PMI PMI-PBA Practice Test Questions, Exam Dumps

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PMI-PBA PMI Practice Test Questions and Exam Dumps

Question 1

A business analyst has been assigned to explore a particular problem as a preliminary step toward creating a business case. To do this effectively, the analyst decides to gain a clear understanding of the organization's current operational workflows.

Which technique would be most suitable for this purpose?

A. MoSCoW
B. RACI matrix
C. Observation
D. User stories

Correct answer:  C

Explanation:

When a business analyst is tasked with investigating a problem to contribute to the development of a business case, it is essential to first understand how the business currently operates. This includes reviewing the actual workflows, tasks, systems, and interactions that occur during normal business operations. Among the options presented, observation is the most suitable technique to achieve this goal.

Observation involves the analyst directly watching people perform their jobs, which allows them to gain real-time insights into the actual processes being followed. This technique helps uncover not only formal procedures but also informal workarounds, bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and points of friction that may not be evident in documentation or from interviews. By observing actual behavior, the analyst can develop a clear and realistic picture of the "as-is" process, which is crucial when identifying problems and opportunities for improvement.

Let's examine the other options to understand why they are less appropriate in this context:

A. MoSCoW: This is a prioritization technique used to categorize requirements into Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won’t have. While it is a valuable tool in requirements analysis and management, it is not suited for investigating current business processes. It doesn’t offer insight into how the business currently operates or what specific issues may be embedded in existing workflows.
B. RACI matrix: This tool is used for clarifying roles and responsibilities in a process or project. It defines who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for specific tasks. While it can help in understanding organizational roles, it doesn’t provide the process-level detail required for diagnosing current operational problems or understanding how the work is performed on the ground.
D. User stories: These are concise descriptions of a feature or requirement from an end user's perspective. They are commonly used in Agile environments to communicate functionality that should be delivered. However, user stories focus on future capabilities or needs rather than existing processes. As such, they are more relevant during the solution design and requirement elicitation phases than during initial problem investigation.

In contrast, observation is a foundational technique that supports process modeling, root cause analysis, and stakeholder engagement by grounding the analyst in the actual day-to-day operations of the business. This is critical when preparing to make recommendations in a business case. By understanding what is currently happening, the analyst can better articulate the problem, estimate impacts, and evaluate potential improvements.

Therefore, when the primary objective is to understand current workflows and how the business operates today, observation is the most appropriate and effective method.

Question 2

The customer and the business analyst are collaborating in the development of a solution scope. It is important for the customer to:

A. spend the time required to provide, clarify, and elaborate requirements.
B. communicate changes to requirements only when they are completely defined.
C. perform an alternatives analysis for requirements implementation.
D. challenge assessments of the cost and feasibility of requirements.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

When developing the solution scope, collaboration between the customer and the business analyst is critical to ensuring that the resulting solution meets the customer's needs and expectations. The customer's active participation in providing, clarifying, and elaborating on the requirements plays a key role in defining the solution scope. Here's a breakdown of the options:

Option A (Correct): Spending the time required to provide, clarify, and elaborate requirements is essential for creating a well-defined solution scope. The customer must actively engage with the business analyst to provide clear and detailed requirements. This ensures that the solution addresses all of the business needs and expectations, and it allows the business analyst to accurately document those requirements, helping avoid misunderstandings or incomplete requirements later in the project.
Option B (Incorrect): Communicating changes to requirements only when they are completely defined may lead to delays and missed opportunities for feedback. In practice, it is better to communicate changes or updates to requirements early, even if they are not completely finalized. Early communication allows for adjustments and helps ensure that the solution is being built in alignment with the evolving needs of the customer.
Option C (Incorrect): While performing an alternatives analysis for requirements implementation can be helpful in certain situations, it is not necessarily something that the customer should focus on during the development of the solution scope. This task is typically the responsibility of the business analyst or the solution design team, who will consider alternative approaches for meeting the requirements. The customer’s focus should be on providing clear requirements and feedback rather than evaluating different implementation alternatives.
Option D (Incorrect): Challenging assessments of cost and feasibility can sometimes be necessary, but the primary responsibility of the customer during the development of the solution scope is to ensure that the requirements are accurate and complete. The business analyst typically performs the cost and feasibility analysis. The customer’s role in this context is to provide insight into business needs rather than challenge feasibility at this early stage.

