Deck 4: Defining the Project

Question 1

The tool used to assist in making project trade-offs between schedule, budget, and performance objectives is called a

A)Responsibility matrix
B)Work breakdown structure
C)Project priority matrix
D)Work package
E)Criterion matrix

Answer 1

C
Explanation: One technique found in practice that is useful for this purpose is completing a priority matrix for the project to identify which criterion is constrained, which should be enhanced, and which can be accepted.

Question 2

All of the following are usually included in a work package except

A)What will be done?
B)The time needed to complete the work.
C)A single person who is responsible for its completion.
D)All the costs for the work package.
E)All of these are included in a work package.

Answer 2

E
Explanation: Work packages are short duration tasks that have a definite start and stop point, consume resources, and represent cost.Each work package is a control point.A work package manager is responsible for seeing that the package is completed on time, within budget, and according to technical specifications.

Question 3

In reviewing the project plan, Susan sees that the first prototype is due by October 12.This would be best classified as a

A)Project target
B)Limit item
C)Milestone
D)Project objective
E)Critical goal

Answer 3

C
Explanation: A milestone is a significant event in a project that occurs at a point in time.The milestone schedule shows only major segments of work; it represents first, rough-cut estimates of time, cost, and resources for the project.

Question 4

Research shows the most frequently mentioned barrier to project success is

A)Not enough budget resources
B)Poor performance by team members
C)Weak project leadership
D)Poorly defined scope or mission
E)Political in-fighting

Question 5

An expected output over the life of a project would be classified as

A)A deliverable
B)A product
C)An end object
D)An objective
E)A target

Question 6

Which of the following is not one of the basic classifications of project priorities?

A)Profit
B)Cost
C)Time
D)Performance
E)All of these are basic classifications

Question 7

"To construct a high-quality, custom home within five months at costs not to exceed $150,000" is best classified as

A)A deliverable
B)A milestone
C)An objective
D)A limit
E)An exclusion

Question 8

Linda has just been assigned a project to develop a new advertising campaign for an established product.Her first step should be to

A)Establish project priorities
B)Define the project scope
C)Verify the budget available
D)Assign team members to work on the project
E)Determine the required completion date

Question 9

The method used to collect information to use through all phases of the project life cycle is called

A)Responsibility matrix
B)Organization breakdown structure
C)Work breakdown structure
D)Priority matrix
E)Work package

Question 10

The lowest element in the hierarchical breakdown of the WBS is

A)A deliverable
B)A work package
C)A cost account
D)A lowest sub deliverable
E)An object

Question 11

The highest element in the hierarchical breakdown of the WBS is

A)A work package
B)Sub deliverables
C)A cost account
D)Major deliverables
E)The project

Question 12

Which of the following is not one of the items that would appear on a project scope checklist?

A)Deliverables
B)Technical requirements
C)Objectives
D)Work breakdown structure
E)Reviews with customer

Question 13

All of the following are true about work packages except

A)Consume resources
B)Assigned to only one manager
C)Have medium to long duration
D)Definitive starts and stops dates
E)All of these are true

Question 14

If a project criterion indicates that the project must meet a specific date, that criterion is classified as

A)Constrained
B)Enhanced
C)Accepted
D)Limited
E)Fixed

Question 15

Scott has just been given a project that has a specific target date.After discussion with top management he finds that while the date is important the cost is more important and a slip in delivery would be acceptable if required to meet the cost targets.The target date is best classified as

A)Constrain
B)Enhance
C)Accept
D)Limit
E)Optional

Question 16

The first step in creating the necessary information to manage a project is to

A)Establish project priorities
B)Define the project scope
C)Verify the budget available
D)Assign team members to work on the project
E)Determine the required completion date

Question 17

The first step of project scope definition is to

A)Analyze the strategic plan
B)Analyze the current budget plan
C)Meet with team members
D)Select team members
E)Define the overall objective to meet the customer's needs

Question 18

The second step in the defining of a project would be to

A)Analyze the strategic plan
B)Analyze the current budget plan
C)Establish project priorities
D)Select team members
E)Define the major objectives to meet the customer's needs

Question 19

Jose is looking at a document that outlines the specific tasks and subtasks required to complete the writing of a technical support manual.The method that was probably used to develop the document is most likely

A)Responsibility matrix
B)Organization breakdown structure
C)Work breakdown structure
D)Priority matrix
E)Work package

Question 20

The ability of 911 emergency systems to identify the caller's phone number and location are considered to be a

A)Technical requirement
B)Milestone
C)Project limit
D)Project exclusion
E)Project deliverable

Question 21

If a project is small or of narrow scope and does not require an elaborate system, which of the following is a good choice?

A)Responsibility matrix
B)Organization breakdown structure
C)Work breakdown structure
D)Priority matrix
E)Process breakdown structure

Question 22

The project scope statement indicates that the client is responsible for training the people who will be using the equipment and that the project team will train the client's trainers.This is an example of:

A)Project objectives
B)Deliverables
C)Limits and exclusions
D)Technical requirements
E)Milestones

Question 23

A selective outline of the project that ensures the identification of all tasks and an understanding of what is to be done is called a _______________.

Question 24

A project parameter such as completion date or cost is ________ if it is fixed and must be met.

Question 25

Creating an extranet website or an internal software database system would be most closely associated with the

A)Responsibility matrix
B)Organization breakdown structure
C)Work breakdown structure
D)Priority matrix
E)Process breakdown structure

Question 26

The primary purpose of the first step of defining a project is to identify the ________ for the end user and to focus project plans.

