Chapter 1: Introduction to Project Management TRUE/FALSE
1. Until Until the 1980s, 1980s, proje project ct mana manage geme ment nt prima primari rily ly focu focuse sed d on prov provid iding ing sche schedu dule le and and reso resour urce ce data data to top top management in the military and construction industries. ANS: T REF: 2 2. Worldwide Worldwide IT spending spending is expected expected to grow by between between 14 percent percent and 16 percent percent in the next few years. years. ANS: F REF: 3 3. One attribute attribute that that helps define define a project project is that a project project has a unique unique purpo purpose. se. ANS: T REF: 5 4. Projects Projects should should go on indefinite indefinitely: ly: they do not not have a definite definite beginning beginning,, middle, or end. end. ANS: F REF: 5 5. Projects Projects are are often often defined defined narro narrowly wly when when they they begin. begin. ANS: F REF: 5 6. A pr program is a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually. ANS: T REF: 6 7. A projec projectt never never involv involves es uncer uncertain tainty. ty. ANS: F REF: 6 8. A good project project officer is crucial crucial to a project’s project’s success success because because he or she works with the project project sponsors, sponsors, the project team, and the other people involved in a project to meet project goals. ANS: F REF: 6 9. Questions Questions about about how long a project’s project’s schedule schedule should should be are related related to the issue of the project’ project’ss scope. ANS: F REF: 7 10. Managing Managing the triple constra constraint int involves involves making trade-of trade-offs fs between between scope, time, and and cost goals for for a project. project. ANS: T REF: 7 11. Because Because of the uncertain uncertain nature of projects projects and competition competition for resourc resources, es, it is rare to complete many projects projects according to the exact scope, time, and cost plans originally predicted. ANS: T REF: 7 12. Good project project managem management ent only include includess meeting meeting the triple triple constrain constraint. t. ANS: F REF: 9 13. In the example example of building building a new house, house, the support support staff staff would provide provide the wood, wood, windows, windows, flooring flooring materials, materials, appliances, and so on. ANS: F REF: 10 14. There are six six core core knowledge knowledge areas areas of project project manage management. ment. ANS: F REF: 11 15. The 2002 Standish Standish Group Group report report showed that the averag averagee cost of a project has been been more than cut cut in half. ANS: T REF: 13 16. The 2002 Standish Standish Group report report showed showed decided decline decline in the statistics statistics for information information technology technology projects projects in the past decade. ANS: F REF: 13
17. Project management is the silver bullet that guarantees success on all projects. ANS: F REF: 14 18. A 2004 study showed that relationship management is viewed as a top success factor for information systems in China, while it is not mentioned in U.S. studies. ANS: T REF: 14-15 19. Companies that excel in project management often grow their project leaders externally. ANS: F REF: 15 20. The job description for a project manager can vary by industry and by organization. ANS: T REF: 16 21. A project manager is not responsible for securing needed resources. ANS: F REF: 17 22. Project managers should posess general management knowledge and skills such as financial management, accounting, and procurement. ANS: T REF: 18 23. Project managers must be able to make effective use of technology as it relates to the specific project. ANS: T REF: 19 24. It would be very easy for someone with little or no background in information technology to become the project manager for a large information technology project. ANS: F REF: 20 25. Project managers often take on the role of both leader and manager. ANS: T REF: 22 26. It is necessary to draw Gantt charts by hand. ANS: T REF: 25 27. Determining the relationships among tasks is not essential in helping to improve project scheduling. ANS: F REF: 26 28. New software makes basic tools, such as Gantt charts and network diagrams, inexpensive, easy to create, and available for anyone to update. ANS: T REF: 27 29. Many people still use basic productivity software, such as Microsoft Word or Excel, to perform many project management functions. ANS: T REF: 31 30. Stakeholders’ needs and expectations are only important in the beginning of a project. ANS: F REF: 11 MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. A 2001 report showed that the U.S. spends ____ on projects every year. a. $2.3 billion c. $2.3 trillion b. $23 billion d. $23 trillion
ANS: C
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2. A 2001 report showed that the U.S. spends the equivalent of ____ of the nation’s gross domestic product on projects every year. a. 1/10 c. 1/4 b. 1/5 d. 1/2
ANS: C
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3. Many organizations claim that one of the advantages of using project management is ____. a. lower profit margins c. lower quality b. lower costs d. lower worker morale ANS: B
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4. Because a project often requires resources from various areas, many projects cross ____ or other boundaries to achieve their unique purpose. a. financial c. departmental b. spatial d. technological ANS: C
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5. The project ____ usually provides direction and funding for the project. a. leader c. manager b. sponsor d. director ANS: B
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6. The limitations of scope, time, and cost goals are sometimes referred to as the triple ____. a. bind c. threat b. constraint d. obstacle ANS: B
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7. ____ are the people involved in or affected by project activities and include the project sponsor, project team, support staff, customers, users, suppliers, and even opponents to the project. a. Managers c. Directors b. Stakeholders d. Citizens ANS: B
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8. In the example of the project of building a house, the sponsors would be the potential ____. a. contractors c. managers b. support staff d. homeowners ANS: D
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9. In the example of the project of building a house, the ____ would normally be the general contractor responsible for building the house. a. project sponsors c. project manager b. project team d. support staff ANS: C
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10. Project ____ management involves defining and managing all the work required to complete the project successfully. a. scope c. time b. quality d. cost ANS: A
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11. Project ____ management involves generating, collecting, disseminating, and storing project information. a. risk c. communications b. procurement d. resource ANS: C
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12. Project ____ management is concerned with making effective use of the people involved with the project. a. human resource c. communications
b.