In summary, the most important action for the customer is to spend the time required to provide, clarify, and elaborate on the requirements to ensure the success of the solution development. This makes Option A the best answer.

Question 3

A business analyst is managing a project to roll out an automated system for order entry at a neighborhood pizza restaurant. Currently, the analyst only knows that the ordering process is slow and frequently results in errors.

Given this limited knowledge, what should be the analyst's next action?

A. Identify testing resources to support the implementation.
B. Request information on the current ordering process and compare it with other companies.
C. Select the software to implement and start working with the technical resources.
D. Schedule a requirements gathering session with the manager of the ordering department.

Correct answer:  D

Explanation:

In situations where a business analyst has minimal understanding of a project—such as only knowing that a process is inefficient and error-prone—the next logical and necessary step is to gather detailed information from key stakeholders. In this scenario, the manager of the ordering department is one such stakeholder, as they are likely to have deep insight into the current process, including its pain points and inefficiencies.

Option D, which involves scheduling a requirements gathering session with the manager, is the most appropriate step because it enables the business analyst to uncover the root causes of the issues, document the “as-is” process, and begin forming a foundation for the system requirements. This step initiates the elicitation process, which is a critical early activity in business analysis. Through such sessions, the analyst can collect qualitative and quantitative data, identify user needs, clarify objectives, and begin mapping out functional and non-functional requirements for the new system.

Let’s examine why the other options are less suitable at this stage:

A. Identify testing resources to support the implementation: While testing is an essential part of any system implementation, identifying testing resources is premature when the requirements and scope of the system haven’t yet been fully defined. Before testing considerations can be made, the analyst must understand what is being built or improved upon, and that starts with understanding the current process and gathering requirements.
B. Request information on the current ordering process and compare it with other companies: This approach has some merit—understanding the current process is indeed important—but comparison with other companies introduces variables that may not be applicable. Pizza restaurants differ in scale, operations, and customer base. Comparing with external organizations may lead to inappropriate assumptions or mismatched benchmarks. Also, requesting passive information (such as documents or flowcharts) doesn't replace direct engagement with stakeholders who can clarify context, provide examples, and offer perspectives that written materials cannot convey.
C. Select the software to implement and start working with the technical resources: This is perhaps the riskiest choice. Selecting software without a clear understanding of the business needs, goals, and existing pain points is putting the cart before the horse. Such an approach can lead to a misalignment between the solution and the problem, wasted resources, and stakeholder dissatisfaction. The selection of software should occur only after a robust requirements analysis, feasibility assessment, and stakeholder engagement process.

In summary, requirements gathering is the foundational next step. It facilitates a structured approach to understanding the problem and developing a solution that is tailored to the restaurant’s specific needs. The business analyst must ensure that any assumptions are clarified and that stakeholder input is central to the discovery process. By speaking directly with the ordering department’s manager, the analyst sets the stage for a successful project that addresses the core issues—speed and accuracy of orders—using insights drawn from the people most familiar with the daily challenges.

Therefore, the most appropriate next action is D.

Question 4

After a project was delivered, the business analyst learns of a project objective with no associated requirement. What would have helped determine this issue before delivery?

A. Context diagram
B. Use cases
C. Tracing requirements
D. Process flow

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

When a business analyst identifies an objective that was not linked to a specific requirement after a project is delivered, this indicates a potential gap in the requirement-gathering or validation process. Tracing requirements is a critical practice that can help prevent such issues during the project lifecycle. Here's a breakdown of each option:

Option A (Incorrect): A context diagram typically helps to define the boundaries of a system and the interactions it has with external entities (e.g., users, other systems). While it provides a high-level overview of the system, it doesn't necessarily address the connection between specific project objectives and their associated requirements. It’s helpful in understanding the scope and context of the system but doesn’t provide a detailed traceability link to requirements.
Option B (Incorrect): Use cases are useful for defining how users will interact with a system and what functionality is needed. However, they focus more on the flow of interactions and user behavior, not necessarily on linking objectives to requirements. While use cases help clarify functional requirements, they are not sufficient on their own to ensure that all project objectives are covered by specific requirements.
Option C (Correct): Tracing requirements is the best approach for ensuring that every project objective is covered by an associated requirement. Requirements traceability involves creating links between high-level business objectives and detailed functional or non-functional requirements. This traceability helps ensure that the project objectives are properly addressed by the requirements and that all deliverables align with the original goals. It also aids in tracking changes and assessing whether all requirements were fulfilled before delivery.
Option D (Incorrect): A process flow shows how a process or workflow progresses step by step. While process flows can help model the execution of business processes and identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies, they do not directly address the alignment between objectives and requirements. Process flows are useful for understanding operational steps, but they don’t provide a structured method to ensure that every project objective has a corresponding requirement.

