Project management is one of the most sought-after fields of study, offering a wide range of opportunities in almost every industry. As per a survey conducted by the Project Management Institute (PMI), India has the most demand for project managers. The market is increasing for Project Management-related jobs.
It is estimated that India may encounter an exceeding demand for over 70 lakh project managers ten years down the line. Currently, every field from construction to information technology to finance is expanding at breakneck speed, necessitating a surge in demand for project managers.
Big market behemoths are already investing in large projects throughout India, implying that the demand for project management roles will continue to grow in the near future.
A project manager who is skilled, experienced, and accredited will always be in demand. Professionals with relevant expertise should expect to earn at least twice as much as an entry-level employee.
To help you develop your career and become a certified project manager, Talentedge brings you a range of advanced online project management courses. Hence, you continue working at your current job while upskilling yourself for better career growth. We have partnered with the most eminent institute of India, for instance, XLRI, IIMs, IITs, etc as well as international institutes like AIU, MICA, and UCLA, to provide you with the best faculty and in-depth learning of every subject.
If you enroll for Talentedge online project management courses, you will be provided with live and interactive learning so that you can discuss your doubts with the faculty, and tech & student support service to resolve any issue you may face during your course.
For those already certified and are applying for jobs now, we have gathered the 50 most asked questions during an interview for a project manager.
Top 50 Project Manager Interview Questions & Answers
1. What do you understand by Project Management?
Project management is an integration of multiple methods, experiences, procedures, skills, and knowledge to fulfill the goal of a specific project. The final deliverable and a set deadline differentiate project management from traditional management.
Project management has a 6P rule which states that proper planning prevents poor project performance, and every project manager should follow this.
2. What are the essential skills that a project manager should possess?
To be successful in project management, a project manager should have various skills like communication skills, leadership skills, risk management skills, time management skills, negotiation skills, and organization skills, to name a few.
3. Define Processes and Process Group as per the project management framework.
The set of instructions you follow to complete a task and achieve the desired results is known as a process. A project management framework includes approx. 49 processes. And a process group is a collection of numerous methods utilized during the different levels of a project.
4. Describe the RAID process.
RAID is an acronym that stands for risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies. It is an easy yet effective project management technique to operate a program. You can perform a RAID analysis and keep a tab on the impact, possibilities, triggers, mitigation, etc., which would help you prepare beforehand for the things that could go wrong in the project.
5. What steps would you take if your project is not going as planned?
Once you’ve determined that your project is going beyond your budget or is failing to reach its objectives, you can take the following measures:
- Investigate the source of the problem.
- Go back to your original plan or goal.
- Optimize your resource allocation.
- Inform your stakeholders and clients regarding the issues you are facing.
6. How would you manage the incompetent team members and make them more efficient?
There are various steps that we can take to make sure that everyone on the team is performing at their best:
- Create guidelines for all roles in terms of performance.
- Determine which team members are underperforming and provide coaching to them.
- Simulators and training can help team members improve their skill set and perform better.
- Give appreciation to the well-performing team members openly.
- Develop a few improvement plans for the weakest team members.
- Offer feedback sessions after every task to improve before jumping to the next job.
7. What is Ishikawa or Fishbone diagram?
An Ishikawa or Fishbone diagram is used to perform a root cause analysis for a specific issue. The tool’s clear presentation and utility are its key advantages in studying complicated situations, including a few hidden variables advancing them. This lets the project manager examine past symptoms and address the fundamental issues.
8. What are all stages included in the process of team development?
Bruce Tuckman, a psychological researcher, introduced the five stages of group development. These five stages include forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. This helps ensure that all the team members perform at their best and the goals are being achieved.
9. Can you please explain the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?
The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is used to identify the project’s core work activities as well as the different sub-activities that may be required to complete each training. WBS’s structure follows a hierarchical pattern with a top-down or bottom-up approach, with core activities split off into sub-activities housed under each parent.
