Question 1

Strong leadership, while usually desirable, is not always necessary to successfully complete a project.

Accepted Answer

Strong leadership, while usually desirable, is not always necessary to successfully complete a project.Well-defined projects that encounter no significant surprises require little leadership.

Question 2

One advantage of creating a dedicated project team is that it reduces dependencies, especially within the organization.

Accepted Answer

One advantage of creating a dedicated project team is that it reduces dependencies, especially within the organization, because most of the resources are assigned to the project.Conversely, a functional matrix structure increase dependencies, with the result that the project manager is much more reliant upon functional colleagues for work and staff.

Question 3

In most cases, if someone can manage a project well, then they are also a great leader.

Accepted Answer

It takes a special person to perform both roles well.Some individuals are great visionaries who are good at motivating people about change.Too often though, these same people lack the discipline or patience to deal with the day-to-day drudgeries of managing.Likewise, there are other individuals who are very well organized and methodical but lack the ability to inspire others.

Question 4

Relationship-related currencies deal with the extent to which we can help others feel a sense of importance and personal worth by sharing tasks that increase their skills and abilities.

Accepted Answer

Relationship-related currencies have more to do with strengthening the relationship with someone than directly accomplishing the project tasks.

Question 5

Effective time management for project managers includes initiating contact with key stakeholders only when there is a valid issue to deal with.

Accepted Answer

Experienced project managers recognize the need to build relationships before they need them.They initiate contact with the key stakeholders at times when there are no outstanding issues or problems and therefore no anxieties and suspicions.

Question 6

Being an effective __________ for the project you are on will help establish loyalty among team members.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Being an effective __________ for the project...

Question 7

Successful project managers tend to adopt a hands-on approach to managing projects.

Accepted Answer

Too often when new project managers do find time to work directly on the project, they adopt a hands-on approach to managing the project.They choose this style not because they are power-hungry egomaniacs but because they are eager to achieve results.Then they quickly become frustrated by how slowly things are operated, the number of people that have to be brought on board, and the difficulty of gaining cooperation.Unfortunately, as this frustration builds, the natural temptation is to exert more pressure and get more heavily involved in the project.These project managers quickly earn the reputation of "micro-managing" and begin to lose sight of the real role they play in guiding a project.

Question 8

Customers define the scope of the project, and ultimately, project success rests in their satisfaction.

Accepted Answer

Customers define the scope of the project, and ultimately, project success rests in their satisfaction.Project managers need to be responsive to changing customer needs and requirements and to meeting their expectations.

Question 9

Many poor-performing project managers are guilty of management by wandering around.

Accepted Answer

A management style employees at Hewlett-Packard referred to as "management by wandering around" (MBWA)to reflect that managers spend the majority of their time outside their offices is somewhat of a misnomer in that there is a purpose/pattern behind the "wandering." Through face-to-face interactions, project managers are able to stay in touch with what is really going on in the project and build cooperation essential to project success.

Question 10

The level of leadership required to successfully complete a project may depend on the level of uncertainty involved.

Accepted Answer

The higher the degree of uncertainty encountered on a project-in terms of changes in project scope, technological stalemates, breakdowns in coordination between people, and so forth-the more leadership is required.

Question 11

Inspiration-related currencies derive from people's burning desire to make a difference and add meaning to their lives.

Accepted Answer

Perhaps the most powerful form of influence is based on inspiration.Inspiration-related currencies derive from people's burning desire to make a difference and add meaning to their lives.

Question 12

A successful project manager must build a cooperative, mutually beneficial network generally governed by the law of reciprocity.

Accepted Answer

Networks are mutually beneficial alliances that are generally governed by the law of reciprocity.The primary way to gain cooperation is to provide resources and services for others in exchange for future resources and services.This is the age-old maxim: "Quid pro quo (something for something)." Or in today's vernacular: "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

Question 13

The first step to building a social network is identifying those on whom the project depends for success.

