CSPP Practice Questions
Prepare for CSPP with more than an answer.
- Level
- Professional (Knowledge-based sustainability credential)
- Valid for
- 3 years
Domains covered on the exam 6
- Foundations of Sustainable Project Work12%
- PRiSM (Project Integrating Sustainable Methods) Life Cycle Approach23%
- P5 Standard: Sustainability and Impact Analysis24%
- Developing a Sustainability Management Plan based on Sustainability Standards12%
- ESG & Sustainability Reporting, Governance, and Project Communications7%
- Project Management Considerations23%
- 1
A project team is establishing sustainable procurement processes for an eco-friendly resort construction project. Which TWO actions should the team prioritize to align with PRiSM's supporting processes? (Select TWO)
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Correct answer: B, C
Under PRiSM, sustainable procurement processes require evaluating the environmental and social impacts of the supply chain. This is achieved by assessing suppliers' labor practices, human rights compliance, and local procurement capability (Option B), as well as requesting Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to verify materials' environmental footprint (Option C).
- 2
During the stakeholder engagement process of a wind farm project, local community members express strong concerns about noise pollution and bird migratory disruptions. How should a PRiSM-aligned project manager respond?
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Correct answer: B
PRiSM emphasizes proactive, transparent, and collaborative stakeholder engagement. Addressing concerns by sharing the P5 Impact Analysis and working together to refine the project design balances environmental, social, and economic interests, which is a core tenet of sustainable project management.
- 3
When estimating resources and costs for a sustainable project using PRiSM, what estimation technique or philosophy should be applied?
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Correct answer: B
PRiSM requires estimation processes to look beyond immediate capital expenditures. By using Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), the project accounts for operational, resource-consumption, and eventual decommission/disposal costs, which often demonstrate the financial benefits of sustainable choices.
- 4
A change request is submitted to substitute a low-VOC paint with a cheaper, standard solvent-based paint to address a minor budget overrun. In a PRiSM-governed project, how should the change control board (CCB) evaluate this request?
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Correct answer: B
In PRiSM, change control and configuration management must integrate sustainability objectives. When a change is proposed, its impact on the P5 elements (People, Planet, Prosperity) must be formally evaluated. A mini-PSIA ensures the CCB understands the social and environmental consequences of saving cost before making a decision.
flowchart TD A[Change Request Received] --> B[Perform mini-P5 Impact Analysis] B --> C{Evaluate Impacts on P5 Lenses} C -->|High Negative Impact| D[Reject or Modify Request] C -->|Acceptable Trade-off| E[CCB Decision & SMP Update] - 5
A project manager is launching a sustainable infrastructure initiative and wants to align the project's strategic objectives with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project primarily aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. Which specific UN SDG is the primary target for this project?
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Correct answer: B
SDG 9 specifically targets building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. While SDGs 7, 11, and 12 are related to sustainability, they focus on energy, urban environments, and consumption patterns respectively, making SDG 9 the most precise fit for these specific project objectives.
- 6
An electronic vehicle manufacturing project is choosing between two battery suppliers. Supplier A is cheaper and guarantees high performance (Prosperity) but has poor labor rights records in its mining operations (People). Supplier B uses fully certified ethical labor and has a lower carbon footprint (Planet) but costs 15% more, which reduces the immediate financial return of the project. Under the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, how should the project team evaluate this trade-off?
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Correct answer: B
The Triple Bottom Line framework rejects the traditional notion that Prosperity (economic performance) should automatically override People (social equity) and Planet (environmental protection). Choosing Supplier B demonstrates true TBL alignment by actively managing and balancing all three dimensions, whereas using offsets or ignoring labor violations violates the core principles of TBL. The diagram below illustrates the intersection of these three pillars.
flowchart TD subgraph TBL["Triple Bottom Line"] People[People - Social] Planet[Planet - Environmental] Planet Prosperity[Prosperity - Economic] Prosperity People end TBL --> Sustainability([Sustainability])