The most effective way to ensure that all project objectives are addressed by requirements is through tracing requirements. This practice allows for verifying that every objective has been captured and mapped to a specific requirement, reducing the chances of missing critical objectives. Therefore, Option C is the best answer.

Question 5

A business analyst is performing a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate different solution options. During this process, the stakeholders emphasize that understanding the estimated growth rate of the investment is especially important to them.

Which technique should the business analyst use to obtain this information?

A. Net present value (NPV)
B. Payback period
C. Return on investment (ROI)
D. Internal rate of return

Correct answer:  D

Explanation:

When stakeholders are particularly concerned with the estimated growth rate of a potential investment or solution, the most suitable technique a business analyst can use is the internal rate of return (IRR). This is because the IRR directly represents the expected annualized rate of return—essentially the growth rate—that a project or investment is predicted to generate. It allows stakeholders to gauge the efficiency and profitability of the investment in percentage terms, which aligns perfectly with their concern about growth.

The internal rate of return is defined as the discount rate at which the net present value (NPV) of all cash flows (both incoming and outgoing) from a particular project equals zero. In simpler terms, it's the rate at which the project breaks even in terms of present value. A higher IRR indicates a more desirable investment opportunity because it suggests that the project’s returns exceed its costs at a faster or more efficient pace.

Let’s examine why the other options are not as well-suited for determining the estimated growth rate:

A. Net present value (NPV):
NPV measures the absolute value created by a project by subtracting the present value of costs from the present value of benefits. It is a monetary figure, not a rate or percentage. While NPV is very useful for determining whether a project adds value, it doesn’t express the growth rate or efficiency of the investment. Two projects can have the same NPV but different IRRs, which would mean they offer the same value but not necessarily the same rate of return.
B. Payback period:
This is the amount of time it takes for an investment to recoup its initial cost through the project’s net cash inflows. It provides a measure of risk by showing how long capital is at risk but says nothing about growth rate. A project might have a short payback period but a lower long-term return rate compared to another project. Thus, it’s not helpful when stakeholders are focused on growth.
C. Return on investment (ROI):
ROI measures the overall profitability of an investment, typically calculated as a percentage of gain over the initial cost. While it is useful for comparing total returns, it doesn't consider the time value of money or show how quickly those returns are achieved over time. It’s a static measure and does not represent annualized growth, which makes it insufficient for stakeholders who need to understand growth dynamics over a multi-year horizon.

In contrast, internal rate of return (IRR) incorporates both the time value of money and the timing of cash flows, providing stakeholders with a single percentage figure that indicates the average annual growth rate they can expect from the investment. This makes it the most appropriate and insightful metric when the focus is on understanding how fast the value of an investment is expected to grow.

Therefore, when stakeholders are interested in the estimated growth rate of potential solution options, the best technique for the business analyst to use is the internal rate of return, which is option D.

Question 6

During user acceptance testing, a defect is logged by a user from a department that did not participate in the requirements analysis.

To avoid this situation and minimize impact on the project, the user should have been:

A. interviewed to understand how the user’s work would be impacted.
B. involved in the development and sign-off of the business requirements.
C. given the opportunity to review the user acceptance test scripts.
D. identified as a stakeholder as part of the stakeholder analysis.

