Deck 4: Negotiation and the Management of Conflict

Question 1

During project build-up, if a weak matrix organizational form is used, the project manager seeks a commitment of __________ from the functional departments.

A)work
B)materials
C)people
D)budgets

Answer 1

A

Question 2

__________ problems are comparatively rare during project phaseout because most have been solved or bypassed earlier.

A)Resource
B)Schedule
C)Authority
D)Technical

Answer 2

D

Question 3

According to the authors, the nature of negotiation as it applies to project management is the realization that few of the conflicts arising in projects have to do with __________.

A)whether or not the task will be done
B)the precise design of the deliverable
C)how the design will be achieved
D)who will do the work, when, and at what cost.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

During project build-up, if a strong matrix organizational form is used, the project manager seeks a commitment of __________ from the functional departments.

A)work
B)materials
C)people
D)budgets

Question 5

The authors mention three situations where the highest level of negotiating skill is required by the project manager. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

A)getting personnel from the functional manager
B)using sub-contractors
C)changing project deliverables in midstream
D)using input from multiple functional units in developing the project mission

Question 6

A party to a conflict will usually be satisfied when the level of frustration has been __________.

A)increased by the domination of the other party
B)lowered to the point where no action against the other party is contemplated
C)lowered because the party realizes the hopelessness of continuing the conflict
D)eliminated because the party has surrendered to the other party

Question 7

According to the authors; which of the entities below is NOT a party to the chartering process?

A)the project manager
B)the customer
C)senior management
D)functional managers

Question 8

When dealing with conflict between parties, it is recommended that one __________ in order to avoid the conflict becoming interpersonal.

A)avoid the situation
B)define the substantive problem
C)leisurely discuss the issue
D)focus on interests

Question 9

The need to manage technical interfaces and to correct incompatibilities is likely to create technical conflicts during the __________ phase of the project lifecycle.

A)project formation
B)project buildup
C)main program
D)project phase out

Question 10

During project formation, the organizational structure selected will have a major impact on the ways in which conflicts are handled. Lack of clarity about the relative power/influence/authority of the PM and the functional managers is a major component of all conflicts involving __________.

A)contractual obligations
B)property rights
C)budgeting
D)resource allocation, and scheduling

Question 11

If a resource conflict arises between two high-priority projects, precedence is typically given to the project with the __________.

A)earliest due date
B)fastest completion time
C)biggest revenue stream
D)lowest cost to complete

Question 12

Conflicts within the organization typically differ from conflicts with outsiders in one important way. As far as the organization is concerned, these conflicts are __________.

A)conflicts between opponents
B)conflicts between allies
C)conflicts between microcultures
D)conflicts between subcultures

Question 13

There are several words that are synonyms for negotiate. Which of the following is NOT quoted by the authors?

A)arbitrate
B)bicker
C)conciliate
D)haggle

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT one of the four points of principled negotiation?

A)Insist on using objective criteria.
B)Focus on interest not positions.
C)Invent options for mutual gain before trying to reach an agreement.
D)Separate people from the problem.

Question 15

Which one of the following choices was NOT identified by the authors as one of the reasons why organizations enter into partnership arrangements with each other?

A)avoidance of litigation
B)diversification of technical risk
C)reducing internal conflict
D)avoidance of capital investment

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT included in the authors' four part agreement for partnering?

A)continuous senior management support
B)a method for resolution of problems and disagreements
C)joint evaluation of the project's progress
D)a set of team building exercises

Question 17

Personality conflicts during project phase-out are often caused by __________.

A)the absence of deadlines
B)the influx of newer technology
C)pressure to complete the project and anxiety about leaving the project
D)distribution of expenses charged to the project

Question 18

Identify the category of conflict that is NOT included in the categories used by Thamhain and Wilemon in their study of project conflict.

A)differences about goal/expectations
B)uncertainty about authority
C)interpersonal problems
D)discipline/problem-orientation differences

Question 19

During project build-up, the project should move from a general concept to __________.

A)implementation of plans
B)a highly detailed set of plans
C)a project charter
D)a project contract

Question 20

Most of the conflicts that involve the organization and outsiders have to do with __________.

A)interpersonal differences
B)cultural differences and status differences
C)technical differences
D)property rights and contractual obligations

Question 21

During the early program phases of the project lifecycle, Thamhain et al say that conflict intensity is the greatest with respect to __________.

Question 22

__________ is the process which begins when one party perceives that the other has frustrated, or is about to frustrate, some concern of his.

Question 23

During the main program phases of the project lifecycle, Thamhain et al say that conflict intensity is the greatest with respect to __________.

Question 24

A(n)__________ is simply a written agreement between the PM, senior management, and the functional managers who are committing resources and/or people to the project.

Question 25

Describe the multistep process for building partnered projects.

Question 26

Describe the type of relations that generally exist between the organization carrying out the project and a subcontractor working on the project.

Question 27

According to the authors, the favored technique for resolving conflict is __________.

Question 28

The boundaries between departments or functions represent __________.

Question 29

Partnering is an attempt to __________ the risk associated with sub-contracting.

Question 30

Negotiating to a __________ solution is the key to conflict resolution in project management.

Question 31

The total level of conflict in the project lifecycle is highest during the __________ stage.

Question 32

Toward the end of the project lifecycle, Thamhain et al say that conflict intensity is the greatest with respect to __________.

Question 33

__________ is a method of transforming contractual relationships into a cohesive, cooperative project team with a single set of goals and established procedures for resolving disputes in a timely and effective manner.

Question 34

The __________ approach to negotiation aims to achieve a win-win result.

Question 35

__________ refers to the modifications to the project plan. In many cases, the projects get larger.

Question 36

__________ refers to communications across lines of equivalent authority.

Question 37

The __________ approach to negotiation states immediate wants on the assumption that the environment is static.

Question 38

The process through which two or more parties seek an acceptable rate of exchange for items they own or control is called __________.

Question 39

The general objective of a __________ solution to conflict is to find a solution such that no party can be made better off without making another party worse off by the same amount or more.

Question 40

One requirement for the conflict/resolution methods described is that they must allow the conflict to be settled without __________ to the project's objectives.

Question 41

Describe the four points of principled negotiation described by Fisher and Ury.

Question 42

Identify the three fundamental categories of conflict that occur during a project's lifecycle.

Question 43

Identify three basic causes for change in projects.

Question 44

List and describe the three basic causes for change in projects.