Advance Project Management Midterm

If the actual cost turns to be $234,000, which of the following is the most accurate estimate? $236,000 $237,342 $233,500 $200,000

$233,500

If the target cost is $235,000, which of the following is the most precise estimate: $236,000 $237,342 $233,500 $200,000

$237,342

Configuration management is best described as: A process of updating specifications A process and procedures to keep track of and document changes in a design and insure everyone involved has the most current information A system for approval of waivers, deviations and modifications A process for defining the end-item system and ensuring that it complies with specifications

A process and procedures to keep track of and document changes in a design and insure everyone involved has the most current information

Self control refers to: The self-discipline and willpower of the quality manager Automated manufacturing processes to ensure that nothing goes wrong A situation where team members are sufficiently trained and motivated and have authority to take corrective actions A project manager that does not have to report the quality, schedule, and cost performance of a project to stakeholders

A situation where team members are sufficiently trained and motivated and have authority to take corrective actions

A complete proposal should include: time and cost estimates a brief resume of key personnel project purpose, objectives, and work approach description of the project organization all of the above a and c only

All of the above

A contract statement of work (CSOW) defines the expected performance of a project in terms of: scope of work requirements end-results or deliverables schedules and costs all of the above

All of the above

Some notable features of a system are that: it is an assembly of parts (elements) the assembly of parts is affected by being in the system the assembly of parts is of particular interest the assembly of parts does something or has a goal all of the above

All of the above

The cost slope: represents the time-cost relationship for an activity can be linear or curvilinear (concave/convex) indicates how much it would cost to speed up or slow down an activity all of the above

All of the above

Which of the following is NOT a typical requirement for a project system, subsystem, or component? Compatibility Reliability Usability Analysis

Analysis

Quality planning should be done: Only after scheduling the project so that it would be obvious when quality actions such as inspection are needed Before scope definition, scheduling and budgeting of the project Independently by the quality manager but at the same time as scheduling is done by the project manager As an integrated part of project planning

As an integrated part of project planning

The characteristics or distinguishing features of a system are its: Elements Attributes Subsystems Constraints

Attributes

About project schedules, which one is true? "Events" represent a moment in time, such as the start or finish of something. "Activities" or "tasks" represent the actual doing of work and the passage ot time. Both (a) and (b). Neither (a) nor (b).

Both A and B

Which one of the following is true? The WBS is the basis for project schedules, budgets, and controls. Work packages are the basis for project schedules, budgets, and control. Both (a) and (b). Project schedules are the basis for work definition.

Both A and B

The estimate providing the best accuracy for total project cost comes from: Looking at the project top-down as a whole Combining estimates from all the work packages Looking at the cost of similar, completed projects The cost constraint specified by the customer

Combining estimates from all the work packages

The project proposal is most often prepared during which phase of the systems development cycle? Conception Definition Execution Operation

Conception

To find the shortest possible project duration for the least cost: Crash all activities on the critical path (CP), then relax all critical activities. Crash all activities not on the CP, then relax all critical activities. Crash all activities in the project, then relax those not on the CP. Crash all activities in the project, then relax those on the critical path.

Crash all activities in the project, then relax those not on the CP.

Systems accomplish objectives by converting inputs into outputs through a: Hierarchical system Natural system Network system Defined process

Defined process

Determining how far the breakdown on a WBS should go: Depends upon what is needed to get a good work definition and good time and cost estimates. Is arbitrary. Depends upon the functional areas in the project since the WBS is usually funcitonally divided. Should depend on how much effort the project manager is willing to devote to the WBS process.

Depends upon what is needed to get a good work definition and good time and cost estimates.

Which statement is correct: In the CPM, as the duration of a project is decreased, usually: So are both its direct and indirect costs. Direct costs increase, but indirect costs decrease. Both direct and indirect costs increase. Direct costs decrease, indirect costs increase.

Direct costs increase, but indirect costs decrease.

Agile project management: Is usually applied in projects where all the requirements have been clearly defined. Divides the project into a sequence of smaller efforts, each devoted to "releasing" a module or component of the larger system. Bears no similarity at all to the traditional "waterfall" model in development projects. When the list of requirements is long, would address the easiest ones first.

Divides the project into a sequence of smaller efforts, each devoted to "releasing" a module or component of the larger system.

