CIS-SPM Sample Questions & Answers
Project management states, roles and the workspace carry the most weight, next to allocating resources, converting ideas into demand, basic implementation setup, portfolio planning lenses, timecards, dashboards, and integrations with other apps.
Launch the full CIS-SPM simulator →Showing 10 of 20 free samples.
- Question 1Advanced
Resource Management · Resource Plan Workflow and Confirmation
Case Study
Company Background:
InnovateNext is a global pharmaceutical company that runs hundreds of research and development projects annually. Their PMO has recently implemented ServiceNow SPM. Each project requires resources from various specialized departments like 'Clinical Research', 'Regulatory Affairs', and 'Data Science'. These departments have their own resource managers responsible for approving resource allocations.Current Challenge:
The central PMO is struggling with the resource confirmation process. Project managers create resource plans requesting, for example, a 'Senior Data Scientist'. The request then needs to be routed to the resource manager of the 'Data Science' group for fulfillment. Currently, this is handled via email, causing delays and lack of visibility. The PMO wants to automate this process within ServiceNow.Requirements:
- When a project manager requests a resource from a specific group, the request must automatically be sent to that group's designated resource manager for approval.
- The resource manager must be able to either confirm the resource allocation or propose an alternative resource.
- The entire process must be tracked within the platform, moving the resource plan through distinct states (e.g., 'Requested', 'Confirmed', 'Allocated').
Question:
As the implementation consultant, what configuration should you primarily use to meet these requirements?Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
ServiceNow Resource Management is designed to handle this workflow natively. The process involves the project manager creating a resource plan and using the 'Request' UI action. This moves the plan to a 'Requested' state. The system uses the 'Manager' field on the specified Group record to determine the responsible resource manager. That manager then uses the Resource Allocation Workbench to view pending requests, find available resources, and either 'Confirm' or 'Allocate' them to the plan, which updates its state accordingly. This solution meets all requirements without custom development.
- Question 2Intermediate
Portfolio Planning Workspace · Troubleshooting Planning Item Visibility
A portfolio manager is using the Portfolio Planning Workspace to conduct annual planning. They have created a new portfolio plan and selected 'Projects' as a planning item. However, when viewing the timeline, no projects are visible, even though numerous active projects are associated with the selected portfolio. What is a common configuration issue that would cause this behavior?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
The Portfolio Planning Workspace filters planning items like projects based on the fiscal period defined in the portfolio plan. If a project's planned dates fall entirely outside the selected fiscal year (or other period), it will not be displayed in the plan's timeline view. This is the most common reason for seemingly 'missing' projects in a new plan.
- Question 3Beginner
Project Management · Copy Project Functionality
A project manager is using the 'Copy Project' functionality to create a new project from an existing one. They need to ensure that all existing risks, issues, and decisions (RID) are also copied to the new project. Which setting must be configured to enable this?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
The
com.snc.project.copy.additional_attributessystem property allows administrators to specify which related lists should be copied when using the 'Copy Project' feature. To copy risks, issues, and decisions, the technical names of their respective tables (risk,issue,decision) must be added to this property's value string. - Question 4Advanced
Timecard Management · Multi-level Time Card Approval
To ensure accurate financial reporting, a company's policy requires that all time cards submitted for project work must be approved by both the employee's line manager and the manager of the project they worked on. How can this dual-approval requirement be configured in Time Card Management?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Time Sheet Policies are designed to handle approval workflows. Within a single policy, you can define multiple approval steps. To achieve the desired outcome, an administrator would add two entries to the 'Approvals' related list on the policy record: one with the type 'User's Manager' and a second with the type 'Project Manager'. This configures the system to require both approvals before the time card is fully approved.
- Question 5IntermediateSelect 3
Portfolio Planning Workspace · Planning Item Configuration
Which of the following are valid planning item sources that can be configured for use within the Portfolio Planning Workspace? (Select THREE)
Show answer & explanation
Correct answers: A, B, C
- Question 6Intermediate
Idea and Demand · Demand Assessment
A demand manager is reviewing a new demand and needs to evaluate its potential value and alignment with corporate strategy. The demand assessment requires input from stakeholders in Finance, Marketing, and IT. What is the standard ServiceNow feature designed to formally gather this type of multi-departmental feedback and generate a composite score for the demand?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
The Assessment feature (formerly Survey Management) is the formal mechanism for this process. On a demand, an administrator can define Assessment Metric Types (e.g., Risk, Strategic Alignment, ROI) with associated questions. The demand manager can then use the 'Create Assessments' action to send these questionnaires to the designated stakeholders. The system automatically collects the responses, calculates weighted scores, and presents the results on the demand record, providing a structured basis for decision-making.
- Question 7Advanced
SPM Financials · Rate Model Overrides
A project is leveraging a Rate Model to calculate its planned and actual costs. The Rate Model defines a blended rate for a 'Senior Developer' role. However, a specific project manager has negotiated a special, lower rate for a particular senior developer, Jane Doe, for their project only. How can this exception be handled without altering the global Rate Model?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
The Resource Plan record has a specific feature to handle this exact scenario. The 'Override rate' checkbox, when selected, allows the project manager to enter a specific hourly rate directly on that resource plan. This rate will be used for cost calculations for that specific plan, overriding any rates that would normally be derived from the project's associated Rate Model. This provides flexibility for project-specific exceptions without affecting the global financial configuration.
- Question 8Beginner
SPM Better Together · Agile Integration
In the context of the 'Better Together' strategy, which ServiceNow application integration with SPM allows for project tasks to be directly associated with stories and epics, providing visibility for project managers into the progress of agile development work?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
The integration between SPM and Agile Development 2.0 enables a hybrid project management approach. It allows organizations to manage a traditional waterfall project structure in SPM while linking specific project tasks to the Agile entities (like stories and epics) where the actual development work is being managed. This provides project managers with roll-up visibility of agile progress within their overall project plan.
- Question 9Intermediate
Project Management · Project Scheduling and Calendars
A project manager is building a project plan and creates a task with a planned duration of 10 days. The resource assigned to the task has a schedule that includes weekends off. If the task starts on a Monday, on what day will the task's planned end date be?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
The ServiceNow project scheduling engine calculates durations based on the working days defined in the project's schedule. A 10-day duration means 10 working days. Starting on a Monday, the first 5 working days consume the first week (Monday to Friday). The next 5 working days consume the second week (Monday to Friday). Therefore, the task will end on the Friday of the second week.
- Question 10Beginner
SPM Implementation Overview · Now Create Methodology
The Now Create methodology is ServiceNow's prescribed approach for successful implementations. It provides a structured framework of assets and best practices. Which phase of the Now Create methodology is primarily focused on confirming the customer's business objectives, defining the scope, and creating the initial project plan and timeline?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
The 'Initiate' phase is the first stage of the Now Create methodology. Its key activities include conducting kickoff meetings, validating business outcomes, defining the detailed scope of the implementation, and establishing the project governance, plan, and timeline. This phase sets the foundation for the entire project.
Ready for the real thing?
The full CIS-SPM simulator has every exam-style question, timed mode, and instant scoring.