SPM Chapter 2
According to the symbolic frame, what is most important about any event in an organization is what actually happened.
False
Assigning staff part-time to the project often creates underutilization and/or misallocation of staff resources.
False
It is much more expensive to make major changes to a project during earlier phases.
False
Technical and analytical skills guarantee success in project management.
False
A major element of good practice concerns ____________________, which addresses the authority and control for key IT activities in organizations, including IT infrastructure, IT use, and project management.
IT governance
An organization that uses a project organizational structure earns their revenue primarily from performing projects for other groups under contract.
True
Most colleges and universities have very strong functional organizations.
True
Project managers in matrix organizations have staff from various functional areas working on their projects.
True
Since the organization usually commits more money as a project continues, a management review should occur after each phase to evaluate progress, potential success, and continued compatibility with organizational goals.
True
The Adaptive Software Development (ASD) life cycle model assumes that software development follows an adaptive approach because the requirements cannot be clearly expressed early in the life cycle.
True
The best way to kill a project is to withhold the required money, human resources, and visibility for the project.
True
The same organization can have different subcultures.
True
Using a systems approach is critical to successful project management.
True
The term "systems approach" emerged in the ____. a. 1940s c. 1960s b. 1950s d. 1970s
1950s
Most trade schools, colleges, and universities did not start offering degrees in computer technology, computer science, management information systems, or other information technology areas until the ____. a. 1950s c. 1980s b. 1970s d. 1990s
1970s COMPLETION
Some projects have a senior manager called a(n) ____________________ who acts as a key proponent for a project.
champion
In the ____________________ phase, there should be some sort of customer acceptance of the entire project.
close-out - closeout
A preliminary or rough cost estimate is developed in the ____ phase, and an overview of the work involved is created. a. implementation c. concept b. development d. close-out
concept
Experienced project managers know it is often best to balance the degree of ____________________ to get good project results.
control
A(n) ____________________ is a product or service, such as a report, a training session, a piece of hardware, or a segment of software code, produced or provided as part of a project.
deliverable
A(n) ____________________ is a group of senior executives from various parts of the organization, who regularly review important corporate projects and issues.
executive steering committee
In a(n) ____________________ organizational structure, project managers have little or no authority.
functional
Three general classifications of organizational structures are ____________________, project, and matrix.
functional
A ____ is the hierarchy most people think of when picturing an organizational chart. a. project organizational structure c. matrix organizational structure b. system organizational structure d. functional organizational structure
functional organizational structure
Project managers have the least amount of authority in a pure ____. a. functional organizational structure c. matrix organizational structure b. project organizational structure d. circular organizational structure
functional organizational structure
To handle complex situations effectively, project managers need to take a(n) ____________________ view of a project and understand how it relates to the larger organization.
holistic
The ____ focuses on producing harmony between the needs of the organization and the needs of the people. a. structural frame c. political frame b. human resources frame d. symbolic frame
human resources frame
In the ____ phase, the project team creates a definitive or very accurate cost estimate, delivers the required work, and provides performance reports to stakeholders. a. development c. concept b. implementation d. close-out
implementation
The ____ model provides for progressive development of operational software, with each release providing added capabilities. a. spiral life cycle c. waterfall life cycle b. RAD life cycle d. incremental build life cycle
incremental build life cycle
Management reviews, called phase exits or ____________________, are very important for keeping projects on track and determining if they should be continued, redirected, or terminated.
kill points
In a ____, personnel often report to both a functional manager and one or more project managers. a. project organizational structure c. matrix organizational structure b. system organizational structure d. functional organizational structure
matrix organizational structure
The ____ characteristic of organizational culture describes the degree to which management's decisions take into account the effect of outcomes on people within the organization. a. member identity c. people focus b. group emphasis d. unit integration
people focus
The ____ assumes that organizations are coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups. a. political frame c. structural frame b. symbolic frame d. human resources frame
political frame
Understanding the ____________________ is just as important to good project management as understanding the phases of the traditional project life cycle.
product life cycle
The ____________________ focuses on symbols and meanings.
symbolic frame
A(n) ____________________ is an overall model for thinking about things as systems.
systems philosophy
The three spheres of systems management are business, organization, and ____________________.