risk
ANS: A
d. REF:
procurement
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13. Project ____ management ensures that the project will satisfy the stated or implied needs for which it was undertaken. a. cost c. scope b. time d. quality ANS: D
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14. Project ____ management is an overarching function that affects and is affected by all of the other knowledge areas. a. cost c. integration b. quality d. time ANS: C
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15. What works on one project may not work on another, so it is essential for project managers to continue to develop their knowledge and ____ in managing projects. a. time c. funding b. resources d. skills ANS: D
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16. According to the Standish group, which of the following factors contribute most to the success of information technology projects? a. Executive support c. Experienced project manager b. User involvement d. Clear business objectives ANS: A
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17. According to the 2001 Standish Group study describing what factors contribute most to the success of information technology projects, ____ percent of successful projects are led by experienced project managers. a. 87 c. 97 b. 90 d. 100 ANS: C
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18. “All project leaders use a shared road map, focusing on key business aspects of their projects while integrating goals across all parts of the organization.” Which best practice for project delivery does this describe? a. Use an integrated toolbox b. Grow project leaders c. Develop a streamlined project delivery process d. Measure project health using metrics ANS: C
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19. Project managers should understand important topics related to financial management, accounting, procurement, sales, marketing, and contracts. These topi cs are related to which area? a. Soft Skills b. Application area knowledge, standards, and regulations c. Project environment knowledge d. General management knowledge and skills ANS: D
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20. Although information technology project managers need to draw on their information technology expertise or the expertise of key team members, they must spend ____ time becoming better project managers and ____ time becoming information technology experts in order to successfully lead their project teams. a. less; less c. less; more b. more; less d. more; more
ANS: B
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21. Most people agree that the modern concept of project management began with the ____. a. Great Wall of China c. Egyptian pyramids b. first space shuttle d. Manhattan Project ANS: D
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22. ____ was the key industry behind the development of several project management techniques. a. NASA c. Steel manufacturing b. The military d. Marine biology ANS: B
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23. A(n) ____ focuses on long-term goals and big-picture objectives, while inspiring people to reach those goals. a. assistant c. leader b. CEO d. manager ANS: C
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24. According to a 2002 survey, the information technology skill/job that is in the highest demand is ____ a. SQL Database Analyst c. Oracle Database Analyst b. C/C++ Programmer d. Visual Basic Programmer ANS: A
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25. According to a 2004 survey by CIO.com, Project Management is the ____ most desired skill by IT executives. a. First c. Third b. Second d. Fourth ANS: B
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26. In ____, Henry Gantt developed the famous Gantt chart as a tool for scheduling work in factories. a. 1817 c. 1927 b. 1917 d. 1957 ANS: B
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27. A Gantt chart displays a project’s start and finish dates in a ____ format. a. pie chart c. bar graph b. line graph d. calendar ANS: D
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28. The Manhattan Project cost almost $2 billion in ____. a. 1936 c. b. 1946 d. ANS: B
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29. The longest path through a network diagram that determines the earliest completion of a project is called the ____ path. a. essential c. critical b. important d. vital ANS: C
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30. By the ____, the military had begun to use software to help manage large projects. a. 1960s c. 1980s b. 1970s d. 1990s ANS: B
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31. ____ was an early project management software product that helped managers analyze complex schedules for designing aircraft. a. Artemis c. Vega b. Columbia d. Oberlin ANS: A
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32. ____ project management software integrates information from multiple projects to show the status of active, approved, and future projects across an entire organization and provides links to more detailed information. a. Investment c. Enterprise b. Active d. Budget ANS: C
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33. Summary charts made with enterprise project management software often show status as green to indicate things are going well, ____ to indicate that there are some problems, and ____ to indicate major problems. a. orange; yellow c. blue; red b. yellow; red d. red; yellow ANS: B
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34. A PMO, or Project ____ Office, is an organizational group responsible for coordinating the project management function throughout an organization. a. Management c. Municipal b. Money d. Marketing ANS: A
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35. There are several project management degree programs available, and a(n) ____ number of people are earning Masters degrees and doctorates in project management. a. unchanging c. decreasing b. increasing d. steady ANS: B
