BMGT485 Midterm

A "Dissemination Mode" is A. What defines how project communication is to occur. B. A description of what is important to project stakeholders C. How project schedules are version controlled. D. None of these choices.

A. What defines how project communication is to occur.

Which of the following will correctly calculate the total slack in an activity? A. Either LS - ES or LF - EF B. LS - ES C. LF - EF D. LS - LF E. LF - ES

A. Either LS - ES or LF - EF

Which of the following represents an activity on an AON project network? A. A node B. An arrow C. A line D. Both an arrow and a line E. An arrow, a line and a node all represent activities

A. A node

At the project level, which of the following is a factor that should influence the choice of project management structure? A. All of these are factors that should influence the choice of project management structure. B. The size of the project C. Budget and time constraints D. The novelty of the project E. The strategic importance of the project

A. All of these are factors that should influence the choice of project management structure.

Which structure would be most appropriate for developing a new, highly innovative product that has strict time constraints? A. Dedicated project team B. Strong matrix C. Balanced matrix D. Weak matrix E. Functional organization

A. Dedicated project team

Which of the following can be used without coordinating with managers of succeeding activities? A. Free slack B. Total slack C. Critical float D. Float pad E. Slip pad

A. Free slack

Which of the following correctly calculates the late start for an activity? A. LF - DUR B. EF - DUR C. ES - DUR D. ES - SL E. LF - SL

A. LF - DUR

Which of the following would best represent direct project costs? A. Labor, materials and equipment B. Only material C. Only equipment D. Both labor and materials E. Only labor

A. Labor, materials and equipment

Bill is building a project network that involves testing a prototype. He must design the prototype (activity 1), build the prototype (activity 2), and test the prototype (activity 3). Activity one is the predecessor for activity 2 and activity 2 is the predecessor for activity 3. If the prototype fails testing, Bill must redesign the prototype; therefore, activity 3 is a predecessor for activity 1. This is an example of A. Looping B. Conditional statements C. Having more than one start node D. Good network development E. Natural network flow

A. Looping

The cultural characteristic that refers to the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment is known as ___________. A. Open-systems focus B. Managerial focus C. Control D. Risk tolerance

A. Open-systems focus

Janet is forecasting how much money her department needs to support a new project. She estimates that two people and $25,000 in expenses will cover her needs. Because management typically insists on reducing forecasts by 20 percent, she increases her estimates to allow for that reduction. Which of the following factors is illustrated in this situation? A. Padding estimates B. Organization culture C. Planning horizon D. People E. Project structure

A. Padding estimates

Activities which can take place at the same time are termed A. Parallel activity B. Critical path C. Burst activity D. Independent activity E. Merge activity

A. Parallel activity

Which of the following statements is true? A. Project management is increasingly contributing to achieving organizational strategies B. All of these statements are false C. Project management is being used at a consistent percentage of a firm's efforts D. Project management is far from a standard way of doing business E. Project management is a specialty that few organizations have access to

A. Project management is increasingly contributing to achieving organizational strategies

Which of the following is NOT one of the requirements for successful implementation of strategies through projects? A. Quality management B. Prioritizing of projects C. Adequate planning and control systems D. Motivation of project contributors E. Allocation of resources

A. Quality management

The assessment of the external and internal environments is called _______ analysis. A. SWOT B. Strategic C. Industry D. Competitive E. Market

A. SWOT

In practice, estimating processes are frequently classified as A. Top down/bottom up B. Draft/final C. Precise/order of magnitude D. Broad/Specific E. Rough/polished

A. Top down/bottom up

A matrix project management structure is a hybrid organizational form in which a horizontal project management structure is "overlaid" on the normal functional hierarchy. A. True B. False

A. True

Organizational culture refers to a system of shared norms, beliefs, values, and assumptions which bind people together. A. True B. False

A. True

Projects are always carried out under conditions of uncertainty? A. True B. False

A. True

Regardless of the criteria differences among different types of projects, typically the most important criterion for project selection is A. the project's fit to the organization strategy B. profit C. how the project will balance risk within the project portfolio. D. compliance E. non-financial

A. the project's fit to the organization strategy

A project selection process that is strongly linked to strategy results in A. The most profit B. Better utilization of the organization's resources C. More projects D. A larger and more diverse organization E. Stronger core companies

B. Better utilization of the organization's resources

Which of the following is NOT one of the characteristics of effective objectives? A. Measurable B. Flexible C. Assignable D. Specific E. Realistic

B. Flexible

A communication plan is a key component for giving guidelines on how to track project A. Defects B. Issues C. Costs D. Both costs and defects.

