Project Life Cycles & Organisational Context
26 practice questions with explanations — 15 free to try
PassNova has 26 APM PMQ practice questions on Project Life Cycles & Organisational Context, each with a clear explanation. A 15-question taster is free with no sign-up; the full bank is part of PassNova Premium. Updated for 2026.
Project Life Cycles & Organisational Context: example questions & answers
2 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Try 15 APM PMQ questions free in the browser; the full 26-question Project Life Cycles & Organisational Context bank is part of PassNova Premium.
Which of the following BEST differentiates a project from business-as-usual (BAU) operations?
- ABAU is a temporary endeavour undertaken to deliver a unique output, while a project is the continuing work that keeps the organisation running
- BA project is repetitive, ongoing work with no defined end date, and it is distinguished from business-as-usual only by the size of its budget
- CA project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to bring about a unique, defined outcome, whereas BAU is ongoing and repetitive✓
- DThere is no meaningful difference between a project and BAU
Answer: APM defines a project as a unique, transient endeavour undertaken to bring about change, in contrast to BAU, which is the continuing, repetitive activity that keeps an organisation functioning.
Why are projects commonly structured as sequential phases in a linear life cycle?
- ATo allow every phase to run at the same time regardless of dependencies
- BBecause linear life cycles never require a business case
- CBecause regulation requires all projects to use exactly four phases
- DTo break the work into stages so each can be planned, resourced and reviewed before the next begins, reducing risk✓
Answer: Structuring a project into sequential phases lets each stage be defined, resourced and reviewed in turn, with a decision to proceed taken before commitment to the next phase, which helps control risk and investment.