PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) Exam Questions

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner Exam Objectives

1. 1

   1.0 Mindset (28%)

   • Task 1.1: Experiment Early Build an increment of the product to validate solution and/or market need Create an environment to innovate, learn, and grow
   • Task 1.2: Embrace Agile Mindset Use agile values and principles Apply the appropriate complexity method/domain to the complexity theory system (i.e. CAS, Stacey Matrix, Cynefin) to classify scenarios Identify the application and importance or risks of each complexity system theory given a specific scenario Interpret the output of agile suitability tools Integrate agile models based on needs (e.g., use case, team, project, organization)
   • Task 1.3: Promote Collaborative Team Environment Establish team vision and working agreements Form and develop a high performing team Use retrospective findings to improve the team Use collaboration practices to breakdown silos Commit to the team’s decisions even in disagreement Evaluate the team’s understanding of agile to tailor the agile approach Identify the key factors to consider when determining the appropriate inter-team coordination approach (e.g., scrum of scrums, team of teams)
   • Task 1.4: Build Transparency Make status, progress, process, risks, impediments, and learning accessible to all (e.g., using information radiators) Establish a feedback loop for team Define communication strategies for co-located and distributed teams
   • Task 1.5: Foster Psychological Safety Promote a no blame culture by encouraging objectivity Encourage dialogue over debate Solicit and provide constructive feedback. Act on it Encourage challenging the status quo
   • Task 1.6: Shorten Feedback Loops Include the stakeholders from day one Maximize value given a specific timeframe Use tools and techniques to shorten feedback (e.g., design thinking and lean startup)
   • Task 1.7: Embrace Change Promote a growth mindset to respond to change Embrace process adaptation by responding to changing requirements and priorities Encourage and model cross skills (e.g., generalizing specialists) Adapt to product needs based on the learning and feedback
2. 2

   2.0 Leadership (25%)

   • Task 2.1: Empower Teams Establish an environment of trust (e.g., enable transparent communication) Motivate team members (e.g., to experiment and/or take risks) Coach and mentor team members Promote collective ownership of goals Recognize the differences between training, coaching, and mentoring and when to apply each approach Apply emotional intelligence techniques to support the team, increase empathy, resolve conflict and support positive influence Interpret non-verbal cues during team interaction Interpret the output of self-assessment tools and techniques to help teams develop their capabilities
   • Task 2.2: Facilitate Problem Resolution Investigate the root cause of problems (e.g., root cause analysis, Ishikawa) Determine the resolution strategies with the team that will add the most value Ensure the problems are resolved in a timely manner
   • Task 2.3: Promote Knowledge Sharing Create environment to capture and share knowledge (e.g., Lessons Learned for continuous improvement, retrospectives, communities of practice) Leverage organizational knowledge assets (e.g., from other similar initiatives, people and processes) Allocate time for knowledge sharing and making required updates
   • Task 2.4: Promote agile mindset principles and practices Create awareness around the agile values and principles Foster an environment for continuous improvement Recognize, celebrating, and encourage agile behavior
   • Task 2.5: Promote shared vision and purpose Define and ensure there is a common understanding of the purpose and vision with all stakeholders Ensure product is always aligned to the vision and organizational goals Continuously communicate the vision and purpose
   • Task 2.6: Facilitate conflict management Identify the root cause and the level of the conflict Promote collaborative approach to solve the conflict
3. 3

   3.0 Product (19%)

   • Task 3.1: Refine product backlog Clarify the backlog items Prioritize the backlog items with the customer/stakeholder Decompose the backlog items as needed Use tools and techniques to collectively size work
   • Task 3.2: Manage increments Ensure increment is aligned with business priorities Define the increment goals Demonstrate increments of value for early feedback Measure the delivery of value
   • Task 3.3: Visualize work Educate work visualization techniques Establish a process to update the data/stats Continuously share information
   • Task 3.4: Manage value delivery Define what value will look like (e.g., success criteria, sustainability, security, privacy, regulatory, compliance) Ensure the value increments are optimized Ensure that the targeted results are achieved (e.g., Customer satisfaction, increase in sales)
4. 4

   4.0 Delivery (28%)

   • Task 4.1: Seek early feedback Evaluate customer satisfaction Deliver work in small increments Collect and incorporate stakeholders’ feedback on a regular basis
   • Task 4.2: Manage agile metrics Determine which metrics are appropriate for a given audience Radiate metrics across the relevant audience Review and analyze metrics Use metrics insights for decision making
   • Task 4.3: Manage impediments and risk Proactively identify risks and impediments Engage the team to find the most appropriate course of action Prioritize impediment removal and risk mitigation activities Monitor/control risks and impediments Use lessons learned to avoid risks/impediments recurrence
   • Task 4.4: Recognize and eliminate waste Visualize the end-to-end flow of value in the system (e.g., value added, non-value added) Use metrics, tools and feedback loops to identify waste Prioritize waste reduction activities Iterate on identification and reduction of waste
   • Task 4.5: Perform continuous improvements Obtain metrics and feedback to drive continuous improvements Implement improvement actions Evaluate the effectiveness of process improvement
   • Task 4.6: Actively engage customers Identify and analyze customer and their needs Validate that iteration deliverables meet acceptance criteria Encourage collaboration between customer and team
   • Task 4.7: Optimize flow Limit work-in-progress at all levels Shield team from interruptions (e.g., create team interfaces) Use metrics to analyze and improve flow