Question 1

Which of the following structures is referred to in popular literature as a projectized form of organizations?

Accepted Answer

In the case of firms where projects are the dominant form of business, such as a construction firm or a consulting firm, the entire organization is designed to support project teams.Instead of one or two special projects, the organization consists of sets of quasi-independent teams working on specific projects.The main responsibility of traditional functional departments is to assist and support these project teams.

Question 2

The project manager has the responsibility to answer which of the following questions?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 3

In which of the following is the balance of authority strongly in favor of the functional managers?

Accepted Answer

This form attempts to create the "feel" of a project team within a matrix environment.The project manager controls most aspects of the project, including scope trade-offs and assignment of functional personnel.The project manager controls when and what specialists do and has final say on major project decisions.The functional manager has title over her people and is consulted on a need basis.In some situations a functional manager's department may serve as a "subcontractor" for the project, in which case they have more control over specialized work.

Question 4

Elizabeth is considering how to structure a project team that will not directly disrupt ongoing operations.The project needs to be done quickly and a high level of motivation will be needed in order to do that.For this situation, the ______ organization would be the best choice.

Accepted Answer

In many cases, the project team approach is the optimum approach for completing a project when you view it solely from the standpoint of what is best for completing the project.

Question 5

Bill is working on a project involving the upgrading of a management information system.The project is being managed by the information systems department with coordination with other departments occurring through normal channels.He is working in a _________ organization.

Accepted Answer

Once management decides to implement a project, the different segments of the project are delegated to the respective functional units with each unit responsible for completing its segment of the project.

Question 6

Projectitis is most likely to occur in the _______ organization structure.

Accepted Answer

Sometimes dedicated project teams take on an entity of their own and a disease known as projectitis develops.See Snapshot from Practice: Projectitis-The Dark Side.A strong we-they divisiveness emerges between the project team and the parent organization.

Question 7

Computers R Us is concerned about keeping project costs low and wants to be sure that all pools of expertise are used.Additionally they want to minimize duplication of efforts across projects.Their best choice for project management structure is the _______ organization structure.

Accepted Answer

Specialists from different areas work closely together and, with proper guidance, become committed to optimizing the project, not their respective areas of expertise.

Question 8

A project team that operates with a full-time project manager as a separate unit from the rest of the organization is structured as a ________ organization.

Accepted Answer

Instead of one or two special projects, the organization consists of sets of quasi-independent teams working on specific projects.The main responsibility of traditional functional departments is to assist and support these project teams.This type of organization is referred to in the literature as a Projectized Organization.

Question 9

Organizations have difficulty in creating a system for managing projects because

Accepted Answer

Many business organizations have struggled with creating a system for organizing projects while managing ongoing operations.

Question 10

Which of the following combinations represents the extremes of project organization?

Accepted Answer

The functional organization is also commonly used when, given the nature of the project, one functional area plays a dominant role in completing the project or has a dominant interest in the success of the project.At the other end of the structural spectrum is the creation of dedicated project teams.These teams operate as separate units from the rest of the parent organization.

Question 11

Which of the following is a disadvantage of functional project management organization?

Accepted Answer

In a functional project management organization, team members may lack motivation due to divided loyalties, projects may take longer due to less dedicated resources, and there can be a lack of focus on the project as functional priorities may take precedence.

Question 12

A project management system provides a framework for launching and implementing project activities within a ______ organization.

Accepted Answer

A project management system provides a framework for launching and implementing project activities within a parent organization.

Question 13

MegaComputers, Inc.has assigned a project manager for each of the five new-product teams.The managers as well as the project team members work on the projects on a full-time basis.The structure being used is ________ organization.

Accepted Answer

Instead of one or two special projects, the organization consists of sets of quasi-independent teams working on specific projects.

Question 14

Organizational culture is best explained as organizational

Accepted Answer

A simple explanation of organizational culture is that it reflects the "personality" of an organization.

Question 15

Which of the following is an advantage of a functional project management organization?

Accepted Answer

There is maximum flexibility in the use of staff.Appropriate specialists in different functional units can temporarily be assigned to work on the project and then return to their normal work.

Question 16

_________ organization is a hybrid form in which a horizontal project management structure is overlaid in the normal functional hierarchy.

Accepted Answer

Matrix management is a hybrid organizational form in which a horizontal project management structure is "overlaid" on the normal functional hierarchy.

Question 17

The structure that manages projects within the existing organizational structure is __________ organization.

Accepted Answer

One approach to organizing projects is to simply manage them within the existing functional hierarchy of the organization.Once management decides to implement a project, the different segments of the project are delegated to the respective functional units with each unit responsible for completing its segment of the project.

Question 18

A good project management system provides for defining the interface between the project team and the organization in all the following areas except

Accepted Answer

A project management system provides a framework for launching and implementing project activities within a parent organization.A good system appropriately balances the needs of both the parent organization and the project by defining the interface between the project and parent organization in terms of authority, allocation of resources, and eventual integration of project outcomes into mainstream operations.

Question 19

Kim is reviewing a proposed project.The scope of the project is narrow with a lot of in-depth expertise required and it will take a short period of time to complete.The best choice for organizing the project is ________ organization.

Accepted Answer

Top management decides to implement the project, and different segments of the project are distributed to appropriate areas.

Question 20

Matrix management violates the management principle of

Accepted Answer

Matrix management violates the management principle of unity of command.Project participants have at least two bosses-their functional head and one or more project managers.

Quiz 3: Organization: Structure and Culture