Quiz 3: Managing Systems Projects

All of the following are metrics of a successful project EXCEPT ____. A) on-time completion B) completion with the same personnel as were on the team at the outset C) completion within budget D) delivery of a quality product that satisfies users

A project manager's planning _____. A) involves guiding, supervising, and coordinating the project team's workload B) includes monitoring the progress of the project, evaluating results, and taking corrective action when necessary to stay on target C) consists of staffing, which includes selecting the project team and assigning specific tasks to team members D) includes identifying project tasks and estimating completion times and costs

A project manager's scheduling function _____. A) involves guiding, supervising, and coordinating the project team's workload B) includes monitoring the progress of the project, evaluating results, and taking corrective action when necessary to stay on target C) involves staffing, which includes selecting the project team and assigning specific tasks to team members D) includes identifying and arranging project tasks and estimating completion times and costs

For a project manager, monitoring _____. A) requires guiding, supervising, and coordinating the project team's workload B) involves controlling capital C) consists of staffing, which includes selecting the project team and assigning specific tasks to team members D) includes identifying and arranging project tasks and estimating completion times and costs

For a project manager, monitoring _____. A) involves controlling capital B) includes monitoring the progress of the project, evaluating results, and taking corrective action when necessary to stay on target C) consists of staffing, which includes selecting the project team and assigning specific tasks to team members D) includes identifying and arranging project tasks and estimating completion times and costs

Project scheduling involves all of the following EXCEPT ____. A) defining project constraints B) staffing the project team C) using Gantt charts D) assigning specific tasks to team members

-The accompanying figure shows task ____, which simplify a complex task by combining several activities. A) groups B) clusters C) aggregates D) links

PERT/CPM is called a(n) ____ technique, because it analyzes a large, complex project as a series of individual tasks. A) top-down B) bottom-up C) indexed D) cataloging

The first step in the creation of a PERT/CPM chart is to ____. A) determine the logical order of project tasks B) identify the graphical planning aids to use C) identify all the project tasks D) determine the status of all tasks

Many project managers find ____ charts more helpful for scheduling, monitoring, and controlling projects. A) Gantt B) PERT/CPM C) index D) task

A(n) ____ chart displays complex task patterns and relationships. A) Gantt B) index C) PERT/CPM D) task

The first step in creating a WBS is to ____. A) mark all recognizable events B) determine time requirements C) identify all tasks D) estimate task completion time and cost

A task is any work that requires the use of company resources including all of the following EXCEPT ____. A) controlling capital B) people C) time D) money

In addition to tasks, every project has ____, which are reference points used to monitor progress and manage the project. A) targets B) milestones C) members D) workloads

A ____ might involve maximums for one or more resources. A) successor task B) task group C) constraint D) bottom-up technique

In a PERT/CPM chart, each task has all of the following EXCEPT a(n) ____. A) reference to successor tasks B) ID C) name D) duration

When several tasks can start at the same time, each is called a(n) ____ task. A) synchronous B) asynchronous C) baseline D) concurrent

Two or more concurrent tasks often depend on a single prior task, which is called a(n) ____ task. A) predecessor B) a priori C) antecedent D) ancestor

When two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, the concurrent tasks are called ____ tasks. A) descendent B) successor C) children D) antecedent

A ____ path includes all tasks that are vital to the project schedule. A) vital B) baseline C) critical D) foundational

Project managers always must be aware of the ____ path, so they can monitor the vital tasks and keep the project on track. A) vital B) baseline C) foundational D) critical

When maintaining schedules, if enough ____ and frequent checkpoints exist, problems will be detected rapidly. A) success indices B) critical paths C) milestones D) all of the above

____ is open-source software that is supported by a large group of users and developers. A) Open Workbench B) Microsoft Project Standard C) Microsoft Project Professional D) Both b and c

Open Workbench can exchange files with Microsoft Project by importing and exporting the data in ____ file format. A) HTML B) TXT C) Microsoft Word D) XML

Microsoft offers a free ____ trial version that allows you to install, use, and evaluate Microsoft Project. A) 7-day B) 15-day C) 30-day D) 60-day

Which of the following is NOT a version in which Microsoft Project 2010 is released? A) Standard B) Professional C) Open D) Server

A _____ cannot be started until one or more other tasks are completed. A) dependent task B) concurrent task C) predecessor task D) all of the above

A ____ is an event that could affect a project negatively. A) menace B) threat C) doubt D) risk

A risk management plan includes a review of all of the following EXCEPT ____. A) employees B) project scope C) stakeholders D) budget

Most risk identifications include a brief description of all of the following EXCEPT ____. A) what might cause a risk to occur B) who would be responsible for responding to a given risk C) the potential impact of a given risk D) the team member most vulnerable to a given risk

A(n) ____ chart can be used to display the qualitative risk analysis matrix. A) pie B) XY C) bar D) line

A risk ____ plan is a proactive effort to anticipate a risk and describe an action plan to deal with it. A) identification B) management C) response D) balancing

