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20 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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1. If you hear a project manager saying to a customer "We all agree that this project is important. Let's not fight over a few thousand dollars," what conflict resolution technique is the project manager trying to use?
A. Smoothing B. Problem Solving C. Forcing D. Compromising |
A
Smoothing occurs when the person trying to resolve the conflict asks everyone to focus on what they agree upon and diminishes the items on which there is disagreement. |
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2. Who manages the resources in a matrix organization?
A. Senior management B. Functional managers C. Project manager D. Human resources |
B
The functional manager has resource responsibilities in a matrix organization. In this type of organizational structure, the project manager must work with the functional managers to secure resources for a project. If you were tempted to choose 'C', keep in mind that the project manager primarily manages the project. The benefit of a matrix organization is that the project manager does not need to divert as much attention to managing the resources as he or she would in a projectized organization. |
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3. What is considered the LEAST desirable form of power for a project manager to exercise?
A. Formal B. Referent C. Punishment D. Forcing |
C
Punishment. 'D' is a problem solving technique - not a form of power. |
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4. Which statement below BEST matches a Theory X manager's beliefs?
A. People want to be rewarded for their work B. People have higher needs that will not emerge until the lower needs have been satisfied C. People will contribute to work if left alone D. People cannot be trusted |
D
Theory X managers believe that people cannot be trusted and must be watched and managed constantly. |
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5. The human resource plan:
A. Should be created by the human resourees department B. Is a part of the resource management plan C. Is a tool of Develop Project Team D. Is an output of the Develop Human Resource Plan process |
D
The human resouree plan is created during the Develop Human Resource Plan process. |
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6. Which technique produces the most lasting results?
A. Problem-solving B. Smoothing C. Compromising D. Withdrawing |
A
Problem-solving (sometimes referred to as confrontation) is getting to the root of the problem and is the best way to produce a lasting result and a real solution. |
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7. The most important role of the project sponsor is to:
A. Manage and resolve conflicts between the team and upper management B. Provide and protect the project's financial resources C. Provide and protect the project's human resources D. Balance the project's constraints regarding time, scope, and cost |
B
This question comes from Chapter 2 - Foundational Terms and Concepts. The project sponsor provides the funds for the project. He may or may not take on other roles, but this is his defining role on the project. |
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8. Human resource management encompasses:
A. Organizational Planning, Acquire Project Team, Report Performance, and Manage Project Team B. Develop Human Resource Plan, Acquire Project Team, Report Performance, and Develop Project Team C. Develop Human Resource Plan, Staff Acquisition, Develop Project Team, and Release Project Team D. Develop Human Resource Plan, Acquire Project Team, Develop Project Team, Manage Project Team |
D
The four processes are Develop Human Resource Plan, Acquire Project Team, Develop Project Team, Manage Project Team, and yes, you do need to know all of them before taking the PMP Exam. |
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9. Which of the following is NOT an input
into Develop Human Resource Plan? A. Enterprise environmental factors B. Role and responsibility assignments C. Organizational process assets D. Activity resource requirements |
B
The easiest way to answer questions like this one is to start by narrowing the choices down. Three of the answers will be valid inputs, and Enterprise environmental factors and organizational process assets are inputs into almost every planning process. That will eliminate answers 'A' and 'C'. In order to narrow it down between 'B' and 'D', think about the process and consider what it does. The process creates a human resource plan, and choice 'D' sounds like something that would be produced as part of that plan and not an input. The activity resource requirements would be useful to produce the human resource plan. 'B' emerges as the best choice. |
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10. Which of the following is a constructive team role?
