A PM is responsible for implementing a new customer relationship management system and has learned that the sales organization is reluctant to utilize the new system. The organization's reluctance could jeopardize the success of the project. Which of the following steps should be taken to understand the adoption issues and gain organizational acceptance of the initiative? (Select TWO).
Correct Answer:
CD
The project manager should hold sessions to understand user challenges and track system usage and report user activity. These steps will help the project manager to identify the root causes of the adoption issues and monitor the progress of the system utilization. They will also help to communicate with the sales organization and provide feedback and support12
Which of the following should be the PRIMARY basis for establishing metrics that measure the effectiveness of an information security program?
Correct Answer:
D
Control objectives are the desired outcomes or goals of implementing security controls to mitigate risks and protect information assets. Control objectives should be the primary basis for establishing metrics that measure the effectiveness of an information security program, as they align with the business objectives, requirements, and expectations of the organization and its stakeholders. Metrics based on control objectives can help to evaluate the performance, efficiency, and maturity of the security program, and to identify gaps, issues, and areas for improvement. The other options are not correct because:
✑ Residual risk is the remaining risk after applying security controls. Residual risk is not a basis for establishing metrics, but rather a result of measuring the effectiveness of security controls. Residual risk should be monitored and reported, but it does not define the desired outcomes or goals of the security program.
✑ Regulatory requirements are the external standards, laws, and regulations that the organization must comply with to avoid legal or financial penalties. Regulatory requirements are not a basis for establishing metrics, but rather a constraint or a driver for the security program. Metrics based on regulatory requirements can help to demonstrate compliance, but they may not reflect the actual effectiveness or efficiency of the security program.
✑ Risk tolerance is the level of risk that the organization is willing to accept or bear.
Risk tolerance is not a basis for establishing metrics, but rather a factor or an input for the security program. Metrics based on risk tolerance can help to prioritize and allocate resources, but they may not measure the actual outcomes or goals of the security program. References = Key Performance Indicators for Security Governance, Part 1; 14 Cybersecurity Metrics + KPIs You Must Track in 2023; KPIs in Information Security: The 10 Most Important Security Metrics; Why metrics are crucial to proving cybersecurity programs’ value; Implementing and Maintaining Security Program Metrics
While in the closing phase of a project, the project manager gathers feedback from stakeholders. Which of the following best describes a benefit of this feedback?
Correct Answer:
C
Gathering feedback from stakeholders in the closing phase of a project is a valuable activity that can help the project manager create a more structured lessons-learned session. A lessons-learned session is a meeting where the project team and stakeholders review the project outcomes, successes, failures, and best practices, and document the lessons learned for future reference and improvement. Feedback from stakeholders can provide useful insights, perspectives, and suggestions on how the project was managed, what went well, what went wrong, and what can be done better next time. Feedback from stakeholders can also help the project manager identify the gaps, issues, and risks that occurred during the project, and how they were resolved or mitigated. By collecting and analyzing feedback from stakeholders, the project manager can create a more comprehensive and structured lessons-learned report that can benefit the organization and the project management profession12.
The other options are not the best descriptions of the benefit of feedback from stakeholders. While feedback from stakeholders may highlight the performance issues of the project manager and team members (option A), or identify the stakeholders’ real opinions about the project (option D), these are not the primary purposes or benefits of feedback. Feedback from stakeholders is not meant to evaluate or judge the project manager or team members, but to learn from the project experience and improve the project management processes and practices. Similarly, feedback from stakeholders is not meant to reveal their personal feelings or preferences about the project, but to assess the project results and deliverables against the project objectives and requirements. Feedback from stakeholders may also let the project manager know which stakeholders are allies for future projects (option B), but this is not a direct or significant benefit of feedback. Feedback from stakeholders is not intended to build or maintain relationships with stakeholders, but to solicit their input and feedback on the project performance and outcomes. While having allies among stakeholders may be helpful for future projects, this is not the main goal or benefit of feedback from stakeholders1
A PM is working on the schedule for a project that has technical tasks and requires a SME's knowledge. The PM decides the best way to track this project is to have the project lead provide high-level updates. Which of the following is the best tool to track this data?
Correct Answer:
D
A milestone chart is a tool that shows the key events or deliverables of a project along a timeline12. A milestone chart is useful for tracking the progress of a project that has technical tasks and requires a SME’s knowledge, because it can provide a high- level overview of the project status, without getting into the details of each task or activity34. A milestone chart can help the PM and the project lead communicate the project achievements, challenges, and expectations to the stakeholders, and also identify any potential risks or delays that may affect the project completion56. A milestone chart is better than the other options because:
✑ A Gantt chart is a tool that shows the tasks, dependencies, durations, and resources of a project along a timeline7. A Gantt chart is more detailed and complex than a milestone chart, and may not be suitable for providing high-level updates to the stakeholders8.
✑ A project organization chart is a tool that shows the roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships of the project team members and other stakeholders9. A project organization chart is not a tool for tracking project data, but rather for defining the project structure and authority10.
✑ A Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) chart is a tool that shows the tasks, dependencies, and critical path of a project along a network diagram. A PERT chart is more focused on the sequence and timing of the project tasks, and may not capture the key milestones or deliverables of the project.
References = CompTIA Project+ Certification Study Guide, CompTIA Project+ Certification Exam Objectives, What is a Milestone Chart?1, How to Create a Milestone Chart in Excel in 3 Steps2, Milestone Chart: The Easiest Way to Track Project Milestones3, How to Use Milestones in Project Management4, What is a Gantt Chart?5, Gantt Chart vs Milestone Chart: What’s the Difference?6, What is a Project Organization Chart?7, How to Create a Project Organization Chart8, What is a PERT Chart?9, PERT Chart vs Gantt Chart: What’s the Difference?10
A risk management team for a software project decided to outsource the development of a specific portion of a system due to a lack of internal resources. Which of the following risk responses does this demonstrate?
Correct Answer:
B
Outsourcing the development of a system component due to a lack of internal resources is a risk response strategy known as ‘transfer.’ This approach shifts the risk to a third party who will now be responsible for managing that portion of the project. It is commonly used when an organization does not have the expertise or capacity to handle specific risks internally.
References = The answer is based on standard project management practices and the typical use of risk response strategies in the field. For detailed information, please refer to the CompTIA Project+ Study Guide and other official CompTIA resources.
