Question 1

Christine does not have the skills that her project manager feels are necessary and no money has been budgeted for outside consultants. Mentoring is a good option to improve Christine's skills in this situation.

Accepted Answer

Mentoring is a good way to improve skills and knowledge of employees without hiring external consultants. It is a cost-effective and efficient way to promote professional development and growth while keeping the budget in check.

Question 2

A functional lead manages a group of programmers and technical staff members.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A functional lead manages a group of...

Question 3

Scope creep is only a minor factor in projects running over schedule, and every effort should be made to incorporate any changes into the present system if they would truly be beneficial.

Accepted Answer

Scope creep can have a significant impact on project timelines, as additional requirements and changes to the project can lead to delays and increased costs. While some changes may be beneficial, it is important to carefully evaluate their impact on the project before incorporating them to avoid further delays or complications.

Question 4

A key factor in staffing a project involves motivating people to meet the project's objectives, and the most effective way to do this is through the use of money and bonuses.

Accepted Answer

While money and bonuses can be effective motivators, research has shown that there are many other factors, such as job satisfaction, career advancement, and recognition, that can also impact motivation. Moreover, relying solely on monetary incentives can sometimes lead to short-term thinking and a narrow focus on individual rewards, rather than the overall success of the project.

Question 5

The document that describes the project's objectives and rules is called the project charter.

Accepted Answer

The project charter defines the purpose and scope of the project, as well as the roles and responsibilities of team members and stakeholders. It also outlines the project’s objectives, goals, and success criteria, and provides a high-level overview of the project’s budget, timeline, and potential risks.

Question 6

CASE tool is a popular graphic depiction of the work plan that lists project tasks along a y-axis, time along an x-axis, and uses shaded boxes to represent tasks.

Accepted Answer

A Gantt chart is the correct term for the described graphic depiction of a project plan, not a CASE tool. CASE (Computer-Aided Software Engineering) tools are software applications designed to support software development activities.

Question 7

Daniel has just been assigned as the project manager. To motivate his team properly, Daniel's first step is to award bonuses to team members.

Accepted Answer

Bonuses should not be the first step in motivating a team. The project manager should first focus on setting clear goals, providing support and resources, giving recognition and feedback, and creating a positive work environment. Only after the team is performing at a high level should bonuses be considered as a reward.

Question 8

Estimates from the planning stage will need to be refined as the project progresses, because it is virtually impossible to develop an exact assessment of the project's schedule before the analysis and design phases are conducted.

Accepted Answer

Planning is usually done at a high level, and further details are uncovered during analysis and design. As more information becomes available, estimates can be adjusted and refined for greater accuracy.

Question 9

Timeboxing is a popular technique which sets a fixed deadline for a project and delivers the system by that deadline no matter what, even if functionality needs to be reduced.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of timeboxing - setting a fixed deadline and delivering the system by that deadline, even if functionality needs to be reduced.

Question 10

Sergei, the project manager, is worried about completing the project on time. To increase the productivity of his 15-person team he should create subteams with no more than 10 people on a subteam.

Accepted Answer

Smaller teams often lead to better focus and communication, which can enhance productivity. The optimal team size for many types of projects is often cited as 5-7 members, making a subteam of no more than 10 a reasonable approach to improving productivity.

Question 11

A good technique to help minimize conflict among team members is to hold team members accountable for their tasks.

Accepted Answer

When team members are held accountable for their tasks, they are more likely to take responsibility for their responsibilities and meet their commitments, which can help minimize conflicts caused by missed deadlines or incomplete work. Additionally, clear expectations and communication around assigned tasks can help prevent misunderstandings and resentment between team members.

Question 12

Benefits to using computer-aided software engineering (CASE) include faster task completion and alteration, centralized development information, and illustration of information through diagrams.

Accepted Answer

Using CASE tools can help speed up tasks and make it easier to see and share development information through diagrams.

Question 13

Timeboxing is a time-oriented approach to project development.

Accepted Answer

Timeboxing is a project management technique that involves fixing a time duration for each activity that needs to be completed in a project. It helps in achieving better time management by breaking down a project into smaller time-bound sections.

Question 14

Lauren, a systems analyst, has excellent interpersonal skills. To take advantage of her skills, the functional lead of the project should assign her to program in Java and C++.

Accepted Answer

Although Lauren has excellent interpersonal skills, there is no indication that she has programming skills in Java and C++. Therefore, it may not be the best use of her talents to assign her to program in these languages.

Question 15

According to leading experts in software development, the margin of error when estimating project costs is 100% and the margin of error in project scheduling time is 25%.

Accepted Answer

The margin of error when estimating project costs is typically higher than 100% and can vary depending on the complexity of the project. The margin of error in project scheduling time can also vary, but 25% is a reasonable estimate for a moderately complex project. Therefore, option A is true.

Question 16

The project team has just determined that the deadline for completion will not be met. In order to deliver a high quality system on schedule, the team has requested that the features be prioritized and that a fixed deadline be imposed for the project. This technique is referred to as SDLC methodology.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. The given scenario describes a technique for managing project scope and time constraints, but it does not refer to a specific SDLC methodology.

Question 17

A technical lead manages a group of analysts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A technical lead manages a group of...

Question 18

Matching people's skills with the needs of the project, motivating employees, and minimizing personnel conflict are all part of the staffing process.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The staffing process involves identifying the skills and abilities needed for a project and selecting the right people to meet those needs. It also involves motivating and coordinating employees to work together effectively and preventing or resolving conflict that may arise.

Question 19

A highly effective motivational technique for technical staff is to provide recognition for each team member's accomplishments.

Accepted Answer

Recognition and appreciation for one's work can be a powerful motivator, especially for technical staff who may feel undervalued or overlooked. Acknowledging and celebrating individual accomplishments can also promote a positive team culture and encourage healthy competition among team members.

Question 20

The project charter describes the qualifications of the people who will work on a project and the reporting structure of the project team.

Accepted Answer

The project charter typically outlines the project objectives, scope, timelines, budget, and key stakeholders. It may also identify the project sponsor and project manager. However, it does not typically go into detail on the qualifications of individual team members or the reporting structure of the team. That information is usually included in the project plan or other project documentation.

Quiz 2: Project Management