Certification Exam

Objectives: PK0-004

INTRODUCTION
The CompTIA Project+ examination is designed for business professionals who need to assist in
coordating projects or manage small projects. The exam will certify that the successful candidate
has the knowledge and skills required to plan and manage a small-to-medium-size project
through to successful completion. The successful candidate will also have knowledge required to
manage the project life cycle, ensure appropriate communication, manage resources and
stakeholders, and maintain project documentation to support the completion of larger projects.
The examination is intended for candidates who possess at least 12 months of cumulative
experience in leading, managing, directing, and/or participating in small-to-medium-size projects.
CompTIA Project+ examines the business, interpersonal, and project management skills required
to successfully manage projects and business initiatives. The skills and knowledge measured by
this examination were derived from an industry-wide job task analysis and validated through an
industry-wide survey. The results of this survey were used in weighing the domains and ensuring
that the weighting is representative of the relative importance of the content.
The exam is in the conventional linear format. There are 90 questions on the exam and
candidates will have 90 minutes to complete the exam.
The table below lists the domains measured by this examination and the extent to which they are
represented. The CompTIA Project+ exam is based on these objectives.

Domain

% of Examination

1.0 Project Basics

2.0 Project Constraints

36%
17%

3.0 Communication and Change Management

4.0 Project Tools and Documentation

26%
21%
100%

Total

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CompTIA Authorized Materials Use Policy

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**Note: The lists of examples provided in bulleted format below each objective are not exhaustive lists.
Other examples of technologies, processes or tasks pertaining to each objective may also be included on the
exam although not listed or covered in this objectives document.
CompTIA is constantly reviewing the content of our exams and updating test questions to be sure our
exams are current and the security of the questions is protected. When necessary, we will publish updated
exams based on existing exam objectives. Please know that all related exam preparation materials will still
be valid.
(A list of acronyms used in these objectives appears at the end of this document.)

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Copyright 2016 by the Computing Technology Industry Association. All rights reserved.
The CompTIA Project+ Certification Exam Objectives are subject to change without notice.

1.0 Project Basics

1.1 Summarize the properties of a project.
Temporary
Start and finish
Unique
Reason/purpose
Project as part of a program
Project as part of a portfolio
1.2 Classify project roles and responsibilities.
Sponsor/champion
o Approval authority
Funding
Project charter
Baseline
High-level requirements
o Control
o Marketing
o Roadblocks
o Business case/justification
Project manager
o Manage team, communication, scope, risk, budget, and time
o Manage quality assurance
o Responsible for artifacts
Project coordinator
o Support project manager
o Cross-functional coordination
o Documentation/administrative support
o Time/resource scheduling
o Check for quality
Stakeholder
o Vested interest
o Provide input and requirements
o Project steering
o Expertise
Scheduler
o Develop and maintain project schedule
o Communicate timeline and changes
o Reporting schedule performance
o Solicit task status from resources
Project team
o Contribute expertise to the project
o Contribute deliverables according to schedule
o Estimation of task duration
o Estimation of costs and dependencies
Project Management Office (PMO)
o Sets standards and practices for organization
o Sets deliverables
o Provides governance
o Key performance indicators and parameters
o Provides tools
o Outlines consequences of non-performance
o Standard documentation/templates
o Coordinate resources between projects
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1.3 Compare and contrast standard project phases.

Initiation
o Project charter
o Business case
o High-level scope definition
o High-level risks
Planning
o Schedule
o Work breakdown structure
o Resources
o Detailed risks
o Requirements
o Communication plan
o Procurement plan
o Change management plan
o Budget
Execution
o Deliverables
Monitor and control
o Risks/issues log
o Performance measuring and reporting
o Quality assurance/governance
o Change control
o Budget
Closing
o Transition/integration plan
Training
o Project sign off
o Archive project documents
o Lessons learned
o Release resources
o Close contracts
1.4 Identify the basics of project cost control.
Total project cost
Expenditure tracking
Expenditure reporting
Burn rate
Cost baseline/budget
o Plan vs. actual
1.5 Identify common project team organizational structures.
Functional
o Resources reporting to Functional Manager
o Project Manager has limited or no authority
Matrix
o Authority is shared between Functional Managers and Project
Managers
o Resources assigned from Functional area to project
o Project Manager authority ranges from weak to strong
Projectized
o Project Manager has full authority
o Resources report to Project Manager
o Ad hoc resources
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1.6 Given a scenario, execute and develop project schedules.

Work breakdown structure
Scheduling activities
o Determine tasks
o Determine task start/finish dates
o Determine activity/task durations
o Determine milestones
o Set predecessors
o Set dependencies
o Sequence tasks
o Prioritize tasks
o Determine critical path
o Allocate resources
o Set baseline
o Set quality gates
o Set governance gates
Client sign off
Management approval
Legislative approval
1.7 Identify the basic aspects of the Agile methodology.
Readily adapt to new/changing requirements
Iterative approach
Continuous requirements gathering
Establish a backlog
Burndown charts
Continuous feedback
Sprint planning
Daily standup meetings/SCRUM meetings
SCRUM retrospective
Self-organized and self-directed teams
1.8 Explain the importance of human resource, physical resource, and personnel
management.
Resource management concepts
o Shared resources
o Dedicated resources
o Resource allocation
o Resource shortage
o Resource overallocation
o Low quality resources
o Benched resources
o Interproject dependencies
o Interproject resource contention
Personnel management
o Team building
o Trust building
o Team selection
o Skill sets
o Remote vs. in-house
o Personnel removal/replacement
o Communication issues
o Conflict resolution
Smoothing
Forcing
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Compromising
Confronting
Avoiding
Negotiating

