IPA IP 2024 Question 36

Topic: Project Management

A question IPA Japan published in 令和6年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問36, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.

Which of the following lists all and only the appropriate examples that correspond to a project?

ATransition to a new organization following a company mergerBOperation of a service desk that accepts inquiries and defects concerning internal systemsCProgram development for introducing a new accounting systemDAccounting processing carried out at the end of every fiscal year

Explanation

A, C — a project is a temporary undertaking with a start and an end that produces a unique result; the other two are ongoing, repeated operations.

A project has two marks: it is temporary (it ends when its objective is met) and its result is unique (it has not been done in exactly this form before). Work that goes on continuously or repeats the same way is operations.

  • •A: the move to a new organization after a merger happens once, with a goal and a finish, so it is a project
  • •B: running a service desk goes on day after day with no planned end, so it is operations
  • •C: developing programs for a new accounting system has a defined result and an end, so it is a project
  • •D: year-end accounting is done in the same way every year, so it is routine operations

Answer (a)

Why not others:

  • •(b) B, C — includes the continuing service desk B and leaves out the merger transition A
  • •(c) B, D — both are repeated or continuing operations, and neither project is listed
  • •(d) C — leaves out A: a project need not be IT development; an organizational change with a goal and an end is one too

Key rule: Temporary and unique means project; continuous or repetitive means operations, however important the work is.

Project Management · AI-written, may contain errors

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This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.