10. What do you understand by Pareto Principle Analysis?
The Pareto Principle Analysis is an approach of prioritizing the tasks on the basis of their significance rather than their urgency. It states that 80% of results should be produced from the efforts of 20% of the workforce. This is why Pareto Principle is also referred to as the 80/20 principle.
11. Name a few techniques that you would prefer to use while assessing the scope of a project.
There are multiple techniques that can be used to assess the scope of a project. These techniques include value analysis, system analysis, requirement analysis, system engineering, product breakdown, value engineering, alternative analysis, etc.
12. Describe Time and Materials Contract.
Instead of proposing a fixed amount for the whole project, a time and materials contract will outline the broad scope of the project and include a quote for a fixed hourly rate and materials costs. As a guarantee, the contractor may incorporate a maximum project price, referred to as a “not-to-exceed” provision. This clause is essential to ensure the client can prevent escalating expenses.
13. Differentiate between Trend Analysis and Variance Analysis.
Variance analysis is the method of evaluating the difference between the intended performance and the actual performance. At the same time, trend analysis is an approach that you can use to determine the frequently repeated patterns in the project, which will help modify the project accordingly and get back on track.
14. What would be your course of action to incorporate new change requests made by clients?
The following are the essential actions to take when implementing change requests:
- Conducting a thorough effect analysis of the CR on various facets of the project.
- Customers and sponsors are among the people who should be consulted. It is essential to notify all stakeholders of a CR’s impact analysis findings and pursue only after their consent.
- After this, an updated project plan needs to be developed and confirmed with the sponsors.
- Only with the approval of the sponsors, implementation of the change in the ongoing project should begin.
- Upon implementing the change request, it is crucial to keep track of all the changes that occur in the project.
15. Explain the Triple Constraint Triangle of Project Management.
Every project has constraints and risks that must be managed to be completed successfully.
Triple Constraint Triangle encompasses the three most essential restrictions of a project. These three limitations are cost, time, and scope. A project manager can handle these three constraints by maintaining uniformity through trade-offs.
16. How to prevent Gold Plating?
Firstly, to prevent gold plating, avoid adding any feature without getting consent from the client. Second, it is crucial to assess the extent of the project objectively. An impartial auditor can spot gold plating immediately by comparing the deliverable to the scope baseline.
17. What do you understand from Performance Reports?
The purpose of performance reports is to show the project’s current state and actual performance in contrast to the defined baselines. The team creates many performance reports while monitoring and supervising the project, including; status reports, progress reports, projection reports, etc.
18. State any three differences between Risk and Issues.
The following are some of the distinctions between risks and issues:
- Risks represent probabilities that may develop in a project in the future, whereas issues represent the project’s current state.
- Risks can be beneficial and adverse, but the issues are overwhelmingly negative.
- The Risk Register is used to document risks, whereas the Issue Register papers issues.
19. Differentiate between Risk Impact and Risk Probability.
Risk impact refers to the financial cost of a risk that could occur in a project, whereas risk probability denotes the possibility of a risk arising in the project.
20. Name some formal strategies and motivational theories that can keep a team motivated.
It is the job role of a project manager to keep their team motivated at all times. Some of the motivational theories and techniques, such as; Maslow’s theory, Hertzberg’s approach, McClelland’s theory, Vroom’s expectancy theory, McGregor’s thesis, etc., will help you boost your team’s morale, which will subsequently lead to the success of the project.
21. What is the use of Stakeholder Analysis and Power-Interest Grid?
Stakeholder analysis entails making a list of all prospective project stakeholders associated with the project.
A power-interest grid helps categorize stakeholders according to their importance in their project. These two approaches help define the positions of every stakeholder involved in the project and contribute to designing stakeholder engagement methods for various organizations.
22. Explain the difference between a Program, Project, and Portfolio.
A program is a collection of interconnected efforts managed as a single entity. It’s like a project, but it lasts longer. The program follows high-level plans reinforced by a variety of more detailed plans.
