Chapter 1 Framework Questions
Chapter 1 Framework Questions
1. A project is: a) A set of sequential activities performed in a process or system. b) A revenue-generating activity that needs to be accomplished while achieving customer satisfaction. c) An ongoing endeavor undertaken to meet customer or market requirements. d) A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. 2. Project management is: a) The integration of the critical path method and the Earned Value Management system. b) The application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements. c) The application of knowledge, skills, wisdom, science, and art to organizational activities to achieve operational excellence. d) A subset of most engineering and other technical disciplines. 3. Managing a project includes: a) Balancing the competing demands for quality, scope, time, and cost. b) Integrating requirements of profitability, low cost, and legal responsibility. c) Implementation of software, hardware, and other systems to enhance organizational efficiency. d) Supporting human factors, communications, discipline, and performance management. 4. A program is a: a) Grouping of related tasks lasting one year or less. b) Group of related projects managed in a coordinated way. c) Project with a cost over $1 million. d) Sequence of steps constituting a project. 5. One goal of portfolio management is to: a) Manage various contents of the project file. b) Manage the levels of financial authority to facilitate project decision-making. c) Maximize the value of the portfolio by careful examination of candidate projects and programs for inclusion in the portfolio and the timely exclusion of projects not meeting the portfolios strategic objectives. d) Applying resource-leveling heuristics across all the organizations projects. 6. International factors to be considered by the project team generally include all of the following EXCEPT: a) Time-zone differences. b) National and regional holidays. c) Travel requirements for face-to-face meetings. d) Project reporting formats. 7. Cultural and social environmental aspects to be considered by the project team include all of the following areas EXCEPT: a) Economic. b) Occasional. c) Educational. d) Demographic. 8. In understanding the project environment, all of the following are true EXCEPT: a) Projects are planned and implemented in a social, economic, and environmental context. b) Projects may have intended positive and/or negative impacts. c) Projects may have unintended positive and/or negative impacts. d) The project team rarely should consider the political and physical environmental contexts of the project.
9. Organizations perform work to achieve a set of objectives. All of the following are true about projects and operations work EXCEPT: a) Both projects and operations are constrained by limited resources. b) Operations are ongoing and repetitive, while projects are temporary and unique. c) Both projects and operations are planned, executed, and controlled. d) All activities in the organization can be addressed within the organizations normal operational limits. Therefore, projects are rarely utilized as a means of achieving an organizations strategic plan. 10. Key features of a project management office (PMO) generally include all of the following EXCEPT: a) Delivering specific project objectives and controlling the assigned project resources to best meet objectives of the project. b) Identification and development of project management methodology, best practices, and standards. c) Centralized repository and management for both shared and unique risks for all projects. d) A mentoring platform for project managers.
16. The project manager has the highest level of independence and authority in a organization. a) Strong matrix b) Weak matrix c) Projectized d) Functional 17. The project manager has the lowest level of authority in a organization: a) Functional b) Weak matrix c) Strong matrix d) Projectized 18. A a) b) c) d) project coordinator may typically be found in a organization. Projectized Strong matrix Weak matrix Balanced matrix
19. The project manager is more likely to have a full-time role in a organization: a) Functional b) Weak matrix c) Projectized d) Small capitalization 20. A is: a) b) c) d) common title for the project managers role in a projectized organization Project Project Project Project Manager. Coordinator. Coach. Expediter.
21. All of the following are generally true about the project management office (PMO) EXCEPT: a) It may provide project management support functions. b) It should be located in a bright, well-ventilated, centralized area. c) It may provide training, software, standardized policies, and procedures. d) It may be responsible for achieving the results of the project. 22. Different or conflicting objectives among project stakeholders: a) Should be encouraged. b) Should be ignored. c) Can make it difficult for project managers to manage stakeholder expectations. d) Generally makes it easy for project managers to manage stakeholder expectations. 23. For a large, complex project with cross-functional project needs, the following organizational structure gives considerable authority to the project manager: a) A strong matrix organization. b) A balanced matrix organization. c) A weak matrix. d) A functional organization. 24. All of the following statements about the level of authority of the project manager are true EXCEPT: a) In a functional organization, the project manager has little or no authority. b) In weak matrices, the project manager role is more that of a coordinator or expediter than that of a manager. c) The balanced matrix organization does not provide the project manager with the full authority over the project and project funding. d) Authority of the project manager is limited in a strong matrix organization.
25. All of the following statements about the project life cycle and the product life cycle are true EXCEPT: a) The product life cycle generally starts with the business plan, and continues through idea, to product, ongoing operations, and product divestment. b) The project life cycle also identifies the transitional actions at the end of the project to link the project to the ongoing operations of the performing organization. c) Generally, a product life cycle is contained within the project life cycle. d) Generally, a project life cycle is contained within one or more product life cycles.
32. The schedule control process for a project: a) Focuses on starting the project earlier than scheduled. b) Is necessary for controlling changes to the project schedule. c) Is concerned only with activities that are on the critical path. d) Should focus entirely on activities that are difficult to carry out. 33. For a project to be successful, the project team must generally do all of the following EXCEPT: a) Comply with requirements to meet stakeholder needs, wants, and expectations b) Balance the competing demands of scope, time, cost, quality, resources, and risk to produce a quality product. c) Apply all processes within the Project Management Process Groups uniformly to meet the project objectives. d) Select appropriate processes within the Project Management Process Groups that are required to meet the project objectives. 34. An underlying concept for the interaction among the project management processes is the: a) Plan-do-check-act cycle (as defined by Shewhart and modified by Deming). b) Plan-do-analyze-check-act-standardize cycle (as defined by Shewhart and modified by Deming). c) Ready-aim-fire cycle linked by results. d) Conceptualize-design-execute-finish (CDEF) cycle. 35. All of the following are characteristics of Project Management Process Groups EXCEPT: a) The Process Groups are linked by the objectives they produce. b) The output of one process generally becomes an input to another process or is a deliverable of the project. c) All of the processes will be needed on all projects, and all of the interactions will apply to all projects or project phases. d) When a project is divided into phases, the Process Groups are normally repeated within each phase throughout the projects life to effectively drive the project to completion. 36. The Initiating Process Group consists of the processes that: a) Facilitate the formal authorization to start a new project or a project phase. b) Deploy risk mitigation strategies. c) Establish and describe the need for a project selection process. d) Approve the market analysis to ensure resolution of contract disputes.