Deck 3: Managing the Information Systems Project

Question 1

When a project manager is getting projects completed through the effective utilization of resources, she is performing a risk and change management activity.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

A logic model is a graphical representation of a project that shows each task as a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to its time for completion.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The project workbook serves as a repository for all project correspondence, inputs, outputs, deliverables, procedures, and standards established by the project team.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

When a project manager is working closely with customers to assure project deliverables meet expectations, she is performing a customer relations activity.

Question 5

During project initiation, the focus of developing a communications plan activity is to collect and organize the tools that will be used while managing the project.

Question 6

Gantt charts show how tasks must be ordered and when an activity should begin and end.

Question 7

A deliverable is an end product in a phase of the SDLC.

Question 8

Project planning involves defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity within a single project.

Question 9

The project manager is responsible for initiating, planning, executing, and closing down the project.

Question 10

The most instrumental person to the successful completion of a project is the database analyst.

Question 11

In order to determine the resources required for project completion, an organization should analyze the project's scope and determine the project's probability of successful completion.

Question 12

The focus of project management is to assure that systems development projects meet customer expectations and are delivered within budget and time constraints.

Question 13

Establishing the project initiation plan involves organizing an initial core of project team members to assist in accomplishing the project initiation activities.

Question 14

Task sequence depends on which tasks produce deliverables needed in other tasks, when critical resources are available, the constraints placed on the project by the client, and the process outlined in the SDLC.

Question 15

Establishing a relationship with a customer is a project initiation activity.

Question 16

A systems development project may be undertaken to take advantage of business opportunities or to solve business problems.

Question 17

Project initiation is the second phase of the project management process, which focuses on defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity within a single project.

Question 18

A resource analysis plan determines if the proposed information system makes sense for the organization from an economic and operational standpoint.

Question 19

Project planning is the first phase of the project management process in which activities are performed to assess the size, scope, and complexity of the project and to establish procedures to support later project activities.

Question 20

A task identification structure refers to the process of dividing the project into manageable tasks and logically ordering them to ensure a smooth evolution between tasks.

Question 21

A Baseline Project Plan is developed during the project execution phase.

Question 22

Having a known method or technique is a characteristic of a task.

Question 23

A Network diagram depicts project tasks and their interrelationships.

Question 24

Projects are deemed a success or failure at project closedown.

Question 25

Project time estimates for task completion and overall system quality are not significantly influenced by the assignment of people to tasks.

Question 26

The Constructive Cost Model is a method for estimating a software project's size and cost.

Question 27

The meetings project team communication method has a low formality rating.

Question 28

The hallway discussion project team communication method has a medium to a high formality rating.

Question 29

During project execution, plans created in prior phases are put into action.

Question 30

The status report project team communication method is used to inform project team members.

Question 31

The focus of closing the customer contract activity is to ensure that all contractual terms of the project have been met.

Question 32

A slipped completion date for an activity may initiate a change to the Baseline Project Plan.

Question 33

When executing the Baseline Project Plan, the analyst will initiate the execution of project activities, acquire and assign resources, orient and train new team members, keep the project on schedule, and assure the quality of project deliverables.

Question 34

Creating a work breakdown structure requires that you decompose phases into activities and activities into specific tasks.

Question 35

Team members are assessed as part of the conducting postproject reviews activity.

Question 36

During the development of a preliminary schedule activity conducted during the project planning phase, you specify how various deliverables are produced and tested by you and your project team.

Question 37

Within the context of the SDLC, project closedown occurs when the design phase is completed.

Question 38

The Systems Service Request provides a detailed estimate of the project's tasks and resource requirements.

Question 39

A project can terminate naturally or unnaturally.

Question 40

COCOMO uses parameters that are derived from estimates of planned projects of the same complexity to estimate project size and cost.

Question 41

Identifying, assessing, and managing the risks and day-to-day changes that occur during a project best defines which of the following project manager activities?

A) Conflict management
B) Risk and change management
C) Team management
D) Customer relations
E) Technical problem solving

Question 42

Gantt charts visually show the time overlap of tasks whereas a Network diagram does not show time overlap but does show which tasks could be done in parallel.

