Question 1

Which phase in the program life cycle is closing the program in?

Accepted Answer

Closing the program is in phase five of the program life cycle.
Key Takeaway: Five phases make up a program life cycle: pre-program setup, program setup, establishing program infrastructure, delivering incremental benefits, and closing the program. Closing the program is phase five-the last phase.

Question 2

Mario Luigi is a program manager and he wants to capture lessons learned before he can perform a certain process. Which process is Mr. Luigi referring to?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Luigi wants to capture lessons learned before he can perform the Component Closure process.
Key Takeaway: It is important to capture lessons learned during the program closure. Both positive and negative, lessons learned are used to support program and organizational improvements in the future. They are archived by using the program/project management information system and they are an input to the Component Closure process.

Question 3

Seamus McTroid's program, World Domination, is in phase five. Seamus wants to make archives of the information from the constituent projects. Which process should Seamus perform?

Accepted Answer

Seamus should perform the Component Closure process to make archives of the information from the constituent projects.
Key Takeaway: The Component Closure process is utilized to oversee the closure at the project level. By using the project management processes, this process ensures that the projects have been properly closed. Completing the Component Closure process will produce the following outputs: certificate of program completion, communication messages, updates to resource availability, and project and program archives.

Question 4

Sonia Hedgeswine's program, Spin Spin Spin, is in phase five. Her sponsor, Segal Motors, has asked her to hold a post-review meeting. What does Sonia need to accomplish before she can hold the post-review meeting?

Accepted Answer

Sonia would have to prepare the final performance analysis report before she can hold the post-review meeting.
Key Takeaway: The post-review meeting is a meeting that is conducted with the stakeholders during the program closure. It is during this meeting that the final performance analysis report is presented, feedback is obtained, and lessons learned are captured. The post-review meeting, the management information system, performance reporting tools and techniques, and expert judgment are all tools and techniques that can be used to obtain the output of the Close Program process.

Question 5

Which is NOT a tool used in closing the program?

Accepted Answer

Certificate of program completion is not a tool used in closing the program.
Key Takeaway: The certificate of program completion is an output to the Close Program process. To close a program closure documents are put together and reviewed by the program manager with the program sponsor, the customer, or both to obtain their acceptance of the program outcome. The program closure documents should contain the signoff from the customer, the sponsor, or both on both the projects and the non-project program activities. The signoffs verify deliverables against requirements.

Question 6

For effective program management, communication should be multi-directional. Which of these best represents what is typically included in the communication flow by more experienced program managers?

Accepted Answer

The correct answer here is Lessons Learned from other projects within the firm. It's never convenient having to "reinvent the wheel" or to learn about a prevalent system issue second hand.
The project charter is a document used to detail the goals of a particular project, and once written, should not be open to interpretation.
Encoded messages are what we communicate to other people.
Decoded messages are how we interpret communications from others.
The issue log keeps track of items to be systematically dealt with to keep the project moving forward - it's a handy tool, but we believe it's something the project manager should primarily use for him or herself to keep track of what needs attention.
Key Take Away: Experienced Project Managers know that multi-directional communication is not limited to the scope of one's current project. One of the tools least utilized is the post-completion Lessons Learned review and meeting. When a project is complete, and especially has gone well, there is a tendency to disregard the need for a Lessons Learned or Postmortem Meeting; but in actuality, the project that has gone well can probably yield the most beneficial information. If it isn't considered a form of performance reporting in your organization, it should be.
In order to be the most effective Project Manager, one must constantly be looking for ways to add value to the organization as a whole, which includes disseminating any knowledge/insights gained from one's current project to other managers across the firm, and vice versa. This can create a cultural of sharing essential information amongst project teams.

Question 7

The Project Management Office should have a significant role in selecting a Project Management Information System (PMIS).

Accepted Answer

The Project Management Office should definitely have a significant role in selecting a Project Management Information System!
Key Takeaway: The PMO should know the needs of project manager's in their organization better than anyone. As such, the PMO should have substantial input into the selection of a PMIS.

Question 8

The Program Schedule Management Plan is an output of which of the following processes?

Accepted Answer

Program Schedule Planning generates the Program Schedule Management Plan.
Key Takeaway: The Program Schedule Planning process generates two outputs: a Program Schedule and a Schedule Management Plan. Remember that the creation of a program schedule is basically road mapping how you will ultimately execute the program. schedule management involves defining the program components (component definition), configuring the order in which the components will be executed (component sequencing), figuring out how much time it will take to complete each component (component duration estimating), and assigning an accurate timeline for completing the components (component scheduling).

Question 9

A risk response plan for a program is an output of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A risk response plan is an output of Risk Management Response Planning.
Key Takeaway: The Risk Management Response Planning process includes effective risk-response planning. The most common risks arise from the program schedule and program cost. Because of this, the key input items for the Risk Management Response Planning process are the program schedule, the PWBS, and the program budget.

Question 10

The Procurement Management Plan is an input to:

Accepted Answer

The procurement management plan is an input to the Program Management Plan.
Key Takeaway: The Procurement Management Plan specifies how procurement processes will be performed in the life of a program. This plan includes the types of contracts that will be used, identifying prequalified sellers, procurement metrics to manage contracts and evaluate sellers, coordination with schedule and performance reporting, scheduled dates for deliverables, directions on developing and maintaining a contract WBS. The procurement management plan is an output of Program Purchases and Acquisitions and then acts as an input to the Program Management Plan.

Quiz 1: Program and Project Management