An endeavor to create a unique product is referred to as a project. It is fleeting and emphasizes punctuality.
A portfolio includes multiple projects and programs managed by a single organization to achieve a strategic goal.
23. How does the Three-Point Estimation approach get calculated?
The following are the two methods for calculating three-point estimation:
First, triangular distribution, in which E = (P+M+O)/3
Second, Beta or PERT distribution, in which E = (P+4M+O)/6
P denotes a pessimist in these approaches, O is an optimist, and M represents the most likely scenario.
24. Name the most common sorts of risks you are likely to face during a project?
The most common sorts of risks you could face in a project are strategic risk, governance risk, technology risk, performance risk, cost risk, schedule risk, operation risk, legal risk, market risk, external risk, resource risk, to name a few.
25. What are some approaches for resolving conflicts among stakeholders and team members?
Every project faces a few conflicts due to disputes among team members and stakeholders. In one of these situations, the project manager must intervene and resolve the problem.
The conflict resolution techniques are avoiding/withdrawing, accommodating, problem-solving/collaborating, reconciling/compromising, competing/forcing, etc.
26. How would you differentiate between Corrective and Preventive Actions?
Periodically, preventive action is taken to guarantee that any potential sources of variance are addressed in advance, ensuring that the project delivery is not jeopardized. On the other hand, the corrective action is implemented after the deviation.
27. How would you plan on prioritizing the tasks of a project?
Prioritizing tasks is one of the essential things to perform before starting a project. It aids in the successful completion of jobs within the specified time frame. You can use the following guidelines for assignment prioritization in a project:
- Firstly, make a list of all the tasks involved in the project.
- Then separate the critical responsibility from the unimportant ones.
- It is essential to sort the jobs according to their required effort.
- Maintain the flexibility of the project for easy adaption of changes.
28. What are the different types of knowledge, and how important are they in a project?
Knowledge areas are technical subjects that are essential for project management success. The 49 processes are organized based on their similarities into knowledge domains.
29. Name any ten Knowledge Areas of project management.
The ten knowledge areas include project resource management, project quality management, project cost management, project scope management, project stakeholder management, project procurement management, project risk management, project integration management, project schedule management, and project communications management.
30. How will you acquire your team’s consent for achieving desired results as a project manager?
Some of the approaches that can be used to achieve results include:
- SMART objectives —— are goals that are specific, measurable, and achievable.
- Provide real-time feedback and examine work regularly.
- RACI should be established.
- Utilize a cooperative approach.
31. How would you handle a customer who is dissatisfied with the project results?
Following are the top five tips for dealing with a disgruntled consumer:
- Customers must be shown and felt to be valued.
- It is essential to make an effort to comprehend their dissatisfaction.
- It is crucial to determine the type of changes they desire.
- If there is a chance, try to put the changes into practice.
- If this isn’t possible, you can try to persuade and explain the situation to the client.
32. Name any three project management leadership styles.
A project manager can incorporate three leadership styles: autocratic, democratic, and liassezfaire.
33. How should a project manager inform his team of a failure?
Once the project manager has confirmed the failure, they must convene a meeting and directly state that the project was a failure. Rather than looking for someone to blame, the project manager must focus on the initiative’s benefits. The project’s learning outcomes should be discussed and recorded so that the project team and project manager may apply what they’ve learned to future initiatives.
34. What is your preferred communication style during a project?
A project manager needs to adjust their communication style to accommodate the project’s and team members’ demands. You can select one of four methods to incorporate in your communications style: functional, personal, analytical, and intuitive.
35. State any five Bid Documents that you would use for procurement management?
The five bid documents which are helpful for procurement management are Invitation for Bid (IFB), Invitation for Quote (IFQ), Procurement Statement of Work (SOW), Request for Proposal (RFP), and Request for Information (RFI).
36. Name the three kinds of contracts you would employ when working with contracts and suppliers.
The three contracts that can be employed while working with suppliers and contracts on a project are cost-reimbursable contract, time and materials contract, and fixed-price contract.