The smallest part of a system is an: Element Sub-system Attribute Structure

Element

Which method provides the least accuracy when estimating total project cost? Expert opinion Analogy Parametric Cost engineering

Expert opinion

A detailed project plan is first prepared during the Execution Phase. True False

False

A work package is used as the basis for developing a work breakdown structure (WBS). True False

False

According to the classical viewpoint of management, the best management approach depends on the situation. True False

False

An open system is viewed as self-contained and independent of the environment. True False

False

Cost escalation always results in the contractor charging the customer more than the original contract specified. True False

False

Few projects involve contracts or the contracting process. True False

False

Following project initiation, momentum always increases uniformly until the project is completed. True False

False

Human organizations are best managed as if they were closed systems. True False

False

If a cost estimate comes up too high, a good way to reduce it is to uniformly cut costs by a certain percentage for everything on the project. True False

False

In "systems thinking," things are broken down into parts, and the parts are analyzed separately. True False

False

In PERT, the mean (expected) time for each activity is determined by using a formula that gives the greatest weight to the "optimistic" time estimate. True False

False

In resource loading, the project schedule is altered in an attempt to increase variations in the amount of the resource needed throughout the project. True False

False

In the critical path method (CPM), the direct cost of an activity is assumed to be proportional to its time, so shortening it to its "crash" time reduces its cost. True False

False

It is important that a project name be given at the start of a project and clever names or acronyms are best. True False

False

It is relatively easy to level many resources at the same time in a project. True False

False

Most proposals are rather brief and involve negligible effort. True False

False

Overall, there is not much difference between the practices of traditional management and project management. True False

False

Procurement management refers to the management of items produced or work done internally. True False

False

Product lifecycle costs are the same as project lifecycle costs. True False

False

Since system specifications are usually too detailed for users to understand, generally they are not reviewed with the user. True False

False

So that the user can remain impartial, during the feasibility study the contractor should sever or minimize communication with the user. True False

False

The "phases" in phased project planning are the sections of the plan—e.g., the schedule, budget, work tasks, responsibilities, etc. True False

False

The "schedule" for procured items should be created independently of the project schedule. True False

False

The margin on a requirement specifies the requirement's importance; the priority of the requirement is the amount by which the requirement can vary. True False

False

The practice of fast-tracking involves performing the phases of the systems development cycle such that little time is wasted between when one phase is completed and the next phase is begun. True False

False

The primary purpose of the project kickoff meeting is to acquaint project team members with each other. True False

False

The process of breaking the project into work packages through the WBS has no relevancy to cost estimating. True False

False

The project SOW includes qualifications and selection criteria for a contractor. True False

False

The project cost estimate is derived from the project target cost. True False

False

The request for proposal is sent from the contractor to potential users as an unsolicited proposal. True False

False

The top-down approach to cost estimating provides greater cost accuracy than the bottom-up approach. True False

False

There is no difference between the practices of project management in the government and project management in the private sector. True False

False

There is virtually no kind of work that could not be managed best using project management. True False

False

To avoid confusion, it is best to restrict the parties involved in definition of requirements to only one or a few individuals. True False

False

Unless a company strongly believes it can win a contract, there is no reason to submit a proposal. True False

False

Using the definition in the textbook, programs tend to be smaller than projects, and a project may be comprised of several programs. True False

False

When a project is somewhat similar to an old project, it is a good idea to use the exact same plan over again. True False

False

When doing a feasibility study, the present system is ignored and alternative, potentially better systems are evaluated. True False

False

When we speak of recurring costs, we usually associate these costs with one-of-kind or first-of-a-kind items True False

False

The responsibility matrix shows all of the following except: tasks and the people responsible for them for certain people, the tasks for which they are responsible the type of responsibilities in a project how costs change with the project responsibilities

How costs change with the project responsibilities

A well-defined task includes all but which of the following? resources requirements times and cost estimates list of the benefits and drawbacks of the task persons responsible for the task

List of the benefits and drawbacks of the task

The purpose of project management is to: Manage a system of tasks to accomplish a project goal Manage a system of resources to accomplish a project goal Manage a system of people and organizations to accomplish a project goal Manage a system of tasks, resources, people and organizations to accomplish a project goal

Manage a system of tasks, resources, people and organizations to accomplish a project goal

According to the Nicholas textbook, systems can be classified as: Ongoing Constrained Functional Open or Closed

