Deck 1: Introduction to Project Management

Question 1

The matrix organization structure provides a dynamic structure to adapt more easily to change.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

As the globe continues to shrink due largely to advances in technology, it becomes critical for project managers to understand their own organizations and how their projects collaborate with external entities.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Time is one of the triple constraints. What is it and how is it used to evaluate the success of a project?

Answer 3

Time refers to the amount of time (hours, days, weeks, months) allocated in order to complete the project. Each activity of a project is estimated to take a certain amount of time in order to complete. All of the activities are scheduled in an order best determined by the project manager with assistance from the team to successfully complete the project. The project manager monitors the schedule to ensure each activity is being completed within the amount of time allocated and by the date specified.

Question 4

Name and describe the six basic functions that project managers must perform well to run successful projects.

Question 5

Describe at least three of the key differences found in project management for IT versus other industries.

Question 6

In the opening case about R&S Amusement Services, we see that project management is more than concepts, tools, techniques, and methods. It is about people working with people. Explain the importance and objectives of the initial meeting described in the case.

Question 7

In a project based organization structure, there is a tendency to have fewer levels of management meaning more possibilities for promotions.

Question 8

Project management is defined as a process of applying knowledge, tools, and techniques to a project's activities to deliver stated project requirements within agreed upon scope, time, cost, and quality constraints.

Question 9

In a project based organization structure, the project manager has authority for staff salary reviews.

Question 10

What is scope and how is it used to evaluate the success of a project?

Question 11

Describe at least three of the skills necessary to lead projects.

Question 12

The informal organization chart will not exist in any official capacity and is up to the project manager to discern and draw.

Question 13

In a traditional organization structure, the project manager has the least amount of authority as compared to the other two structures.

Question 14

As a triple constraint, what does cost refer to and how is it used to evaluate the success of a project?

Question 15

In a traditional organization structure, communication channels are not established.

Question 16

A project is defined having these three characteristics: it is operational, unique, and best defined using progressive elaboration.

Question 17

What are some reasons projects might turn into "death march projects" (i.e. they don't end)?

Question 18

Informal organization structures will not influence or impact the success (or failure) of a project.

Question 19

Explain the concept of progressive elaboration.

Question 20

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), what are the benefits for organizations that use structured project management techniques. List at least three of the benefits.

Question 21

When it comes to project management, experience is the best teacher and you cannot learn by observing other project managers.

Question 22

Project management is only about concepts, tools, techniques, and methods.

Question 23

Scope is assessed by the degree to which the system satisfies and exceeds the requirements set forth and agreed upon by the customer and the development team.

Question 24

To deliver a successful project, a project manager must balance three (or four) constraints.

Question 25

PMI professionals come from virtually every major industry including aerospace, automotive, business management, construction, engineering, financial services, information technology, and telecommunications.

Question 26

Project management is more than concepts, tools, techniques and methods. It is about people working with people.

Question 27

To obtain PMI project management certification, one must not only achieve a certain level score on an examination but must also demonstrate applied project management skills over several years.

Question 28

PMI is the leading provider of education and knowledge and is considered the pioneer in the field of project management.

Question 29

A project manager does not need to delegate any of the tasks of the project.

Question 30

A project is usually a temporary endeavor but may at times become an ongoing endeavor.

Question 31

Managing trade-offs is critical in the daily function of an organization.

Question 32

Standard processes do not help project managers be consistent in their approach to planning, executing, and controlling projects.

Question 33

A project manager is not successful without training and experience.

Question 34

Projects are an integral part of our everyday lives for individuals but not for corporations.

Question 35

Scope is assessed by the degree to which the system satisfies the requirements set forth and agreed upon by the customer and the development team.

Question 36

Time refers to the amount of time (hours, days, weeks, months) allocated in order to complete the project.

Question 37

A successful information technology project can help a business take advantage of what information technology can do to decrease costs and generate revenue.

Question 38

To deliver a successful project, a project manager must balance ten constraints.

Question 39

As individuals, projects may involve the planning and execution of such things as weekend outings, family gatherings, or something as simple as preparing a grocery list.

Question 40

Opportunity cost refers to the resources being spent in order to turn the requirements into an acceptable system.

Question 41

The PMP certification is offered by:

A) Project Management Incorporated.
B) Project Management Society.
C) Project Management Association.
D) Project Management Institute.

Question 42

A project is a temporary sequence of related activities that must be completed to create a(n) ________ product or service.

A) tangible
B) unique
C) intangible
D) industry

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT one of the project management processes?

A) Initiating
B) Planning
C) Procurement
D) Executing

Question 44

PMI professionals come from the following industry(ies):

A) Information technology.
B) Pharmaceuticals.
C) Financial services.
D) All of the above

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a project?

A) Ongoing endeavor
B) Its purpose is to create a unique product.
C) It has a beginning.
D) It has an end.

Question 46

In the 1990s, interest in project management soared because of a convergence of:

A) More powerful computers and software.
B) Standard practices and processes defined and adopted.
C) Widespread use of the internet and global competition.
D) All of the above.

