TOPIC: Free PMP® Exam Sample Question of the Week

Hello everyone! Here is this week's free PMP® exam sample question from the PM Exam Simulator.

You are working with your team on estimating how much time each activity will take. One of the documents you are using contains information on categories of labor, material, and equipment required to complete your project. You are also interested to see skill levels of your labor, any certifications required, and grade levels of your 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: This 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. Resource breakdown structure
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 your labor and grade levels of your supplies.

B. Organizational breakdown structure
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. Work breakdown structure
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. Risk breakdown structure
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) – Sixth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2017, Page(s) 198, 326, 316

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