System Analysis & Design: Project Management - CH 9: Project Resource Management -- QUIZ 10

Which process involves tracking team member performance, motivating team members, providing timely feedback, resolving issues and conflicts, and coordinating changes to help enhance project performance? Answers: a. acquiring the project team b. developing the human resource plan c. managing the project team d. developing the project team

managing the project team Feedback: Managing the project team involves tracking team member performance, motivating team members, providing timely feedback, resolving issues and conflicts, and coordinating changes to help enhance project performance.

What needs are at the bottom of Maslow's structure? Answers: a. social b. physiological c. self-actualization d. esteem

physiological Feedback: At the bottom of the pyramid structure of Maslow's hierarchy of needs are physiological needs. Once physiological needs are satisfied, safety needs guide behavior.

In the Tuckman model, what occurs as team members have different opinions as to how the team should operate? Answers: a. storming b. norming c. performing d. forming

storming Feedback: Storming occurs when team members have different opinions for how the team should operate. People test each other, and there is often conflict within the team.

According to Covey, project managers must use a win/lose approach in making decisions. Answers: True False

False Feedback: Project managers should strive to use a win/win approach in making decisions, but in competitive situations they sometimes must use a win/lose paradigm.

Managers who follow which theory assume that the average worker wants to be directed and prefers to avoid responsibility? Answers: a. Theory K b. Theory Z c. Theory X d. Theory Y

Theory X Feedback: People who believe in Theory X assume that workers dislike and avoid work if possible, so managers must use coercion, threats, and various control schemes to have workers make adequate efforts to meet objectives. They assume that the average worker wants to be directed and prefers to avoid responsibility, has little ambition, and wants security above all else.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs states that people's behaviors are guided or motivated by a sequence of needs. Answers: True False

True Feedback: Maslow's hierarchy of needs states that people's behaviors are guided or motivated by a sequence of needs.

In the Social Styles Profile team building activity, drivers are reactive and people-oriented. Answers: True False

False Feedback: Drivers are proactive and task-oriented. They are firmly rooted in the present, and they strive for action.

Extrinsic motivation causes people to participate in an activity for their own enjoyment. Answers: True False

False Feedback: Extrinsic motivation causes people to do something for a reward or to avoid a penalty.

A RAM is used only to assign detailed work activities. Answers: True False

False Feedback: In addition to using a RAM to assign detailed work activities, you can use it to define general roles and responsibilities on projects. This type of RAM can include the stakeholders in the project.

Legitimate power involves using personal knowledge and expertise to get people to change their behavior. Answers: True False

False Feedback: Legitimate power is getting people to do things based on a position of authority. This type of power is similar to the authority basis of influence.

Maslow suggests that each level of the hierarchy of needs is not necessarily a prerequisite for the levels above. Answers: True False

False Feedback: Maslow suggests that each level of the hierarchy is a prerequisite for the levels above. For example, a person cannot consider self-actualization without first addressing basic needs of security and safety.

Managers who believe in Theory Y assume that workers dislike and avoid work if possible, so managers must use coercion, threats, and various control schemes to get workers to make adequate efforts to meet objectives. Answers: True False

False Feedback: People who believe in Theory X assume that workers dislike and avoid work if possible, so managers must use coercion, threats, and various control schemes to have workers make adequate efforts to meet objectives. They assume that the average worker wants to be directed and prefers to avoid responsibility, has little ambition, and wants security above all else.

According to Thamhain and Wilemon, what is the legitimate hierarchical right to issue orders? Answers: a. expertise b. self-actualization c. authority d. achievement

authority Feedback: According to Thamhain and Wilemon, authority is the legitimate hierarchical right to issue orders.

According to Lencioni, which quality is present in organizations that succeed? Answers: a. commitment b. teamwork c. autonomy d. accountability

teamwork Feedback: According to Patrick Lencioni, "Teamwork remains the one sustainable competitive advantage that has been largely untapped. Teamwork is almost always lacking within organizations that fail, and often present within those that succeed."

Psychologist David Merril describes which behavioral profile as reactive and task-oriented? Answers: a. amiables b. expressives c. drivers d. analyticals

analyticals Feedback: Analyticals are reactive and task-oriented. They are past-oriented and strong thinkers. Adjectives to describe analyticals include critical, indecisive, stuffy, picky, moralistic, industrious, persistent, serious, expecting, and orderly.

