CITM EXIN EPI Certified Information Technology Manager Question and Answers

In a fast-changing business environment, aChange Manager(D) is responsible for guiding the change process in a controlled manner. According toITIL, the Change Manager oversees the change management process, ensuring that changes to IT services or infrastructure are assessed, approved, and implemented with minimal disruption to business operations. This role is critical when rapid business changes require structured control to maintain stability and alignment with organizational goals.

Risk Manager (A):Focuses on identifying and mitigating risks, not directly managing change processes.

Service Level Manager (B):Ensures service levels meet agreed standards, focusing on service delivery rather than change control.

Business Relationship Manager (C):Manages relationships with business stakeholders to align IT services with needs, not specifically change processes.

The Change Manager’s role, as defined in ITIL’s change management framework, is essential for controlling the pace and impact of changes in a dynamic environment.

For a recurring incident,problem managementinITILaims to identify the root cause to prevent future occurrences. The5-Whystechnique (C) is recommended as it involves repeatedly asking “why” to drill down to the root cause of the issue. This simple, effective method is suitable for a group of technical specialists analyzing a recurring problem, such as an incident occurring every Monday, which may stem from a specific process, configuration, or system issue.

Kepner-Tregoe (A):A structured decision-making and problem-solving method, more complex and less focused on root cause analysis alone.

Technical observation post (B):Not a standard problem management technique; likely a distractor.

Fault isolation (D):Focuses on isolating faulty components, more applicable to hardware issues than recurring process-related incidents.

The 5-Whys technique is widely used in ITIL problem management for its simplicity and effectiveness in collaborative root cause analysis.

Concerns about future price increases can be addressed byincluding contractual terms(B) in the agreement to limit or regulate price escalations (e.g., fixed pricing, escalation clauses, or review mechanisms). This approach balances the business units’ insistence on proceeding with the selected vendor (based on a thorough evaluation) while mitigating financial risks. According tovendor management best practices, contracts should include clear terms to protect against unforeseen cost increases, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

Ignore the business units and change vendor (A):Contradicts the evaluation process and business units’ decision, risking misalignment.

Sign the contract (C):Ignores the price increase concern, potentially exposing the organization to financial risk.

Re-tender the project (D):Unnecessary, as the vendor was selected through evaluation; contractual terms can address the concern without restarting the process.

InITIL(Information Technology Infrastructure Library), anemergency changeis implemented to address urgent issues that significantly impact business operations, such as a processing error during financial year closing. Emergency changes are fast-tracked to restore service or prevent further disruption, bypassing some standard change management processes while still requiring approval.

Normal changes (A) follow the full change management process, standard changes (B) are pre-approved and routine, and exceptional (C) is not a standard ITIL term. Emergency change (D) fits the scenario of urgent action to avoid business delays.

For abusiness continuity planrequiring a site to facilitate desks for workers, ahot site(A) is recommended. A hot site is a fully equipped, operational facility with real-time data replication, allowing immediate resumption of operations with minimal downtime. According toISO 22301, hot sites are ideal for critical operations requiring desks, IT infrastructure, and immediate availability for workers to continue business processes post-disaster.

Cold site (B):A basic facility with minimal equipment, requiring significant setup time, unsuitable for immediate worker use.

Warm site (C):Partially equipped with some infrastructure but not fully operational, requiring setup time.

Mobile site (D):A temporary, portable solution, less suitable for sustained operations compared to a hot site.

Outsourcing IT operations to an external vendor is a form ofrisk transfer(C), where the responsibility for managing certain risks (e.g., operational or technical risks) is shifted to the vendor. According toISO 31000, risk treatment strategies include transferring risk to a third party, often through contracts or outsourcing agreements, where the vendor assumes responsibility for mitigating specific risks.

Sharing (A):Involves distributing risk among multiple parties, not fully transferring it to one.

Retention (B):Means accepting the risk without mitigation, not applicable here.

Modification (D):Refers to changing processes or controls to reduce risk, not outsourcing.

