CAPM Practice: Demonstrate an understanding of common problem-solving tools and techniques

A Pareto chart applies the 80/20 rule, showing that roughly 80% of problems are caused by 20% of causes. By ranking causes in descending order of frequency, it helps project managers focus improvement efforts on the most impactful issues first.

**Why not A:** Showing the trend of defects over time is the purpose of a control chart or run chart, not a Pareto chart. A Pareto chart ranks categories by frequency in a single period, not over time.

**Why not C:** Mapping the flow of a process from start to finish is the purpose of a flowchart or process map. A Pareto chart displays ranked categorical data, not process sequences.

**Why not D:** Comparing planned versus actual project performance is the purpose of variance analysis or earned value management tools. A Pareto chart focuses on identifying the most significant causes of problems, not tracking performance against a baseline.