According to Thamhain and Wilemon, what is the ability to improve a worker's position? Answers: a. promotion b. expertise c. assignment d. penalty

promotion Feedback: According to Thamhain and Wilemon, promotion is the ability to improve a worker's position.

According to Blake and Mouton, project managers who use which method employ a give-and take-approach to resolving conflicts? Answers: a. smoothing b. confrontation c. compromise d. forcing

compromise Feedback: With the compromise mode, project managers use a give-and-take approach to resolving conflicts. They bargain and search for solutions that bring some degree of satisfaction to all the parties in a dispute.

Who is best known for developing Theory X and Theory Y? Answers: a. Frederick Herzberg b. David McClelland c. Abraham Maslow d. Douglas McGregor

Douglas McGregor Feedback: Douglas McGregor was one of the great popularizers of a human relations approach to management, and he is best known for developing Theory X and Theory Y.

According to Herzberg, hygiene factors such as larger salaries, more supervision, or a more attractive work environment would motivate workers to do more if present. Answers: True False

False Feedback: According to Herzberg, motivators such as larger salaries, more supervision, or a more attractive work environment would motivate workers to do more if present. He referred to factors that cause job satisfaction as motivators and factors that could cause dissatisfaction as hygiene factors.

In the MBTI, which dimension relates to the manner in which you gather information? Answers: a. Extrovert/Introvert b. Sensation/Intuition c. Judgment/Perception d. Thinking/Feeling

Sensation/Intuition Feedback: In the MBTI, the Sensation/ Intuition dimension relates to the manner in which you gather information. Sensation (or Sensing) type people take in facts, details, and reality and describe themselves as practical. Intuitive type people are imaginative, ingenious, and attentive to hunches or intuition. They describe themselves as innovative and conceptual.

What theory emphasizes factors such as job rotation, broadening of skills, generalization versus specialization, and the need for continuous training of workers? Answers: a. Theory Z b. Theory W c. Theory X d. Theory Y

Theory Z Feedback: Theory Z workers, it is assumed, can be trusted to do their jobs to their utmost ability, as long as management can be trusted to support them and look out for their wellbeing. Theory Z emphasizes job rotation, broadening of skills, generalization versus specialization, and the need for continuous training of workers.

A staffing management plan describes when and how people will be added to and taken off the project team. Answers: True False

True Feedback: A staffing management plan describes when and how people will be added to the project team and taken off it. The level of detail may vary based on the type of project.

In the Tuckman model, storming occurs when team members have different opinions for how the team should operate. Answers: True False

True Feedback: In the Tuckman model, storming occurs when team members have different opinions for how the team should operate. People test each other, and there is often conflict within the team.

People who need institutional power or social power want to organize others to further the goals of the organization. Answers: True False

True Feedback: People who need institutional power or social power want to organize others to further the goals of the organization.

Resource leveling results in fewer problems for project personnel and accounting departments. Answers: True False

True Feedback: Resource leveling results in fewer problems for project personnel and accounting departments. Increasing and decreasing labor levels and human resources often produce additional work and confusion.

Thamhain and Wilemon found that when project managers used work challenge and expertise to influence people, projects were more likely to succeed. Answers: True False

True Feedback: Thamhain and Wilemon found that projects were more likely to fail when project managers relied too heavily on using authority, money, or penalty to influence people. When project managers used work challenge and expertise to influence people, projects were more likely to succeed.

The first dimension of psychological type in the MBTI signifies whether people draw their energy from other people (extroverts) or from inside themselves (introverts). Answers: True False

True Feedback: The first dimension of psychological type in the MBTI signifies whether people draw their energy from other people (extroverts) or from inside themselves (introverts).

What do people who seek to excel and tend to avoid both low-risk and high-risk situations to improve their chances for achieving something worthwhile have a high need for? Answers: a. power b. security c. affiliation d. achievement

achievement Feedback: People who have a high need for achievement (nAch) seek to excel, and tend to avoid both low-risk and high-risk situations to improve their chances for achieving something worthwhile. Achievers need regular feedback and often prefer to work alone or with other high achievers.