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36. PMI provides certification as a Project Management ____ (PMP)--someone who has documented sufficient project experience, agreed to follow the PMI code of professional conduct, and demonstrated knowledge of the field of project management by passing a comprehensive examination. a. Producer c. Professional b. Practitioner d. Professor ANS: C
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37. By the end of May 2004, there were approximately ____ certified project management professionals. a. 8,200 c. 82,000 b. 50,000 d. 820,000 ANS: C
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38. ____ tools are often recommended for small projects and single users. a. Low-end c. High-end b. Midrange d. Expensive ANS: A
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39. The Project Management ____, a Web site for people involved in project management, provides an alphabetical directory of more than 300 project management software solutions a. Center c. Consortium b. Alliance d. Facility ANS: A
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40. ____ tools, sometimes referred to as enterprise project management software, provide robust capabilities to handle very large projects. a. Low-end c. High-end b. Midrange d. Inexpensive ANS: C
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COMPLETION 1. More than _________________________ million people regard project management as their profession. ANS: sixteen 16 REF: 2
2. The “CHAOS” study found that more than 31 percent of information technology projects were _________________________ before completion, often due to poor project management. ANS: canceled REF: 3-4 3. A(n) _________________________ is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service. ANS: project REF: 4 4. The term “_________________________” refers to work done in organizations to sustain the business. ANS: operations REF: 4 5. _________________________ include people, hardware, software, or other assets. ANS: Resources REF: 6 6. The question: “what unique product or service does the customer or sponsor expect from the project?” is related to the _________________________ of the project. ANS: scope REF: 7 7. The question “how much money should be spent to complete the project?” is related to the project’s _________________________. ANS: cost REF: 7 8. The _________________________ of project management includes quality along with scope, time, and cost. ANS: quadruple constraint REF: 8 9. _________________________ is “the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements.” ANS: Project management REF: 9 10. _________________________ describe the key competencies that project managers must develop. ANS: Project management knowledge areas REF: 11 11. Project management tools and _________________________ assist project managers and their teams in carrying out scope, time, cost, and quality management. ANS: techniques REF: 12 12. Gantt charts, project network diagrams, critical path analysis, program evaluation review technique (PERT), and critical chain scheduling are examples of tools and techniques for _________________________. ANS: Time management REF: 12 13. _________________________ refers to the process in which organizations group and manage projects as a portfolio of investments that contribute to the entire enterprise’s success. ANS: Project portfolio management REF: 13 14. Companies that excel in project delivery use performance _________________________ to quantify progress. ANS: metrics REF: 15
15. _________________________ include effective communication, influencing the organization to get things done, leadership, motivation, negotiation, conflict management, and problem solving. ANS: Soft skills REF: 18 16. According to a recent study, _________________________ contributes the most to project success. ANS: positive leadership REF: 22 17. A(n) _________________________ often deals with the day-to-day details of meeting specific goals. ANS: manager REF: 22 18. A(n) _________________________ chart is a standard format for displaying project schedule information by listing project activities and their corresponding start and finish dates in a calendar format. ANS: Gantt REF: 25 19. As computer hardware became smaller and more _________________________ and software became graphical and easy to use, project management software became less expensive and more widely used. ANS: affordable REF: 27 20. The Project Management _________________________ (PMI), an international professional society for project managers, has continued to attract and retain members, reporting more than 133,000 members worldwide by May 2004. ANS: Institute REF: 28 21. Because there are so many people working on projects in various industries, PMI has created Specific _________________________ Groups (SIGs) that enable people to share ideas about project management in their particular application areas, such as information systems. ANS: Interest REF: 28 22. PMI developed a PMP code of professional _________________________ that all applicants must agree to in order to become certified project management professionals (PMPs). ANS: conduct REF: 30 23. _________________________ is the most widely used project management software tool today. ANS: Microsoft Project, Microsoft Project 2003 REF: 31 24. _________________________ tools, a step up from low-end tools, are designed to handle larger projects, multiple users, and multiple projects. ANS: Midrange REF: 32 25. _________________________ tools are generally licensed on a per-user basis. ANS: High-end REF: 32 ESSAY 1. Describe the Triple Constraint? What are the three components? What is the relationship between them? ANS: Every project is constrained in different ways by its scope, time, and cost goals -- the triple constraint. To create a successful project, a project manager must consider scope, time, and cost and balance these three oftencompeting goals. He or she must consider the following: Scope: What work will be done as part of the project? What unique product, service, or result does the customer or sponsor expect from the project? Time: How long should it take to complete the project? What is the project’s schedule? Cost : What should it cost to complete the project? What is the project’s budget?
