In my studying for the PcM exam I came across a study question about an AIA member designing an incarceration center with solitary confinement spaces.
I selected this answer and it was deemed incorrect:
Suggest creating a joint venture or partnership to accommodate the project scope
The correct answer is this:
Request to modify the scope to remove the solitary confinement portion
My question is how do we study for the exams when we receive questions that have a realistic correct answer to them but the correct answer may not be the realistic real world scenario answer? And how do we change our thinking to accommodate such answers?
@coachphilipcolwell @coachthomasmasino
Hi @christopherbwatkins92 welcome to the community and thanks for posting!
This question is a great one to discuss a common piece of advice that I give - try to think like the person who wrote the question. Luckily in this case, that’s me, so I have some unique insight!
When you’re reading this question, the first thing that should jump out to you is the piece if information that this architect is an AIA member. Why write that; how could it be relevant? Well, for the PcM exam, the AIA Code of ethics is a reference, so I would think that’s going to come into play. I’d read the answer choices with the mindset of ‘which of these refers to something in the AIA code of ethics?’
In reading the choices, requesting to modify the scope to remove solitary confinement should stand out, because the AIA code of ethics suggest that architects shouldn’t design these kinds of spaces. In this case, the question writer is testing whether or not you’ve read, and understood, that document, and can apply the principles of that document to an actual scenario.
Creating a JV could, in reality, be something this architect might do. But nothing in the question really suggests a JV is necessary - does the question say it’s a big project and the architect’s firm is small? Does it say the architect lacks a particular piece of expertise that’s critical for this project to be successful? If it said one of those things, I might be inclined to choose the JV choice.
Also please note that I have to redact your post slightly - we don’t allow posting of copyrighted materials in the community.
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Thank you for the response. And the redaction. I will correct myself on any future posts or questions that I may have.
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