Question 1

The process of managing project teams is about finding out why the numbers are what they are by knowing what is going on with members of the team and, if needed, implementing corrective actions to improve performance.

Accepted Answer

Managing project teams involves monitoring and analyzing team performance, identifying issues, and taking corrective actions to improve performance. It is important to know what is going on with team members and identify any obstacles or challenges that may be hindering their productivity. By implementing targeted interventions, project managers can help their teams stay on track and achieve project goals.

Question 2

The Communications Management knowledge area from the PMBOK consists of the following processes: identify stakeholders, plan communications, distribute information, manage stakeholders, and report performance.

Accepted Answer

The Communications Management knowledge area from the PMBOK consists of these five processes: identify stakeholders, plan communications, distribute information, manage stakeholders, and report performance.

Question 3

Kezsbom's (1992) findings show that goals and priority definition is the highest ranking conflict category, followed by personality and interpersonal conflict, followed by problems in communication and information flow.

Accepted Answer

Kezsbom's (1992) study found that goals and priority definition is the highest ranking conflict category, followed by personality and interpersonal conflict, and then problems in communication and information flow.

Question 4

The goal of the execution phase is to work on each task defined in the ________ to produce the identified outcomes and to follow the defined or as-changed project schedule.

Accepted Answer

The execution phase involves working on tasks defined in the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to produce the project's outcomes, adhering to the project schedule. The WBS is a key tool for breaking down the project into smaller, manageable tasks.

Question 5

Tuchman (1965) developed a five-stage maturity model through which all groups move: forming, storming, norming, performing, and advancing.

Accepted Answer

Tuckman (1965) developed a four-stage maturity model: forming, storming, norming, and performing. The fifth stage, adjourning (or mourning), was added by Tuckman and Jensen in 1977, not "advancing."

Question 6

Eliminating non-value-added processes or inefficient procedures should increase the overall ________ of the project and product deliverables.

Accepted Answer

Eliminating non-value-added processes or inefficient procedures should increase the quality of the project and product deliverables by reducing errors, improving consistency, and ensuring the final product meets customer requirements. The other options may be affected by process improvements, but the primary benefit is likely to be an increase in quality.

Question 7

Conflict on IT projects is inevitable, so it is extremely important for project managers to learn where conflict is coming from and to understand the type of conflict and the most effective ways of dealing with it.

Accepted Answer

Conflict is a natural part of working on IT projects, and it is vital for project managers to be able to identify and handle it effectively. This involves understanding the source of the conflict, its type, and the best strategies for resolution. Ignoring or mishandling conflict can lead to project failure or team dysfunction.

Question 8

The role of this group is to ensure that everyone on the project team is following the defined quality processes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The role of this group is to...

Question 9

A project manager has more control over the ________ that are used than over the product deliverables, such as each line of code.

Accepted Answer

A project manager has more control over the processes that are used, such as project timelines, budget, risk management, and communication plans, than the actual product deliverables, as the latter are often the responsibility of the team members who have the technical expertise in their respective areas. While the project manager can certainly influence and guide the development team's work, the team members ultimately have more control over the details of the deliverables themselves. Human resources and vendors may also be important factors in a project, but they are not necessarily within the direct control of the project manager. Technical resources, on the other hand, may be a consideration for the project manager, but they are often more closely tied to the specifics of the product deliverables rather than the overall project management processes.

Question 10

The execution phase consists of tools and techniques from five of the nine knowledge areas from the Project Management Institute's project management body of knowledge (PMBOK). Which of the following is NOT one of the five areas?

Accepted Answer

Time Management is not part of the execution phase tools and techniques according to PMBOK's division of project management processes. The execution phase primarily involves coordinating people and resources, as well as integrating and performing the activities of the project in accordance with the project management plan, which directly involves Integration, Quality, and Human Resource Management, but not specifically Time Management.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT one of the deliverables from the quality assurance process? are requested process changes, corrective actions, and updates to any project documentation affected.

Accepted Answer

The quality checklist is a tool used within the quality assurance process to ensure that all necessary quality standards and requirements have been met. It is not a deliverable from the process itself. The other options (requested process changes, corrective actions, updates to any project documentation affected) are all deliverables that may result from the quality assurance process.

Question 12

In the ________ Management knowledge area, the quality assurance process is performed during project execution.

Accepted Answer

Quality assurance is performed during project execution in the Quality Management knowledge area.

Question 13

In ________ Management, directing and managing project execution is the only process performed during project execution.

Accepted Answer

Project Execution process mainly involves directing and managing project execution activities to produce deliverables. Integration Management process is responsible for coordinating and integrating all project management processes and activities. Quality Management process is responsible for ensuring that project deliverables meet customer specifications and requirements. Human Resources Management process is responsible for managing project human resources, roles, responsibilities, and team development. Communications Management process is responsible for managing project communications through communication planning, information distribution, performance reporting, and stakeholder management. Therefore, only Integration Management process involves directing and managing project execution as a stand-alone process.

Question 14

On most, if not all, medium to large IT projects, a project manager will never see any of the application code generated by the software developers and must spend time influencing the ________ that will lead to better-written software.

Accepted Answer

The sentence specifically mentions that the project manager will not see the application code, but needs to influence factors that will lead to better-written software. Processes such as development methodologies, code review processes, and quality assurance processes can greatly impact the quality of the software, therefore influencing these processes will have a bigger impact on the end product than trying to influence the human resources, technical resources, or vendors involved in the project.

Question 15

The highest percentage of time on a project-hours worked-occurs during the project ________ phase.

Accepted Answer

The execution phase is where the majority of the project work is actually done, which includes tasks such as construction, implementation, and testing. Therefore, it is during this phase that the highest percentage of time on a project-hours worked-occurs.

Question 16

A project manager will spend 5 percent of his or her time dealing with some form of conflict.

Accepted Answer

A project manager typically spends a much larger portion of their time, estimates suggest around 20% to 30%, dealing with conflict resolution and communication issues within a project team.

Question 17

According to A Guide to the PMBOK (PMI, 2004), ________ is the area where a project manager can have the greatest impact on project quality.

Accepted Answer

Quality assurance involves the development and execution of a systematic approach to ensure that the project will satisfy the quality standards. It includes the development of quality plans, policies, procedures, and guidelines, as well as the review of project deliverables to ensure they meet the established quality criteria. As such, quality assurance has the greatest impact on project quality because it sets the framework for quality control and provides direction and guidance for the project team.

Question 18

The quality assurance process is focused on the processes required to produce the desired results defined in the quality plan.

Accepted Answer

Quality assurance is concerned with ensuring that the processes used to produce the desired results are effective and efficient. This involves monitoring and controlling the processes, conducting quality audits to identify areas for improvement, and implementing corrective actions as necessary. Quality control, on the other hand, is focused on inspecting and testing the output to ensure that it meets the required standards. Therefore, the best choice for the process focused on producing desired results is quality assurance.

Question 19

Which of the following Human Resources Management knowledge area process is NOT performed during project execution?

Accepted Answer

Develop human resource plan is a process that is performed during project planning, not during project execution. The other three processes (Acquire project team, Develop project team, and Manage project team) are all performed during project execution.

Question 20

The first step in the process of ________ is to understand the skills necessary to perform the technical functions required.

Accepted Answer

Acquiring the project team involves understanding the skills necessary to perform the technical functions required, as it focuses on bringing together the people with the appropriate skill sets to work on the project.

Quiz 10: Project Execution