AgilePM-Practitioner Agile Project Management (AgilePM) Practitioner Exam Question and Answers

C. Independent Testing

A. Collaborative Testing

B. Repeatable Testing

D. Prioritised Testing

D. Prioritised Testing

Short Comprehensive Explanation:

Independent Testing is appropriate when someone from a different department (Finance) with no involvement in the development process conducts the testing to ensure an objective view.

Collaborative Testing involves various stakeholders, in this case, the Sales Manager and the solution tester, working together to review and test a prototype, promoting early feedback and shared understanding.

Repeatable Testing is used for security testing where predefined test scripts (provided by the bank) are applied to ensure the system meets specific security standards and can be repeated as needed.

Prioritised Testing is essential when the project's stability and core functionality, such as the website's capacity to handle new features, must be confirmed before other tests are conducted to ensure the most critical aspects are addressed first.

Again, Prioritised Testing is used to ensure that the essential requirements (Must Haves and Should Haves) are tested and validated before moving on to less critical ones (Could Haves), aligning with prioritization in Agile methodologies.

References:The Agile Project Management (AgilePM®) framework and principles, as detailed in the AgilePM® Practitioner documents and learning resources, guide the application of these testing concepts within an Agile project environment. These resources emphasize the importance of iterative development, stakeholder collaboration, and prioritization of work to ensure project success and alignment with business needs. Specific references to testing approaches and their application within Agile projects can be found in the official AgilePM® handbook and practitioner-level training materials available through APMG International and affiliated training providers.

The two actions that the Workshop Facilitator should take if the team cannot agree on the system content are:

C. Facilitate the creation of a list of actions to be carried out after the workshop, to resolve the issue. This will ensure that the disagreement does not stall the project and that there is a clear plan for how to move forward.

E. Prepare a report describing the outcome of the workshop. This will provide a record of the discussion and any decisions made, which can be useful for future reference and for keeping stakeholders informed.

Please note that while presenting their own interpretation of what the system should include (option A) or presenting the group with a predefined specification of what should be included (option B) might seem like potential solutions, these actions could bias the discussion and may not lead to a solution that meets all stakeholders’ needs. Agreeing to disagree and closing the workshop (option D) could leave the issue unresolved, which could cause problems later in the project. The facilitator’s role is to guide the discussion and help the team reach a consensus, not to impose their own views or prematurely end the discussion.

Here are the DSDM Principles that would most help to reduce or mitigate the listed risks:

The ‘Hoy for Hoy Hall’ Action Group may cause delay to the project if they are not kept updated on how the finished rooms are going to look.

G. Communicate continuously and clearly

Timber Tigers will ensure that the front rooms are finished and approved by the end of Timebox A.

E. Build incrementally from firm foundations

The Architecture Angels IT support team may require more detail up front in order to approve the initial design for the new online reservation system.

A. Focus on the business need

The morale of the Solution Development Team may be adversely affected if the external web design specialist is not a team player.

C. Collaborate

Empowering the Solution Development Team to manage themselves on a day-to-day basis may result in the Project Manager losing sight of what activities are being carried out, by whom and when.

H. Demonstrate control

Here are the appropriate options for each assertion and reason combination:

The Marketing Director, in the role of Business Visionary, is empowered to overrule cost restrictions advised by the Chief Accountant, who is appointed as Business Ambassador.

C. True (Assertion) False (Reason)

Rationale: While the Business Visionary may have the authority to make strategic decisions that could overrule cost restrictions, the reason given relates to project-level roles directing the project, not to the authority to overrule cost-related advice.

The Procurement Manager is an appropriate representative of the end user of the solution.

B. True (Assertion) True (Reason) BUT the reason does not explain the assertion

Rationale: The Procurement Manager, as part of the operational team, could represent the end user. However, the reason given talks about the empowerment of the Business Ambassador, which does not directly explain why the Procurement Manager is a representative of the end user.

The other specialist gardening team members from Earth Excavations would be suitable as Solution Developers, assigned alongside the Head Landscape Gardener.

A. True (Assertion) True (Reason) AND the reason explains the assertion

Rationale: Specialist gardening team members would be suitable as Solution Developers, providing support to the Lead Developer, which is a common practice in Agile teams.

The 'Hoy for Hoy Hall' Action Group members should be assigned as Business Ambassadors.

