The original Value Methodology (VM) Job Plan, developed by Lawrence D. Miles in the 1940s, was rooted in a problem-solving approach inspired by the scientific method. As outlined in the VMF 1 course (Core Competency #1: Value Methodology Overview), Miles adapted a systematic problem-solving framework to create the VM Job Plan, which later evolved into the six-phase process used today (Information, Function Analysis, Creative, Evaluation, Development, Presentation). The original problem-solving approach, as described in SAVE International's historical documentation of VM, follows the scientific method's four steps:
Observation, Hypothesis, Experimentation, and Conclusion.
* Observation: Observe the problem or system (e.g., high costs, inefficiencies) to understand the current state, aligning with the Information Phase.
* Hypothesis: Form a hypothesis about how to improve value (e.g., identifying key functions or alternatives), similar to Function Analysis and Creative Phases.
* Experimentation: Test the hypothesis by developing and evaluating alternatives, akin to the Evaluation and Development Phases.
* Conclusion: Draw conclusions and implement solutions, corresponding to the Presentation Phase.
This order-Observation, Hypothesis, Experimentation, Conclusion-is the standard sequence of the scientific method, which Miles used as the foundation for VM's systematic approach to problem-solving.
* Option A (Hypothesis, Observation, Experimentation, Conclusion) is incorrect because observation must come first to identify the problem.
* Option B (Observation, Experimentation, Hypothesis, Conclusion) is incorrect because hypothesizing should precede experimentation.
* Option C (Hypothesis, Experimentation, Observation, Conclusion) is incorrect because observation must come before forming a hypothesis.
* Option D (Observation, Hypothesis, Experimentation, Conclusion) is correct, as it matches the scientific method's order, which underpins the original VM Job Plan.
:
SAVE International, "Value Methodology Standard and Body of Knowledge," available athttps://www.value- eng.org, historical section on the origins of VM and its problem-solving roots.
SAVE International, VMF 1 Core Competency #1 (Value Methodology Overview), detailing the history of the VM Job Plan and its basis in the scientific method.

The Evaluation Phase of the Value Methodology (VM) Job Plan involves assessing ideas using established criteria, as taught in the VMF 1 course (Core Competency #7: Evaluation and Selection of Alternatives).
According to SAVE International's Value Methodology Standard, "establishing evaluation criteria follows a logical sequence: first, identify the context of the study (e.g., project goals, constraints); then define the criteria (e.g., cost, performance, risk); next, determine the importance of each criterion (e.g., weighting, as noted in Question 11); and finally, determine the range or scale for measurement (e.g., 1-5 scale for scoring)." This process ensures that criteria are relevant, prioritized, and measurable, enabling systematic evaluation (e.
g., using coarse-medium-fine filters, as in Question 33).
* Identify context: Understand the study's goals and constraints (e.g., budget limits).
* Define criteria: List specific criteria (e.g., cost savings, quality).
* Determine importance: Assign weights to criteria (e.g., cost is 40% of the score).
* Determine range/scale: Set a measurement scale (e.g., 1-10 for each criterion).
* Option A (Identify context, define criteria, determine importance, determine range/scale) is correct, as it follows the logical sequence for establishing evaluation criteria.
* Option B (Identify context, define criteria, determine range/scale, determine importance) is incorrect because determining importance (weighting) should precede setting the range/scale to ensure the scale reflects the criteria's relative importance.
* Option C (Define criteria, identify context, determine range/scale, determine importance) is incorrect because the context must be identified first to ensure criteria are relevant.
* Option D (Define criteria, identify context, determine importance, determine range/scale) is incorrect because defining criteria before identifying the context risks missing the study's specific needs.
:
SAVE International, "Value Methodology Standard and Body of Knowledge," available athttps://www.value- eng.org, detailing the steps for establishing evaluation criteria in the Evaluation Phase.
SAVE International, VMF 1 Core Competency #7 (Evaluation and Selection of Alternatives), emphasizing the sequence for setting evaluation criteria (consistent with Question 33).

Risk management in Value Methodology (VM) includes strategies for both threats and opportunities, particularly during the Implementation Planning phase, as taught in the VMF 1 course (Core Competency #8:
Implementation Planning). According to SAVE International's Value Methodology Standard, which aligns with project management best practices (e.g., PMI's PMBOK, as noted in Question 28), risk response strategies for opportunities include:
* Exploit: Ensure the opportunity is realized by taking actions to make it certain (e.g., assigning the best resources).
* Share: Partner with others to increase the likelihood or benefit of the opportunity (e.g., joint ventures).
* Enhance: Increase the probability of the opportunity occurring and/or the magnitude of its beneficial results (e.g., by improving conditions or amplifying benefits).
* Accept: Take no action to influence the opportunity.
The question specifically asks for the strategy that seeks to "increase the probability of an opportunity occurring and/or the magnitude of results being beneficial," which directly matches the definition ofEnhance.
For example, in a VM study, enhancing an opportunity might involve marketing a new feature to increase its adoption rate (probability) or improving its design to maximize savings (magnitude).
* Option A (Exploit) is incorrect because exploiting ensures the opportunity happens, not necessarily increasing its probability or magnitude.
* Option B (Share) is incorrect because sharing involves collaboration, not directly increasing probability or magnitude.
* Option C (Mitigate) is incorrect because mitigation applies to threats, not opportunities.
* Option D (Enhance) is correct, as it focuses on increasing the probability and/or magnitude of an opportunity's benefits.
:
SAVE International, VMF 1 Core Competency #8 (Implementation Planning), detailing risk response strategies for opportunities, including Enhance.
SAVE International, "Value Methodology Standard," section on risk management, referencing strategies like Enhance for opportunities (consistent with Question 28).