Question 43

When compared to Network diagrams, Gantt charts are more useful for depicting the activities associated with large projects.

Question 44

If an activity's optimistic time is 3 months, its realistic time is 5 months, and its pessimistic time is 10 months, then its estimated time would be 5.5 months.

Question 45

Skills that include interpreting system requests and specifications, site preparation and user training, and contact point for customers best represent:

A) leadership.
B) management.
C) customer relations.
D) conflict management.
E) team management.

Question 46

Managing conflict within a project team to assure that conflict is not too high or too low best defines which of the following project manager activities?

A) Conflict management
B) Leadership
C) Team management
D) Problem solving
E) Risk management

Question 47

Skills that include defining and sequencing activities, communicating expectations, assigning resources to activities, and monitoring outcomes best represent:

A) customer relations.
B) leadership.
C) team management.
D) management.
E) technical problem solving.

Question 48

A planned undertaking of related activities to reach an objective that has a beginning and an end best defines:

A) task development.
B) activity plan.
C) project.
D) task schedule.
E) project mission.

Question 49

A major strength of the Network diagram is its inability to represent completion times and show interrelationships between activities.

Question 50

An activity on the critical path will have a slack time of 1.

Question 51

Microsoft Outlook is an example of project management software.

Question 52

If an activity's optimistic time is 4 weeks, its realistic time is 6 weeks, and its pessimistic time is 8 weeks, then its estimated time would be 6 weeks.

Question 53

Gantt charts do not show how tasks must be ordered.

Question 54

Critical path scheduling is a scheduling technique whose order and duration of a sequence of task activities directly affect the completion date of a project.

Question 55

An individual with a diverse set of skills-management, leadership, technical, conflict management, and customer relationship-who is responsible for initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project best defines:

A) chief information officer.
B) consultant.
C) project scheduler.
D) project manager.
E) end user.

Question 56

Variable expenses are any person, group of people, piece of equipment, or material used in accomplishing an activity.

Question 57

The ability to easily make changes to a project is a very powerful feature of most project management environments.

Question 58

Arguably, the most instrumental person to the successful completion of any project is the:

A) chief information officer.
B) project manager.
C) end user.
D) staff consultant.
E) department manager.

Question 59

Influencing the activities of others toward the attainment of a common goal through the use of intelligence, personality, and abilities refers to which of the following project manager activities?

A) Conflict management
B) Management
C) Leadership
D) Team management
E) Customer relations

Question 60

If an activity's optimistic time is 4 days, its realistic time is 10 days, and its pessimistic time is 25 days, then its estimated time would be 11.5 days.

Question 61

The process of dividing the project into manageable tasks and logically ordering them to ensure a smooth evolution between tasks defines:

A) task division.
B) work breakdown structure.
C) work structuring.
D) project division.
E) critical path scheduling.

Question 62

An online or hard-copy repository for all project correspondence, inputs, outputs, deliverables, procedures, and standards that is used for performing project audits, orientation of new team members, communicating with management and customers, identifying future projects, and performing post project reviews is called:

A) a project workbook.
B) a schedule book.
C) a project planner.
D) project management software.
E) an electronic calendar.

Question 63

The third phase of the project management process in which the plans created in the prior phases are put into action is:

A) project planning.
B) project development.
C) project initiation.
D) project execution.
E) project close down.

Question 64

Which of the following occurs during project execution?

A) Monitoring project progress against the Baseline Project Plan
B) Conducting post project reviews
C) Establishing the project initiation plan
D) Establishing the project workbook
E) Establishing the communication plan

Question 65

Which of the following project management activities is associated with project initiation?

A) Estimating resources and creating a detailed resource plan
B) Describing project scope, alternatives, and feasibility
C) Establishing a relationship with the customer
D) Identifying and assessing risks
E) Closing down the project

Question 66

The responsibility for keeping all team members informed of the project status best describes:

A) monitoring project progress against the Baseline Project Plan.
B) executing the baseline plan.
C) communicating the project status.
D) updating project status.
E) establishing the project initiation plan.

Question 67

Which of the following is a true statement regarding project time estimates?