Ahigh-level assessmentto list risks in order of priority for treatment is best conducted usingqualitative analysis(D). According toISO 31000, qualitative risk analysis assesses risks based on their likelihood and impact using non-numerical methods (e.g., risk matrices, high/medium/low ratings). This approach is suitable for high-level assessments, as it quickly prioritizes risks without requiring detailed quantitative data, aligning with senior management’s needs for a prioritized risk list.

Quantitative analysis (A):Uses numerical data (e.g., cost estimates, probabilities) for detailed analysis, not ideal for high-level overviews.

Semi-quantitative analysis (B):Combines qualitative and quantitative methods, but is more detailed than needed for a high-level assessment.

Ad hoc analysis (C):Not a standard risk analysis method; implies informal analysis, unsuitable for structured prioritization.

When a lot of data exist about the effort required for project activities, thebottom-upestimation technique (D) is most appropriate. This method involves estimating the effort for each task in theWork Breakdown Structure (WBS)individually, then aggregating them to derive the total project duration or cost. It leverages detailed data for accuracy, as perPMBOK’s estimation techniques.

Top-down (A):Uses high-level estimates based on historical data or expert judgment, less accurate with detailed task data available.

Three-point (B):Uses optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates for uncertainty, but is less focused on leveraging detailed effort data.

Comparative (C):Likely refers to analogous estimation, which relies on comparisons to past projects, not detailed task data.

Bottom-up estimation is ideal when detailed effort data is available, ensuring precision in project planning.

Given the constraints oflittle to no budgetandlimited time,internet job boardsare the ideal sourcing method. They are cost-effective (often free or low-cost), allow quick posting of job openings, and reach a wide pool of candidates, enabling rapid hiring.

Word of mouth (A) is informal and may not yield qualified candidates quickly. Internal IT staff based on SWOT analysis (B) is not a standard recruitment method and takes time to analyze. Recruitment agencies (D) are expensive and slower due to their processes, making them unsuitable for low-budget, urgent hiring.

Inrisk management, after controls are implemented to mitigate risks, the remaining risk that the organization is willing to accept is calledresidual risk(C). According to frameworks likeISO/IEC 27001andCOBIT, residual risk represents the level of risk that persists after applying controls, deemed acceptable based on the organization’s risk appetite. For example, if a control reduces the likelihood or impact of a threat (e.g., data breach), the remaining exposure is the residual risk, which the organization monitors but does not further mitigate unless necessary.

Reduced risk (A):Not a standard term; implies a general decrease but lacks specificity.

Lowered risk (B):Similar to reduced risk, not a recognized term in risk management frameworks.

Modified risk (D):Implies risk alteration but is not a standard term for post-control risk levels.

Residual risk is a critical concept in risk management, ensuring organizations understand and accept the remaining exposure after mitigation efforts.

Acompensating controlis an alternative control implemented when the preferred control cannot be applied due to constraints (e.g., technical, financial, or operational). According to frameworks likeCOBITorISO/IEC 27001, compensating controls provide equivalent or partial risk mitigation when the primary control is infeasible.

Deterrent controls (A) discourage violations, detective controls (C) identify incidents, and corrective controls (D) address issues after they occur. Only compensating control (B) fits the scenario of a second-best alternative due to constraints.

A high failure rate of changes duringPost Implementation Review (PIR)inITIL’s change management process suggests a deficiency in theassessment and evaluation of change requests(A). Proper assessment involves analyzing risks, impacts, and feasibility before approving changes. If this step is inadequate (e.g., overlooking conflicts or underestimating impacts), changes are more likely to fail, as they may not align with objectives or be poorly planned.

Insufficient resources (B):May cause delays but is less directly tied to failed objectives compared to poor assessment.

CAB meetings not taking place (C):The CAB reviews changes, but the scenario doesn’t indicate meetings are absent; poor assessment can occur even with CAB involvement.

Insufficient budget (D):May limit implementation but is less likely the primary cause of failed objectives.