International Project Management Association (IPMA) Practice Exam

Which of these represents a support service provided by a permanent organization?

1. Sales department functions

2. Project-specific tasks

3. Unique engineering solutions

4. Temporary staffing solutions

The correct answer is: Sales department functions

The sales department functions are indeed a support service provided by a permanent organization because they play a vital role in maintaining the overall business operations and ensuring revenue generation. These functions are usually ongoing and consist of activities like customer outreach, relationship management, and market analysis, which support both current projects and the long-term strategic goals of the organization. In contrast, project-specific tasks are typically tied to the individual needs and goals of a particular project, making them less representative of ongoing support beyond the project’s lifecycle. Unique engineering solutions focus on developing specific products or services that may not be repeatable or sustainable as a support service. Temporary staffing solutions are generally adaptive measures taken to fill gaps during specific projects but do not represent a permanent function within the organization's support structure.