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

In this scenario, a defect is identified by a user who did not participate in the requirements analysis, which implies a potential gap in the stakeholder involvement during the project. Here’s a breakdown of each option:

Option A (Incorrect): While it is valuable to interview users to understand how their work will be impacted, this step alone would not have prevented the defect during user acceptance testing (UAT). The primary issue here is that the user was not involved early in the process, and simply interviewing them at the testing phase would not address the root cause of the problem. The goal is to ensure that all relevant users are involved upfront to capture their needs before development.
Option B (Incorrect): Involving the user in the development and sign-off of the business requirements is important to ensure the final solution meets their needs. However, this process should be part of the overall stakeholder management process from the beginning. This answer focuses on a reactive approach, which is less ideal compared to proactively identifying the user as a stakeholder earlier on.
Option C (Incorrect): Giving the user the opportunity to review the user acceptance test scripts is useful to ensure that they are aligned with the business needs. However, it doesn't fully address the issue of the user’s initial exclusion from the requirements analysis. UAT scripts are useful for testing, but if the user wasn’t involved in the original requirements phase, they might not fully understand the test scenarios or the system’s intended outcomes, which could still lead to defects.
Option D (Correct): The most effective way to avoid this situation is by identifying the user as a stakeholder during the stakeholder analysis phase. Stakeholder analysis is critical to ensuring that all relevant users and departments are accounted for in the project. If the user had been identified as a stakeholder early in the project, they would have been included in the requirements gathering process, reducing the risk of defects arising from unmet needs. By engaging the right stakeholders from the beginning, the project team can ensure that all requirements are captured, leading to fewer issues during UAT.

The correct answer is Option D because it emphasizes the importance of identifying and involving all relevant stakeholders early in the project lifecycle. Ensuring that stakeholders from all impacted departments are part of the requirements analysis process is crucial to minimizing defects and ensuring the solution meets everyone’s needs. Therefore, identifying the user as a stakeholder as part of the stakeholder analysis is the most effective way to avoid this situation.

Question 7

A business analyst is examining a discrepancy report following a test session and discovers that a defect has been identified. To determine the correct course of action,

What should the business analyst evaluate to appropriately respond to the issue?

A. Perform an impact analysis and open a change request to include the revised requirement in the next baseline.
B. Inspect the requirements traceability matrix to verify if the requirement is connected to a use case.
C. Determine if the defect is in the solution developed, in the original requirement or in the test case.
D. Verify that the corresponding requirement was appropriately signed off by the requesting stakeholder.

Correct answer:  C

Explanation:

When a defect is discovered during testing and documented in a discrepancy report, the first and most critical step a business analyst should take is to determine the origin of the defect. This involves analyzing whether the problem lies in the solution implementation, the original requirement, or the test case itself. This investigative approach ensures that the response to the defect is appropriate, targeted, and avoids unnecessary changes or misattribution of the issue.

The correct response to a defect depends heavily on its source:

If the defect lies in the solution implementation, the issue is likely with how the development team interpreted or coded the requirement. In this case, a fix to the solution is warranted.
If the defect stems from a faulty requirement, such as ambiguity, incompleteness, or incorrect assumptions, the requirement may need to be revised, and possibly revalidated with stakeholders.
If the defect is due to an incorrect or misleading test case, such as misinterpreting a requirement or testing the wrong behavior, then the test documentation needs to be corrected, not the solution or the requirement.

This analysis aligns with root cause analysis, a core competency in business analysis. Without understanding the cause of the defect, any corrective action could be misdirected and lead to additional issues, such as introducing new errors, escalating costs, or creating stakeholder confusion.

Let’s examine why the other options are not the most appropriate first step in responding to the defect:

A. Perform an impact analysis and open a change request to include the revised requirement in the next baseline:
While impact analysis and change control are important processes when requirements need modification, this step is premature unless the defect is determined to be due to a flawed requirement. Opening a change request without first identifying the root cause could lead to unnecessary or misguided changes.
B. Inspect the requirements traceability matrix to verify if the requirement is connected to a use case:
The requirements traceability matrix (RTM) is a useful tool for tracking the relationship between requirements and their corresponding design elements, test cases, and use cases. However, simply checking the traceability doesn’t diagnose the source of the defect. It might help in later steps, such as impact analysis or validation, but it doesn’t resolve the immediate question of why the defect occurred.
D. Verify that the corresponding requirement was appropriately signed off by the requesting stakeholder:
Stakeholder approval of a requirement is important for validation and accountability, but it does not confirm accuracy or correctness of the requirement, nor does it help identify whether the defect is in the solution, the requirement itself, or the test case. Signed-off requirements can still be flawed or misinterpreted.

