CBAP/CCBA prep questions & answers – Solution Evaluation (2)

Question 11. Which of the following elements associated with the Assess Organizational Readiness task is used to understand how change will affect a particular stakeholder group
 a. Operational Assessment
 b. Stakeholder Impact Analysis
 c. Cultural Assessment
 d. Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria Definition

The correct answer is:

b. Stakeholder Impact Analysis

Explanation:

• Stakeholder Impact Analysis is specifically designed to assess how changes will affect different stakeholder groups. This analysis helps identify which groups will be impacted by the change, the nature of that impact, and what level of support or resistance might be expected from each group. By understanding these details, organizations can create targeted strategies to address stakeholder concerns and enhance acceptance of the change.

• Operational Assessment focuses on assessing the current state of the organization’s operations, systems, and processes. While this may indirectly affect stakeholders, it does not directly analyze stakeholder impact.

• Cultural Assessment looks at the organization’s culture, values, and behaviors to determine how these might influence or be influenced by the change. While culture affects readiness, it does not provide a direct analysis of the impact on specific stakeholder groups.

• Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria Definition involves setting clear criteria for what will constitute success for the change initiative. It is not focused on analyzing or understanding how specific stakeholder groups are impacted by the change.

In summary, Stakeholder Impact Analysis is the tool used within the Assess Organizational Readiness task to understand the specific impact of change on each stakeholder group.

Question 12. The Assess Defects and Issues element of the Validate Solution task can be used to determine which of the following?
 a. Severity of the Business Impact
 b. Severity of the defect
 c. Probability of the occurrence of the defect
 d. All of the above

The correct answer is (d) All of the above.

Here’s an explanation for why each option is correct:

1. Severity of the Business Impact: In the context of assessing defects and issues, evaluating the severity of the business impact is crucial. A defect could have minimal impact on day-to-day operations or a substantial one, such as causing financial loss or customer dissatisfaction. This assessment helps prioritize which defects need immediate attention versus those that can be scheduled for later.

2. Severity of the Defect: Determining the severity of the defect itself is a core part of assessing issues. Some defects might only cause minor inconvenience, while others may disrupt essential functions. Severity helps in categorizing defects based on the level of disruption or risk they pose.

3. Probability of the Occurrence of the Defect: Understanding how likely a defect is to reoccur can help in preventive planning. If a defect is likely to happen frequently, it might be prioritized to avoid recurring issues. This assessment informs decisions about whether the defect needs to be fixed right away or monitored over time.

Thus, the Assess Defects and Issues element in the Validate Solution task allows analysis in terms of business impact, defect severity, and probability of occurrence—making “All of the above” the correct answer.

Question 13. What term best describes the expectation attached to the performance of a project solution?
 a. Expectation of deliverables
 b. Cost of conformance to quality
 c. Quality of service
 d. Deming Management Method

The term that best describes the expectation attached to the performance of a project solution is:

c. Quality of service

Explanation:

• Quality of Service (QoS) refers to the overall level of performance, reliability, and satisfaction provided by a service or solution. It encompasses the standards and expectations that stakeholders have regarding how well the project solution will perform in meeting their needs and objectives. QoS is a crucial part of project performance because it aligns with stakeholders’ expectations for how well the solution fulfills its intended purpose.

• Expectation of Deliverables (Option a) refers specifically to what outputs or products (deliverables) the project will produce, rather than the performance level of the solution itself.

• Cost of Conformance to Quality (Option b) involves the costs incurred to ensure that the product or solution meets quality standards, like prevention and appraisal costs. However, it doesn’t directly describe performance expectations.

• Deming Management Method (Option d) is a management philosophy focusing on continuous improvement and statistical quality control, developed by W. Edwards Deming. While it’s related to quality, it’s not specifically about the performance expectations of a project solution.

So, the best answer is c. Quality of Service because it directly relates to the expected performance and satisfaction associated with the project solution.

Question 14. This task is supported by assessing the tradeoffs between alternatives in order to maximize benefits and minimize costs.
 a. Define Transition Requirements
 b. Evaluate Solution Performance
 c. Allocate Requirements
 d. Validate Solution

The correct answer is (b) Evaluate Solution Performance.

Explanation:

The task described involves assessing tradeoffs to maximize benefits and minimize costs. This aligns with the concept of evaluating a solution’s performance, as it requires examining different options to determine which provides the best outcomes. Here’s a breakdown of each option and why “Evaluate Solution Performance” is the most suitable:

1. Define Transition Requirements (a): This process involves identifying what is needed to move from the current state to a future state, such as resources or activities required for implementation. It does not focus on comparing tradeoffs between alternatives but rather on establishing the prerequisites for change.

2. Evaluate Solution Performance (b): This step involves analyzing how well a solution meets the business goals and objectives. It often includes comparing different solutions’ effectiveness and efficiency to maximize benefits and minimize costs. Since it requires looking at alternatives and assessing their tradeoffs, this matches the task description closely.

3. Allocate Requirements (c): Requirement allocation involves assigning specific requirements to components within a solution. This task is more about distributing elements of a solution rather than evaluating tradeoffs to maximize benefits and minimize costs.

4. Validate Solution (d): Validation ensures that the solution aligns with stakeholder needs and requirements. While it verifies if a solution is on track, it doesn’t focus on comparing tradeoffs or optimizing costs and benefits.

Therefore, (b) Evaluate Solution Performance is the best fit because it directly involves assessing tradeoffs among alternatives to determine the most beneficial and cost-effective solution.

Question 15. You are working as a BA for a technical solution to an identified problem. The design team has reported challenges with achieving the quality of service requirements the customer is asking for. Which one of the following is not a value that could affect the quality of service for a technical project?
 a. Limitations of the technology
 b. Competing operational needs
 c. Security issues
 d. Deadlines

The correct answer is:

d. Deadlines

Explanation:

Quality of Service (QoS) in a technical project is influenced by factors that directly impact the system’s performance, reliability, security, and overall operational functionality. Let’s break down each option and how it relates to QoS:

1. Limitations of the technology (a):

This directly affects QoS, as the capabilities and limitations of the technology used can restrict the ability to meet certain service levels or performance metrics. If the technology cannot handle the required load or does not support certain features, it limits the quality of service.

2. Competing operational needs (b):

Competing needs within an organization or system can affect QoS. For example, if resources are shared between services, there may be performance trade-offs that impact response times or availability.

3. Security issues (c):

Security is a core component of QoS. Security vulnerabilities can lead to downtime, data breaches, and performance issues that degrade the quality of service.

4. Deadlines (d):

Deadlines themselves are not directly a component of QoS. While timelines may affect the project’s completion or put pressure on the team, they do not intrinsically change the service’s quality metrics like reliability, performance, or security. Deadlines impact the project management process rather than the technical quality of service directly.

In summary, deadlines do not directly affect the technical quality of service itself, making option d the correct answer.