Managing the triple constraint involves making trade-offs between scope, time, and cost goals for a project. For example, you might need to increase the budget for a project to meet scope and time goals. Alternatively, you might have to reduce the scope of a project to meet time and cost goals. Because projects involve uncertainty and limited resources, it is rare to complete many projects according to the exact scope, time, and cost plans originally predicted. Experienced project managers know that you must decide which aspect of the triple constraint is most important. If time is most important, you must often change the initial scope and/or cost goals to meet the schedule. If scope goals are most important, you may need to adjust time and/or cost goals. REF: 7 2.
List and describe each of the nine project management knowledge areas. ANS: Project scope management involves defining and managing all the work required to complete the project successfully.
Project time management includes estimating how long it will take to complete the work, developing an acceptable project schedule, and ensuring timely completion of the project. Project cost management consists of preparing and managing the budget for the project. Project quality management ensures that the project will satisfy the stated or implied needs for which it was undertaken. Project human resource management is concerned with making effective use of the people involved with the project. Project communications management involves generating, collecting, disseminating, and storing project information. Project risk management includes identifying, analyzing, and responding to risks related to the project. Project procurement management involves acquiring or procuring goods and services for a project from outside the performing organization. Project integration management is an overarching function that affects and is affected by all of the other knowledge areas. REF: 11-12 3.
What is the difference between leadership and management? How do these two terms relate to a project manager? ANS: Leadership and management are terms often used interchangeably, although there are differences. Generally, a leader focuses on long-term goals and big-picture objectives, while inspiring people to reach those goals. A manager often deals with the day-to-day details of meeting specific goals. Some people say that, “Managers do things right, and leaders do the right things.” “Leaders determine the vision, and managers achieve the vision.” “You lead people and manage things.”
However, project managers often take on the role of both leader and manager. Good project managers know that people make or break projects, so they must set a good example to lead their team to success. They are aware of the greater needs of their stakeholders and organizations, so they are visionary in guiding their current projects and in suggesting future ones. As mentioned earlier, companies that excel in project management grow project “leaders,” emphasizing development of business and communication skills. Yet good project managers must also focus on getting the job done by paying attention to the details and daily operations of each task. Instead of thinking of leaders and managers as specific people, it is better to think of people as having leadership skills, such as being visionary and inspiring, and management skills, such as being organized and effective. Therefore, the best project managers have leadership and management characteristics; they are visionary yet focused on the bottom line. REF: 22-23
4.Discuss the PMP Certification. What are the advantages of obtaining PMP certification? ANS: Professional certification is an important factor in recognizing and ensuring quality in a profession. PMI provides certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP)—someone who has documented sufficient project experience, agreed to follow the PMI code of professional conduct, and demonstrated knowledge of the field of project management by passing a comprehensive examination. CompTIA’s Project+ certification is another example of a project management certification. The number of people earning PMP certification continues to increase. In 1993, there were about 1,000 certified project management professionals. By the end of May 2004, there were 81,913 certified project m anagement professionals.
Organizations that support PMP certification see the value of investing in programs to improve their employees’ knowledge in project management. Many employers today require specific certifications to ensure their workers have current skills, and job seekers find that they often have an advantage when they earn and maintain marketable certifications. Passing the PMP exam is becoming a standard for project managers. Some companies are requiring that all project managers be PMP certified. Project management certification is also enabling professionals in the field to share a common base of knowledge. For example, any person with PMP certification can list, describe, and use the nine project management knowledge areas. Sharing a common base of knowledge is important because it helps advance the theory and practice of project management. REF: 29-30 5. Discuss the PMP code of professional ethics. ANS: PMI developed a PMP code of professional conduct that all applicants must sign in order to become certified project management professionals (PMPs). PMI states that it is vital for all PMPs to conduct their work in an ethical manner. Conducting work in an ethical manner helps the profession earn the confidence of the public, employers, employees, and project team members. The PMP code of professional conduct lists responsibilities to the profession, such as compliance with all organizational rules and policies, professional practice, and advancement of the profession. It also lists responsibilities to customers and the public, such as qualifications, experience, and performance of professional services, as well as conflict-of-interest situati ons. REF: 30
