Deck 1: Introduction: Why Project Management

Question 1

Projects are __________-focused.

Answer 1

customer

Question 2

A __________ refers to ongoing, day-to-day activities in which an organization engages while producing goods and services.

Answer 2

process

Question 3

Acme uses no recognizable project management processes and has entertaining project meetings because each member has a unique way of reporting progress or lack thereof. Acme is most likely at the moderate level in the generic project management maturity model.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Most effective project maturity models chart both a set of standards that are currently accepted as state-of-the-art as well as a process for achieving significant movement towards these benchmarks.

Question 5

The goals of a project are sometimes called __________.

Question 6

Project management entails crossing __________ and __________ boundaries.

Question 7

The classic triple constraint standard for project performance is composed of time, cost, and client acceptance.

Question 8

The use of benchmarking allows companies that are relatively immature at project management to achieve quantum leaps of improvement.

Question 9

Projects have a process orientation.

Question 10

Client interest in a project is highest during the termination and conceptual phases.

Question 11

The special nature of projects relieves project managers from their routine of planning, organizing, motivating, directing, and controlling.

Question 12

A typical project stays within functional and organizational boundaries.

Question 13

The initial goal and technical specifications of the project are developed during the planning stage.

Question 14

Projects, rather than repetitive tasks, are now the basis for most value-added in business.

Question 15

A project exists outside of the standard line organization.

Question 16

The Atkinson model for assessing project success gathers input from all of the project's stakeholders.

Question 17

A company's culture has little impact on whether projects are successfully implemented.

Question 18

In general, product life cycles are becoming __________ and product launch windows are becoming __________.

Question 19

The business success dimension of project success determines whether the project achieved significant commercial success.

Question 20

Any organization, no matter how initially unskilled in project management, can begin to chart a course toward the type of project organization they wish to become.

Question 21

A project that results in "doing the wrong things well" has ignored the:

A) budgetary goal.
B) technical goal.
C) customer satisfaction goal.
D) scheduling goal.

Question 22

Detailed specifications, schematics, and schedules are all developed during the __________ stage.

Question 23

Creativity is at its zenith during the __________ stage of the project life cycle.

Question 24

The stages in a project's development are known as the __________.

Question 25

The triple constraint of project success is __________.

Question 26

In general, all project management maturity models agree that an organization that has internalized all necessary project management principles and is actively seeking to move beyond these in innovative ways is __________.

Question 27

A project typically has:

A) a defined start and end date.
B) a defined start date but no defined end date.
C) no defined start but a defined end date.
D) no defined start or end date.

Question 28

Project members may be from:

A) different departments.
B) other organizational units.
C) one functional area.
D) all of the above.

Question 29

__________ are used to allow organizations to benchmark the best practices of successful project management firms.

Question 30

Atkinson suggests that all groups that are affected by a project, otherwise known as __________, should have a hand in assessing project success.

Question 31

The Center for Business Practices maturity model stage that describes project management as an ad hoc process is __________.

Question 32

Projects differ from classic organizational processes because projects are:

A) discrete activities.
B) part of line organization.
C) well established systems in place to integrate efforts.
D) multi-objective.

Question 33

Which of the following is accomplished through project management?

A) A cellular phone company activates a new customer's service.
B) An automotive manufacturer produces a day's quota of vehicles.
C) A software developer creates a new crash-proof operating system.
D) A retailer restocks the shelves after a day of brisk sales.

Question 34

There is no such thing as a project team:

A) with a deliverable.
B) with an on-going, non-specific purpose.
C) with a goal.
D) with a project manager

Question 35

Which of these is NOT characteristic of a project?

A) Projects are responsible for the newest and most improved products, services, and organizational processes.
B) Projects are ad hoc endeavors with a clear life cycle.
C) Projects provide a philosophy and strategy for the management of change.
D) Traditional process management functions of planning, organizing, and controlling do not apply to project management.

Question 36

The Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide definition of a project indicates that a project is:

A) multifunctional.
B) temporary.
C) designed to consume human resources.
D) limited by a budget.

Question 37

Which of the following is NOT a project constraint?

A) the budget
B) the customer requirements
C) the schedule
D) the technical specifications

Question 38

__________ serves as an excellent training ground for future senior executives in most organizations.

Question 39

The degree of risk associated with the project is at its highest during the __________ stage.

Question 40

Which of the following types of activities is more closely associated with projects rather than processes?

A) an activity that is ongoing
B) an activity that is day-to-day
C) an activity that uses existing systems
D) an activity that establishes its own work rules

Question 41

The technical challenges that the project has to face are typically at their lowest during the:

A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

Question 42

Geoffco's project manager names three individuals and requests a project budget of $3,000,000 for the new 8-Pod, a backpack-sized personal music player for 8-track tapes capable of holding up to 100 songs from the '60s and '70s. This important step takes place during __________ of the project life cycle.

A) planning
B) conceptualization
C) execution
D) termination

Question 43

Studies of IT projects reveal that:

A) initial cost estimates are overrun by an average of 15%.
B) over 66% of IT projects were delivered to customers but not used.
C) about 25% of all IT projects become runaways by overshooting budgets and timetables.
D) up to 75% of software projects are cancelled.

Question 44

The amount of corporate investment is typically at its lowest in the:

A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

Question 45

A business reality that makes effective project management critical is the fact that:

A) products are becoming increasingly simple.
B) inflation is rampant.
C) product life cycles are compressing.
D) product launch windows are widening.

