TOPIC: Free PMP® Exam Sample Question

You are developing the project scope statement. You have specified the deliverables for the project, included the requirements under which the deliverables will be accepted, and explicitly stated what is out of project scope.

What else should you include in the project scope statement?

A. Project exclusions
B. Acceptance criteria
C. Project approval requirements
D. Product scope description

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HINT: What are the elements included in the project scope statement?

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Answer and Explanation:
The correct answer is D.

The scenario describes the development of the project scope statement which is an output of the Define Scope process. The project scope statement is the description of the project scope, major deliverables, and exclusions. The entire scope, including project and product scope, is documented in the scope statement.

The detailed project scope statement includes the following:

• Product scope description which progressively elaborates the characteristics of the product, service, or result described in the project charter and requirements documentation.
  
• Deliverables which describe any unique and verifiable product, result, or capability to perform a service that is required to be produced to complete a process, phase, or project.
  
• Acceptance criteria which are a set of conditions that is required to be met before deliverables are accepted.
  
• Project exclusions which explicitly identify what is excluded from the project.

According to the scenario, of the four elements listed above, three have already been specified in the project scope statement. The only missing element is the product scope description.

Note, acceptance criteria included in the project scope statement are at the deliverable level. The WBS dictionary (which is not the topic of this question) includes acceptance criteria for each individual work package specified in the WBS.

Details for each option:

A. Incorrect. Project exclusions specify what is excluded from the project. In other words, project exclusions define what is out of scope. According to the scenario, you have explicitly stated what is out of project scope, implying project exclusions have already been documented.

B. Incorrect. The acceptance criteria are a set of conditions that are required to be met before the deliverables are accepted. According to the scenario, you have included the requirements under which the deliverables will be accepted, suggesting you have specified the acceptance criteria.

C. Incorrect. Project approval requirements provide information about what constitutes project success, who decides the project is successful, and who signs off on the project. Project approval requirements are described in the project charter and not the project scope statement.

D. Correct. The product scope description is an element of the project scope statement that progressively elaborates the characteristics of the product described in the project charter and requirements documentation. In the scenario provided, all the other elements of the project scope statement are included except the product scope description, making this choice the best answer to the question asked.

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

Process Groups: A Practice Guide, Project Management Institute Inc., 2023,
5.4 Define Scope
9 Inputs and Outputs