Question 27

In making project trade-offs, a criteria that is allowed to not meet the original target is classified as ________.

Question 28

The need for a computer to function in countries having different electrical systems is an example of a ________.

Question 29

Which of the follow is least likely to be included in a Work Package?

A)Materials
B)Labor
C)Overhead
D)Duration
E)Responsibilities

Question 30

The integration of project work packages within the organization's management structure is known as

A)Responsibility matrix
B)Organization breakdown structure
C)Work breakdown structure
D)Priority matrix
E)Process breakdown structure

Question 31

Developing a ________ provides a forum for clearly establishing priorities with customers and top management so as to create shared expectations and avoid misunderstandings.

Question 32

The first step in planning any project is to ________.

Question 33

The final step in the creation of a Work Breakdown Structure is to

A)Code the WBS for tracking
B)Assign the cost account to a manager
C)Assign the work package to a manager
D)Develop the responsibility matrix
E)All of these are included in the final step

Question 34

The agreement that training will be the responsibility of the customer is an example of a project ________.

Question 35

The intersection of the WBS and the OBS is called the

A)Responsibility matrix
B)Priority matrix
C)Work package
D)Cost account
E)Project overlap

Question 36

The Snapshot from Practice dealing with Big Bertha II illustrated how important a project's __________ is to the successful completion of a project.

A)Objective
B)Deliverables
C)Technical requirements
D)Milestones
E)Limits and exclusions

Question 37

Taking advantage of opportunities to reduce costs or accelerate the schedule are examples of project criteria being classified as ________.

Question 38

Which of the following is a good example of a Process Breakdown Structure?

A)New car prototype
B)New software program
C)New computer hardware
D)New sports stadium
E)New project management book

Question 39

The tendency for the project deliverables to expand over time-usually by changing requirements, specifications, and priorities-is called:

A)Scope erosion
B)Scope creep
C)Project bloat
D)Scope enhancement
E)Project add-ons

Question 40

Significant events in a project that occur at a specific point in time, are natural control points, and are easily recognized by project participants are known as ___________.

Question 41

Practice suggests that a work package should not exceed ________ workdays or one reporting period.

Question 42

The purposes of the ____________ are to provide a framework to summarize organization unit work performance, identify organization units responsible for work packages, and tie the organizational unit to cost control accounts.

Question 43

Once the __________ has been established, it is the basis for making trade-off decisions later in the project.

Question 44

Studies suggest that there is a strong correlation between project success and clear project scope definition.

Question 45

The most detailed element in the hierarchical breakdown of the project work to be accomplished is known as the ________.

Question 46

One of the items included on a project scope checklist is the reviews with the customer.

Question 47

A(n) ________ is a grouping of work packages for monitoring progress and responsibility.

Question 48

The result of subdividing the work of a project into smaller and smaller work elements is called ________.

Question 49

Project scope describes what you expect to deliver to your customers when the project is complete.

Question 50

The development of a work breakdown structure with appropriate dates and budget is usually accomplished in a single iteration.

Question 51

Quality and the ultimate success of a project are traditionally defined as meeting or exceeding the expectations of the customer or management.

Question 52

The gradual expansion of project requirements during the execution of project is known as __________.

Question 53

The criteria for project success include attaining objectives relating to cost, schedule, and revenue.

Question 54

The Work Breakdown Structure is an outline of the project with different levels of __________.

Question 55

The final step in the defining of a project is focused on assigning ________ to each of the work packages.

Question 56

The process of assigning specific work packages to a particular group or person within the organization is called ________.

Question 57

The ________ summarizes, in graphic format, the tasks to be accomplished and who is responsible for what on a given project.

Question 58

The most commonly used method for coding the WBS is __________.

Question 59

In a work breakdown structure the ________ is the focal point because all budgets, work assignments, time, cost, and technical performance come together at that point.

Question 60

In a ________ the project is organized around phases or groups of activities rather than the more conventional deliverables.

Question 61

The hierarchical work breakdown structure can be used to represent the need for information at various levels of management.

Question 62

Statements of project scope are sometimes referred to as Statements of Work or Project Charters.

Question 63

Basically, the WBS is an outline of the project with different levels of detail.

Question 64

If a project criterion should be optimized if at all possible, it is classified as being constrained.

Question 65

For large companies, the organization breakdown structure is used rather than the work breakdown structure.

Question 66

In a work breakdown structure deliverables are ignored and replaced with activities or tasks that have been grouped in phases.

Question 67

Identify and briefly describe the six elements on the recommended project scope checklist.

Question 68

Responsibility matrices are used primarily with small and medium sized projects and have limited use in large projects.

Question 69

Integrating a project's work packages within the organization's management structure is known as work breakdown structure.

Question 70

The intersection of the WBS and the OBS represents a control point, called a cost account.

Question 71

A typical responsibility matrix will include not only those responsible for a specific task but also those who supply support and assistance.

Question 72

The most commonly used scheme for coding the work breakdown structure is to use a department project number assigned by the accounting department.

Question 73

Identify and briefly describe the five steps in defining a project.

Question 74

Reviews with customers only refers to projects with external customers who are paying for the project.

Question 75

Scope definitions are usually brief with only one or two pages being typical for small projects.

Question 76

The intersection of work packages and the organization unit creates a project control point called a cost account.

Question 77

A work breakdown structure is frequently used on projects such as software development where the project is focused on activities rather than deliverables.

Question 78

In general, work packages should not exceed 10 work days.

Question 79

In terms of project management, what is a deliverable and give an example.

Question 80

In a Work Breakdown Structure for a software development project, the typical structure follows the major phases of software development.