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PMI-ACP® · PMI · Mindset · Bank updated 2026-07-03

PMI-ACP® practice questions: Mindset

5 free questions from 41 on this area · answer and explanation for each · no sign-up

These 5 questions come from the Mindset section of our PMI-ACP® bank (41 questions on this area, which carries 28% of the real exam). Every question is original, with the correct answer explained and linked to the source it is drawn from.

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1/5 · Mindset · easy
Lean thinking, one of the historical roots of agile approaches (and the philosophical basis of the Kanban Method), primarily emphasizes which of the following practices?
AIdentifying and systematically eliminating waste (muda) across the value stream to improve flow.
BAssigning a single project manager to enforce a fixed, unchanging plan for the duration of the project.
CCompleting all requirements analysis and design documentation before any work begins.
DMaximizing batch sizes so that large amounts of work move through the process together for efficiency.
Show answer & explanation
A is correct. Lean thinking is built around delivering value while minimizing waste — including overproduction, waiting, and unnecessary work. This mindset directly informs practices such as small batch sizes, limiting work in progress, and pull-based flow used in Kanban and other agile approaches.
↗ PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline (effective November 2024) + Agile Practice Guide — Mindset
2/5 · Mindset
An Extreme Programming (XP) team practices pair programming and collective code ownership, meaning any pair can modify any part of the codebase as needed. Which underlying XP value do these two practices PRIMARILY embody?
AIndividual heroics, where the most senior developer alone is responsible for all critical code.
BFormal documentation and staged sign-off gates before code can be modified.
CCommunication and courage — knowledge is shared continuously across the team, and individuals feel safe modifying any code because ownership and understanding are collective.
DStrict hierarchical review gates requiring management approval before any commit.
Show answer & explanation
C is correct. Extreme Programming's values include communication, simplicity, feedback, courage, and respect. Pair programming embodies communication by having developers work side by side, while collective code ownership requires courage to change shared code, reinforcing trust and reducing knowledge silos across the team.
↗ PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline (effective November 2024) + Agile Practice Guide — Mindset
3/5 · Mindset
A team is building a component for an implantable medical device. A regulatory body requires a fully documented, sequential design-review-verification process to be completed before any code is written, and the requirements are stable and well understood in advance. Which life cycle approach is MOST appropriate for this context?
AAn XP approach emphasizing continuous deployment without formal review gates.
BA predictive (plan-driven) life cycle, since requirements are stable and upfront regulatory documentation with sequential review gates is mandated.
CA pure agile life cycle emphasizing self-organizing teams and minimal upfront documentation.
DA Kanban approach focused solely on limiting work in progress.
Show answer & explanation
B is correct. The Agile Practice Guide's suitability filter tools weigh factors such as requirement stability, criticality, and the need for documentation when selecting a life cycle. Stable, well-understood requirements combined with mandatory sequential compliance documentation point toward a predictive approach rather than agile or hybrid.
↗ PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline (effective November 2024) + Agile Practice Guide — Mindset
4/5 · Mindset · hard
An agile coach observes that a project manager continues to personally assign daily tasks to team members and approves every technical decision before work can proceed. Which shift in behavior would best align this leader with an agile mindset and servant leadership?
ARequiring the team to submit written requests for any change in task assignment.
BContinuing to assign tasks but doing so more quickly to increase throughput.
CDelegating task assignment to a single senior developer instead of the project manager.
DRemoving impediments and creating an environment where the team self-organizes and makes technical decisions collaboratively.
Show answer & explanation
D is correct. Servant leadership is a key element of fostering an agile culture, redefining the leader's role as one of removing impediments, coaching, and enabling the team rather than directing daily work or gatekeeping technical decisions. The correct behavior shift empowers the team toward genuine self-organization.
↗ PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline (effective November 2024) + Agile Practice Guide — Mindset
5/5 · Mindset
A delivery lead directs the team to work several consecutive weekends to meet an arbitrary release date, and plans a similar pace for the following three iterations. Which agile principle is most directly being violated by this plan?
AAgile processes promote sustainable development; sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely
BThe best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams
CBusiness people and developers must work together daily throughout the project
DWorking software is the primary measure of progress
Show answer & explanation
A is correct. The principle on sustainable development explicitly states that sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely. Repeated forced overtime to meet an arbitrary date undermines this sustainable pace, distinguishing it from principles about progress measurement, collaboration frequency, or emergent design.
↗ the PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline — Mindset
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