PMP Practice Exam Question

During the execution phase of a software development project, the project manager is concerned about the increasing number of bugs being reported. To ensure that the project is adhering to the Quality Management Plan, the project manager should:

A) Immediately change the coding guidelines to be more strict.

B) Conduct a quality audit to compare actual performance against the Quality Management Plan.

C) Request additional resources to fix the bugs faster.

D) Skip the testing phase to meet the project deadlines.

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The Best Answer is B.

Let's examine each option and explain the most appropriate course of action:

A) Immediately change the coding guidelines to be more strict:

Changing coding guidelines during the execution phase may not be the best approach. It can introduce confusion and inconsistencies in the ongoing development work. Abruptly changing coding guidelines could lead to errors and slow down the development process, potentially causing more issues. Therefore, this option is not recommended.

B) Conduct a quality audit to compare actual performance against the Quality Management Plan:

This is the most appropriate option. Conducting a quality audit allows the project manager to assess whether the project is adhering to the Quality Management Plan. By comparing actual performance (in this case, the number of reported bugs) against the plan's expectations, the project manager can identify discrepancies and take corrective actions. This approach helps in maintaining project quality and ensuring that any deviations from the plan are addressed promptly and effectively.

C) Request additional resources to fix the bugs faster:

While this option may seem tempting, it's not always the best solution. Throwing more resources at the problem without first understanding its root causes may not be cost-effective or efficient. It's important to conduct a quality audit (as mentioned in option B) to pinpoint the issues before considering resource allocation. Additional resources should be requested only if it's clear that they are needed to meet quality standards and project deadlines.

D) Skip the testing phase to meet the project deadlines:

Skipping the testing phase is not advisable under any circumstances. Testing is a critical part of software development to ensure the product's quality and functionality. By skipping testing, you risk delivering a product with a high number of undetected defects, which can result in serious issues post-launch. This option should be avoided at all costs.

In summary, the project manager should choose option B: Conduct a quality audit to compare actual performance against the Quality Management Plan. This approach allows for a systematic evaluation of the situation and ensures that the project remains on track with its quality objectives while addressing the increasing number of reported bugs appropriately.