D. False (Assertion) True (Reason)

Rationale: While the Business Ambassador should ensure that business needs are analyzed, the 'Hoy for Hoy Hall' Action Group members being assigned as Business Ambassadors is not necessarily true as they are external stakeholders and not necessarily equipped to represent the business internally on a project.

The Project Manager should plan the communication needed between the Marketing Director, in the role of Business Visionary, and the 'Hoy for Hoy Hall' Action Group.

A. True (Assertion) True (Reason) AND the reason explains the assertion

Rationale: The Project Manager typically has the responsibility to plan and manage communication between the project team and external stakeholders, and the Business Visionary's role includes promoting the business vision to interested parties, which includes the 'Hoy for Hoy Hall' Action Group.

For the XAN Insurance Company Web Project and considering the Agile Project Management approach, particularly the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) framework which emphasizes business value and active user involvement, the Business Case should justify the project in terms of cost, benefit, and risk.

Selected Statements for the Business Case:

D. The Sales Manager has calculated that the new coffee shop insurance product will increase revenues by 10% each week.

E. Market research shows that the number of coffee shop patrons taking legal action against retailers has increased by 200% over the past two years.

D. This statement provides a clear financial projection for the benefits of the project, which is a critical component of a Business Case. It quantifies the expected revenue increase, offering a tangible benefit to justify the project investment.

E. This statement outlines a market trend that necessitates the project, highlighting the increased demand for insurance due to rising legal actions against coffee shops. It underscores the relevance and timeliness of the project, adding to the justification for undertaking the project.

Why Other Statements Are Excluded:

A. While high-level functional and non-functional requirements are essential for project planning, they typically belong in project requirements documentation or the Project Brief, rather than the Business Case.

B. This statement provides market insight but does not directly justify the project from a cost-benefit-risk perspective. The relevance of selling Fairtrade products and alcohol to the insurance product project is tangential.

C. The request for a report on past sales provides background information but does not in itself justify the project investment. It might be used to inform the Business Case but is not a direct component of it.

To implement the new Must Have requirement for the coffee shop insurance product website, which includes financial transaction functionality, the Business Sponsor should take the following actions:

Selected Actions for the Business Sponsor:

B. Check the viability of the project, following the inclusion of the new Must Have requirement.

E. Assess the impact of the new Must Have requirement on the original Business Case.

B. Evaluating the project's viability after adding a significant new requirement is crucial. This involves analyzing whether the project can still meet its objectives within the given constraints, such as time, budget, and resources, especially when the new requirement could potentially add complexity and cost.

E. Understanding how the new requirement affects the original Business Case is essential. This involves reassessing the project's expected benefits, costs, and risks in light of the new functionality. It ensures that the project remains aligned with business objectives and continues to offer a viable return on investment.

Why Other Actions Are Less Suitable:

A. While ensuring adherence to relevant standards is important, it is more of a task for the technical team or a specific role such as the Technical Coordinator, rather than the primary responsibility of the Business Sponsor.

C. Sourcing and hiring specific technical expertise, such as a web developer with experience in online financial transactions, is generally a responsibility delegated to the Project Manager or relevant technical leads, not the Business Sponsor directly.

D. While communicating business changes to all interested parties is important, the specific action of explaining the implications of the business change company-wide is more likely to be a collaborative effort involving several roles, including the Business Change Manager, rather than solely the Business Sponsor's responsibility.

For the XAN Insurance Company Web Project, the plan for Post-Project activities should include actions and measures that will be undertaken after the project's deliverables have been implemented to ensure sustained benefits, monitor performance, and facilitate continuous improvement.

Selected Statements for the Plan for Post-Project Activities:

D. A report showing the number of application forms completed online through the website for coffee shop insurance policies will be produced weekly.

E. Once the new system has been deployed, the time it takes to process sales online will be compared with the time it takes to process new policies sold through telephone sales.

D. Producing a weekly report on the number of application forms completed online is a clear post-project activity. It provides ongoing monitoring of the project's impact and the effectiveness of the online system in attracting coffee shop insurance policies.

E. Comparing the processing times of online sales to telephone sales after the new system's deployment is an essential post-project activity. It evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of the new online system, offering insights into improvements and adjustments that may be needed.

Why Other Statements Are Excluded:

A. Creating a company-wide email to show the number of policies sold by each sales assistant weekly is more related to internal sales performance monitoring and motivation rather than a specific post-project activity tied to the project's objectives.

B. Circulating a copy of the revised sales procedure before product deployment is a preparation step for the transition to the new system, rather than a post-project activity.

