A question on Work Authorization System

Submitted by danny2012 on Wed, 05/23/2012 - 09:38

Question: As a project manager, you use work authorization system (WAS)to assign and allocate work to your team members. In this context, the primary purpose of the work authorization system is to:


 Choice 1 Prevent team members from starting the work without your permission


 Choice 2 Prevent scope creep


 Choice 3 Prevent unnecessary changes to project scope


 Choice 4 Clarify and initiate the work for each work package


 


Answer is 4. But I don't get it. I chose 1 as WAS defines "approval levels needed to issue work authorizations" - PMBOK.


 


For answer 4, I'm not sure if WAS is used to "Clarify work", although I agree that it authizes porforming party to start work on each work package.


 


Please help resolve my confusion on this question. Thanks!

Forums: 
PMP / CAPM exam Question bank
  • Log in to post comments
  • 11377 reads

saket_pmp

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 10:11

You have ignored the MOST important word i.e. Work Authorization System and mixed it with Work Authorization that is NOT the same. See these definitions now:


Work Authorization - A permission and direction, typically written, to begin work on a specific schedule activity or work package or control account.


Work Authorization System (Tool) - ensure that the work is done by the identified organization, at the right time, and in the proper sequence. This is close to choice 4.
It includes the steps, documents, tracking system, and defined approval levels needed to issue work authorizations. (work authorizations is associated with approval…read again!)


Choice 2 and 3 are the same re-worded choices and hence not relevant. Work Authorization System help in preventing scope creep. Hence choice 2 & 3 can be easily ignored.


Let’s forget PMP and apply common sense now.
Work Authorization System is a TOOL, right? Does tool need any approval/permission?
Approval/permission is associated with a process, right? Work Authorization is a process.


I hope you understand now.

danny2012

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 10:48

Hi saket_pmp,


Thanks for your explanation. But I still have question.


Quote: "Work Authorization System (Tool) - ensure that the work is done by the identified organization, at the right time, and in the proper sequence. This is close to choice 4. "


I can not see why this is close to choice 4. It has nothing to do with "Clarify work" at least. Can you elaborate it?


Quote: "Let’s forget PMP and apply common sense now. Work Authorization System is a TOOL, right? Does tool need any approval/permission?Approval/permission is associated with a process, right? Work Authorization is a process."


I agree WAS is tool and it doesn't need permission. But it's not the point. WAS is used to issue permission or approval for starting work, right? Since it documents who to perform the a piece of work and when and in what sequence, it's authorizing permission / approval to performing party, right?  That's why I chose 1. Can you further explaining it?

projmanpro

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 11:10

Saket's analogy is correct. Though i have my own interpretation and understanding of the question.

Here it is.

It has been emphasized on the question phrase "In this context..." Now, what is that context being refered to? That is in the first sentence that tells us about WAS being used to "assign and allocate work to the team members. Notice here that, in this context WAS used to assign means from the point of view of the team member, once a work is assigned to him, he can in essence initaite that work; moreover WAS used to allocate the work tells us an idea that work assigned to the team member is clear.

So far, between Choices 1 and 4, Choice 4 is the best answer in the contextt of the given question.

 

You can always follow me in my thread on www.pmptrend.com forum and you can read more of my PM/PMP insights.

danny2012

Thu, 05/24/2012 - 03:20

Thank you, pmjmanpro!

saket_pmp

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 11:39

Projmanpro has brilliantly explained. We can also solve such question just by common sense (as per my analogy), see how.


Question talks about a Tool i.e. Work Authorization System, right?


A tool cannot do this task i.e. “Prevent team members from starting the work without your permission”….choice 1 is gone.
We are left with choice 2,3,4. Choice 2 and 3 are reworded i.e. are the same. In PMP exam only one choice is ALWAYS right…Choice 2 and 3 is therefore gone.
It means choice 4 is the right answer.
This was without any PMP knowledge.


Projmanpro has highlighted a very very very important thing. ALWAYS see PMP question as a close system. DO NOT think, and go beyond the question and its choice. Imagine someone would shoot you if you go outside this boundary. You have to select the best one out of the given choices ALWAYS. Hence I would choose "Clarify work" as a part of Work Authorization System, although its not that close. I dont have other better choice!

projmanpro

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 11:46

Absolutely agree with saket. If i were to expound more my points, this saket's point is in fact and exactly the same that i will write on.

danny2012

Thu, 05/24/2012 - 03:38

thank you Saket_PMP!