B. Issues

Which of the following is an advantage of a functional project management organization? A. Longer project duration B. Maximum flexibility in the use of staff C. Shorter project duration D. Strong motivation of project team members E. Good integration across functional units

B. Maximum flexibility in the use of staff

A professional organization for project managers is the A. MIS B. PMI C. IPM D. AMA E. PMBOK

B. PMI

Which if the following does NOT help describe a bottom-up estimating approach? A. They can take place after the project has been planned in detail. B. They are made by someone who uses experience and/or information from someone else to determine overall project cost and duration. C. They establish efficient methods for completing activities D. They establish low-cost methods for completing activities E. Estimates are made at the work package level and then "rolled up" to determine estimates for major deliverables and for the project itself

B. They are made by someone who uses experience and/or information from someone else to determine overall project cost and duration.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a project? A. They are unique B. They are routine C. They have specific due dates D. They have a specific deliverable E. An established objective

B. They are routine

How is project scope defined? A. The deliverables or outputs during the course of the project B. What you expect to deliver to your customer when the project is complete C. The range of resources you have available and their capabilities D. The length of your project and how much it will cost E. The range of customer expectations

B. What you expect to deliver to your customer when the project is complete

When creating a project network, your primary input will be the A. Project Charter. B. Work Packages. C. Risk Plan. D. Communication Plan.

B. Work Packages.

Which of the following choices is NOT one of the driving forces behind the increasing demand for project management? A. Increasing need for multi-project management B. Compression of the product life cycle C. Declining need for product customization D. Knowledge explosion E. More sustainable business practices

C. Declining need for product customization

All of the following are ways the WBS helps in managing projects EXCEPT A. With cost and time estimates the WBS makes it possible to plan, schedule and budget the project B. It provides management with information appropriate to each level C. It allows the project manager to establish the overall objective of the project D. As it is developed, organizational units and individuals can be assigned responsibility of work packages. E. It can be used to define communication channels

C. It allows the project manager to establish the overall objective of the project

The minimum amount of time a dependent activity must be delayed to begin or end is referred to as A. Hammock. B. Laddering C. Lag D. Cushion. E. Buffer

C. Lag

A Process Breakdown Structure can provide a reasonable alternative to a Work Breakdown structure for an extensive development project if A. Deliverables are tightly aligned to milestones. B. Risk planning is included early in the project. C. Phase exit criteria is firmly established D. There are appropriate predecessor relationships in place.

C. Phase exit criteria is firmly established

Richard is collecting estimates for a house that he will have the funding to build in 12 months. Which of the following factors does Richard need to consider in regard to the quality of these estimates? A. Padding estimates B. People C. Planning horizon D. Project structure E. Project duration

C. Planning horizon

Which of the following activities is NOT considered a project? A. Preparing the site for the Olympic Games B. Developing a new advertising program C. Production of automobile tires D. Developing a new software program E. Designing a space station

C. Production of automobile tires

From the list below, which is NOT a primary characteristic of organizational culture? A. Team emphasis B. Risk tolerance C. Profitability D. Conflict tolerance E. Control

C. Profitability

Renee, a project manager, is responsible for developing a project plan for her new project. To do so, she needs to consider all the tasks that would need to be done to produce the deliverable and make a list of them. In this scenario, Renee needs to prepare a(n) ___________ for the project. A. Project baseline B. RACI matrix C. Work breakdown structure D. Project charter E. Contingency plan

C. Work breakdown structure

A project network provides the basis for ________________________________ . A. organizational authority B. completing the effort on time and within budget C. scheduling labor and equipment D. None of these choices are correct

C. scheduling labor and equipment

A project selection process that is strongly linked to strategy results in A. A larger and more diverse organization B. More projects C. The most profit D. Better utilization of the organization's resources E. Stronger core competencies

D. Better utilization of the organization's resources

Which of the following is a good example of a program? A. Taking notes each class meeting to prepare for the final B. Developing a new marketing plan C. Planning a wedding D. Developing a new residential area that includes six custom homes E. Planting a garden

D. Developing a new residential area that includes six custom homes

The salary of the project manager would be an example of what type of cost found in a project? A. Salary B. Labor C. Direct D. Direct project overhead E. General and administrative overhead

D. Direct project overhead

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 the coordination of other departments occurring through normal channels. He is working in a _________ organization. A. Weak matrix B. Strong matrix C. Balanced matrix D. Functional E. Projectized

D. Functional

Which of the following is NOT true for strategic management A. It supports consistency of action at every level of the organization B. It develops an integrated and coordinated long-term plan of action C. It involves responding to changes in the external market and allocating scarce resources to improve a competitive position D. It should be done once every few years just before developing the operating plan. E. It positions the firm to meet the needs of its customers

D. It should be done once every few years just before developing the operating plan.

The WBS is best suited for projects that have a tangible outcome. Which of the following is used when the final outcome of the project is less tangible or is a product of a series of steps or phases? A. Organization breakdown structure B. Priority matrix C. A work breakdown structure is still effective for these types of project D. Process breakdown structure E. Responsibility matrix

D. Process breakdown structure

A series of coordinated, related, multiple projects that continue over an extended time period and are intended to achieve a goal is known as a A. Campaign B. Strategy C. Venture D. Program E. Crusade.