2.0 Project Constraints

2.1 Given a scenario, predict the impact of various constraint variables and
influences throughout the project.
Common constraints
o Budget
o Scope
o Deliverables
o Quality
o Environment
o Resources
o Requirements
o Scheduling
Influences
o Change request
o Scope creep
o Constraint reprioritization
o Interaction between constraints
o Stakeholders/sponsors/management
o Other projects
2.2 Explain the importance of risk strategies and activities.
Strategies
o Accept
o Mitigate
o Transfer
o Avoid
o Exploit
Risk activities
o Identification
o Quantification
o Planning
o Review
o Response
o Register
o Prioritization
o Communication

3.0 Communication & Change Management

3.1 Given a scenario, use the appropriate communication method.
Meetings
o Kick-off meetings
o Virtual vs. in-person meetings
o Scheduled vs. impromptu meetings
o Closure meetings
Email
Fax
Instant messaging
Video conferencing
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Voice conferencing
Face-to-face
Text message
Distribution of printed media
Social media

3.2 Compare and contrast factors influencing communication methods.

Language barriers
Time zones/geographical factors
Technological factors
Cultural differences
Interorganizational differences
Intraorganizational differences
Personal preferences
Rapport building/relationship building
Tailor method based on content of message
Criticality factors
Specific stakeholder communication requirements
o Frequency
o Level of report detail
o Types of communication
o Confidentiality constraints
o Tailor communication style
3.3 Explain common communication triggers and determine the target audience
and rationale.
Audits
Project planning
Project change
Risk register updates
Milestones
Schedule changes
Task initiation/completion
Stakeholder changes
Gate reviews
Business continuity response
Incident response
Resource changes
3.4 Given a scenario, use the following change control process within the context
of a project.
Change control process
o Identify and document
o Evaluate impact and justification
Regression plan (Reverse changes)
o Identify approval authority
o Obtain approval
o Implement change
o Validate change/quality check
o Update documents/audit documents/version control
o Communicate throughout as needed
Types of common project changes
o Timeline change
o Funding change
o Risk event
o Requirements change
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o
o
o

Quality change
Resource change
Scope change

3.5 Recognize types of organizational change.

Business merger/acquisition
Business demerger/split
Business process change
Internal reorganization
Relocation
Outsourcing

4.0 Project Tools & Documentation

4.1 Compare and contrast various project management tools.
Project scheduling software
Charts
o Process diagram
o Histogram
o Fishbone
o Pareto chart
o Run chart
o Scatter chart
o Gantt chart
Dashboard/status report
Knowledge management tools
o Intranet sites
o Internet sites
o Wiki pages
o Vendor knowledge bases
o Collaboration tools
Performance measurement tools
o Key performance indicators
o Key performance parameters
o Balanced score card
SWOT analysis
Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed (RACI) Matrix
4.2 Given a scenario, analyze project centric documentation.
o Project charter
o Project management plan
o Issues log
o Organizational chart
o Scope statement
o Communication plan
o Project schedule
o Status report
o Dashboard information
o Action items
o Meeting agenda/meeting minutes
4.3 Identify common partner or vendor-centric documents and their purpose.
o Request for Information
o Request for Proposal
o Request for Quote
o Mutually binding documents
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Agreements/contract
Non-disclosure agreement
Cease and Desist letter
Letters of Intent
Statement of Work
Memorandum of Understanding
Service Level Agreement
Purchase Order
Warranty

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Project+ Acronym List

Acronym

Definition

AC
BAC
C&D
CCB
COQ
CPM
CV
EAC
ETC
EV
FF
FS
HR
IM
IMS
ISO
KPI
KPP
LOI
MOA
MOU
NDA
OBS
PM
PMO
PMP
PO
PV
RACI
RASI
RFI
RFP
RFQ
RTM
SLA
SME
SOW
SS
SV
SWOT
WBS

Actual Cost
Budget At Completion
Cease and Desist
Change Control Board
Cost of Quality
Critical Path Method
Cost Variance
Estimate At Completion
Estimate To Complete
Earned Value
Finish to finish
Finish to Start
Human Resources
Instant Messaging
Integrated Master Schedule
International Standards Organization
Key Performance Indicator
Key Performance Parameters
Letter of Intent
Memorandum of Agreement
Memorandum of Understanding
Non-Disclosure Agreement
Organizational Breakdown Structure
Project Manager
Project Management Office
Project Management Plan
Purchase Order
Planned Value
Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed
Responsibility, Authority, Support, Inform
Request for Information
Request for Proposal
Request for Quote
Requirements Traceability Matrix
Service Level Agreement
Subject Matter Expert
Statement of Work
Start to Start
Schedule Variance
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
Work Breakdown Structure

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CompTIA Project+ Exam Proposed Hardware and Software

List
** CompTIA has included this sample list of hardware and software to assist candidates
as they prepare for the Project+ exam. This list may also be helpful for training
companies who wish to create a lab component to their training offering. The bulleted
lists below each topic are a sample list and not exhaustive. **
General Equipment
White board
IT Hardware
Workstations
Printers
Software
Microsoft Project (or similar program)
Microsoft Word (or similar program)
Microsoft Excel (or similar program)
Microsoft Powerpoint (or similar program)
Microsoft Visio (or similar program)
Microsoft Sharepoint
Jira (or similar program)
Other
Samples templates and artifacts of PM documents

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The CompTIA Project+ Certification Exam Objectives are subject to change without notice.

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Copyright 2016 by the Computing Technology Industry Association. All rights reserved.
The CompTIA Project+ Certification Exam Objectives are subject to change without notice.