Question 46

The degree of innovation and creativity is typically at its highest during the:

A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

Question 47

Keith Monroe nails hundreds of pieces of culled lumber in the blazing July sun to form a parquet deck for his barn roof. He and his assistant are clearly in:

A) the termination stage of the project life cycle.
B) the planning stage of the project life cycle.
C) the execution stage of the project life cycle.
D) way over their heads.

Question 48

Client interest is typically at its lowest during the:

A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

Question 49

Individual activities and their durations are developed during the __________ phase of the project life cycle.

A) planning
B) conceptualization
C) execution
D) termination

Question 50

The most recent addition to the four criteria of project success is:

A) time
B) cost
C) performance
D) client acceptance

Question 51

The amount of corporate investment is typically at its highest in the:

A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

Question 52

A product is introduced into a market, gains the acceptance of a fickle public, and finally is supplanted by a new and improved offering. This phenomenon is known as the:

A) product life cycle.
B) rule of 80.
C) Mendoza line.
D) beta.

Question 53

Low inflation is a trigger for improved project management skills because:

A) rampant cost increases must be passed along to the consumer.
B) internal process improvement is accomplished via project management.
C) lower inflation means narrower product launch windows.
D) global markets are a prerequisite for low inflation.

Question 54

The technical side of project management emphasizes:

A) team building.
B) conflict management.
C) negotiation.
D) budgeting.

Question 55

The MBA redesign committee presents the results of their five-year project to their bemused Dean. They hope it is not just wishful thinking that they are in the:

A) planning phase.
B) conceptualization phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

Question 56

The commitment of financial, human, and technical resources is highest during the:

A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

Question 57

Which of the following statements about project success criteria is best?

A) Project cost is an external performance measure.
B) Completion time is an internal performance measure.
C) Client acceptance is an internal performance measure.
D) Client acceptance is often referred to as conducting a "quality" check.

Question 58

Process management features __________ with respect to project management.

A) greater heterogeneity
B) greater certainty of performance
C) greater numbers of goals and objectives
D) lower adherence to established practices

Question 59

The degree of risk associated with the project is typically at its highest during the:

A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

Question 60

The behavioral side of project management emphasizes:

A) scheduling.
B) leadership.
C) planning.
D) project selection.

Question 61

The dimension of project success that is realized last (chronologically) is:

A) future potential.
B) business success.
C) impact on the customer.
D) efficiency.

Question 62

A design project is completed on time, under budget, to the customer's satisfaction, and in adherence to the technical specifications agreed. The new product takes the market by storm and everyone associated with the project receives a coveted gold star. Under the four dimensions of project success model, the project still needs to show:

A) future potential.
B) business success.
C) impact on the customer.
D) efficiency.

Question 63

A spider web diagram is useful for:

A) showing company performance on a number of criteria simultaneously.
B) collecting data on how a competitor manages projects.
C) identifying industry standards for project management maturity.
D) coaching, evaluating, and auditing projects.

Question 64

Which statement regarding the Project Management Institute's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) is best?

A) The PMBoK consists of seven knowledge areas of project management skills and activities.
B) Each element of the iron triangle is represented by its own area.
C) Project risk management is part of the integration section.
D) The institute's position that a properly planned project will not require any changes precludes the need for change control in the model.

Question 65

What are key differences between projects and processes?

Question 66

What is a project?

Question 67

Project management maturity models are NOT used to:

A) compare practices against an industry standard.
B) define a systematic route for improving project management practices.
C) evaluate current project management practices.
D) ascertain all stakeholders relevant to a project in the conceptualization phase.

Question 68

The most basic level in Kerzner's project management maturity model is:

A) common language.
B) common processes.
C) initial process.
D) ad hoc.

Question 69

Why is project management considered an excellent training ground for future senior executives in many organizations?

Question 70

ABC company compares the way they manage projects with the way rival NBC company manages projects. ABC company is engaged in:

A) corporate espionage
B) ring level 0.
C) competitive benchmarking.
D) cutting edge practices.

Question 71

The dimension of project success that is measured by both an internal and external criterion is:

A) future potential.
B) business success.
C) impact on the customer.
D) efficiency.

Question 72

What changes in the business environment have necessitated a greater use of project management skills?

Question 73

The author's synthesis of all well-known maturity models states that moderate project management maturity is characterized by:

A) ad hoc processes.
B) little support from upper management.
C) project management training programs.
D) active exploration of ways to improve project management.

Question 74

Why is project management challenging?

Question 75

Why are projects important?

Question 76

The project maturity model developed by the Center for Business Practices would have __________ rings if a spider web diagram were used.

A) three
B) four
C) five
D) six

Question 77

What roles do traditional process management duties of planning, organizing, and controlling play in project management, if any?

Question 78

Carnegie Mellon's SEI model, ESI International's project framework, and the Center for Business Practices all call their highest level of maturity:

A) continuous improvement.
B) optimizing.
C) ganbei.
D) comprehensive.

Question 79

In the Atkinson model of project success, a project's impact to the surrounding community would be classified as:

A) an element of the iron triangle.
B) a stakeholder benefit.
C) an organizational benefit.
D) a strategic goal.

Question 80

The dimension of project success that is realized first (chronologically) is:

A) future potential.
B) business success.
C) impact on the customer.
D) efficiency.