37. What do you understand by Cost-Reimbursable Contracts?
A cost-reimbursable contract is a type of contract in which the contractor is reimbursed for expenses spent while performing the task as specified in the agreement and an additional fee of a fixed amount by the company.
38. What is a Fixed-Price Contract?
A fixed-price contract also referred to as a firm-price contract or lump-sum contract, is an agreement between the vendor and the company to pay a fixed amount for the service regardless of the time and resources utilized during a project. This amount can not be changed throughout the project under any circumstances.
39. State any three advantages of a Fixed-Price Contract.
Following are the three most crucial advantages of a fixed-price contract :
- It allows your company to keep control of the payables.
- It lets you keep the contract’s maximum value under your control.
- It makes budgeting the costs of hiring people from outside the organization more manageable.
40. What are the disadvantages of employing a Fixed-Price Contract?
The top three disadvantages of employing a fixed-price contract during a project:
- This may cost you higher than it should, as the seller would determine the risks and quote you higher to negotiate quickly and get paid more elevated than usual.
- The process of a fixed-price contract is highly rigid as you can’t incorporate any changes once the agreement has been signed.
- If you miss out on any important detail, it can create chaos, and the contract may act against you rather than working in your favor.
41. Which of the five stages of project management are you most familiar with?
The five stages of project management are project initiation, project planning, execution, monitoring and managing, and project closing.
42. Explain the Fast-Tracking and Crashing techniques.
Fast-tracking and crashing approaches are used to reduce project duration while maintaining project scope. They are used if a disparity is discovered.
Crashing may increase project costs by adding resources, but fast-tracking can increase risk by doing operations in parallel.
43. Name the type of documents that would be required while initiating a project.
The four types of documents needed during project initiation are project charter, business care document, stakeholder register, and ann agreement.
44. Name the techniques that you can apply for the collection of Project Requirements.
The most critical techniques that can be applied to collect project requirements are affinity diagram, prototyping, data gathering, MoSCow technique for prioritizing the needs, and data analysis, to name a few.
45. Describe the value of keeping a Requirement Traceability Matrix up to date?
The goal of creating a requirement traceability matrix is to keep track of each need during the development process. The ultimate goal is to ensure that no phase is completed until all requirements have been met. It also aids the team in avoiding any needs being overlooked.
46. What is the role of the RACI Matrix in resource management?
The RACI matrix is a responsibility assignment chart that is utilized to plan the details of every job, milestone, and a critical decision needed to finish a project successfully. The RACI matrix is crucial for a project because so many stakeholders are engaged in a project. It is essential to describe the responsibility of each member to eliminate doubts and any chance of miscommunication.
With four possible roles: accountable, inform, responsible, and consult, it’s one of the most popular responsibility-based assignment charts.
47. Explain the difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control.
Quality assurance (QA) refers to the concepts and procedures for carrying out project work, and adhering to these procedures assures that the project’s final deliverables satisfy the project’s goals. QA is carried out through a process of continuous execution and development.
On the other hand, quality control (QC) entails reviewing final deliverables against established rules and using inspection to ensure that the results satisfy the desired standards.
48. What challenges do you think you would face while incorporating while handling the change requests?
The three most critical challenges that arise when handling change requests are:
- Most of the time, CR is raised informally by stakeholders.
- It becomes difficult for a project manager or team to turn down a change request.
- There is a perpetual battle between the group members and stakeholders over the importance of change requests.
49. What is Earned Value Management (EVM)?
Earned Value Management (EVM) is a practical technique for statistically evaluating project disparities and performance to aid the team in forecasting and planning appropriate preventive steps for dealing with variations.
50. How does Earned Value Management benefit project managers?
Earned Value Management (EVM) lets you know precisely the position of a project and how much work is still left. EVM helps project managers to respond to challenges sooner since it gives them more clarity and control over the tasks they’re working on.
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