Question 1

The _____ frame of an organization focuses on providing harmony between the needs of the organization and the needs of people.

Accepted Answer

The human resources (HR) frame focuses on producing harmony between the needs of the organization and the needs of people. It recognizes that mismatches can occur between the needs of the organization and those of individuals and groups, and works to resolve any potential problems.

Question 2

The nature of hardware development projects is more diverse than software-oriented projects.

Accepted Answer

The nature of software development projects is even more diverse than hardware-oriented projects. A software development project might include creating a simple, stand-alone Microsoft Excel or Access application, or a sophisticated, global e-commerce system that uses state-of-the-art programming languages and runs on multiple platforms.

Question 3

Leadership style has no impact on the success of virtual teams.

Accepted Answer

The project manager's leadership style affects all teams, especially virtual ones.

Question 4

Grey's Infotech sells customized hardware and software solutions for businesses. The salespeople for Grey's have a strict dress code when meeting clients. They are required to wear dark business suits, in order to convey the company's dedication to quality. The meaning conveyed to the clients' through the salespeople's clothing is part of the _____ frame of the organization.

Accepted Answer

The symbolic frame focuses on symbols and meanings. In this frame, the most important aspect of any event in an organization is not what actually happened, but what it means. The symbolic frame also relates to the company's culture. How do people dress? How many hours do they work? How do they run meetings?

Question 5

The team members of a virtual team are all of the same nationality.

Accepted Answer

A virtual team is a group of people who work together despite time and space boundaries using communication technologies. Team members might all work for the same company in the same country, or they might include employees as well as independent consultants, suppliers, or even volunteers providing their expertise from around the globe.

Question 6

In what type of organizational structure do project managers have the most authority?

Accepted Answer

Project managers have the most authority in a pure project organizational structure and the least amount of authority in a pure functional organizational structure.

Question 7

The symbolic perspective of an organization:

Accepted Answer

The symbolic frame focuses on symbols and meanings. In this frame, the most important aspect of any event in an organization is not what actually happened, but what it means.

Question 8

Which of the following is true of a matrix organizational structure?

Accepted Answer

In a strong matrix organizational structure, the project manager controls the project budget and has moderate to high authority.

Question 9

Projects must operate in a broad organizational environment, and project managers need to consider projects within the greater organizational context. Which approach describes the holistic view of carrying out projects within the context of the organization?

Accepted Answer

To handle complex situations effectively, project managers need to take a holistic view of a project and understand how it relates to the larger organization. Systems thinking describes this holistic view of carrying out projects within the context of the organization.

Question 10

In what type of organizational structure do project managers have the least amount of authority?

Accepted Answer

Project managers have the most authority in a pure project organizational structure and the least amount of authority in a pure functional organizational structure.

Question 11

Which perspective of an organization focuses on different groups' roles and responsibilities in order to meet the goals and policies set by top management?

Accepted Answer

The structural frame deals with how the organization is structured (usually depicted in an organizational chart) and focuses on different groups' roles and responsibilities to meet the goals and policies set by top management. This frame is very rational and focuses on coordination and control.

Question 12

Which characteristic of organizational culture describes the degree to which management's decisions take into account the effect of outcomes on people within the organization?

Accepted Answer

The people focus characteristic of organizational culture describes the degree to which management's decisions take into account the effect of outcomes on people within the organization. Good project managers often balance the needs of individuals and the organization.

Question 13

The last phase of the traditional project life cycle is the implementation phase.

Accepted Answer

The last phase of the traditional project life cycle is finishing the project. It focuses on ensuring that project requirements were met and that the project sponsor approves completion of the project.

Question 14

In Rizzati Corp, vice presidents in departments such as engineering, manufacturing, IT, and human resources report directly to the chief executive officer and undertake their tasks independently of each other. The staffs of these departments have specialized skills in their respective disciplines. Which type of organizational structure does Rizatti Corp have?

Accepted Answer

A functional organizational structure is the hierarchy most people think of when picturing an organizational chart. Functional managers or vice presidents in specialties such as engineering, manufacturing, IT, and human resources report to the chief executive officer (CEO).

Question 15

In a _____ organizational structure, personnel often report to both a functional manager and one or more project managers.

Accepted Answer

A matrix organizational structure represents the middle ground between functional and project structures. Personnel often report both to a functional manager and one or more project managers.

Question 16

Which problem-solving approach requires defining the scope of a system, dividing it into its components, and then identifying and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints, and needs?

Accepted Answer

Systems analysis is a problem-solving approach that requires defining the scope of the system, dividing it into components, and then identifying and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints, and needs.

Question 17

In a _____organizational structure, program managers, rather than functional managers or vice presidents, report to the CEO. Their staffs have a variety of skills needed to complete all required tasks within their programs.

Accepted Answer

A project organizational structure also is hierarchical, but instead of functional managers or vice presidents reporting to the CEO, program managers report to the CEO.

Question 18

Which perspective on organizations assumes that organizations are coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups?

Accepted Answer

The political frame addresses organizational and personal politics. Politics in organizations take the form of competition among groups or individuals for power and leadership. The political frame assumes that organizations are coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups.

Question 19

An organization usually commits more money as a project continues, therefore a management review should occur after each phase to evaluate progress, potential success, and continued compatibility with organizational goals.

Accepted Answer

Because the organization usually commits more money as a project continues, a management review should occur after each phase to evaluate progress, potential success, and continued compatibility with organizational goals.

Question 20

_____ refers to a set of shared assumptions, values, and behaviors that characterize the functioning of an organization.

Accepted Answer

Organizational culture is a set of shared assumptions, values, and behaviors that characterize the functioning of an organization. It often includes elements of the four frames.

Quiz 2: The Project Management Information Technology Context