A continuous risk-tracking process can do all of the following EXCEPT ____. A) identify new risks B) prevent human resource turnover issues C) notice changes in existing risks D) update any other areas of the risk management plan

All of the following are claims that Microsoft makes about the risk management capabilities of Microsoft Project EXCEPT ____. A) the linking of risks with specific vendors B) the assignment of ownership of risks C) the specification of probability and risk impact D) the ability to track progress to manage projects more efficiently

Microsoft's risk management model includes all of the following EXCEPT ____. A) category, which specifies the risk type B) probability, which indicates the degree of adverse effect should the risk occur, on a scale of 1 to 10 C) mitigation plan, which identifies plans to control or limit the risk D) trigger, which identifies a condition that would initiate the contingency plan

When an information system does not meet business requirements, causes might include ____. A) unidentified requirements B) inadequately defined scope C) imprecise targets D) all of the above

All of the following are possible causes of cost overruns related to human resource factors EXCEPT ____. A) motivation issues B) inadequate training C) inaccurate TCO forecast D) turnover

Problems with timetables and project milestones can indicate ____. A) personality conflicts among team members B) turnover of project personnel C) poor control methods D) all of the above

When a project manager first recognizes that a project is in trouble, the options available to her include ____. A) trimming the project requirements B) delaying the project deadline C) adding to the project resources D) all of the above

In developing time and cost estimates, project managers must consider _____. A) project size and scope B) IT resources C) prior experience with similar projects or systems D) all of the above

A report published by the Standish Group concluded that only one third of software development projects were successful, in the sense that they met ____ targets. A) budget B) scope C) schedule D) quality

Project managers typically perform the tasks of ____. A) project planning B) project reconciliation C) project scheduling D) project monitoring

Which of the following is an example of an event? A) the start of user training B) conversion of system data C) project creep D) completion of interviews

____ is a time estimate the project manager makes for a task. A) The weight B) The worst-case estimate C) The best-case estimate D) The probable-case estimate

Structured walk-throughs take place throughout the SDLC and are called ____ reviews, depending on the phase in which they occur. A) technical B) code C) design D) testing

In a PERT/CPM chart, the name of a given task has to be unique in the project. _________________________

Critical time is the amount of time that a task would be late without pushing back the completion date of the entire project. _________________________

Gantt charts often are included in progress reports to show project status graphically. _________________________

Quantitative risk analysis evaluates each risk by estimating the probability that it will occur and the degree of impact. _________________________

The purpose of quantitative risk analysis is to understand the actual impact in terms of dollars, time, project scope, or quality. _________________________

System developers can initiate a formal project as early as the preliminary investigation stage, or later on, as analysis, design, and implementation activities occur.

A project manager, or project leader, usually is a senior systems analyst or an IT department manager if the project is large.

Although a Gantt chart provides more detailed information about a project, a PERT/CPM chart offers a rapid overview that graphically displays the timing, duration, and progress of each task.

PERT/CPM and Gantt charts are mutually exclusive techniques.

Gantt charts are an ideal tool for controlling a complex project because they provide plenty of detailed information.

Using a WBS allows you to manage a project as one large task.

If it will take one person 20 days to perform a particular task, it is true that two people could complete the same task in 10 days or that 10 people could perform the task in two days.

In most systems analysis tasks, time and people are interchangeable.

If you do not have previous experience to measure a project in a given environment, you could design a prototype or pilot system to gain technical and cost estimating experience.

Using prior experience to make time and cost estimates works best for large projects.

In a PERT/CPM chart, each rectangular box, called a task box, has five sections that contain important information about a task.

In any project, large or small, tasks depend on each other and must be performed in a sequence.

When tasks must be completed one after another, they are called concurrent tasks.

When several tasks can take place at the same time, each is called a sequential task.

Often, two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, which is called a successor task.

When two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, each of the concurrent tasks is called a predecessor task.

Project management software can highlight the series of tasks that form the critical path.

If any task along the critical path falls behind schedule, the entire project is delayed.

Generally, systems analysts review the work of other systems analysts, and programmers review the work of other programmers, as a form of peer review, in structured walk-throughs.

Tasks that are not on the critical path cannot be ignored.

Project status meetings give project managers an opportunity to seek input and conduct brainstorming sessions.

Most managers recognize that problems do occur on most projects; it is better to alert management sooner rather than later.

In Open Workbench, unlike in Microsoft Project, you create tasks and durations, indicate dependencies, and assign resources.

Project planning is a dynamic task and involves constant change.

If team members lack experience with certain aspects of the required technology, temporary help might be obtained from IT consultants or part-time staff.

The ____________________ handles administrative responsibilities for a project development team and negotiates with users who might have conflicting requirements or want changes that would require additional time or expense.

-To schedule a project, a project manager can use a(n) ____________________ like the one in the accompanying figure, which is a horizontal bar chart that represents a series of tasks.

-To simplify a Gantt chart for a large project, a project manager can combine related activities into ____________________ that represent several activities.

-Over time, the distinctions between the Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) and the Critical Path Method (CPM) have disappeared, and today the scheduling technique is called ____________________, as represented in the accompanying figure.

