Question 1

The authors recommend that reports to senior management appear to be uniquely helpful when these reports are made __________.

Accepted Answer

The authors recommend that reports to senior management appear to be uniquely helpful when these reports are made at project phase gates. This allows the management to evaluate progress and make important decisions at critical points in the project.

Question 2

In addition to being easy to maintain, a good control system will __________ if it goes out of order.

Accepted Answer

A good control system will send out signals if it goes out of order, alerting operators or maintenance personnel to take necessary actions, which helps in preventing any further damage or disruption. Hence, option C is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because if the system goes out of order, it may not be able to capture data. Option B is incorrect because terminating process operations may cause further damage or danger to the system, equipment or personnel. Option D is incorrect because taking no action until the system is fixed can lead to long downtime, costly repairs or even system failure.

Question 3

Which of the following is the key feature of cybernetic control systems?

Accepted Answer

The key feature of cybernetic control systems is automatic operation, meaning that the system can regulate and adjust itself based on feedback and input without the need for manual control or intervention. Directional controls and specific preconditions may be present in such a system, but they are not the defining feature.

Question 4

Most control systems used in project management today fall into this category of control system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most control systems used in project management...

Question 5

In order to gain user acceptance, the control system should appear to be __________.

Accepted Answer

The control system should appear sensible to users in order to gain their acceptance. If it appears too firm or enforced with sanctions, users may feel like their freedom is being restricted, which can lead to resistance or non-compliance. On the other hand, if the control system appears too lenient, it may not effectively manage risks or improve compliance behavior.

Question 6

Control is focused on three elements of a project. They are __________.

Accepted Answer

Control is focused on managing and monitoring the scope, cost, and time of a project to ensure it stays on track and meets its objectives. While quality, customer satisfaction, performance, and delivery are all important aspects of a project, they are not the primary focus of control.

Question 7

When performing control, project managers need to be attentive to __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When performing control, project managers need to...

Question 8

Identify the item that is NOT one of the three types of control processes described by the authors.

Accepted Answer

The authors describe three types of control processes: cybernetic control, go/no-go control, and postcontrol. Robotic control is not one of the types mentioned in the text.

Question 9

In their 2005 paper Hussain and Wearne reported the results of a survey of over 1000 project managers who were asked to identify the "greatest problem of project management". Which of the following was NOT one of the top three responses?

Accepted Answer

According to the survey conducted by Hussain and Wearne, the top three problems in project management were organizational issues, resource issues, and time issues. Scope change issues were not among the top three responses.

Question 10

The __________ process controls the project at various points in the life cycle to make sure that the project remains on course. This is opposed to waiting until the project is completed and then finding out it doesn't meet the objectives of the organization

Accepted Answer

The phase-gate process is a structured approach to project management that divides the project into phases, with each phase culminating in a decision point or "gate." At each gate, a review is conducted to determine whether the project is meeting its objectives and whether it should proceed to the next phase. This process allows for course correction and adjustments to the project plan as needed, rather than waiting until the end to discover problems.

Question 11

Because project milestones do not occur at periodic intervals, go/no-go controls should be linked to the __________; not simply to the calendar.

Accepted Answer

Project milestones are based on the occurrence of real events rather than periodic intervals. Therefore, go/no-go controls should also be linked to the actual plans and events rather than simply being tied to calendar dates. The other options, such as the corporate budgeting process, portfolio management review process, and capital budgeting process, are not directly related to project milestones and may not be relevant for determining go/no-go decisions.

Question 12

The stewardship of human resources requires __________ the growth and development of people.

Accepted Answer

The stewardship of human resources involves controlling and maintaining the growth and development of people in an organization. This means providing opportunities for training, mentoring, and career advancement to ensure that employees remain engaged, motivated, and capable of performing their jobs to the best of their abilities. While flattening or demolishing the workforce may be necessary in certain circumstances, these options do not reflect the positive and proactive approach that stewardship requires. Mandating growth and development may also be counterproductive, as it may create resistance or resentment among employees. Therefore, controlling and maintaining the growth and development of people is the most appropriate choice for fulfilling the stewardship role in human resource management.

Question 13

The two fundamental objectives of control are the regulation of results and the __________.

Accepted Answer

The two fundamental objectives of control are the regulation of results and the stewardship of organizational assets. Stewardship involves managing and safeguarding resources such as financial assets, physical assets, and human resources. It ensures that these resources are used efficiently and effectively towards achieving organizational goals.

Question 14

In a cybernetic control system using a negative feedback loop, the speed or force with which the control operates is, in general, __________ to the size of the deviation from standard.

Accepted Answer

In a negative feedback loop, the control system adjusts based on the size of the deviation from standard. The degree of adjustment is proportional to the size of the deviation. So, the correct option is B, which means that the speed or force with which the control operates is proportional to the size of the deviation from standard.

Question 15

Physical asset control is concerned with asset maintenance, whether __________.

Accepted Answer

Physical asset control is concerned with maintaining the assets in good condition, preventing any damage or malfunction, and taking corrective action when necessary. Therefore, the correct option is preventive or corrective, as they refer to actions that aim to maintain the asset's condition or fix any issues that may arise. Detective or estimative, addition or removal, and detection or estimation are not directly related to physical asset control.

Question 16

Go/no-go controls operate __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Go/no-go controls operate __________.
...

Question 17

Physical asset control requires control of the __________ of physical assets and is concerned with asset maintenance, whether preventative or corrective.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Physical asset control requires control of the...

Question 18

The critical ratio control chart uses a ratio made up of two parts -- the ratio of actual progress to scheduled progress, and the __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The critical ratio control chart uses a...

Question 19

With few exceptions, the control of projects is always exercised through _______.

Accepted Answer

The control of projects is always exercised through people, as they are responsible for carrying out the tasks, making decisions, monitoring progress, and ensuring that the project meets its objectives. While computers, information systems, and algorithms can facilitate project control, they cannot replace the key role played by people in managing projects.

Question 20

In order to control creative projects the project manager must adopt one or some combination of three general approaches to the problem. Which of the following is NOT one of these approaches?

Accepted Answer

The three general approaches to control creative projects are control of input resources, process review, and personnel reassignments. "Creativity check" is not one of the approaches.

Quiz 11: Project Control