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Module 1 Challenge ( Capstone: Applying Project Management in the Real World ) Answers 2025

Question 1

You are a new project manager, and you have been tasked with helping a new client understand what a project charter is. Which of the following best describes a project charter?

  • A formal document that clearly defines the project and outlines the necessary details to reach the project’s goals ✅

  • A binding legal document that sets the conditions and behaviors of both client and company.

  • A group of documents illustrating the background behind a project and the exact dates when goals will be accomplished.

  • A formal document giving permission to those who sign the document the authorization to complete the project.

🔹 Explanation:
A project charter is not just an authorization form — it’s a formal document that defines the project, purpose, goals, stakeholders, scope, and high-level details. It serves as a foundation and roadmap.

Question 2

You’re mentoring a junior project manager who is asking for help understanding the term, “deliverable.” Which of the following best describes a deliverable?

  • The desired results of the project. ✅

  • The completed time frame of the project.

  • The required outcome of the project as dictated by the client.

  • The milestones set by the stakeholders.

🔹 Explanation:
A deliverable is any measurable, tangible, or intangible output produced as part of a project (e.g., reports, software, hardware, or services).

Question 3

As you are discussing a key project outcome with a stakeholder, you hear them say, “we need to get the team in alignment on this.” What does the stakeholder mean by “alignment”?

  • Making sure the tasks of the project lead to the goals.

  • Reporting misaligned stakeholders

  • Finding opportunities to talk about project goals and company vision.

  • Reaching agreement between two or more parties. ✅

🔹 Explanation:
Alignment means stakeholders and teams agree on project goals, priorities, and outcomes. It’s about reaching agreement and moving forward together.

Question 4

You are preparing your project charter draft, and you start by considering your audience. What are the most effective questions to ask when considering your audience when writing a project charter? Select all that apply.

  • ✅ What details are most important to project stakeholders?

  • How can you best highlight aspects of the project that stakeholders will like?

  • ✅ Are there project details stakeholders might disagree with?

  • ✅ Who are your stakeholders?

🔹 Explanation:
A strong project charter must be audience-focused — you must identify stakeholders, what they value, and where disagreements may arise.

Question 5

As you are working on project goals for your project charter, you find it difficult to add specific numbers or measures to the goals. You turn to your project management mentor, who suggests you apply benchmarking to your goals. Which of the following best describes benchmarking?

  • Comparing your goals with other company project goals.

  • ✅ Evaluating success against the standard.

  • Taking a break from writing goals and coming back to them later with a fresh perspective.

  • Testing your goals against historical data.

🔹 Explanation:
Benchmarking means comparing performance/goals against industry standards, best practices, or reference values.

Question 6

You are a project manager working on making your project goals SMART goals. You know that there is a company-wide initiative calling for improved customer service. Which of the following project goals is the best representation of a relevant project goal?

  • Increase manufacturing productivity throughput by 5% by end of year.

  • ✅ Improve customer satisfaction rating from an average score of 3 (average) to 4 (good) by end of year.

  • Improve product sales of product X by 8% by the end of the next quarter.

  • Improve employee satisfaction rating from an average score of 65 (average) to 85 (good) by end of year.

🔹 Explanation:
Relevance means the goal must align with organizational objectives — here, customer service is the priority.

Question 7

You’ve learned as a project manager that while drafting a project charter, it is important to define the project scope, benefits, and costs. What do “benefits” refer to?

  • Benefits are the advantages acquired by stakeholders after project completion.

  • Benefits are the budget dividends after project implementation.

  • Benefits are the anticipated task outcomes of a project.

  • ✅ Benefits are the expected gains of a project.

🔹 Explanation:
Benefits describe the expected overall gains — financial, strategic, or operational — that the project delivers. It’s broader than stakeholder advantages or task outcomes.

Question 8

You’re a project manager working on completing your project charter for an upcoming project. As part of the process, you remember you need to complete a stakeholder analysis. What are three necessary parts of a stakeholder analysis? Select all that apply.

  • Your stakeholders’ long-term career goals

  • ✅ How your stakeholders prefer to communicate

  • ✅ What your stakeholders’ priorities are

  • ✅ Who your stakeholders are

🔹 Explanation:
Stakeholder analysis involves identifying who stakeholders are, their priorities, and how to communicate effectively with them.

Question 9

You are assisting a co-worker with stakeholder negotiation regarding the prioritization of tasks within a project. Which of the following is a common tool used for determining priorities that you could recommend to your colleague?

  • Steel Triangle Model

  • ✅ Triple Constraint Model

  • Optimum Impact Model

  • Double Factorial Model

🔹 Explanation:
The Triple Constraint Model (time, cost, scope) is a classic tool to balance and prioritize tasks.

Question 10

You’ve learned that one of the best ways to apply influence in negotiations is to form a temporary alliance or partnering of individuals or groups in order to achieve a common purpose or to engage in a joint activity. Which of the following best describes this temporary alliance?

  • Cohort

  • Support group

  • ✅ Coalition

  • Affiliation

🔹 Explanation:
A coalition is a temporary alliance formed to achieve a shared goal — often used in negotiations or influence strategies.

✅ Summary of Correct Answers

  1. A formal document that clearly defines the project and outlines the necessary details.

  2. The desired results of the project.

  3. Reaching agreement between two or more parties.

  4. What details matter, what disagreements exist, who are stakeholders.

  5. Evaluating success against the standard.

  6. Improve customer satisfaction rating (relevant SMART goal).

  7. Benefits = Expected gains of the project.

  8. Who they are, their priorities, communication preferences.

  9. Triple Constraint Model.

  10. Coalition.

✨ Final Note:
A project charter is the foundation of successful projects. It defines scope, benefits, costs, and stakeholder expectations. Adding stakeholder analysis and SMART goals ensures alignment and clarity.