D. Program

The _________ is used to assist in making project trade-offs between schedule, budget, and performance objectives. A. Responsibility matrix B. Work Package C. Work breakdown structure D. Project priority matrix E. Criterion matrix

D. Project priority matrix

Rob is responsible for estimating a work package that has a significant amount of uncertainty associated with the time and cost to complete. Due to the uncertainty involved he will be making a low, an average and a high estimate. Rob is using which estimating approach? A. Learning curve B. Parametric procedures applied to specific tasks C. Apportion method D. Range estimating E. Template method

D. Range estimating

Which of the following is NOT a trend in Project Management? A. Achieving strategic goals B. Improving project effectiveness C. Achieving routine goals D. Reductive projects

D. Reductive projects

Which of the following terms is often used to denote a project that a powerful, high-ranking official is advocating? A. Pet project B. Special undertaking C. Strategic ploy D. Sacred cow E. Political necessity

D. Sacred cow

The Project Manager's role includes all the following EXCEPT? Justify A. Convener and chair of meetings B. Facilitator C. Communicator D. Supervisor E. Virtual Project Manager

D. Supervisor

Which of the following questions does the organization's mission statement answer A. All of these are answered by the mission statement B. What are our long-term goals and objectives? C. How do we operate in the existing environment? D. What do we want to become? E. What are our long-term strategies?

D. What do we want to become?

Which of the following is typically the responsibility of a project manager? A. Meeting budget requirements B. Coordinating the actions of the team members C. Meeting performance specifications D. Meeting schedule requirements E. All of these are typical responsibilities.

E. All of these are typical responsibilities.

Having a strong communication plan can go a long way toward mitigating project problems. A communication plan should address all of the following EXCEPT A. When the information will be communicated B. What information needs to be collected and are there limits as to who has access to it C. How information should be communicated and to whom D. What methods will be used to gather and store information E. All of these should be addressed in a communication plan.

E. All of these should be addressed in a communication plan.

In order to formulate strategies that align with the mission some of the activities the organization will need to perform are A. Analyze competitors. B. Know their core competencies. C. Assess internal strengths and weaknesses. D. Examine the external environment. E. All of these should be considered when formulating strategies.

E. All of these should be considered when formulating strategies.

Refining estimates may be necessary for a number of reasons. For example, a manager getting further into a project and obtaining a better understanding of what needs to be done to accomplish a project and meet the needs of the customer is an example of: A. There is never a good reason to refine estimates B. Hidden interaction costs C. Things going wrong on a project D. Normal conditions not applying E. Changes in project scope

E. Changes in project scope

Sean is forecasting the time and cost of developing a customized software program by looking at the number of inputs, outputs, inquires, files, and interfaces. Which of the following methods is he using? A. Template B. Ratio C. Apportion D. Learning curve E. Function point

E. Function point

Which of the following would be classified as an organizational opportunity? A. Excellent employees B. Government regulation C. Talented management D. Low debt E. Increasing product demand

E. Increasing product demand

All of the following are functions culture plays in an organization EXCEPT A. It provides a sense of identity. B. It clarifies and reinforces standards of behavior. C. It helps legitimize the management system. D. It helps create social order. E. It replaces the need for a project selection process.

E. It replaces the need for a project selection process.

Learning curves are more likely to be applied in situations where most of the costs are A. Labor and materials B. Evenly spread over materials, labor, and overhead C. Material D. Overhead E. Labor

E. Labor

In reviewing the project plan, Susan sees that the first prototype must be completed by October 12. This would be best classified as a A. Critical goal B. Limit item C. Project target D. Project objective E. Milestone

E. Milestone

Which of the follow is least likely to be included in a work package? A. The person responsible for the work package B. A description of work to be performed C. How long the work package should take to complete D. How much the work package should cost to complete E. Overhead expenses

E. Overhead expenses

Which of the following is NOT typical of a project manager? A. Responsible for time, cost and performance trade-offs B. Managing a temporary activity C. Work with a group of outsiders, including vendors and suppliers D. Managing a non-repetitive activity E. Overseeing existing operations

E. Overseeing existing operations

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. A. Functional B. Strong matrix C. Weak matrix D. Balanced matrix E. Projectized

E. Projectized