Project Management Test 4.11

Front 1

Control is focused on the project elements of cost, scope, and __________.

Back 1

time

Front 2

When performing control, project managers need to be equally attentive to __________ and conservation.

Back 2

regulation

Front 3

The __________ of human resources requires controlling and maintaining the growth and development of people.

Back 3

stewardship

Front 4

In a __________ control system using a negative feedback loop, the speed or force with which the control operates is, in general, proportional to the size of the deviation from standard.

Back 4

cybernetic

Front 5

The most important rule for any subordinate is the Prime Law of Life applied to project management: never let the __________ be surprised.

Back 5

boss

Front 6

_______ are efforts to improve the chances for future projects to meet their goals by reviewing projects.

Back 6

Postcontrols

Front 7

When developing a control system, it is important that the system be __________.

Back 7

well balanced

Front 8

With few exceptions, the control of projects is always exercised through _______.

Back 8

people

Front 9

Physical asset control requires control of the __________ of physical assets and is concerned with asset maintenance, whether preventative or corrective.

Back 9

use

Front 10

In order to achieve total control over a system, a controller must be able to take a __________ for every action that the system can take.

Back 10

counteraction

Front 11

Most control systems used in project management today fall into the __________ category of control system.

Back 11

go/no-go control

Front 12

A cybernetic control system that acts to reduce deviations from standard is called a(n) __________.

Back 12

negative feedback loop

Front 13

Physical asset control is concerned with asset maintenance, whether preventative or __________.

Back 13

corrective

Front 14

Go/no-go controls operate continuously.

Back 14

False

Front 15

Because project milestones do not occur at periodic intervals, go/no-go controls should be linked the corporate budgeting process.

Back 15

False

Front 16

In order to gain user acceptance, the control system should appear to be sensible.

Back 16

True

Front 17

In addition to being easy to maintain, a good control system will signal the overall controller if it goes out of order.

Back 17

True

Front 18

The critical ratio control chart uses a ratio made up of two parts -- the ratio of actual progress to scheduled progress, and the ratio of budgeted cost to actual cost.

Back 18

True

Front 19

According to research completed by Hussain and Wearne (2005), the three most important issues facing project management were organization, resource, and time issues.

Back 19

True

Front 20

When major changes are made to projects, it is rare that a risk identification and analysis study should be performed.

Back 20

False

Front 21

Control is focused on ________ elements of a project.

Back 21

Performance, cost, and time

Front 22

When performing control, project managers need to be attentive to ________.

Back 22

Regulation and conservation equally

Front 23

Physical asset control requires control of the ________ and is concerned with asset maintenance, whether preventative or corrective.

Back 23

The use of physical assets

Front 24

The stewardship of human resources requires ________ the growth and development of people.

Back 24

Controlling and maintaining

Front 25

Identify the item that is not one of the three types of control processes described by the authors.

Back 25

Robotic control

Front 26

The key feature of cybernetic control systems is ________.

Back 26

Automatic operation

Front 27

In a cybernetic control system using a negative feedback loop, the speed or force with which the control operates is, in general, ________ to the size of the deviation from standard.

Back 27

Proportional

Front 28

The following statement is a major disadvantage of third-order cybernetic control systems.

Back 28

Their human elements lack predictability and reliability

Front 29

In essence, the law of ________ dictates that a controller must be able to take a counteraction for every action the system can take in order to achieve total control over the system.

Back 29

Requisite variety

Front 30

Most control systems used in project management today fall into this category of control system.

Back 30

Go/no-go control

Front 31

Go/no-go controls operate ________.

Back 31

Only when and if the controller uses them

Front 32

Because project milestones do not occur at periodic intervals, go/no-go controls should be linked to ________; not simply to the calendar.

Back 32

The actual plans and to the occurrence of real events

Front 33

In order to gain user acceptance, the control system should appear to be ________.

Back 33

Sensible

Front 34

In addition to being easy to maintain, a good control system will ________ if it goes out of order.

Back 34

Signal the overall controller

Front 35

The critical ratio control chart uses a ratio made up of two parts -- the ratio of actual progress to scheduled progress, and the ________.

