Project Management Test 1.1

Front 1

The growing demand for a broad range of complex, sophisticated, customized goods and services would have which of the following implications for the management of projects in modern organizations?

Back 1

Project managers are dependent on teams to plan and execute projects.

Front 2

Identify the example that would not usually be considered a project.

Back 2

manufacturing cars on a large scale

Front 3

According to the authors, the prime objectives of project management are cost, time, and __________.

Back 3

specified deliverables

Front 4

The term “program” refers to an exceptionally large, long-range objective that is broken down into a set of __________.

Back 4

projects

Front 5

Five attributes that characterize a project include __________.

Back 5

scope, life cycle, uniqueness, conflict, and interdependencies

Front 6

The mission of the __________ is to foster the growth of project management and build professionalism in the field.

Back 6

Project Management Institute

Front 7

Which of the following statements is false about projects?

Back 7

Conflict does not arise for most projects.

Front 8

Which of the following is not a current trend observed in project management?

Back 8

fewer dynamic, or ill-defined projects

Front 9

Rising client expectations during execution of a project may lead to a condition known as __________.

Back 9

scope creep

Front 10

A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique __________.

Back 10

product, service, or result

Front 11

Having only partial or no information about a situation or outcome, often due to ambiguity or complexity is known as __________.

Back 11

uncertainty

Front 12

With respect to project goals throughout the project’s life cycle, early in the life cycle, the project team’s focus should be on how to achieve the required __________.

Back 12

performance

Front 13

An important implication of the project life cycle concept is that a project will resist __________ of its existence.

Back 13

termination

Front 14

Because the customer is not a member of the performing organization, the customer is not a stakeholder of the project.

Back 14

False

Front 15

The pattern of progress observed in every project life cycle can be explained by the S-curve that exhibits a cumulative pattern of slow-rapid-slow progress.

Back 15

False

Front 16

The conventional project life cycle can be described as a pattern of cumulative progress that is slow-rapid-slow progress.

Back 16

True

Front 17

Earned value is based on the concept that the percentage of project completion is closely correlated with cost or with the use of resources.

Back 17

True

Front 18

In a conventional project life cycle, as work progresses, uncertainty about the expected outcome should increase.

Back 18

False

Front 19

Project management provides an organization with powerful tools that improve its ability to plan, implement, and control its activities.

Back 19

True

Front 20

In general, projects today are getting smaller and smaller.

Back 20

False

Front 21

The authors identify three forces that combine to mandate the use of teams to solve problems. Identify the force that the authors did not name.

Back 21

The interaction of supply and demand

Front 22

. Identify the example that would not usually be considered a project.

Back 22

Manufacturing automobiles

Front 23

According to the authors, the prime objectives of project management are

Back 23

Performance, cost, time

Front 24

According to the authors, this organization has played a significant role in the development of techniques for project management.

Back 24

The military

Front 25

The military uses the term __________ to refer to an exceptionally large, long-range objective that is broken down into a set of projects.

Back 25

Program

Front 26

The five attributes that characterize a project are:

Back 26

Purpose, lifecycle, uniqueness, conflict, interdependencies

Front 27

The authors identify four parties at interest in any project. These stakeholders are

Back 27

Client, parent organization, project team, public

Front 28

The pattern of progress observed during the project lifecycle is often explained by _________.

Back 28

The changing levels of resources used during successive stages of the project lifecycle

Front 29

The conventional project lifecycle can be described as a pattern of cumulative progress that is ____________.

Back 29

Slow-rapid-slow progress

Front 30

Earned value is based on the concept that the percentage of project completion is closely correlated with __________.

Back 30

Cost or the use of resources

Front 31

In a conventional project lifecycle, as work progresses uncertainty about the expected outcome should _________.

Back 31

Decrease

Front 32

The desired outcomes or results of a project are called ____________.

Back 32

Deliverables

Front 33

A sub-element of a task, the ________ will be accomplished in order to achieve the objectives of the task.

Back 33

A work package

Front 34

The boundaries of a lifecycle are determined by its _______ and its ________.

Back 34

Start date and stop date

Front 35

The project to construct a highway is unique because ________.

Back 35

The characteristics of terrain will change

Front 36

________ occurs when the expectations of the client increase as the project progresses.

Back 36

scope creep

Front 37

The ANSI standard for project management is documented in the publication known as ________.

Back 37

The PMBOK Guidelines

Front 38

This organization has the responsibility for maintaining and publishing The PMBOK Guidelines.

Back 38

Project Management Institute, also known as PMI

Front 39

A ________ is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service.

Back 39

project

Front 40

Individuals or groups with a special interest in a project are called ________.

Back 40

Parties-at-interest or stakeholders

Front 41

The chance that outcomes will not turnout as planned is called ________.

Back 41

Risk

Front 42

Having incomplete information about a situation or outcome is known as ________.

Back 42

Uncertainty

Front 43

Relations between organizational functions where one function or task is dependent on others is known as ________.

Back 43

Interdependence

Front 44

According to the hierarchical nomenclature described in the text, projects can be decomposed into ________.

Back 44

tasks

Front 45

With respect to project goals, early in the project lifecycle the project team should be focused on ________.

Back 45

how to achieve the required performance

Front 46

The shape of cumulative progress in a conventional project lifecycle is best described using a graph called the ________.

Back 46

S-curve or relative cumulative frequency distribution

Front 47

The ________ project is generally credited with beginning the era of modern project management.

Back 47

Manhattan

Front 48

An important implication of the project lifecycle concept is that a project will resist __________ of its existence.

Back 48

termination

Front 49

Conflicting expectations among stakeholders related to performance, cost, and time will require the project manager to make appropriate ____________ in order to balance competing demands related to these objectives.

Back 49

trade-offs

Front 50

Discuss the factors that have contributed to the growth of the Project Management Institute.

Back 50

The complexity of problems faced by the project manager and the rapid growth in the number project-oriented organizations has contributed to the professionalization of project management. The growth in membership reflects the growth in the use of projects as well as the importance of PMI in the development of project management as a profession. The mission of PMI is to foster the growth of project management and to build professionalism in the field. PMI is responsible for codifying the areas of learning required for competent project management. In this capacity, PMI maintains the PMBOK Guidelines, which serve as the ANSI standard in North America for project management. The PMI maintains certification standards such as the designation for PMP, which is the acronym for Project Management Professional.

Front 51

Explain why it is important for the project team to understand the purpose of a project.

Back 51

Given the complexity of modern projects and the need for an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving, the uncertainties of executing projects make it impractical to give specific instructions regarding every aspect of project execution. Therefore, team members will need to fill gaps in information by making decisions that support project objectives. If team members understand the purpose of the project, there is an increased probability that those decisions will support project success.

Front 52

Explain the conflict that often exists between the client and the parent organization.

Back 52

As the project is executed, clients will often request that changes be made in the project’s outputs. On the other hand, the parent organization is seeking to make a profit by performing the work required to produce those outputs. If the changes are made, the level of profitability may be reduced. This creates a natural antagonism between the client and the parent organization.

Front 53

Name four benefits of project management.

Back 53

The project form of organization allows the project manager to be responsive to (1) the client and the environment, (2) identify and correct problems at an early date (3) make timely decisions about trade-offs between conflicting project goals, and (4) ensure that managers of the separate tasks that comprise the project do not optimize the performance of their individual tasks at the expense of the total project.