A. Information seeker B. Recognition seeker C. Blocker D. Devil's advocate |
A
Information seeker. Recognition seekers are more concerned with getting in the spotlight than with facilitating communication. Blockers reject others' viewpoints and shut down discussion. Devil's advocate - bringing up alternative viewpoints - can be either positive or negative, but it is listed in most project management literatute as a destructive team role because when it is negative it is very negative! Information seekers are constructive because they ask questions to gain information. |
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11. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory states that:
A. The strongest motivation for work is to provide for physiological needs B. Hygiene factors are those that provide physical safety and emotional security C. Psychological needs for growth and fulfillment can be met only when lower-level physical or security needs have been fulfilled D. The greater the financial reward, the more motivated the workers will be |
C
This question might have been difficult for you. 'A' is not necessarily true, because Maslow stated that any level of his "pyramid" provides the greatest level of motivation when the needs of the levels below have already been met. Thus physiological needs such as food and shelter will be the greatest motivator for workers to do a good job when those needs are unmet. But once the lower level needs are met, the needs of the next level become the greatest motivators. |
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12. Which of the following is NOT true of team building?
A. Team agreement should be obtained on all major actions B. Team building requires role modeling on the part of the project manager C. Team building becomes less important as the project progresses D. Teamwork cannot be forced |
C
Successful team building begins early in project development, but it is a continuous process throughout the life of the project. |
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13. Team building is primarily the responsibility of:
A. The project team B. The project manager C. Senior management D. The project sponsor |
B
Team building must be carried out under the direction of a strong leader. The project manager has the only project role that allows for regular, direct interaction with the team. |
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14. A war room is an example of:
A. Contract negotiation tactics B. Resource planning tools C. A functional organization D. Co-location |
D
Co-location is the practice of locating all team members in a central location. Another variation of a war room is a conference room devoted exclusively for a particular project team. It is a tool of Develop Project Team used in human resource management. |
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15. Which of the following is NOT a human resource process?
A. Develop Human Resource Plan B. Acquire Project Team C. Report Team Performance D. Develop Project Team |
C
Report Team Performance is not a real process. It does sound similar to the Communications process of Report Performance, but this question asked which of the processes did not belong to the knowledge area of human resource management. |
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16. A project coordinator is distinguished from a project manager in that:
A. A project coordinator has no decision-making power B. A project coordinator has less decision-making power C. A project coordinator has no authority to assign work D. A project coordinator has more decision-making power |
B
A project coordinator has some authority and some decision making power, but less than a project manager. |
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17. Which of the following is NOT a tool used in Develop Project Team?
A. Interpersonal Skills B. Training C. Ground Rules D. Encouragement |
D
Encouragement may be a great idea, but it is not specified as a tool of Develop Project Team. 'A', 'B', and 'C' all are. If you missed this question keep in mind that you should favor the terms, vocabulary, and phrases you see here on the exam. Few people can commit all of the inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs to memory, but you should learn to recognize them and pick out the ones that do not belong. |
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18. One potential disadvantage of a matrix organization is:
A. Highly visible project objectives B. Rapid responses to contingencies C. Team members must report to more than one boss D. The matrix organization creates morale problems |
C
In a matrix organization, team members report to both the project manager and the functional manager. This can sometimes cause confusion and can lead to conflict on a project and within the organization. |
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19. A project manager in Detroit is having difficulty getting the engineers
in his company's Cleveland office to complete design documents for his project. He has sent numerous requests to the VP ofEngineering (also in Cleveland) for assistance in getting the design documents, but so far his efforts have been unsuccessful. What kind of organization does this project manager work in? A. Functional B. Hierarchical C. Strong matrix D. Projectized |
A
The clue in the question that indicates a functional organization is the project manager's low authority: he must appeal to the head of the engineering department rather than making his request directly to the team members. |
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20. Which of the following is not true about a project's ground rules?
A. Ground rules should be communicated to all team members B. Ground rules should be consistent across projects in an organization C. Ground rules should be clearly defined D. Ground rules define behavioral boundaries on a project |
B
Ground rules may be unique to the project, and they certainly don't have to be the same across all projects in an organization. For instance, a project that has high security might have more stringent ground rules than a less secure one. 'A' and 'C' are incorrect because clearly defining ground rules and communicating them to everyone helps to make sure they are understood and will be followed. 'D' is incorrect because that is exactly what ground rules do - they define the boundaries of behavior that team members should respect. |