Question 47

The matrix organization comes in which general form(s)?

A) Weak
B) Balanced
C) Strong
D) All of the above

Question 48

Technology advances have enabled today's IT employee to be able to work from home, in another part of the country, or even in separate countries without ever needing to go into the office.

Question 49

The determination of a weak to strong matrix structure is primarily determined by:

A) Whether the project manager is assigned to the project full-time or part-time.
B) The level of authority granted to the project manager.
C) The level of authority granted to project team members.
D) Both A and B

Question 50

Critical success factor(s) in running a successful matrix organization include:

A) Establish a Project Management Office and clearly delineate its role.
B) Change the structure of the organization.
C) Establish clear lines of authority and communication channels.
D) Both A and C

Question 51

Project management with an IT focus uses techniques very different from those used in other industries.

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT one of the organizational structures a project manager must be aware of when managing a project?

A) Old-fashioned
B) Traditional
C) Matrix
D) Project

Question 53

Information technology changes quickly, creating a surplus of required IT skills for projects.

Question 54

The triple constraint consists of scope, time, and ________ objectives which have to be balanced by project managers to deliver successful projects.

A) vendor
B) team
C) sponsor
D) cost

Question 55

In the history of project management, some of the early key tools created included:

A) Program evaluation and review technique (PERT).
B) Work breakdown structure (WBS).
C) Gantt chart.
D) A and B
E) A, B and C

Question 56

Initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and ________ are the project management processes.

A) procurement
B) testing
C) closing
D) implementation

Question 57

Geographically dispersed project teams present their own challenges for the success of a project.

Question 58

The profitability of an organization is impacted by how successful its projects are and how well they are managed.

Question 59

A project is a(n) ________ sequence of related activities that must be completed to create a unique product or service.

A) temporary
B) elaborate
C) traditional
D) unique

Question 60

The acronym PMP stands for:

A) Product Management Professional.
B) Project Management Professional.
C) Project Management Processes.
D) Project Manager Position.

Question 61

In addition to scope, time, and cost, which criteria is often mentioned as an additional key factor of many IT projects?

A) Performance
B) Scalability
C) Throughput
D) Quality

Question 62

Which of the following category(ies) demonstrates some key differences in IT projects?

A) Requirement changes
B) Sources of change
C) Resources required
D) All of the above

Question 63

Which of the three organizational types are organizations gravitating to to improve their project success rates?

A) Traditional
B) Matrix
C) Project-based
D) Hierarchical

Question 64

________ is growing in importance for every organization and thus IT projects are also growing in importance.

A) Strategy
B) Survival
C) Information technology
D) Success

Question 65

For organizations to prosper today, they must embrace ________ principles to increase productivity and return on investment in order to create a competitive advantage.

A) project management
B) PMI
C) IT
D) project

Question 66

A project is defined as having these three characteristics: it is temporary; it is unique; and it is best defined using ________ elaboration.

A) progressive
B) iterative
C) consecutive
D) sequential

Question 67

Which of the following category(ies) demonstrate some key differences in IT projects?

A) The requirements themselves
B) Implementation plans
C) Testing
D) All of the above

Question 68

Some of the key benefits of a structured project management process are:

A) Better cost performance.
B) Improved customer satisfaction.
C) Both A and B
D) None of the above

Question 69

Project management is defined as a process of applying knowledge, tools, and techniques to a project's activities to deliver stated project ________ within agreed upon scope, time, cost, and quality constraints.

A) requirements
B) contracts
C) obligations
D) ideas

Question 70

Projects must have closure in order to evaluate success and performance and for the good of all ________ involved.

A) project managers
B) executives
C) team members
D) stakeholders

Question 71

IT projects are unique, requiring special tools and ________ to run them.

A) techniques
B) tips
C) practices
D) managers

Question 72

If any of the project constraints changes either by intended or unintended factors, the project manager must negotiate ________ in others to keep the project on target.

A) elimination
B) increase
C) reduction
D) changes

Question 73

Project management requires a diverse set of skills to be successful, categorized as ________ skills and technical skills.

A) project
B) soft
C) management
D) communication

Question 74

All projects are constrained by their scope, time, and cost referred to as the ________ constraint.

A) project manager's
B) multiple
C) project
D) triple

Question 75

If the project allows changes and new requirements to be continually added, referred to as scope ________, the project will never get done.

A) creep
B) mismanagement
C) increase
D) augmentation

Question 76

Which of the following is NOT a secondary characteristic of a typical project?

A) Each project must have a primary sponsor or champion.
B) A project usually cuts across organizational lines.
C) A project consists of team members who all report to the same manager.
D) Projects must do something, must have an output or deliverable.

Question 77

IT projects are growing in size, complexity, and ________ importance.

A) executive
B) strategic
C) organizational
D) enterprise

Question 78

Progressive ________ is a concept that refers to the idea that development occurs in steps.

A) elaboration
B) design
C) planning
D) execution

Question 79

IT organizational structure change(s) can help IT become leaner, adaptable, and a better handler of ________.

A) change
B) projects
C) money
D) time