PMI Scheduling Professional Certification (PMI-SP) Practice Exam

Which plan aids in ensuring the project scope is properly defined and controlled?

1. Schedule management plan

2. Cost management plan

3. Configuration management plan

4. Scope management plan

The correct answer is: Scope management plan

The scope management plan is a crucial document that specifically outlines how the project scope will be defined, managed, and controlled throughout the project lifecycle. Its primary function is to provide a clear framework for understanding exactly what is included in the project and what is excluded, ensuring that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of the project’s objectives and deliverables. By detailing processes for scope verification and change control, the scope management plan helps prevent scope creep, which can lead to project delays or increased costs. It typically includes guidelines for how scope changes will be handled, ensuring that any alterations to the original plan are systematically evaluated and approved. While the schedule management plan, cost management plan, and configuration management plan are important in their own right, they do not specifically address the definition and control of the project scope. The schedule management plan focuses more on timing and project timelines, the cost management plan deals with budgeting and expense control, and the configuration management plan relates to maintaining consistency of a product's performance and functional attributes. Thus, the scope management plan is the most relevant document for ensuring comprehensive scope definition and control within a project.