired future state. Describe the Opportunity is not a valid Value Stream Mapping process step.

Reference: Seeing the Whole: Mapping the Extended Value Stream, Daniel T. Jones, James P. Womack, 2002.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 17: What type of Agile contract allows the customer to terminate the contract at any time on the project if they do not see any added value?

A) Agile Iteration Contract
B ) Agile Time and Materials Contract
C) Agile Phased Development Contract
D) Agile Early Termination Contract

Correct Answer to Q#17: B

An Agile Time and Materials contract allows the customer to terminate the contract at any time on the project if they do not see any added value.

Reference: Big AGILE Toolkit, Martin Leonard, 2011.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 18: Agile project management and product development uses several different types of documents specific to each iteration, which are referred to as "artifacts". All of the following are Agile iteration artifacts except:

A) Iteration Vision Statement
B ) Iteration Backlog
C) Iteration Plan
D) Iteration Burnup Chart

Correct Answer to Q#18: A

The four main artifacts used in Agile project management and product development are the Iteration Plan, Iteration Backlog, Iteration Burndown Charts and Iteration Burnup Charts. The only type of "vision statement" used as an artifact in Agile is the Product Vision Statement. The "Iteration Vision Statement" is a completely fake term that we made up for this question.

Reference: The Software Project Manager's Bridge to Agility, Michele Sliger & Stacia Broderick, 2008.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 19: FDD/TDD - Which of the following is an Agile Modeling tool that can be used in conjunction with different Agile methods?

A) Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)
B ) Feature Driven Development (FDD)
C) Adaptive Software Development (ASD)
D) Test Driven Development (TDD)

Correct Answer to Q#19: D

Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), Feature Driven Development (FDD) and Adaptive Software Development (ASD) are all Agile development methods. Test Driven Development (TDD) is an Agile Modeling tool that can be used in conjunction with other Agile methods.

Reference: Test-Driven Development by Example, Kent Beck, 2003.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 20: Traditional Project Management uses a Work Breakdown structure to develop requirements in terms of activities. What type of breakdown structure is used in Agile to for this purpose?

A) Feature Breakdown Structure
B ) Product Breakdown Structure
C) Activity Breakdown Structure
D) Theme Breakdown Structure

Correct Answer to Q#20: A

A Feature Breakdown Structure is an Agile artifact that displays the backlog of features for each of the releases on an Agile project.

Reference: The Software Project Manager's Bridge to Agility, Michele Sliger, Stacia Broderick, 2008.

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 21: Product defects reported by the customer that have escaped all software quality processes are called?

A) Primary Defects
B ) Escaped Defects
C) Secondary Defects
D) Undetected Defects

Correct Answer to Q#21: B

Escaped Defects are those defects reported by the customer that have escaped all software quality processes, and are usually pointed out by the customer during the Iteration Review meeting.

Reference: www.agilebok.org

Here is our free PMI-ACP Exam sample question of the week. This question is taken from The PM Exam Simulator at www.pm-exam-simulator.com/pmi-acp

Question 22: Who is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the Product Roadmap?

A) Project Manager
B ) Product Manager
C) Scrum Master
D) Product Owner

Correct Answer to Q#22: D

The primary responsiblity of the Product Owner on an Agile project is to represent the business, which includes the creation and maintenance of several Agile artificats. The Product Owner is responsible for the creation of the Product Vision Statement, the creation and ongoing maintenance of the Product Roadmap, and the creation and ongoing mainenance of Product Backlog, which is commonly referred to as 'Product Backlog Grooming'.

Reference: Agile Project Management for Dummies, Mark Layton, 2015