Deck 11: Project Control

Question 1

The authors recommend that reports to senior management appear to be uniquely helpful when these reports are made __________.

A)annually
B)at project milestones
C)monthly
D)at project phase gates

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In addition to being easy to maintain, a good control system will __________ if it goes out of order.

A)continue to capture data
B)terminate process operations
C)send out signals
D)take no action until fixed

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is the key feature of cybernetic control systems?

A)Manual operations
B)Directional controls
C)Automatic operation
D)Specific preconditions

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Most control systems used in project management today fall into this category of control system.

A)cybernetic control
B)robotic control
C)go/no-go control
D)postcontrol

Question 5

In order to gain user acceptance, the control system should appear to be __________.

A)firm
B)enforced with sanctions
C)sensible
D)lenient

Question 6

Control is focused on three elements of a project. They are __________.

A)scope, quality, and customer satisfaction
B)performance, delivery, and cost
C)scope, cost, and time
D)cost, time, and customer satisfaction

Question 7

When performing control, project managers need to be attentive to __________.

A)maintaining laissez faire leadership
B)avoiding directive behaviors
C)regulation and conservation equally
D)regulation more than conservation

Question 8

Identify the item that is NOT one of the three types of control processes described by the authors.

A)cybernetic control
B)robotic control
C)go/no-go control
D)postcontrol

Question 9

In their 2005 paper Hussain and Wearne reported the results of a survey of over 1000 project managers who were asked to identify the "greatest problem of project management". Which of the following was NOT one of the top three responses?

A)Organizational issues
B)Scope change issues
C)Resource issues
D)Time issues

Question 10

The __________ process controls the project at various points in the life cycle to make sure that the project remains on course. This is opposed to waiting until the project is completed and then finding out it doesn't meet the objectives of the organization

A)portfolio
B)phased-step
C)phase-gate
D)overarching

Question 11

Because project milestones do not occur at periodic intervals, go/no-go controls should be linked to the __________; not simply to the calendar.

A)actual plans and to the occurrence of real events
B)corporate budgeting process
C)portfolio management review process
D)capital budgeting process

Question 12

The stewardship of human resources requires __________ the growth and development of people.

A)flattening
B)demolition
C)controlling and maintaining
D)mandating

Question 13

The two fundamental objectives of control are the regulation of results and the __________.

A)procurement of organizational assets
B)distribution of organizational assets
C)stewardship of organizational assets
D)refurbishing of organizational assets

Question 14

In a cybernetic control system using a negative feedback loop, the speed or force with which the control operates is, in general, __________ to the size of the deviation from standard.

A)customary
B)proportional
C)reciprocal
D)double

Question 15

Physical asset control is concerned with asset maintenance, whether __________.

A)detective or estimative
B)addition or removal
C)detection or estimation
D)preventive or corrective

Question 16

Go/no-go controls operate __________.

A)continuously
B)only when exceptions are detected
C)only when and if the controller uses them
D)only at phase gate reviews

Question 17

Physical asset control requires control of the __________ of physical assets and is concerned with asset maintenance, whether preventative or corrective.

A)use
B)location
C)storage
D)repair

Question 18

The critical ratio control chart uses a ratio made up of two parts -- the ratio of actual progress to scheduled progress, and the __________.

A)ratio of earned value to planned cost
B)ratio of budgeted cost to actual cost
C)ratio of actual cost to budgeted cost
D)ratio of planned cost to earned value

Question 19

With few exceptions, the control of projects is always exercised through _______.

A)people
B)computers
C)information systems
D)algorithms

Question 20

In order to control creative projects the project manager must adopt one or some combination of three general approaches to the problem. Which of the following is NOT one of these approaches?

A)control of input resources
B)creativity check
C)process review
D)personnel reassignments

Question 21

What are the two fundamental objectives of control?

Question 22

A person with organizational clout who takes on personal responsibility for the successful completion of a project for the organization is referred to as a(n)__________.

A)champion
B)leader
C)program manager
D)campaigner

Question 23

A(n) __________ measures performance over time, showing how it changes compared to a desired mean and upper and lower limits.

A)critical ratio
B)control chart
C)early warning system
D)Gantt chart

Question 24

For all but __________ changes, a risk identification and analysis should be performed.

Question 25

__________ are seen as much the same as a report card.

Question 26

Change control systems, in some industries, are part of a firm's __________.

Question 27

The most important rule for any subordinate is the Prime Law of Life on any project: __________.

Question 28

The __________ controls take the form of testing to see if some specific precondition has been met.

Question 29

__________ are directed towards improving chances for future projects to meet their goals.

Question 30

Identify some of the factors that can cause a project to require control of performance.

Question 31

The cybernetic control system that acts to reduce deviations from standard is called a __________.

Question 32

With respect to financial controls, courts will require the practice of __________ regarding financial controls, practices, and record-keeping.

Question 33

A(n)__________ is a monitoring system that forewarns the project manager if trouble arises.

Question 34

Identify some of the factors that can cause a project to require control of time.

Question 35

The process review focuses on the process of __________ outcomes rather than the outcomes per se.

Question 36

The most common type of control system is the __________, or steering control.

Question 37

A majority of uncertainty has its source in systems that lie outside the project, in its __________.

Question 38

Identify some of the factors that can cause a project to require control of cost.

Question 39

Postproject controls or reviews are examples of __________.

Question 40

__________ controls are usually viewed as helpful rather than as a source of unwelcome pressure if the controlees perceive themselves as able to perform inside the prescribed limits.

Question 41

Describe the information requirements of a cybernetic controller.