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

You are managing a project in Alaska to extend an existing oil pipeline, and you are about to start project planning. Due to the large size of the project along with the regulatory and environmental considerations, the development of a detailed project management plan will be critical. As a starting point for initial project planning, what is the first thing you should do?

A. Conduct a project kick-off meeting to inform and engage stakeholders and gain commitment
B. Review the project charter to understand the high-level information about the project
C. Begin the process of identifying stakeholders so they can be engaged as necessary for project planning
D. Share the project scope statement with the project team for a common understanding of project deliverables

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HINT: The Initiating Process Group has been completed, and the Planning Process Group is about to begin.

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Answer and Explanation:
The correct answer is B.

The question states that project planning is about to begin which suggests that project initiation has been completed. The project charter is created during the Develop Project Charter process as part of project initiation. The project team uses the project charter as a starting point for initial project planning. The type and amount of information in the project charter varies depending on the complexity of the project and the information known at the time of its creation. At a minimum, the project charter should define the high-level information about the project that will be elaborated in the various components of the project management plan.

Details for Each Option:

A. Conduct a project kick-off meeting to inform and engage stakeholders and gain commitment
Incorrect. The project kick-off meeting is usually associated with the end of project planning and the start of execution. Therefore, a kick-off meeting is not likely to be the first activity for project planning, making this an incorrect answer.

B. Review the project charter to understand the high-level information about the project
Correct. Besides authorizing the project and naming the project manager, the project charter documents the high-level information about the project. The type and amount of information in the project charter varies depending on the complexity of the project and the information known at the time of its creation. At a minimum, the project charter should define the high-level information about the project that will be elaborated in the various components of the project management plan. Reviewing the project charter is the most reasonable first thing for you to do as a starting point for initial project planning.

C. Begin the process of identifying stakeholders so they can be engaged as necessary for project planning
Incorrect. The Identify Stakeholder process is part of the Initiating Process Group. The question states that project planning is about to begin which suggests that the processes associated with the Initiating Process Group have already been completed. Therefore, the identification of stakeholders is not the first activity to be completed for project planning.

D. Share the project scope statement with the project team for a common understanding of project deliverables
Incorrect. The project scope statement is an output of the Define Scope process, which is one of the processes in the Planning Process Group. As such it is not yet available at the start of project planning. Therefore, this answer choice can be eliminated.

Reference: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Sixth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2017, Page(s) 83, 81