Accepted Answer

The first step to building a social network is identifying those on whom the project depends for success.Many project managers find it helpful to draw a map of relationship dependencies.

Question 14

One important function of mapping dependencies and building a social network is to prevent project managers from being derailed because they were blindsided by someone whose position or power they had not anticipated.

Accepted Answer

It is better to overestimate rather than underestimate dependencies.All too often, otherwise talented and successful project managers have been derailed because they were blindsided by someone whose position or power they had not anticipated.

Question 15

Position-related currencies come directly from the project manager's ability to contribute to others' accomplishing their work.

Accepted Answer

Position-related currencies stem from the manager's ability to enhance others' positions within their organization.

Question 16

Relationship-related currencies have more to do with strengthening the relationship with someone than directly accomplishing the project tasks.

Accepted Answer

Relationship-related currencies have more to do with strengthening the relationship with someone than directly accomplishing the project tasks.The essence of this form of influence is forming a relationship that transcends normal professional boundaries and extends into the realm of friendship.

Question 17

It is impractical for a subordinate to "manage" a superior.

Accepted Answer

While it may seem counterintuitive for a subordinate to "manage" a superior, smart project managers devote considerable time and attention to influencing and garnering the support of top management.

Question 18

One of the things that distinguish project management from regular management is the sheer breadth and complexity of the relationships that need to be managed.

Accepted Answer

The sheer breadth and complexity of stakeholder relationships distinguish project management from regular management.

Question 19

The old-fashioned view of managing projects emphasized directing and controlling subordinates; the new perspective emphasizes managing project stakeholders and anticipating change as the most important jobs.

Accepted Answer

The old-fashioned view of managing projects emphasized directing and controlling subordinates; the new perspective emphasizes managing project stakeholders and anticipating change as the most important jobs.Project managers need to be able to assuage concerns of customers, sustain support for the project at higher levels of the organization, quickly identify problems that threaten project work, while at the same time defend integrity of the project and the interests of the project participants.

Question 20

Using properly established and well maintained professional relationships within a project, a project manager can be the __________ for information on the project.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using properly established and well maintained professional...

Quiz 10: Being an Effective Project Manager

Strong leadership, while usually desirable, is not always necessary to successfully complete a project.

One advantage of creating a dedicated project team is that it reduces dependencies, especially within the organization.

In most cases, if someone can manage a project well, then they are also a great leader.

Relationship-related currencies deal with the extent to which we can help others feel a sense of importance and personal worth by sharing tasks that increase their skills and abilities.

Effective time management for project managers includes initiating contact with key stakeholders only when there is a valid issue to deal with.

Being an effective __________ for the project you are on will help establish loyalty among team members.

Successful project managers tend to adopt a hands-on approach to managing projects.

Customers define the scope of the project, and ultimately, project success rests in their satisfaction.

Many poor-performing project managers are guilty of management by wandering around.

The level of leadership required to successfully complete a project may depend on the level of uncertainty involved.

Inspiration-related currencies derive from people's burning desire to make a difference and add meaning to their lives.

A successful project manager must build a cooperative, mutually beneficial network generally governed by the law of reciprocity.

The first step to building a social network is identifying those on whom the project depends for success.

One important function of mapping dependencies and building a social network is to prevent project managers from being derailed because they were blindsided by someone whose position or power they had not anticipated.

Position-related currencies come directly from the project manager's ability to contribute to others' accomplishing their work.

Relationship-related currencies have more to do with strengthening the relationship with someone than directly accomplishing the project tasks.

It is impractical for a subordinate to "manage" a superior.

One of the things that distinguish project management from regular management is the sheer breadth and complexity of the relationships that need to be managed.

The old-fashioned view of managing projects emphasized directing and controlling subordinates; the new perspective emphasizes managing project stakeholders and anticipating change as the most important jobs.

Using properly established and well maintained professional relationships within a project, a project manager can be the __________ for information on the project.