INTERPRETATIONAL based questions for PMP: These require you to identify the meaning of the situation based on your understanding of the facts provided, and will require you to apply the correct awareness for the correct answer. In other words, these questions require you to go a step further than knowledge-based questions. Here you will be given some data that you have to analyze to find the correct answer, by your awareness of the knowledge and your ability to apply it to discover the answer. These test your ability to decode a situation or condition from the information you are given about status or problem.
The wording for this kind of question could be: “If your project has an SPI and a CPI both greater than 1, how well is your project performing?” To solve this, you will need to know the concepts of SPI and CPI as well as how they relate to the project’s performance to decode the answer. (With a knowledge-based question, the answer could simply be the difference in meaning between the two).
Example – 01
If your project has a CPI and an SPI both greater than 1, how well is your project performing?
Correct Answer: 1. under planned cost and ahead of schedule
Explanation: The Cost Performance Index (CPI) is a measure of cost efficiency. The percentage above a CPI of 1.0 shows how much costs are under the budgeted amount for the work accomplished.
The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is a measure of schedule efficiency. The percentage above an SPI of 1.0 shows how much the schedule is under the budgeted amount for the work planned.
A CPI and SPI both greater than 1 show that the project is under planned cost and ahead of schedule.
Example – 02
You have a project worth 100,000 USD. To date, you have spent 30,000 USD and 25% of the work is completed. For the above project, which statement is correct?
A) The project is under budget
B) The project is over budget
C) The project is ahead of schedule
D) The project is behind schedule
Explanation: Since the CPI is less than one for this project, the project is over budget. Knowing each factor and understanding how to apply the concepts is the key to decoding these questions.
Here’s how to study for these with 4 key factors:
EVA – Earned Value Analysis
EVM – Earned Value Management
CAP – Control Account Plans – Management control point where PV, EV, and AC are monitored.
PV – Planned Value – (BCWS) – Physical work scheduled to be performed
EV – Earned Value – (BCWP) – Physical work actually accomplished
AC – Actual Costs – (ACWP) – Costs incurred to achieve EV.
SV – Schedule Variance
CV – Cost Variance
CPI – Cumulative Performance Index
SPI – Schedule Performance Index
EAC – Estimate At Completion
BAC – Balance At Completion
VAC – Variance At Completion
ETC – Estimate To Completion
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