The Value Methodology (VM) Job Plan leverages both divergent and convergent thinking, as taught in the VMF 1 course (Core Competency #3: Value Methodology Job Plan). According to SAVE International's Value Methodology Standard, "convergent thinking is used to narrow down and refine ideas, focusing on analysis, selection, and implementation, while divergent thinking generates a wide range of ideas." The VM Job Plan's six phases are: Information, Function Analysis, Creativity, Evaluation, Development, and Presentation. Convergent thinking is applied in:
* Evaluation Phase: The team narrows down ideas using filters (Coarse, Medium, Fine, as in Question
33) and evaluation matrices, selecting the best ones.
* Development Phase: The team refines selected ideas into actionable proposals, focusing on feasibility and cost.
* Presentation Phase: The team consolidates proposals into a final recommendation, ensuring clarity and alignment with stakeholder needs.
Divergent thinking is primarily used in the Creativity Phase, while Information and Function Analysis involve analytical thinking but not necessarily convergent thinking in the same sense (they focus on understanding and defining, not narrowing down).
* Option A (Creativity, Evaluation, Development) is incorrect because Creativity uses divergent thinking, not convergent.
* Option B (Information, Function Analysis, Creativity) is incorrect because none of these phases primarily use convergent thinking; Creativity is divergent.
* Option C (Evaluation, Development, Presentation) is correct, as these phases involve convergent thinking to narrow down, refine, and finalize ideas.
* Option D (Function Analysis, Creativity, Evaluation) is incorrect because Function Analysis and Creativity do not primarily use convergent thinking.
:
SAVE International, "Value Methodology Standard and Body of Knowledge," available athttps://www.value- eng.org, detailing the use of convergent thinking in Evaluation, Development, and Presentation.
SAVE International, VMF 1 Core Competency #3 (Value Methodology Job Plan), emphasizing thinking types across phases (consistent with Question 22).

The diagram provided is a Function Analysis System Technique (FAST) diagram, a key tool in Value Methodology's Function Analysis phase, as taught in the VMF 1 course (Core Competency #2). FAST diagrams map the relationships between functions of a system, with the horizontal axis showing the "how- why" logic (critical path) and the vertical axis showing supporting functions. Functions are classified as basic, secondary, required secondary, or higher-order based on their position and role in the diagram. According to SAVE International's Value Methodology Standard, "the basic function is the primary purpose of the system, typically found on the critical path; higher-order functions are the reasons why the basic function exists, located to the left of the basic function; secondary functions support the basic function and are often vertical; and required secondary functions are necessary to achieve the basic function." In the FAST diagram:
* The critical path (horizontal, marked by Y in an earlier question) runs from E to F to G to J to L to M to N to O, representing the main sequence of functions.
* Scope lines (B and D) define the study's boundaries, as identified in Question 15.
* Function E is positioned at the far left of the critical path, just inside the left scope line (B).
In FAST diagramming:
* Thebasic functionis the primary purpose of the system, typically located near the center or right of the critical path within the scope lines. Here, it would likely be a function like J or L, which is central to the system's purpose.
* Thehigher-order functionis the reason "why" the basic function exists and is located to the left of the basic function, often at or near the left scope line. Function E, being the leftmost function on the critical path, answers "why" the subsequent functions (F, G, etc.) exist, making it the higher-order function.
* Secondary functions(e.g., S, T, U, K) are vertical, supporting the critical path, and are not on the main horizontal sequence.
* Required secondary functionsare secondary functions essential to the basic function, but E is on the critical path, not a vertical supporting function.
Thus, Function E, as the leftmost function on the critical path, is thehigher-order function, representing the overarching objective or need that the system fulfills.
* Option A (Secondary Function) is incorrect because secondary functions are off the critical path (e.g., S, T, K), while E is on the critical path.
* Option B (Required Secondary Function) is incorrect because E is not a secondary function; it is on the main path, not a supporting vertical function.
* Option C (Basic Function) is incorrect because the basic function is typically more central on the critical path, not at the far left.
* Option D (Higher Order Function) is correct, as E's position at the left of the critical path indicates it is the higher-order function, answering "why" the system exists.
:
SAVE International, VMF 1 Core Competency #2 (Function Analysis), which includes the use of FAST diagrams to classify functions as basic, secondary, or higher-order.
SAVE International, "Value Methodology Standard," section on Function Analysis, describing FAST diagramming conventions, including the positioning of higher-order functions to the left of the basic function.