Thus, the first and most crucial step in addressing a discrepancy is to isolate the root of the problem. Without doing this, any corrective action may be ineffective or counterproductive. For this reason, the best technique a business analyst can use in this situation is to determine if the defect is in the solution developed, in the original requirement, or in the test case, which makes C the correct answer.

Question 8

During the validation phase of a project, a business analyst notices that a requirement has been modified. Instead of positioning the company logo in the upper-left corner of the window as originally specified, it is now in the upper-right corner. Upon inquiring, the developer mentions that one of the stakeholders directly requested this change.

What should the business analyst do next?

A. Confront the stakeholder who requested the change.
B. Follow the change control process outlined in the business analysis plan.
C. Discuss the change during the next stakeholder meeting.
D. Ask the developer to correct the logo as per the original requirement.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

The situation at hand involves a change that has not gone through the formal process of approval. Here’s why the correct course of action is Option B:

Option A (Incorrect): Confronting the stakeholder is not productive. The business analyst should address the issue professionally, ensuring the proper process is followed rather than resorting to confrontation.
Option B (Correct): The change control process is the appropriate method for handling any changes. By following this, the business analyst ensures that changes are documented, assessed, and approved in a controlled manner, maintaining project integrity.
Option C (Incorrect): While discussing the change in the next meeting might seem useful, the change should first go through the formal change control process. This ensures that all impacts are considered and all stakeholders approve the change.
Option D (Incorrect): The business analyst should not direct the developer to make corrections without following the change control process. Making decisions unilaterally can lead to scope issues and unapproved changes.

The correct action is to follow the change control process as defined in the business analysis plan to handle the change appropriately and keep the project on track.

Question 9

A company is in the process of building a new e-commerce platform to expand into a new market segment. During development, the government introduces a new set of regulations.

What should the business analyst do in response to this development?

A. Check the traceability matrix to identify affected use cases.
B. Evaluate if the new set of regulations is aligned with the business case.
C. Evaluate the impact of the change on the project schedule.
D. Obtain management sign-off on the new set of regulations.

Correct answer:A

Explanation:

When new regulations are introduced during the development of a product—especially one like an e-commerce platform that operates in a legally sensitive domain—it is crucial for the business analyst to understand the implications of those regulations on the existing solution requirements and design. The most effective and structured way to begin this analysis is by consulting the requirements traceability matrix (RTM).

The RTM is a tool that links requirements to related artifacts such as use cases, test cases, design components, and business rules. By referencing this matrix, the business analyst can quickly identify which parts of the system are impacted by the new regulatory changes. Specifically, it allows the analyst to:

Map the new regulatory requirements to existing system functionality.
Identify gaps where compliance is lacking.
Determine which use cases (and thus, which processes and functionalities) need to be updated or created.
Trace downstream impacts on test cases, design documents, and training materials.

This approach ensures a systematic impact assessment, reducing the risk of missing a critical requirement or introducing non-compliance issues. By starting with the traceability matrix, the business analyst lays the groundwork for broader impact analysis, including schedule, cost, and scope—steps that would logically follow.

Let’s examine why the other options are less suitable as an immediate response:

B. Evaluate if the new set of regulations is aligned with the business case:
While it’s true that regulations can affect the viability of a business case, most government regulations are mandatory and must be complied with regardless of alignment with original business goals. Evaluating alignment might be relevant later in assessing long-term strategic implications, but it does not help in immediately identifying what aspects of the current solution must change.
C. Evaluate the impact of the change on the project schedule:
This is an important task, but only after the affected parts of the project have been identified. Without first determining what requirements, use cases, or components are impacted, there’s no basis to accurately assess schedule implications. Jumping straight to schedule impact risks basing estimates on incomplete or inaccurate data.
D. Obtain management sign-off on the new set of regulations:
Government regulations are not discretionary and do not typically require “sign-off” from management to be considered valid or applicable. Instead, they must be adhered to. The analyst’s role is to ensure that these regulations are reflected in the system requirements and that stakeholders are aware of the necessary changes. While management might need to approve changes to scope, budget, or timeline resulting from regulatory changes, sign-off on the regulations themselves is neither required nor appropriate.

In conclusion, the most effective first step for a business analyst responding to new regulatory requirements during a project is to determine what parts of the existing requirements, use cases, and solution components are affected. The requirements traceability matrix is the key tool that enables this analysis, making A the correct answer.