Question 1

A key tool used as input for the formal integrated change control process and the timely management of a project budget is the earned value management (EVM) technique.

Accepted Answer

Earned value management (EVM) is a key tool used as input for the formal integrated change control process and the timely management of a project budget. It is a technique used to assess project performance and progress in terms of cost, schedule, and scope.

Question 2

In configuration management, this is recording and reporting the status of the system components and change requests and gathering vital statistics about the system components in the product for auditing.

Accepted Answer

Status accounting involves keeping track of the status of system components and change requests, as well as collecting statistics about the product for auditing purposes. Identification refers to identifying and labeling system components, while control involves managing changes to those components. Verification and audit are related activities that involve checking that the system components are working as intended and confirming that they meet necessary standards.

Question 3

In configuration management process, this is identifying the structure of the product, its components, and their type and making them unique and accessible in some form to the team.

Accepted Answer

This process is called identification and it involves identifying the structure of the product, its components, and their type to make them unique and accessible to the team. This is the first step in the configuration management process.

Question 4

Every documented requested change must be either accepted or rejected by an authority from the project management team; the proper authority is called a ________.

Accepted Answer

The proper authority responsible for reviewing and accepting or rejecting requested changes is called a change control board (CCB). The project management committee is a more general term that may refer to the group that oversees the entire project, but not specifically the change control process. A change management database and change control matrix are tools used to manage and track changes, but they are not the authority that approves or denies them.

Question 5

________ and control involves a set of processes from eight of the nine knowledge areas.

Accepted Answer

Monitoring and control involves a set of processes from eight of the nine knowledge areas in project management, namely integration, scope, time, cost, quality, human resources, communications, and risk. It is focused on tracking, reviewing, and regulating the progress and performance of project activities and deliverables according to the project plan, standards, and objectives. It aims to identify any deviations, issues, or risks that may affect the project outcome and take timely corrective or preventive actions to ensure its success.

Question 6

With respect to monitoring and control, which of the following elements should NOT have been defined during the planning phase of the project?

Accepted Answer

The executive sponsor responsible for reading the reports may not have been identified or available during the planning phase of the project, so it is not necessary to define this element during that phase. The other elements listed -- items to be monitored, who is assigned to monitor them, and how data will be collected -- should all be included in the planning phase.

Question 7

In configuration management, this is the release of a product and changes to it throughout the product life cycle by having in place controls that ensure consistent releases via the creation of a baseline product.

Accepted Answer

Control in configuration management ensures that consistent releases of a product are made by creating a baseline product and managing changes throughout the product life cycle. This includes managing versions and revisions, implementing change control procedures, and ensuring quality assurance. Identification involves identifying the configuration items that are part of a product or system, status accounting involves tracking changes to configuration items and maintaining the history of a product or system, and verification and audit involves verifying that the configuration management processes are being followed and auditing the configuration management system.

Question 8

Estimate at completion (EAC) is equal to the actual costs reported to date plus the new ETC.

Accepted Answer

The formula for EAC is EAC = AC + ETC, where AC is actual costs reported to date and ETC is the estimated cost to complete the project.

Question 9

The integrated ________ control process is a formal process used to ensure that only approved necessary changes are made to a project or product.

Accepted Answer

The integrated change control process is a formal process used to ensure that only approved necessary changes are made to a project or product. This process includes identifying, reviewing, evaluating, approving, and controlling changes to the project, incorporating the changes, and maintaining the integrity and performance of the project. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. Option B (risk) and Option C (constraint) are not the most appropriate choices as they do not directly relate to the process of ensuring approved necessary changes. Option D (project) is too general and does not accurately describe the specific process being referred to.

Question 10

These numbers deal with product bugs or quality issues reported, user issues reported, and communication issues.

Accepted Answer

Daily raw numbers refer to the actual number of bugs or issues reported on a daily basis, making it the best choice for tracking these types of issues. Frequency numbers may provide some insight into how often a particular issue occurs, but it does not give an accurate picture of the overall magnitude of the problem. Qualitative assessments and scorecard numbers may be useful for identifying trends or patterns, but they are not as effective at tracking individual issues as daily raw numbers.