Which type of power involves using punishment, threats, or other negative approaches to get people to do things they do not want to do? Answers: a. referent b. legitimate c. coercive d. reward

coercive Feedback: Coercive power involves using punishment, threats, or other negative approaches to get people to do things they do not want to do. For example, a project manager can threaten to fire workers or subcontractors to try to get them to change their behavior.

The main outputs of which process are team performance assessments, change requests, and updates to several documents? Answers: a. human resource planning b. acquiring the project team c. managing the project team d. developing the project team

developing the project team Feedback: Developing the project team involves building individual and group skills to enhance project performance. The main outputs of this process are team performance assessments, change requests, and updates to several documents.

Recognizing an employee as the "Star Performer of the Month" would be satisfying which need in Maslow's hierarchy? Answers: a. self-actualization b. esteem c. safety d. physiological

esteem Feedback: Esteem needs include recognition, prestige, and status.

What is the first step in the framework for defining and assigning work? Answers: a. finalizing the project requirements b. assigning work responsibilities c. defining how the work will be accomplished d. breaking down the work into manageable elements

finalizing the project requirements Feedback: The first step in the framework for defining and assigning work is finalizing the project requirements.

What need is at the highest level in Maslow's structure? Answers: a. growth b. deficiency c. safety d. physiological

growth Feedback: The bottom four needs in Maslow's hierarchy, physiological, safety, social, and esteem needs, are referred to as deficiency needs, and the highest level, self-actualization, is considered a growth need.

Which type of intelligence involves the capacity to understand the motivations, intentions and desires of others? Answers: a. emotional b. intrapersonal c. interpersonal d. human

interpersonal Feedback: Human intelligence encompasses both interpersonal (understanding others) and intrapersonal (understanding self). Emotional intelligence is knowing and managing one's own emotions and understanding the emotions of others.

Which concept refers to matching certain behaviors of the other person? Answers: a. rapport b. synergy c. mirroring d. empathic listening

mirroring Feedback: Mirroring is matching certain behaviors of the other person. People tend to like others who are like themselves, and mirroring helps you take on some of the other person's characteristics.

According to McClelland's acquired-needs theory, what do people who want to direct others, and can be seen as bossy, have a need for? Answers: a. achievement b. power c. advancement d. affiliation

power Feedback: People with a need for power (nPow) desire either personal power or institutional power. People who need personal power want to direct others and can be seen as bossy.

What term is used for the relation of harmony, conformity, accord, or affinity? Answers: a. empathy b. rapport c. democracy d. mirroring

rapport Feedback: Rapport is a relation of harmony, conformity, accord, or affinity.

According to Herzberg, which is a motivational factor? Answers: a. training b. health benefits c. recognition d. salary

recognition Feedback: Frederick Herzberg is best known for distinguishing between motivational factors and hygiene factors when considering motivation in work settings. He referred to factors that cause job satisfaction as motivators and factors that could cause dissatisfaction as hygiene factors.

Which type of power is based on an individual's personal charisma? Answers: a. reward b. referent c. legitimate d. coercive

referent Feedback: Referent power is based on a person's own charisma. People who have referent power are held in very high regard; others will do what they say based on that regard.

Which tool is a column chart that shows the number of resources assigned to a project over time? Answers: a. organizational breakdown structure b. resource histogram c. responsibility assignment matrix d. RACI charts

resource histogram Feedback: The staffing management plan often includes a resource histogram, which is a column chart that shows the number of resources assigned to a project over time.

Which technique is used for resolving resource conflicts by delaying tasks? Answers: a. resource leveling b. resource histogram c. resource loading d. resource allocation

resource leveling Feedback: Resource leveling is a technique for resolving resource conflicts by delaying tasks. It is a form of network analysis in which resource management concerns drive scheduling decisions (start and finish dates). The main purpose of resource leveling is to create a smoother distribution of resource usage.

Which term refers to the amount of individual resources an existing schedule requires during specific time periods? Answers: a. resource histogram b. resource logs c. resource leveling d. resource loading

resource loading Feedback: Resource loading refers to the amount of individual resources an existing schedule requires during specific time periods. It helps project managers understand the demands of a project on the organization's resources and on individual people's schedules.

Which type of power involves using incentives to induce people to do things? Answers: a. legitimate b. referent c. reward d. coercive

reward Feedback: Reward power involves using incentives to induce people to do things. Rewards can include money, status, recognition, promotions, and special work assignments.