technology
The ____ model assumes that requirements will remain stable after they are defined. a. spiral life cycle c. prototyping life cycle b. waterfall life cycle d. RAD life cycle
waterfall life cycle
Many companies have realized that information technology is integral to their business and have created a vice president or equivalent-level position for the head of information technology, often called the ____. a. CPO c. CEO b. CFO d. CIO
CIO
In early phases of a project life cycle, resource needs are usually ____ and the level of uncertainty is ____. a. lowest; highest c. lowest, lowest b. high, lowest d. highest, highest
lowest; highest
A ____ is a collection of project phases. a. project life cycle c. project planning cycle b. project feasibility d. project acquisition
project life cycle
In a ____, program managers report to the CEO. a. project organizational structure c. matrix organizational structure b. system organizational structure d. functional organizational structure
project organizational structure
Project managers have the most authority in a pure ____. a. functional organizational structure c. matrix organizational structure b. project organizational structure d. circular organizational structure
project organizational structure
____ refers to the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment. a. Means-ends orientation c. Conflict tolerance b. Open-systems focus d. Risk tolerance
Open-systems focus
____ is a set of shared assumptions, values, and behaviors that characterize the functioning of an organization. a. Organizational politics c. Organizational culture b. Organizational philosophy d. Organizational structure
Organizational culture
The ____ model uses an approach in which developers work with an evolving prototype. a. incremental build life cycle c. RAD life cycle b. waterfall life cycle d. spiral life cycle
RAD life cycle
A(n) ____________________ is a framework for describing the phases involved in developing information systems.
SDLC - systems development life cycle - systems development life cycle (SDLC)
____________________ are sets of interacting components working within an environment to fulfill some purpose.
Systems
____ is a problem-solving approach that requires defining the scope of the system, dividing it into its components, and then identifying and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints, and needs. a. Systems philosophy c. Systems troubleshooting b. Systems management d. Systems analysis
Systems analysis
____________________ addresses the business, technological, and organizational issues associated with creating, maintaining, and making a change to a system.
Systems management
____ describes a holistic view of carrying out projects within the context of the organization. a. Systems philosophy c. Systems analysis b. Systems thinking d. Systems approach
Systems thinking
An organizational culture with strong unit integration makes the project manager's job more difficult.
False
Because of overlaps in their duties, hardware specialists usually understand the language of database analysts, and vice versa.
False
Because of the nature of information technology projects, the people involved come from very similar backgrounds and possess similar skill sets.
False
External project stakeholders generally include the project sponsor, project team, support staff, and internal customers for the project.
False
Few business and information technology students understand the concepts of systems and performing a systems analysis.
False
If project managers have functional management commitment, they will also have adequate resources and not be distracted by events that do not affect their specific projects.
False
Many of the theories and concepts of project management are difficult to understand.
False
Most IT projects involve a major amount of software development.
False
Organizational issues are often the least difficult part of working on and managing projects.
False
The nature of hardware development projects is more diverse than software-oriented projects.
False
When you separate business and organizational issues from project management planning, you do a better job of ensuring project success.
False
Within the category of programmer, there are several job titles used to describe the specific technologies the programmer uses, such as project manager programmer, systems analyst programmer, macro developer, and so on.
False
Although it is easier to focus on the immediate and sometimes narrow concerns of a particular project, project managers and other staff must keep in mind the effects of any project on the interests and needs of the entire system or organization.
True
COBOL programmers cannot be of much help on a Java project.
True
If a project manager does not submit a potential project in the proper format, it could be rejected.
True
If project managers lead projects in isolation, it is unlikely that those projects will ever truly serve the needs of the organization.
True
It is rare for technical specialists or project managers to remain with the same company for a long time.
True
Project organizations may miss economies of scale available through the pooling of requests for materials with other projects.
True
The term ____________________ has become popular to describe new approaches that focus on close collaboration between programming teams and business experts.
agile software development
In the ____ phase, the project team creates more detailed project plans, a more accurate cost estimate, and a more thorough WBS. a. development c. concept b. implementation d. close-out
development
The ____ model requires heavy user involvement, and developers use a model to generate functional requirements and physical design specifications simultaneously. a. RAD life cycle c. spiral life cycle b. prototyping life cycle d. incremental build life cycle
prototyping life cycle
In a ____ matrix organizational structure, the project manager controls the project budget and has moderate to high authority. a. weak c. strong b. balanced d. functional
strong
The ____ focuses on different groups' roles and responsibilities in order to meet the goals and policies set by top management. a. structural frame c. political frame b. human resources frame d. symbolic frame
structural frame
The ____________________ is usually depicted in an organizational chart.
structural frame
When project managers use a(n) ____________________, they are better able to make decisions that address the needs of the entire organization.
systems approach