Deck 11: Project Monitoring and Control, Part I

Question 1

The Integration Management knowledge area consists of the processes that coordinate all the various processes and activities contained in all five process groups-Initiate, Plan, Execute, Control, and Closing.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

List and describe the steps in the integrated change control process.

Answer 2

The steps in the integrated change control process shown in Figure 11-1 are explained below:
Step 1. Create the RFC-Any person (the initiator) in the organization or another approved stakeholder can write a request for change (RFC). The RFC could also be written by a designated representative of an outsourcing partner. The completed form is sent to the designated change screener. The change screener can be more than one person but generally is just one person who has knowledge of the area affected by the change.
Step 2. Initial review RFC-The screener's first job is to make sure that the RFC is completely filled out, with all required information. If the RFC is not complete, it is returned to the initiator.
Step 3. Review and assign priority-The screener reviews the priority assignment suggested by the initiator to make sure it is accurate, based on his or her knowledge of the project and the initiator. Some individuals may submit all their requests with the highest priority and urgency, thinking this is the only way to get their issue passed.
Step 4. Review and assign category-The screener reviews the category assignment suggested by the initiator to make sure it is accurate, based on his or her knowledge of the project and the initiator.
Step 5. Update change log and schedule-An update is made to the master change control log, with all relevant information. Based on the priority and category of the change, it is scheduled for CAB review.
Step 6. Inform all of status-The screener is responsible for communicating all actions to the initiator, CAB, and other concerned stakeholders.
Step 7. Review changes-The CAB meets either in person or electronically to review any and all RFCs that have been scheduled for review:
• First, the CAB must determine whether it has the authority to make the change. If it does not, the RFC is elevated to the proper senior person(s).
• Second, the CAB reviews the change and has the option to do one of the following:
• Reject-The change, in its current form, will not be made.
• Approve-The change is scheduled, based on priority and category.
• Defer-The change is deferred to a later meeting.
• Analyze further-More information is needed about the change before a decision can be made.
• If rejected, the change is sent back to the initiator, with an explanation.
• If deferred, the change remains pending and is reviewed at a later meeting.
• If sent for further analysis, the change is sent back to the initiator with an explanation of needed information.
• If approved, the change is scheduled for incorporation into the project.
Step 8. Schedule change-When scheduled, the change is assigned to a change owner, who is the person responsible for making sure the change is made, tested, and communicated to the screener.
Step 9. Make change-Once the change is completed and verified, the screener updates the master change log accordingly.

Question 3

The organization and project manager must foster an environment that allows for the honest reporting of results.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

List the types and examples of project work performance information used in monitoring and control.

Question 5

When you have a committee of leaders to review change requests, analyze the impacts, and make approve/deny decisions, those decisions tend to be respected by all parties, and the responsibility and stress are not levied on just one person.

Question 6

The monitoring and control process begins very early in the life of a project and overlaps all other processes.

Question 7

Define integrated change control and list its key activities.

Question 8

To increase the chances for biased reporting, the process should be as automated as possible, and there needs to be a separation of responsibilities.

Question 9

What do the following acronyms stand for in relation to earned value: PV, BCWS, AC, ACWP, EV, ETC, EAC, BAC, CV, SV, CPI, SPI. Also, describe what each term or concept means (or the formula associated with it).

Question 10

List at least five of some of the major sources of scope changes experienced on IT projects.

Question 11

What is the difference between monitoring and control?

Question 12

Name and describe the four elements in the configuration management process.

Question 13

List at least ten elements that should be included in the request for change (RFC).

Question 14

Monitoring and control involves a set of processes from seven of the nine knowledge areas.

Question 15

Describe at least five benefits of using a formal integrated change control process.

Question 16

Daily raw numbers are related to resource time expended per task assignment, milestones achieved, cost information, and resource calendar updates.

Question 17

List and describe three tools a team can use to aid in making percentage complete estimates.

Question 18

Monitoring and control processes are used to measure and report progress; handle changes to scope, time, cost, and quality; manage risk mitigation strategies; and administer procurement contracts.

Question 19

The two represent the same functions: Monitoring is collecting and reporting information concerning previously defined project performance elements, and control uses the information supplied by the monitoring techniques in order to bring project actual results in line with stated project performance standards.

Question 20

With respect to monitoring and control, the following elements should have been defined during the execution phase of the project: the items to be monitored, who is assigned to monitor them, how the data will be collected, and the frequency of monitoring.

Question 21

The change management knowledge area includes processes that are responsible for making sure the project completes in a timely fashion according to the initial schedule created plus any authorized changes.

Question 22

In the risk management knowledge area, the processes concerned with monitoring and control are verifying scope and controlling scope.

Question 23

Scope creep (which happens during IT projects when the scope of the system is allowed to continually grow) is one of the key contributors to projects costing more than originally budgeted and lasting longer than originally scheduled.