Open or Closed

The types of project managers include all of the following EXCEPT: Operations Managers Project Coordinators and Expeditors Matrix Managers Pure Project Managers

Operations Managers

Which of the following are essential elements of a project plan? Feasibility study, blueprints, work schedules, penalty clauses Statement of need, design criteria, budgets, RFP Organization and management plan, statement of work, schedules, budgets System operation instructions, union labor agreements, cover letter

Organization and management plan, statement of work, schedules, budgets

Which method relies on formulas and tables to estimate project costs? Expert opinion Analogy Parametric Cost engineering

Parametric

Which of the following presents information in order of priority to assist focusing on the most critical ones? Ishikawa diagram Cause and effect diagram Pareto diagram Causal loop diagram

Pareto diagram

The statement of work (SOW) appears in: The RFP The proposal The project plan Possibly all of the above

Possibly all of the above

The primary purpose of classification of characteristics is to: Prioritize characteristics by impact or importance to enable a cost-effective approach to quality assurance Indicate which characteristics need not be inspected Indicate which nonconformities could be waived Indicate which characteristics are easy to inspect so that inspection can be done cost-effectively

Prioritize characteristics by impact or importance to enable a cost-effective approach to quality assurance

Contingencies should be built in at the following level: Program Sub-program Project Sub-project Activity

Project

The ____________ manager is the person who brings together all efforts to meet project objectives. Production Functional Executive Project

Project

Managing a system to achieve effective, coordinated functioning of its elements working toward system objectives is called: Systems definition Systems integration Systems development Systems forecasting

Systems integration

A project is defined as a _______ activity, having a single, definable goal and well-defined deliverables. Temporary Ongoing Cost-effective Familiar

Temporary

When there are multiple critical paths and the project duration must be reduced, it is necessary to make reductions: On whichever critical path affords the smallest cost increase. On whichever non-critical path affords the smallest cost increase. That will shorten all of the critical paths. That will shorten all of the non-critical paths.

That will shorten all of the critical paths.

The Pareto principle states that: The majority of nonconformities are caused by a relatively small percentage of the total set of problems. Improvement efforts should be focused on these critical problems. It is normally only cost-effective to correct 80% of defects, the other 20% is not worth correcting. Quality management causes 80% of all problems on a typical project. The Pareto chart is the most important of the seven basic tools of quality control.

The majority of nonconformities are caused by a relatively small percentage of the total set of problems. Improvement efforts should be focused on these critical problems.

Quality control is best defined as: Ensuring that the project deliverables or end items would be acceptable to the customer The process of ensuring that quality assurance is performed according to the quality plan to ensure conformance to specifications and to eliminate the causes of specific problems Continuous improvement activities that contribute to the project management maturity of the organization and provide benefit to both future and current projects The process of keeping track of design information and changes and ensuring that everyone involved with the project or its end product has the most current design information

The process of ensuring that quality assurance is performed according to the quality plan to ensure conformance to specifications and to eliminate the causes of specific problems

To reduce the duration of a project using CPM, it is necessary to make a reduction on the activity with: The largest cost slope on the critical path (CP) The smallest cost slope on the CP The largest cost slope not on the CP The smallest cost slope not on the CP

The smallest cost slope on the CP

Project definition and requirements should be a _______ effort to incorporate perspectives of everyone who has or will have a stake in the project. Total Team Customer Functional Area Management

Total Team

A "function" is something that the system must do to satisfy user needs and requirements. True False

True

A system specification is a translation of user requirements into technical terms. True False

True

A time-phased budget shows project costs budgeted over time according to project schedules. True False

True

As stated in the Nicholas text, the sequence the four phases of the systems development cycle include conception, definition, execution, operation True False

True

Before a project is begun, a preliminary feasibility study should be performed to determine if it has merit and should be pursued. True False

True

CPM assumes that time to complete a project activity varies depending on the amount of effort or resources applied. True False

True

Crashing a project increases the cost of the project. True False

True

Definition: a problem is a need that is unsatisfied. True False

True

Given the assumptions of PERT, it is possible to determine the probability that a project will be completed by a specified date. True False

True

Human-made systems convert inputs into outputs using processes. True False

True

If an organization has much at stake in a project, and failure to complete it might result in financial ruin, then it would be wise to consider use of project management. True False

