ASQ (CMQ-OE): Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence Sample Questions
Question 1 – An effective project plan should include which of the following components?
I. Cost-benefit analysis
II. Timetable for completion
III. Description of required resources
IV. Statement of project deliverables
- A. I and II only
- B. II and III only
- C. I, III, and IV only
- D. I, II, III, and IV
Correct Answer: D
Question 2 – A formal project report does not have which of the following advantages?
- A. Generally addressing a specific issue.
- B. Suitable for long-term retention.
- C. Usually inclusive of additional background information.
- D. Useful to individuals not closely involved with the project.
Correct Answer: A
Question 3 – Which of the following is the most critical use for project portfolio analysis is:
- A. Comparing the net value of a new project relative to continuing previously approved projects
- B. Determining the best time for starting a new project
- C. Assessing the feasibility of starting a new project relative to the resources being allocated for existing projects as well as assessing the strategic fit of the new project
- D. Making room for a new project by canceling or postponing an existing project that will not produce as high an ROI as the new project
Correct Answer: C
Question 4 – To demonstrate project progress to management, which project management tool will likely be used under a four-week project with 22 tasks, a $22,000 budget, and two analysts on a part-time basis?
- A. Work breakdown structure
- B. Network Diagram
- C. Budget variance report
- D. Gantt/milestone chart
Correct Answer: D
Question 5 – If a quality function had a mission statement, it would focus on:
- A. Reducing defects.
- B. Assessing the production workers’ performance
- C. Companywide and departmental activities collectively resulting in product and/or service quality.
- D. Leading small teams for breaking down barriers and reaching higher organizational goals.
Correct Answer: C
Question 6 – Which of the following quality tools is most likely to result in the identification of a specific problem with the effectiveness of a quality system?
- A. Process map
- B. Balanced scorecard
- C. Quality management system audit
- D. Employee performance appraisal
Correct Answer: A
Question 7 – What types of performance are addressed by the Baldrige Award performance excellence criteria?
I. Procedural compliance
II. Supplier related
III. Customer related
IV. Financial and marketplace
- A. I and IV only
- B. III and IV only
- C. II, III, and IV only
- D. III only
Correct Answer: C
Question 8 – Which of the following is the purpose of the ISO 9001 standard?
I. Providing the required confidence in quality management systems by offering a common assessment basis.
II. Providing the required confidence to both, the customers and other stakeholders that the required quality is being, or will be, met.
III. Systematically pursuing higher levels of the overall company and human performance, inclusive of quality, productivity, and time performance.
IV. Building loyalties and teamwork and simultaneously encouraging and supporting initiative and risk-taking.
- A. I and II only
- B. I, II, and IV only
- C. III and IV only
- D. I, II, III, and IV
Correct Answer: A
Question 9 – Which of the following is true?
- A. A benchmarking process should be continuous, contributing to continual improvement
- B. Only large problems resulting in variation in a manufactured product can be solved with the Six Sigma methodology
- C. A kaizen event is held in celebration of a significant process improvement
- D. The concepts of TQM are passé
Correct Answer: A
Question 10 – Which of the following concepts could best exemplify a universal business rationale for enhancing quality?
- A. Crosby’s “Do it right the first time”
- B. Ishikawa’s “Total quality control”
- C. Deming’s “Chain reaction”
- D. Juran’s “Trilogy”
Correct Answer: C
Question 11 – Which one of the given statements is not true?
- A. Cost and quality are not conflicting but complementary objectives instead
- B. It is primarily the investment in obtaining and maintaining the good quality that is the cost of quality.
- C. People are being paid to produce substandard products when the outputs are less than flawless.
- D. Only 100 percent inspection can ensure that satisfactory quality is produced.
Correct Answer: D
Question 12 – What does the concept of self-control by a production worker include?
I. Knowledge of the organizational goals, the job objective, and the standard for performance.
II. Knowledge of what the actual performance is.
III. Notification of the supervision whenever a nonconformance occurs.
IV. When the performance does not conform to the goals, objectives, and standards, then having the means for changing them
- A. III only
- B. I, II, and III only
- C. I and II only
- D. I, II, and IV only
Correct Answer: D
Question 13 – In an effort to improve a process, a new process improvement team has just flowchart how it currently works. The value to the team is to:
- A. Documenting and retaining the records that demonstrate the work activities performed at a specific moment in time.
- B. Gaining consensus on the current flow of information and materials through the organization.
- C. Validating the baseline performance data that is been collected before the implementation of a change
- D. Assessing the level of compliance against a quality standard.
Correct Answer: B
Question 14 – As part of an effort to improve diagnostic efficiency, a medium-sized hospital is developing a standardized method of performing root cause analysis. Which of the given tools should be considered for their toolbox?
I. Flowchart
II. Check sheet and Pareto chart
III. Fishbone chart
IV. Five whys
V. Histogram and scatter diagram
VI. Control charts
VII. DMAIC
- A. II, III, IV, and VII only
- B. VII only
- C. IV and VII only
- D. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII
Correct Answer: D
Question 15 – In comparison to external change agents, internal change agents offer which of the following benefits?
- A. The internal change agent is already aware of what needs to be done and how to accomplish it, which guarantees a shorter cycle time for quality improvement.
- B. Improve the outcomes of the project by setting more goals because the internal change agent has a greater stake in it.
- C. Secure the support of a respected leader who understands the company’s key business drivers and its need for change.
- D. Provide non-threatening and objective feedback to top management to better protect the interests of all stakeholders.
Correct Answer: C
Question 16 – Lower management levels are delegated decision-making authority based on the following factors:
I. The situation
II. The extent of centralization or decentralization
III. Which people in the organization have the best information
VII. The complexity of the environment in which the organization functions
- A. I and III
- B. II and IV
- C. I, II, and IV
- D. I, II, III, and IV
Correct Answer: D
Question 17 – What is the Organizational culture comprised of?
- A. Organization policy
- B. Strategic plans
- C. Values, norms, and assumptions shared by the organization members
- D. Core competency of the organization
Correct Answer: C
Question 18 – From what does a leader derives her or his leadership role?
- A. Her or his experience and training
- B. Acceptance of her or his direction by the followers
- C. Top management
- D. Acceptance by external customers and the public
Correct Answer: B
Question 19 – When is Situational leadership applicable?
I. One approach does not meet every situation
II. A new person on the job requires a lot of direction
III. A new process has been introduced
IV. The performer has mastered the task assigned
- A. II and III only
- B. IV only
- C. I, II, III, and IV
- D. III only
Correct Answer: C
Question 20 – Which of the following is not a typical manager’s role?
- A. Selecting people to fill job vacancies
- B. Mentoring a potential candidate for management
- C. Determining the legality of a supplier–partnership agreement
- D. Organizing the work to be done
Correct Answer: C