Question 24

The scope control process is responsible for influencing the factors that create project scope changes and attempts to control the impact of those changes, making sure all changes are approved through the formal integrated change control process.

Question 25

The integrated change control process is an informal process used to ensure that only approved necessary changes are made to a project or product.

Question 26

Every change made on the project to scope, schedule, human resources, or quality will also affect cost, either positively or negatively.

Question 27

The cost control process is concerned with influencing the factors that create cost variances on a project and controlling changes to a project's schedule.

Question 28

The management of change so that changes benefit a project instead of hurt the project is what the integrated change control process is all about.

Question 29

To achieve repeatable successes from project to project, the tools and techniques used for monitoring and control must be instilled into the organization's culture as part of the project methodology.

Question 30

In the cost management knowledge area, the process concerned with monitoring and control is controlling cost.

Question 31

Quantitative assessments are assessments such as user-reported likes / dislikes about the product and team member-reported task completion percentage estimates.

Question 32

The cost management knowledge area is responsible for defining and controlling all project costs so that the project can be completed within the approved budget.

Question 33

The process of verifying scope is responsible for obtaining the stakeholder's informal acceptance of the completed project scope and associated deliverables.

Question 34

The process of verifying scope is responsible for obtaining the stakeholder's formal acceptance of the completed project scope and associated deliverables.

Question 35

Daily raw numbers deal with product bugs or quality issues reported, user issues reported, and communication issues.

Question 36

More recently developed agile methodologies understand that change is inevitable and that change can be a good thing that makes technology projects better, if they are managed correctly.

Question 37

The schedule change process is concerned with determining the current status of all items currently being worked on, influencing factors that create schedule changes, determining whether the schedule has changed, and managing changes to the schedule by using a formal integrated change control process.

Question 38

Every documented requested change must be either accepted or rejected by an authority from the project management team; the proper authority is called a change advisory board (CAB) or a change control board (CCB).

Question 39

In the time management knowledge area, the process concerned with monitoring and control is controlling the schedule.

Question 40

The downside to using a formal process is the potential for a poorly run process giving the impression of control when little exists.

Question 41

A key tool used as input for the formal integrated change control process and the timely management of a project budget is the earned value management (EVM) technique.

Question 42

In configuration management, this is recording and reporting the status of the system components and change requests and gathering vital statistics about the system components in the product for auditing.

A) Identification
B) Control
C) Status accounting
D) Verification and audit

Question 43

In configuration management process, this is identifying the structure of the product, its components, and their type and making them unique and accessible in some form to the team.

A) Identification
B) Control
C) Status accounting
D) Verification and audit

Question 44

Every documented requested change must be either accepted or rejected by an authority from the project management team; the proper authority is called a ________.

A) project management committee
B) change control board
C) change management database
D) change control matrix

Question 45

________ and control involves a set of processes from eight of the nine knowledge areas.

A) Monitoring
B) Measure
C) Manage
D) Change

Question 46

With respect to monitoring and control, which of the following elements should NOT have been defined during the planning phase of the project?

A) The items to be monitored
B) Who is assigned to monitor the items
C) How the data will be collected
D) Which executive sponsor will read the reports

Question 47

In configuration management, this is the release of a product and changes to it throughout the product life cycle by having in place controls that ensure consistent releases via the creation of a baseline product.

A) Identification
B) Control
C) Status accounting
D) Verification and audit

Question 48

Estimate at completion (EAC) is equal to the actual costs reported to date plus the new ETC.

Question 49

The integrated ________ control process is a formal process used to ensure that only approved necessary changes are made to a project or product.

A) change
B) risk
C) constraint
D) project

Question 50

These numbers deal with product bugs or quality issues reported, user issues reported, and communication issues.

A) Daily raw numbers
B) Frequency numbers
C) Qualitative assessments
D) Scorecard numbers

Question 51

To reduce the chances for biased reporting, the process should be as ________ as possible, and there needs to be a separation of responsibilities.

A) manual
B) automated
C) regulated
D) minimal

Question 52

These are assessments such as user-reported likes / dislikes about the product and team member-reported task completion percentage estimates.

A) Daily raw numbers
B) Frequency numbers
C) Qualitative assessments
D) Scorecard numbers

Question 53

A ________ management process (or system) with change control provides a standardized, effective, and efficient process to centrally manage changes within a project.

A) change
B) integration
C) compatibility
D) configuration

Question 54

Estimate to complete (ETC) is the revised estimate for the work remaining, as determined by the project team.

Question 55

More recently developed ________ methodologies understand that change is inevitable and that change can be a good thing that makes technology projects better, if they are managed correctly.

A) portfolio
B) monitoring
C) control
D) agile

Question 56

The ________ Management knowledge area consists of the processes that coordinate all the various processes and activities contained in all five process groups-Initiate, Plan, Execute, Control, and Closing.

