AACE International AACE-PSP Exam - Topic 3 Question 36 Discussion

Actual exam question for AACE International's AACE-PSP exam

Question #: 36
Topic #: 3

[All AACE-PSP Questions]

Which of the following project planning situations is the most frequent contributor to cost overruns?

Alack of detailed planning for operational start-up

BInsufficient planning for change management

CInappropriate definition of work breakdown structure

DInadequate definition of scope at the estimate (budget) stage

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D

by Latonia at Jun 12, 2025, 04:09 AM

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Alfred

2 months ago

I think B is often overlooked but super important too.

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Horace

2 months ago

Totally agree, D seems like the biggest issue!

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Laurel

3 months ago

I've read that inadequate scope definition is a huge factor.

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Benton

3 months ago

A lot of projects fail due to poor planning for start-up.

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Sharan

3 months ago

Really? I thought it was mostly about planning for change.

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Myrtie

3 months ago

Honestly, I’m a bit confused. I thought all of these could lead to cost overruns, but I guess D stands out based on what we discussed in class.

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Soledad

3 months ago

I recall a practice question that focused on change management, so B seems relevant, but I'm leaning towards D as well.

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Micah

4 months ago

I'm not so sure, but I feel like C could also be a big factor. The work breakdown structure is crucial, right?

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Audra

4 months ago

I think it might be D, inadequate definition of scope at the estimate stage. I remember that being a common issue in case studies we reviewed.

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Louann

4 months ago

This is a good question to test our understanding of project planning. I'll review the key planning elements and try to determine which one is typically the biggest driver of cost overruns.

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Phuong

4 months ago

Okay, let me break this down. I'm leaning towards option D, but I want to make sure I understand how the other factors could also contribute to cost issues.

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Amie

4 months ago

Ah, I think I know the answer to this one. Inadequate definition of scope at the estimate stage seems like the most common culprit for cost overruns in my experience.

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Buck

5 months ago

Hmm, I'm a bit unsure about this. I'll have to think through the options and see which one seems most likely to cause frequent cost overruns.

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Elvera

5 months ago

This seems like a tricky one. I'll need to carefully consider the different planning factors that can lead to cost overruns.

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Gabriele

7 months ago

D. Inadequate definition of scope at the estimate (budget) stage. I mean, how can you budget for something you haven't fully defined? Rookie mistake.

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Tambra

7 months ago

Haha, I'll go with B. Insufficient planning for change management. You know what they say, the only constant is change, right? Gotta be ready for that!

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Wilda

6 months ago

User 2: Yeah, change can really throw off a project's budget.

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Tatum

7 months ago

User 1: I agree, B is a common reason for cost overruns.

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Cary

8 months ago

C. Inappropriate definition of work breakdown structure seems like the most common issue to me. If you don't break down the work properly, how can you estimate the costs accurately?

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Janey

7 months ago

C) Inappropriate definition of work breakdown structure

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Gaynell

7 months ago

B) Insufficient planning for change management

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Rodolfo

7 months ago

A) lack of detailed planning for operational start-up

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Rosendo

8 months ago

I believe insufficient planning for change management can also lead to cost overruns. Changes during the project can be costly if not managed properly.

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Britt

8 months ago

I think it's definitely D. Inadequate definition of scope at the estimate (budget) stage. That's the root cause of so many project cost overruns I've seen.

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