Deck 1: Managing Projects: What and Why

Question 1

In contrast to a waterfall approach, a concurrent approach to project management can require:

A) More coordination
B) Less communication
C) A large-batch mode for project handoffs
D) Clear goals
E) A detailed plan for the later stages of the project
F) None of the above

Answer 1

More coordination

Question 2

Which of these can result from use of standardized approaches for managing projects?

A) Improved financial performance
B) Resistance to change
C) A one-size fits all approach that is inappropriate for some projects
D) Greater accountability for team members
E) All of these
F) A and D only

Answer 2

All of these

Question 3

After a team of software development engineers completed the requirements phase for a major new system, members learned the client no longer needed several of the features initially requested. Which of the following project management models would help avoid this kind of communication challenge?

A) Waterfall approach
B) Concurrent approach
C) Economic approach
D) Silo approach
E) None of the above

Answer 3

Concurrent approach

Question 4

Project phases include:

A) Initiation, planning, and closure
B) Problem definition, WBS, schedule, risk assessment
C) Drivers, customer needs, planning, control
D) Selection, initiation, planning, delivery, closure
E) Team selection, motivation, assignment of responsibility, delivery of results

Question 5

Important characteristics of the most successful projects are:

A) The team works overtime through the entire project
B) Use of project management software
C) One person does most of the work
D) Leadership is shared among team members
E) Clear, shared goal
F) A and C only

Question 6

Agile software development involves:

A) One individual, working alone
B) Shortening the testing and review process to allow programmers to work more quickly
C) An S-curve that is not as steep as those found in traditional, waterfall approaches
D) Greater need for communication and coordination than traditional methods
E) A and B only

Question 7

Imagine your boss has assigned you to work on a project that is of strategic importance. She tells you there will be no other team members available to help you. What arguments might you effectively raise in persuading her to allow you to work with a team?

A) There will be less chance of conflict
B) There will be less need for coordination
C) There will be less need to gain buy-in
D) There will be more breadth of technical expertise
E) Decision making will be faster

Question 8

Which of these is generally accepted as true about the triple constraint?

A) Represents a complete balanced scorecard of project metrics
B) Assumes that all three metrics can and should be given equally high priorities
C) Assumes the three constraints tend to reinforce each other so that as one improves the others do also
D) Represents tradeoffs to be considered in setting priorities for project performance metrics
E) All of these

Question 9

In contrast to the triple constraint, a balanced scorecard perspective in a project environment offers which of the following advantages?

A) More focus on operational details
B) Appreciation for strategic context
C) Understanding of tradeoffs
D) Measurement of project cost
E) Inclusion of schedule performance
F) All of the above

Question 10

A cumulative effort curve for a project generally has an S-shape because of:

A) Higher resource utilization during the middle of a project
B) The large financial costs associated with ending a project
C) Various hurdles that prevent progress when beginning a project
D) Team member burnout
E) A and C
F) All of the above

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT an example of ways in which organizations and individuals may resist standardization in project environments?

A) A standardized project approach may be too restrictive for some types of projects.
B) A project managed using a standardized project management process is more likely to exceed budget.
C) People may be uncomfortable with the additional accountability associated with standardized project management process.
D) People nearly always resist change.
E) None of the above

Question 12

A professional sports team has numerous projects underway, all of which support various strategic goals. One set of projects is focused on correcting problems associated with declining attendance at home games. To address this concern, the team's fan relations department has simultaneously launched an interrelated set of initiatives. One of these focuses on building a stadium playground to attract families, while another project will add a restaurant to enhance the fan experience. An additional effort will improve the stadium entrance process to make it faster and more user-friendly. Which of the following best describes this set of activities?

A) A program to increase attendance
B) A project to attract families through the construction of a playground
C) A project to enhance the fan experience through the addition of a new restaurant in the stadium
D) A comprehensive project portfolio
E) A three-phase project
F) B and C only
G) All of the above