A) Project time estimates for task completion and overall system quality are significantly influenced by the assignment of people to tasks.
B) Resource estimates should not be revised based upon the skills of the actual person assigned to a particular activity.
C) Staff learning can be enhanced by assigning individuals to tasks which are "over their heads."
D) Project time estimates are always on target.
E) Hardware and software are the most important, and expensive, part of project resource planning.

Question 68

Which of the following is NOT a project management phase?

A) Closing down the project
B) Planning the project
C) Executing the project
D) Initiating a project
E) Implementing the project

Question 69

Developing an understanding of the content and complexity of the project is the purpose of:

A) developing a project charter activity of the project planning phase.
B) setting a Baseline Project Plan activity of the project planning phase.
C) determining project standards and procedures activity of the project planning phase.
D) describing the project scope, alternatives, and feasibility activity of the project planning phase.
E) closing down the project activity of the project planning phase.

Question 70

Defining the necessary activities required to organize the initiation team while they are working to define the scope of the project is the focus of which of the following activities?

A) Establishing the project initiation team
B) Establishing management procedures
C) Establishing the project management environment and project workbook
D) Dividing the project into manageable tasks
E) Establishing the project initiation plan

Question 71

Which of the following is NOT a true statement regarding project planning?

A) Project planning often requires that you make numerous assumptions about resource availability and potential problems.
B) Project planning is the second phase of the project management process.
C) Project planning focuses on defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity within a single project.
D) The repetitive nature of the project management process requires that plans be constantly monitored throughout the project and periodically updated.
E) Monitoring project progress against the baseline project plan is the first project planning activity.

Question 72

Risks can arise from:

A) the use of new technology.
B) resistance to change.
C) availability of critical resources.
D) member inexperience with technology or the business area.
E) all of the above.

Question 73

Indicating when and how written and oral reports will be provided by the team, how team members will coordinate work, what messages will be sent to announce the project to interested parties, and what kinds of information will be shared with vendors and external contractors involved with the project describes:

A) determining project standards and procedures.
B) developing a project scope statement.
C) developing a communication plan.
D) setting a baseline project plan.
E) establishing the project initiation team.

Question 74

Which of the following states correctly the formality and use of a project workbook?

A) In terms of formality, the project workbook would be rated low to medium. In terms of use, the project workbook would be used to inform and serve as a permanent record.
B) In terms of formality, the project workbook would be rated high. In terms of use, the project workbook would be used to resolve issues.
C) In terms of formality, the project workbook would be rated high. In terms of use, the project workbook would be used to inform and serve as a permanent record.
D) In terms of formality, the project workbook would be rated low. In terms of use, the project workbook would be used to resolve issues.
E) In terms of formality, the project workbook would be rated medium to high. In terms of use, the project workbook would be used to resolve issues.

Question 75

Changes to the Baseline Project Plan might be motivated by:

A) a slipped completion date of an activity.
B) a bungled activity that must be redone.
C) the identification of a new activity that becomes evident later in the project.
D) an unforeseen change in personnel due to sickness, resignation, or termination.
E) all of the above.

Question 76

Which of the following is NOT a project planning activity?

A) Setting a Baseline Project Plan
B) Identifying and assessing risk
C) Determining project standards and procedures
D) Establishing management procedures
E) Developing a project charter

Question 77

Which of the following is NOT a task characteristic?

A) A task should have well-accepted predecessor and successor steps.
B) A task should have a single and identifiable deliverable.
C) A task should have a known method or technique.
D) A task should be completed by only one person.
E) A task is measurable so that percent completed can be determined.

Question 78

During which of the following project planning activities do you use the information regarding tasks and resource availability to assign time estimates to each activity in the work breakdown structure?

A) Dividing the project into manageable tasks
B) Describing project scope, alternatives, and feasibility
C) Setting a baseline project plan
D) Developing a preliminary schedule
E) Developing a project scope statement

Question 79

The phase of the project management process in which activities are performed to assess the size, scope, and complexity of the project and to establish procedures to support later project activities best defines:

A) project initiation.
B) scope development.
C) project planning.
D) project assessment.
E) project design.

Question 80

A controlled process of initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project best defines:

A) systems development.
B) project management.
C) project development.
D) systems management.
E) systems development technique.