PMP · Question #1329
A project selection committee is shortlisting projects for the coming year. Which selection criteria should the project manager recommend?
The correct answer is D. Projects that maximize the business value. When shortlisting projects, the project manager should recommend criteria that prioritize maximizing business value, as this aligns projects with organizational strategic goals and ensures the greatest return.
Question
A project selection committee is shortlisting projects for the coming year. Which selection criteria should the project manager recommend?
Options
- AProjects with the least associated risks
- BProjects with maximum revenue generation
- CProjects with the least duration
- DProjects that maximize the business value
How the community answered
(58 responses)- A5% (3)
- B2% (1)
- C2% (1)
- D91% (53)
Why each option
When shortlisting projects, the project manager should recommend criteria that prioritize maximizing business value, as this aligns projects with organizational strategic goals and ensures the greatest return.
While risk is a factor, prioritizing projects solely based on the least associated risks might lead to selecting projects with low returns or missed strategic opportunities.
While revenue generation is a component of business value, focusing solely on maximum revenue might overlook other strategic benefits, such as market share, customer satisfaction, or operational efficiency, which are also critical for overall business value.
Prioritizing projects with the least duration might neglect larger, more complex projects that offer substantial strategic advantages and business value, simply because they take longer.
The primary goal of project selection from an organizational perspective is to choose projects that provide the most benefit and align with strategic objectives, which is encapsulated by maximizing business value. Projects with higher business value contribute more significantly to the organization's strategic goals and overall success.
Concept tested: Project selection criteria (business value)
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/project-selection
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Imani T.Apr 6, 2026D is the answer here. PMI loves business value as a selection criteria because it captures the full picture, not just money or speed or risk in isolation. A and C sound safe but they ignore whether the project actually moves the organization forward, and B is too narrow because revenue alone does not account for strategic fit or long-term benefit. Got this exact framing on my exam last month and D was confirmed correct.
Ingrid P.Apr 7, 2026Agreed on D, but worth a card on the distinction between business value and scoring model, since PMI sometimes treats the scoring model as the tool that aggregates business value criteria rather than a selection method itself.
Brenda K.Mar 28, 2026D is correct, and it should be a 20-second answer. Business value is the gold standard for selection criteria since it goes beyond just revenue to include strategic alignment and long-term organizational benefit.
Imani T.Mar 29, 2026D is right but the 20-second part is optimistic since most people overthink it looking for a revenue-specific answer when business value is the broader umbrella.
Ingrid P.Mar 25, 2026D is correct because PMP frames selection around maximizing business value, not just chasing revenue or avoiding risk. A and C are traps because they each optimize one narrow dimension while ignoring overall strategic fit. B sounds attractive but revenue alone ignores cost, risk, and long-term value, so it is incomplete. Saw this exact pattern on my exam last spring and almost bit on B because the word maximum jumped out at me. Re-read the stem, reminded myself the committee is selecting across a portfolio, and the value lens clicked. Flagged a card on this one with a two-week interval because the revenue