-The chart in the accompanying figure represents a bottom-up technique, because it analyzes a large, complex project as a series of individual ____________________.

In the project planning process, a(n) ____________________ is any work that has a beginning and an end and requires the use of company resources.

A(n) ____________________ is a recognizable reference point that can be used to monitor progress and manage a project.

Instead of training a project as one large task, you break the project down into a series of smaller tasks, called a(n) ____________________.

A(n) ____________________ represents the amount of work that one person can complete in one day.

When estimating the duration of a task, the project manager makes three time estimates for the task and then assigns a(n) ____________________, which is an importance value, to each estimate.

____________________ can involve dependent tasks, multiple successor tasks, and multiple predecessor tasks.

The ____________________ is the time that a task is scheduled to begin.

A project is based on a pattern of ____________________.

The ____________________ is the time that a task is scheduled to be completed.

A(n) ____________________ is a review of a project team member's work by other members of the team.

____________________ is software that can assist in project planning, estimating, scheduling, monitoring, and reporting.

In Microsoft Project, a(n) ____________________ is similar to a PERT chart.

Projects with general scope definitions are risky, because they tend to expand gradually, without specific authorization, in a process called ____________________.

According to the concept called ____________________, adding manpower to a late software project only makes it later.

A(n) ____________________ is a series of tasks with no slack time.

MATCHING Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition. a. project management f. weight b. project coordinator g. bottom-up technique c. project leader h. dependent d. milestone i. concurrent e. constraint j. predecessor -Usually a senior systems analyst or an IT department manager, if the project is large.

MATCHING Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition. a. project management f. weight b. project coordinator g. bottom-up technique c. project leader h. dependent d. milestone i. concurrent e. constraint j. predecessor -A condition, restriction, or requirement that the system must satisfy.

MATCHING Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition. a. project management f. weight b. project coordinator g. bottom-up technique c. project leader h. dependent d. milestone i. concurrent e. constraint j. predecessor -The process of planning, scheduling, monitoring, and reporting upon the development of an information system.

MATCHING Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition. a. project management f. weight b. project coordinator g. bottom-up technique c. project leader h. dependent d. milestone i. concurrent e. constraint j. predecessor -Handles the administrative responsibilities for the development team.

MATCHING Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition. a. project management f. weight b. project coordinator g. bottom-up technique c. project leader h. dependent d. milestone i. concurrent e. constraint j. predecessor -An importance value assigned to an estimate.

MATCHING Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition. a. project management f. weight b. project coordinator g. bottom-up technique c. project leader h. dependent d. milestone i. concurrent e. constraint j. predecessor -PERT/CPM is an example.

MATCHING Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition. a. project management f. weight b. project coordinator g. bottom-up technique c. project leader h. dependent d. milestone i. concurrent e. constraint j. predecessor -The kind of tasks that must be completed one after another.

MATCHING Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition. a. project management f. weight b. project coordinator g. bottom-up technique c. project leader h. dependent d. milestone i. concurrent e. constraint j. predecessor -A recognizable reference point that can be used to monitor progress and manage the project.

MATCHING Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition. a. project management f. weight b. project coordinator g. bottom-up technique c. project leader h. dependent d. milestone i. concurrent e. constraint j. predecessor -Tasks that can start at the same time are this kind of task.

MATCHING Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition. a. project management f. weight b. project coordinator g. bottom-up technique c. project leader h. dependent d. milestone i. concurrent e. constraint j. predecessor -The kind of task upon which other tasks depend.

Project managers typically perform four main tasks. Identify these and explain what they are.

As you enter the start and finish times for tasks in the process of transforming a task list into a PERT/CPM chart, you move through the tasks, adding the task duration for each task to its start time to determine its finish time. As you move through the tasks, there are three important rules to keep in mind. What are they?

What would a basic list of risk management steps include?

You begin by reviewing some of the key points of project planning. Which of the following is NOT a true statement about the process of developing a project plan? A) You should break the project down into a series of smaller tasks, called a work breakdown structure. B) Projects with general scope definitions tend to expand gradually in a process called project creep. C) A project that is twice as large as another project will typically be twice as complex. D) Adding manpower to a late software project only makes it later.

You show Mauricio the formula that project managers often use for estimating the duration of a task. Which of the following is NOT one of factors in that formula? A) the best-case estimate B) the initial-case estimate C) the worst-case estimate D) the probable-case estimate

Which of the following is NOT a true statement about Gantt charts? A) It is a horizontal bar chart that represents a series of tasks. B) The position of a bar shows the planned start and end of the task, and the length of the bar indicates its duration. C) They can show task status in several ways, including the use of a vertical line to represent the current date. D) They provide the detailed information that is necessary when managing a complex project.

In discussing PERT/CPM charts, you discuss the types of task patterns that can occur in a project schedule. You give an example of two tasks, A and B, that can both begin as soon as task C is finished. Which of the following is NOT a true statement about tasks A and B? A) They are predecessor tasks of each other. B) They are concurrent tasks. C) They each depend on task C. D) They are multiple successor tasks of task C.