Back 35

Ratio of budgeted cost to actual cost

Front 36

________ controls work to conserve the organization’s assets by insisting that certain conditions be met before capital can be expended. Those same conditions usually regulate the use of capital to achieve the organization’s goal of a high return on investments.

Back 36

capital investment

Front 37

With respect to financial controls, courts will require the practice of ________ regarding financial controls, practices, and record-keeping.

Back 37

due diligence

Front 38

The most common type of control system is the ________, or steering, control.

Back 38

cybernetic

Front 39

The cybernetic control system that acts to reduce deviations from standard is called a ________.

Back 39

negative feedback loop

Front 40

A ________ device serves as an example of a simple, first-order cybernetic control system.

Back 40

goal-seeking

Front 41

The addition of a clock to the thermostat to allow it to maintain different standards during day and night makes the thermostat a ________ cybernetic controller.

Back 41

second-order

Front 42

The ________ is a type of cybernetic control system that can change its goals without specific preprogramming.

Back 42

third-order control system

Front 43

A third-order cybernetic control system is said to have ________ consciousness and, thus, must contain humans.

Back 43

reflective

Front 44

The preprogramming in second-order cybernetic control systems enables them to ________ and to react in specific ways.

Back 44

recognize patterns

Front 45

The ________ controls take the form of testing to see if some specific precondition has been met.

Back 45

go/no-go

Front 46

The Prime Law of Life on any project is ________.

Back 46

Never let the boss be surprised!

Front 47

Post project reviews are an example of ________.

Back 47

postcontrols

Front 48

________ are directed towards improving chances for future projects to meet their goals.

Back 48

postcontrols

Front 49

Because the critical ratio is the product of the two separate ratios for ________, this way of combining the two underlying ratios weights them equally. It allows a bad ratio for one part to be offset by an equally good ratio in the other.

Back 49

CPI and SPI

Front 50

Human response to steering controls tends to be positive because they are usually viewed as ________.

Back 50

helpful rather than a source of unwelcome pressure

Front 51

Many people perceive ________ to be equivalent to report cards.

Back 51

postcontrols

Front 52

Investment in control systems is subject to ________, so it is important to balance the need for control with the cost of control.

Back 52

sharply diminishing returns

Front 53

A balanced control system is directed toward ________ rather than toward punishment.

Back 53

correction of error

Front 54

Configuration management activities are often part of an organization’s ________ process.

Back 54

change control

Front 55

An ________ is a monitoring system that forewarns the project manager if trouble arises.

Back 55

early warning system

Front 56

Identify some of the factors that can cause a project to require control of performance.

Back 56

Potential factors suggesting a need for control of performance include: the recognition of an unexpected technical problem, insufficient resources are available when needed, insurmountable technical difficulties are present, quality or reliability problems occur, clients require changes in system specifications, interfunctional complications arise, or technological breakthroughs affect the project.

Front 57

Identify some of the factors that can cause a project to require control of cost.

Back 57

Potential factors suggesting a need for control of cost include: technical difficulties require more resources, the scope of work increases, initial bids or estimates were too low, reporting was poor or untimely, budgeting was inadequate, corrective control was not exercised in time, or input price changes occurred.

Front 58

Identify some of the factors that can cause a project to require control of time.

Back 58

Potential factors suggesting a need for control of time include: technical difficulties took longer than planned to solve, initial time estimates were optimistic, task sequencing was incorrect, required inputs of material, personnel, or equipment were unavailable when needed, necessary preceding task were incomplete, customer-generated change orders required rework, or government regulations were altered.

Front 59

Describe the two fundamental objectives of control.

Back 59

The two fundamental objectives of control are: the regulation of results through the alteration of activities, and the stewardship of organizational assets.

Front 60

Describe the information requirements of a cybernetic controller.

Back 60

First, the project manager must define the precise characteristics of an output to be controlled. Second, standards must be set for each characteristic. Third, sensors must be acquired that will measure those characteristics at the desired level of precision. Fourth, these measurements must be transformed into a signal that can be compared to a standard signal. Fifth, the difference between the two is sent to the decision maker, which detects it. If it is sufficiently large, the decision maker transmits a signal to the effector that causes the operating system to react in a way that will counteract the deviation from standard. If the effector can take multiple actions, criteria must be built in to instruct the effector on which actions to take.