Question 11

To reduce the chances for biased reporting, the process should be as ________ as possible, and there needs to be a separation of responsibilities.

Accepted Answer

Automated processes are less prone to human error and thus reduce the chances for biased reporting. Separation of responsibilities between different individuals or departments also helps to ensure that no one person has too much control or influence over the reporting process, reducing the risk of bias. Regulated processes could also help, but they may not always be practical or effective. Minimal processes, on the other hand, would likely increase the risk of biased reporting.

Question 12

These are assessments such as user-reported likes / dislikes about the product and team member-reported task completion percentage estimates.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative assessments provide subjective feedback from users and team members about their opinions on the product and task completion, which cannot be captured by raw data or frequency counts. Examples include user-reported likes/dislikes and team member-reported task completion percentage estimates. Scorecard numbers may incorporate qualitative assessments but are typically a more holistic evaluation of overall performance. Daily raw numbers and frequency numbers provide quantitative data and may not capture the complexity of user or team member experiences.

Question 13

A ________ management process (or system) with change control provides a standardized, effective, and efficient process to centrally manage changes within a project.

Accepted Answer

The term "change control" in the question indicates that the answer is related to managing changes within a project. The most suitable option among the given choices is configuration management, which includes a change management process as a crucial component. Configuration management focuses on identifying and managing project artifacts, such as requirements, design, code, and documentation, including any changes made to them. Therefore, option D) configuration management (or process) with change control provides a standardized, effective, and efficient process to centrally manage changes within a project.

Question 14

Estimate to complete (ETC) is the revised estimate for the work remaining, as determined by the project team.

Accepted Answer

ETC is indeed the revised estimate for the work remaining, as determined by the project team.

Question 15

More recently developed ________ methodologies understand that change is inevitable and that change can be a good thing that makes technology projects better, if they are managed correctly.

Accepted Answer

The term "agile" in the context of project management refers to an iterative and flexible approach to project planning and execution. Agile methodologies acknowledge that change is inevitable and encourage teams to respond to it quickly and effectively rather than trying to control every aspect of the project. Therefore, the statement suggests that the most appropriate methodology for managing change in technology projects is agile.

Question 16

The ________ Management knowledge area consists of the processes that coordinate all the various processes and activities contained in all five process groups-Initiate, Plan, Execute, Control, and Closing.

Accepted Answer

The Integration Management knowledge area is responsible for coordinating all five process groups and ensuring that all different parts of the project are working together effectively. This includes processes like developing the project charter, creating the project management plan, managing project changes, and closing out the project. Integration management is crucial for ensuring that the various components of a project are integrated seamlessly, and that the project is completed on time, on budget, and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

Question 17

These numbers are related to resource time expended per task assignment, milestones achieved, cost information, and resource calendar updates.

Accepted Answer

Daily raw numbers refer to the basic data collected on a daily basis, including resource time expended per task, milestones achieved, cost information, and updates to the resource calendar.

Question 18

Schedule variance (SV) equals earned value (EV) minus planned value (PV), or SV = EV - PV.

Accepted Answer

This is the correct formula for calculating schedule variance.

Question 19

Monitoring and control processes are used to ________ and report progress; handle changes to scope, time, cost, and quality; manage risk mitigation strategies; and administer procurement contracts.

Accepted Answer

Monitoring and control processes are used to measure and report progress, handle changes, manage risks, and administer contracts. "Measure" is the most appropriate term for these activities.

Question 20

Cost performance index (CPI) equals the ratio of EV to PV, or SPI = EV/ PV. A CPI value less than 1.0 indicates a project behind schedule, and a CPI value greater than 1.0 indicates a project ahead of schedule.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. The sentence states CPI instead of SPI in the beginning and again mentions SPI instead of CPI in the end. Additionally, the statement provides the definition of SPI instead of CPI. The correct statement would be: Cost performance index (CPI) equals the ratio of EV to AC, or CPI = EV/ AC. A CPI value less than 1.0 indicates a project over budget, and a CPI value greater than 1.0 indicates a project under budget.

Quiz 11: Project Monitoring and Control, Part I