What is at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs? Answers: a. self-actualization b. social c. esteem d. physiological

self-actualization Feedback: Self actualization is at the top of Maslow's structure. Self-actualized people are problem-focused, have an appreciation for life, are concerned about personal growth, and are able to have peak experiences.

What term is used for taking time to renew oneself physically, spiritually, mentally and socially? Answers: a. thinking win/win b. empathic mirroring c. sharpening the saw d. synergizing

sharpening the saw Feedback: Sharpening the saw is the process of self-renewal.

Which highly respected psychologist, rejected the dehumanizing negativism of psychology and proposed the hierarchy of needs theory? Answers: a. Abraham Maslow b. Carl Jung c. Sigmund Freud d. Philip Zimbardo

Abraham Maslow Feedback: Abraham Maslow, a highly respected psychologist who rejected the dehumanizing negativism of psychology in the 1950s, is best known for developing a hierarchy of needs.

What are the bottom four needs in Maslow's structure are referred to as? Answers: a. growth b. self-actualization c. deficiency d. safety

deficiency Feedback: The bottom four needs in Maslow's hierarchy, physiological, safety, social, and esteem needs, are referred to as deficiency needs, and the highest level, self-actualization, is considered a growth need.

A responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) is a matrix that maps the work of the project as described in the OBS to the people responsible for performing the work as described in the WBS. Answers: True False

False Feedback: A responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) maps the work of the project, as described in the WBS, to the people responsible for performing the work, as described in the OBS.

Project managers should always reward people who work overtime. Answers: True False

False Feedback: People who work overtime just to get extra pay or because of their own poor work or planning should not be rewarded.

Project managers must try to avoid conflict at all costs as all conflict within groups is bad. Answers: True False

False Feedback: Project managers must also realize that not all conflict is bad. Conflict often produces important results, such as new ideas, better alternatives, and motivation to work harder and more collaboratively.

The forcing mode is one in which the project manager deemphasizes or avoids areas of differences and emphasizes areas of agreement. Answers: True False

False Feedback: The smoothing mode is one in which the project manager deemphasizes or avoids areas of differences and emphasizes areas of agreement. This approach is also called accommodating, and it is best used when the relationship is of high importance and the task is of low importance.

Assignment, budget, promotion, money, and penalty influence bases are automatically available to project managers as part of their position. Answers: True False

False Feedback: Top management grants authority to the project manager. However, assignment, budget, promotion, money, and penalty influence bases are not automatically available to project managers as part of their position.

Who is best known for distinguishing between motivational factors and hygiene factors when considering motivation in work settings? Answers: a. Douglas McGregor b. David McClelland c. Abraham Maslow d. Frederick Herzberg

Frederick Herzberg Feedback: Frederick Herzberg is best known for distinguishing between motivational factors and hygiene factors when considering motivation in work settings. He referred to factors that cause job satisfaction as motivators and factors that could cause dissatisfaction as hygiene factors.

Which test presents subjects with a series of ambiguous pictures and asks them to develop a spontaneous story for each picture, assuming they will project their own needs into the story? Answers: a. MBTI b. RACI c. RAM d. TAT

TAT Feedback: The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is a tool to measure the individual needs of different people using McClelland's categories. The TAT presents subjects with a series of ambiguous pictures and asks them to develop a spontaneous story for each picture, assuming they will project their own needs into the story.

Acco r ding to McClelland's acquired-needs theory, what do people who desire harmonious relationships with other people and need to feel accepted by others have a high need for? Answers: a. self-actualization b. affiliation c. power d. achievement

affiliation Feedback: People with a high need for affiliation (nAff) desire harmonious relationships with other people and need to feel accepted by others. They tend to conform to the norms of their work group and prefer work that involves significant personal interaction.

Which process involves building individual and group skills to enhance project performance? Answers: a. managing the project team b. developing the human resource plan c. developing the project team d. acquiring the project team

developing the project team Feedback: Developing the project team involves building individual and group skills to enhance project performance.

In the Tuckman model, what occurs when the emphasis is on reaching the team goals, rather than working on team process? Answers: a. performing b. norming c. forming d. storming

performing Feedback: Performing occurs when the emphasis is on reaching the team's goals rather than working on team process. Relationships are settled, and team members are likely to build loyalty towards each other.