C. The Project Manager attending Daily Stand-up meetings is part of the ongoing project management and team coordination activities during the project, not a post-project activity.

To effectively implement the new Must Have requirement for financial transaction functionality on the coffee shop insurance product website, the Project Manager should focus on actions that align with their role in planning, execution, and team coordination. The following actions are most appropriate for the Project Manager:

Selected Actions for the Project Manager:

B. Add the tasks required to develop the new financial transaction functionality to the Delivery Plan.

C. Update the Delivery Plan to show the new financial transaction functionality as a deliverable.

B. Integrating the tasks necessary for developing the new functionality into the Delivery Plan is crucial. This ensures that all project activities are accounted for and scheduled, which helps in managing the project's timeline and resources effectively.

C. Reflecting the new financial transaction functionality as a deliverable in the Delivery Plan is important for clarity and focus. It signifies the inclusion of this functionality as a critical component of the project's scope, guiding the team's efforts and priorities.

Why Other Actions Are Less Suitable:

A. While ensuring adherence to documented standards is important, it is typically a collaborative effort involving the Technical Coordinator and Solution Development team, in addition to the Project Manager, to ensure technical compliance.

D. Sourcing and hiring specific expertise, such as a web developer skilled in online financial transactions, is indeed part of the Project Manager's responsibilities. However, the actions related to the Delivery Plan (options B and C) are more directly aligned with the immediate steps for implementing a new requirement in the project's scope.

E. Consolidating and circulating an agenda for the workshop is a logistical task that the Project Manager might oversee or delegate. However, the actions related to planning and updating the Delivery Plan are more critical to the successful implementation of the new requirement.

The most effective action the Project Manager should take to resolve the 'them and us' culture between the Sales Department and the Operations Department is:

B. Brief the team and the Business Visionary on the use of an Agile Project Management approach and the requirement to collaborate.

Addressing the cultural divide requires fostering an environment of collaboration and mutual respect. By educating all team members and the Business Visionary about Agile Project Management principles, which emphasize teamwork, collaboration, and collective ownership of project outcomes, the Project Manager can help shift the team's mindset towards a more unified approach. This briefing should highlight the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of working together towards common goals, thus addressing the underlying issues contributing to the 'them and us' culture. Encouraging open communication and collaboration as fundamental components of the Agile approach can help break down barriers and build a more cohesive team.

Based on the Agile Project Management roles and the responsibilities outlined for each individual in the XAN Insurance Company Web Project scenario, the following selections can be made:

Manager of Web & Digital Media - will oversee and report progress on the delivery of the overall system.Selection: H. Project ManagerExplanation: The Manager of Web & Digital Media's role of overseeing and reporting on the project's progress aligns with the responsibilities of a Project Manager in an Agile setting, who is responsible for ensuring that the project meets its objectives and is delivered on time.

Finance Director - has budgetary control and will release finance for the project subject to expected benefits.Selection: A. Business SponsorExplanation: The Finance Director's control over the budget and the decision to release funds based on the expected benefits align with the role of a Business Sponsor, who is typically responsible for the project's budget and ensuring that it delivers value to the business.

Sales Manager - will formulate design options for new business processes that do not adversely affect business as usual.Selection: B. Business AnalystExplanation: The Sales Manager's responsibility for formulating design options for new business processes mirrors the role of a Business Analyst in Agile Project Management, who works to understand the business needs, assess the impact of changes, and ensure the solution meets business requirements.

Operations Manager - oversees the design and integrity of the technical aspects of the solution.Selection: F. Technical CoordinatorExplanation: The Operations Manager's focus on the technical design and integrity of the solution corresponds to the role of a Technical Coordinator in Agile projects, who ensures that the technical aspects of the project align with the business needs and technical standards.

In the context of Agile Project Management, it is crucial to have clear commitments regarding team members' availability to ensure that project planning and execution can be as accurate and effective as possible. By securing a formal agreement on the hours the marketing assistants can dedicate to the project each week, the Project Manager can better plan tasks and allocate resources, thereby optimizing the team's capacity and ensuring that project timelines and deliverables are realistic and achievable.

References:

The Agile Project Management (AgilePM®) framework emphasizes the importance of clear communication, resource planning, and commitment from all team members to ensure project success. Having a formal agreement on availability helps in setting clear expectations and allows for more effective planning and utilization of resources within the constraints of the project, aligning with Agile principles of collaboration, adaptability, and iterative progress.