A) Risk
B) Human Resources
C) Integration
D) Monitoring and Control

Question 57

These numbers are related to resource time expended per task assignment, milestones achieved, cost information, and resource calendar updates.

A) Daily raw numbers
B) Frequency numbers
C) Qualitative assessments
D) Scorecard numbers

Question 58

Schedule variance (SV) equals earned value (EV) minus planned value (PV), or SV = EV - PV.

Question 59

Monitoring and control processes are used to ________ and report progress; handle changes to scope, time, cost, and quality; manage risk mitigation strategies; and administer procurement contracts.

A) manage
B) observe
C) measure
D) define

Question 60

Cost performance index (CPI) equals the ratio of EV to PV, or SPI = EV/ PV. A CPI value less than 1.0 indicates a project behind schedule, and a CPI value greater than 1.0 indicates a project ahead of schedule.

Question 61

________ (which happens during IT projects when the scope of the system is allowed to continually grow) is one of the key contributors to projects costing more than originally budgeted and lasting longer than originally scheduled.

A) Requirements creep
B) Constraint creep
C) Project creep
D) Scope creep

Question 62

This is the budgeted cost for the work scheduled to be completed on a task, work package, or activity up to a given point in time. Also referred to as budgeted cost of work scheduled (BCWS).

A) EV
B) AV
C) AC
D) PV

Question 63

In configuration management, this is validating the accuracy and completeness of a product against stated objectives and requirements and maintaining consistency among the components by ensuring that the product is configured with all the correct pieces.

A) Identification
B) Control
C) Status accounting
D) Verification and audit

Question 64

The ________ control process is responsible for influencing the factors that create project scope changes and attempts to control the impact of those changes, making sure all changes are approved through the formal integrated change control process.

A) scope
B) risk
C) resource
D) constraint

Question 65

This is the revised estimate for the work remaining, as determined by the project team.

A) EV
B) ETC
C) EAC
D) CV

Question 66

The ________ management knowledge area includes processes that are responsible for making sure the project completes in a timely fashion according to the initial schedule created plus any authorized changes.

A) scope
B) risk
C) time
D) change

Question 67

The process of verifying scope is responsible for obtaining the stakeholder's formal ________ of the completed project scope and associated deliverables.

A) signature
B) approval
C) acceptance
D) review

Question 68

This is equal to the planned total budget for the complete project.

A) BAC
B) AV
C) AC
D) EV

Question 69

The cost ________ process is concerned with influencing the factors that create cost variances on a project and controlling changes to a project's budget.

A) control
B) change
C) management
D) monitoring

Question 70

A key tool used as input for the formal integrated change control process and the timely management of a project budget is the ________ technique.

A) SWOT
B) earned value management
C) constraint management
D) expected future value

Question 71

In the ________ management knowledge area, the processes concerned with monitoring and control are verifying scope and controlling scope.

A) scope
B) risk
C) resource
D) constraint

Question 72

In this tool for estimating percentage complete, no credit is given for any work completed until the task is completed.

A) 0-100 percent rule
B) 50-50 percent rule
C) Interval percent rule
D) EVM.

Question 73

In the time management knowledge area, the process concerned with monitoring and control is controlling the ________.

A) resources
B) schedule
C) scope
D) vendors

Question 74

In this tool for estimating percentage complete, when a task or work package is started, it is immediately assigned a 50 percent complete status until it is completed and then is set to 100 percent complete.

A) 0-100 percent rule
B) 50-50 percent rule
C) Interval percent rule
D) EVM

Question 75

The cost management ________ area is responsible for defining and controlling all project costs so that the project can be completed within the approved budget.

A) process
B) monitoring
C) control
D) knowledge

Question 76

This is equal to the actual costs reported to date plus the new ETC.

A) EV
B) ETC
C) EAC
D) CV

Question 77

The schedule ________ process is concerned with determining the current status of all items currently being worked on, influencing factors that create schedule changes, determining whether the schedule has changed, and managing changes to the schedule by using a formal integrated change control process.

A) control
B) change
C) management
D) monitoring

Question 78

This equals the ratio of EV to PV. A value less than 1.0 indicates a project behind schedule, and a value greater than 1.0 indicates a project ahead of schedule.

A) SPI
B) CPI
C) SV
D) CV

Question 79

With this method of percentage complete estimation, a team agrees to use a set of completion milestones such as thirds (33 percent, 67 percent, 100 percent) or fourths (25 percent, 50 percent, 75 percent, 100 percent).

A) 0-100 percent rule
B) 50-50 percent rule
C) Interval percent rule
D) EVM

Question 80

EVM provides needed information for the ________ of project status simultaneously across time, cost, and work performance.

A) monitoring
B) evaluation
C) control
D) reporting