TOPIC: Free PMP® Exam Sample Question

You are working with a team to estimate how much time is required for each activity. You are using a document that contains information on the categories of labor, material, and equipment required to complete the project. You are also interested in the skill levels, required certifications, and the grade levels for supplies.

Which of the following documents would you primarily refer to for this purpose?

A. Resource breakdown structure
B. Organizational breakdown structure
C. Work breakdown structure
D. Risk breakdown structure

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HINT: The correct answer is one of the inputs to the Estimate Activity Duration process.

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Answer and Explanation:
The correct answer is A.

Based on the scenario described, the project team is performing the Estimate Activity Durations process. An input to this process is the resource breakdown structure (RBS), which is a hierarchical list of team and physical resources related by category and resource type that is used for planning, managing, and controlling project work.

Each descending level represents an increasingly detailed description of the resource until the information is small enough to be used in conjunction with the WBS to allow the work to be planned, monitored, and controlled.

Details for each option:

A. Correct. The resource breakdown structure is a hierarchical representation of team and physical resources related by category and type. It is useful for estimating activity durations as it provides information such as skill levels of human resources and grade levels of available supplies.

B. Incorrect. The organizational breakdown structure (OBS) is a hierarchical chart arranged according to an organization's existing departments, units, or teams with the project activities listed under each department. The OBS does not contain any information on categories or types of resources and therefore would not be useful for estimating activity durations.

C. Incorrect. The work breakdown structure (WBS) is a hierarchical chart designed to show how project deliverables are broken down into work packages. The question implies the Estimate Activity Duration process is underway. The WBS is included in the scope baseline, which is one of the inputs to that process. However, the WBS does not contain any information related to categories and types of resources; therefore, it is an incorrect answer.

D. Incorrect. The risk breakdown structure is a hierarchical representation of potential sources of risk. It is useful for helping the project team consider the full range of sources from which individual project risks may arise. A risk breakdown structure is used for risk planning and has no usefulness for estimating activity durations.

Reference: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide) – Seventh Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2021,
4.6.4 HIERARCHY CHARTS

Process Groups: A Practice Guide, Project Management Institute Inc., 2023,
5.9 Estimate Activity Durations
5.15 Plan Resource Management
5.16 Estimate Activity Resources
9 Inputs and Outputs
10 Tools and Techniques