Deck 3: Managing Systems Projects

Question 1

The accompanying figure shows task ____, which simplify a complex task by combining several activities.

A)groups
B)clusters
C)aggregates
D)links

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A ____ might involve maximums for one or more resources.

A)successor task
B)task group
C)constraint
D)bottom-up technique

Answer 2

C

Question 3

For a project manager, monitoring _____.

A)requires guiding, supervising, and coordinating the project team's workload
B)involves controlling capital
C)consists of staffing, which includes selecting the project team and assigning specific tasks to team members
D)includes identifying and arranging project tasks and estimating completion times and costs

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Effective project reporting requires ____.

A)strong communication skills
B)staffing the project team
C)creating Gantt charts
D)assigning specific tasks to team members

Question 5

Two or more concurrent tasks often depend on a single prior task, which is called a(n) ____ task.

A)predecessor
B)a priori
C)antecedent
D)ancestor

Question 6

Which of the following are metrics of a successful project ____.

A)late completion
B)completion with the same personnel as were on the team at the outset
C)completion over budget
D)delivery of a product that satisfies users

Question 7

When two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, the concurrent tasks are called ____ tasks.

A)descendent
B)successor
C)children
D)antecedent

Question 8

The first step in creating a WBS is to ____.

A)mark all recognizable events
B)determine time requirements
C)identify all tasks
D)estimate task completion time and cost

Question 9

A event is a recognizable reference point that you can use to ____.

A)monitor progress
B)assign people
C)manage time
D)allocate money

Question 10

Many project managers find ____ charts more helpful for scheduling, monitoring, and controlling projects.

A)Gantt
B)PERT/CPM
C)index
D)task

Question 11

When several tasks can start at the same time, each is called a(n) ____ task.

A)synchronous
B)asynchronous
C)baseline
D)concurrent

Question 12

A project manager's scheduling function _____.

A)involves guiding, supervising, and coordinating the project team's workload
B)includes monitoring the progress of the project, evaluating results, and taking corrective action when necessary to stay on target
C)involves staffing, which includes selecting the project team and assigning specific tasks to team members
D)includes identifying and arranging project tasks and estimating completion times and costs

Question 13

A project manager's planning _____.

A)involves guiding, supervising, and coordinating the project team's workload
B)includes monitoring the progress of the project, evaluating results, and taking corrective action when necessary to stay on target
C)consists of staffing, which includes selecting the project team and assigning specific tasks to team members
D)includes identifying project tasks and estimating completion times and costs

Question 14

In a PERT/CPM chart, each task has which of the following ____.

A)references to successor tasks
B)references to predecessor tasks
C)start day/date
D)resources allocated

Question 15

A ____ path includes all tasks that are vital to the project schedule.

A)vital
B)baseline
C)critical
D)foundational

Question 16

A(n) ____ chart displays complex task patterns and relationships.

A)Gantt
B)index
C)PERT/CPM
D)task

Question 17

In addition to tasks, every project has ____, which are reference points used to monitor progress and manage the project.

A)targets
B)milestones
C)members
D)workloads

Question 18

PERT/CPM is called a(n) ____ technique, because it analyzes a large, complex project as a series of individual tasks.

A)top-down
B)bottom-up
C)indexed
D)cataloging

Question 19

The first step in the creation of a PERT/CPM chart is to ____.

A)determine the logical order of project tasks
B)identify the graphical planning aids to use
C)identify all the project tasks
D)determine the status of all tasks

Question 20

For a project manager, reporting _____.

A)involves controlling capital
B)includes informing management, users, and the project team about the progress of the project
C)consists of staffing, which includes selecting the project team and assigning specific tasks to team members
D)includes identifying and arranging project tasks and estimating completion times and costs

Question 21

Microsoft claims that Microsoft Project has the capability of ____.

A)linking risks with specific vendors
B)assign ownership of risks
C)eliminating risk
D)preventing fraud

Question 22

Problems with timetables and project milestones can indicate ____.

A)recognition of task dependencies
B)continuity of project personnel
C)good control methods
D)personality conflicts among team members

Question 23

Microsoft's risk management model includes ____.

A)category, which specifies the risk type
B)probability, which indicates the degree of adverse effect should the risk occur, on a scale of 1 to 10
C)impact plan, which identifies plans to control or limit the risk
D)contingency, which identifies a condition that would initiate the contingency plan

Question 24

A risk ____ plan is a proactive effort to anticipate a risk and describe an action plan to deal with it.

A)identification
B)management
C)response
D)balancing

Question 25

The Apptivo ____ is free of charge with unlimited duration.

A)Full Plan
B)Enhanced Plan
C)Expanded Plan
D)Standard Plan

Question 26

When maintaining schedules, if enough ____ and frequent checkpoints exist, problems will be detected rapidly.

A)success indices
B)critical paths
C)milestones
D)all of the above

Question 27

When a project manager first recognizes that a project is in trouble, the options available to her include ____.

A)expanding the project requirements
B)delaying the project deadline
C)reducing the project resources
D)eliminating controls and procedures

Question 28

A(n) ____ chart can be used to display the qualitative risk analysis matrix.

A)pie
B)XY
C)bar
D)line

Question 29

GanttProject can open files created with ____.

A)Apptivo
B)HTML
C)Microsoft Word
D)Microsoft Project

Question 30

____ is open-source software that is supported by a community of users and developers.

A)GanttProject
B)Microsoft Project Standard
C)Microsoft Project Professional
D)Both b and c

Question 31

A project triangle shows three legs: _____.

A)project cost, scope, and time
B)project cost, size, and scope
C)project size, scope, and time
D)project size, cost, and time

Question 32

A _____ cannot be started until one or more other tasks are completed.

A)dependent task
B)concurrent task
C)predecessor task
D)all of the above

Question 33

____ is a possible cause of cost overruns related to human resource issues.

A)unrealistic estimates
B)poor monitoring of progress
C)inaccurate TCO forecast
D)turnover

Question 34

A ____ is an event that could affect a project negatively.

A)menace
B)threat
C)doubt
D)risk

Question 35

A risk management plan includes a review of ____.

A)employees
B)project scope
C)program code
D)open source

Question 36

Most risk identifications include a brief description of ____.

A)the team member who might cause a risk to occur
B)who would be responsible for responding to a given risk
C)the project manager most vulnerable to a given risk
D)the team member most vulnerable to a given risk

Question 37

Project managers always must be aware of the ____ path, so they can monitor the vital tasks and keep the project on track.

A)vital
B)baseline
C)foundational
D)critical

Question 38

A continuous risk-tracking process can ____.

A)identify new risks
B)prevent human resource turnover issues
C)increase employee satisfaction
D)encourage team building

Question 39

_____ is a full-featured program that holds the dominant share of the project management software market.

A)Apptivo
B)GanttProject
C)Microsoft Project
D)OpenProject

Question 40

When an information system does not meet business requirements, causes might include ____.

A)identified requirements
B)adequately defined scope
C)imprecise targets
D)sufficient testing

Question 41

Gantt charts often are included in progress reports to show project status graphically. _________________________

Question 42

System developers can initiate a formal project as early as the preliminary investigation stage, or later on, as analysis, design, and implementation activities occur.

Question 43

Structured walk-throughs take place throughout the SDLC and are called ____ reviews, depending on the phase in which they occur.

A)technical
B)code
C)design
D)testing

Question 44

A PERT/CPM chart does not show the project as a network diagram with tasks connected
by arrows.

Question 45

____ is a time estimate the project manager makes for a task.

A)The weight
B)The worst-case estimate
C)The best-case estimate
D)The probable-case estimate

Question 46

Critical time is the amount of time that a task would be late without pushing back the completion date of the entire project. _________________________

Question 47

Using a WBS allows you to manage a project as one large task.

Question 48

In most systems analysis tasks, time and people are interchangeable.

Question 49

A project manager, or project leader, usually is a senior systems analyst or an IT department manager if the project is large.

Question 50

Project managers typically perform the tasks of ____.

A)project planning
B)project reconciliation
C)project scheduling
D)project monitoring

Question 51

Using prior experience to make time and cost estimates works best for large projects.

Question 52

If you do not have previous experience to measure a project in a given environment, you could design a prototype or pilot system to gain technical and cost estimating experience.

Question 53

If it will take one person 20 days to perform a particular task, it is true that two people could complete the same task in 10 days or that 10 people could perform the task in two days.

Question 54

The purpose of quantitative risk analysis is to understand the actual impact in terms of dollars, time, project scope, or quality. _________________________

Question 55

In the end, every successful information system must ____.

A)support business requirements
B)stay within budget
C)be completed on time
D)not have any errors

Question 56

Although a Gantt chart provides more detailed information about a project, a PERT/CPM chart offers a rapid overview that graphically displays the timing, duration, and progress of each task.

Question 57

PERT/CPM and Gantt charts are mutually exclusive techniques.

Question 58

Quantitative risk analysis evaluates each risk by estimating the probability that it will occur and the degree of impact. _________________________

Question 59

Which of the following is an example of an event?

A)the start of user training
B)conversion of system data
C)project creep
D)completion of interviews

Question 60

Gantt charts are an ideal tool for controlling a complex project because they provide plenty of detailed information.

Question 61

In the project planning process, a(n) ____________________ is any work that has a beginning and an end and requires the use of company resources.

Question 62

If team members lack experience with certain aspects of the required technology, temporary help might be obtained from IT consultants or part-time staff.

Question 63

Generally, systems analysts review the work of other systems analysts, and programmers review the work of other programmers, as a form of peer review, in structured walk-throughs.

Question 64

Project status meetings give project managers an opportunity to seek input and conduct brainstorming sessions.

Question 65

In any project, large or small, tasks depend on each other and must be performed in a sequence.

Question 66

The ____________________ handles administrative responsibilities for a project development team and negotiates with users who might have conflicting requirements or want changes that would require additional time or expense.

Question 67

If any task along the critical path falls behind schedule, the entire project is delayed.

Question 68

Project management is dynamic and challenging, regardless of which software you use..

Question 69

Often, two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, which is called a successor task.

Question 70

In a PERT/CPM chart, each rectangular box, called a task box, has five sections that contain important information about a task.

Question 71

In GanttProject, unlike in Microsoft Project, you create tasks and durations, indicate dependencies, and assign resources.

Question 72

To simplify a Gantt chart for a large project, a project manager can combine related activities into ____________________ that represent several activities.

Question 73

When several tasks can take place at the same time, each is called a sequential task.

Question 74

Project management software can highlight the series of tasks that form the critical path.

Question 75

When tasks must be completed one after another, they are called concurrent tasks.

Question 76

A(n) ____________________ is a recognizable reference point that can be used to monitor progress and manage a project.

Question 77

Tasks that are not on the critical path cannot be ignored.

Question 78

To schedule a project, a project manager can use a(n) ____________________ like the one in the accompanying figure, which is a horizontal bar chart that represents a series of tasks.

Question 79

When two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, each of the concurrent tasks is called a predecessor task.

Question 80

Most managers recognize that problems do occur on most projects; it is better to alert management sooner rather than later.