True

If there is more than one critical path, each critical path must be shortened to reduce the total project duration. True False

True

In a hierarchy of charts, top-level charts represent the entire project, lower-level charts represent smaller, shorter-term tasks within the project. True False

True

In most proposals, the first few pages-the introductory cover letter and executive summary-are often the most important part. True False

True

In satisfying system requirements, user requirements should be satisfied also. True False

True

In the systems development cycle, it is possible for the systems developer to be its own user. True False

True

Indirect costs include administrative, overhead, and any penalty costs. True False

True

PERT is a technique that estimates the likelihood (probability) of a project finishing on time. True False

True

PERT requires three time estimates for every activity True False

True

Procurement management involves selection of the right suppliers, vendors, and contractors. True False

True

Project management takes on many forms, but common to all of them are a project leader and a project team. True False

True

The "Three Dimensions" or "Triple Constraints" of projects include Requirements/Quality, Budget/Cost, and Schedule/Time. True False

True

The PERT method has been criticized as it makes the assumption that resources are always available when needed. True False

True

The cost slope is the marginal tradeoff between the cost and time of doing a given activity. True False

True

The environment of a system is something that influences the system but that the system designer cannot control. True False

True

The major activities during the definition phase are to define the system in terms of requirements and specifications, and to define the project in terms of a project plan. True False

True

The objectives of a human-made system can be broken down into requirements, which are the specific criteria to which the system must conform. True False

True

The project SOW includes a description of the project, as well as project impact, justification, and management. True False

True

The project charter is a proclamation that management has approved a project and a project manager has approval by management to begin the project. True False

True

The purpose of the WBS is to divide the project into pieces so it can be planned, budgeted, and scheduled. True False

True

The statement of work is a concise description of the project and its deliverables. True False

True

The systems approach says "Let's stand back and look at this situation from different angles." True False

True

There is an increasing need for good project management today True False

True

Tracebility means being able to trace the impacts of changes in some requirements or specifications to other requirements and specifications in the system. True False

True

Whenever work activities are directed at somewhat different or unfamiliar goals that require the cooperation of several persons or groups, project management is usually appropriate. True False

True

Audit refers to: Financial aspects of a project and has little to do with quality management Verification that work and systems comply with prescribed processes, procedures and specifications Investigations into technical processes such as manufacturing processes but not into the managerial systems Any formal verification of any process or procedure performed by credible personnel from one specific discipline

Verification that work and systems comply with prescribed processes, procedures and specifications

A subcontractor objects to an audit that is to be performed by the quality department of the main contractor. The procurement manager should explain to the subcontractor that the objective is to: Verify adherence to prescribed procedures Help the subcontractor document the lessons learned on the project Ensure correctness of the subcontractor's financial statements Meet the requirements for ISO 9001 accreditation of the main contractor

Verify adherence to prescribed procedures

Project management is generally appropriate: For most any situation that requires hard work When the work effort is complex, unique, and uncertain When the work effort is highly standardized When a high-quality product is desired

When the work effort is complex, unique, and uncertain

A contingency amount can be: Applied to individual activities Applied to the project as a whole Continually increased to cover cost escalation a and b only

a and b only

Some features of project management are: a single person heads the project the work focuses on a specific, often unique goal the project organization is permanent, regardless of the goal all of the above a and b only

a and b only

The major problem with using traditional budgets for projects is that they: are annual in nature are usually divided into functional areas focus on project objectives a and b only

a and b only

Each functional requirement: must be assessed for the best way to satisfy it can be satisfied using either off-the-shelf (OTS) or brand-new designs or products might have to be revised if good solutions are not available all of the above

all of the above

Team members brainstorm ideas about problems and ideas are recorded on a: cause-and-effect (CE) diagram fishbone Ishikawa diagram all of the above are names for the same technique

all of the above are names for the same technique

Which of the following statement is not true for life cycle costs? Life cycle costs . . . are used by designers and engineers to make key design and procurement decisions are the costs to develop and build a system account for the operation and maintenance of the end item system are sometimes used to establish target costs on the project or system are estimated by a team that includes designers, builders, user, and suppliers

are the costs to develop and build a system

Functional requirements: assist stakeholders in defining user requirements include performance requirements and verification requirements are the result of requirements analysis b and c only

b and c only

In the systems approach, the problem solver keeps in mind: the optimal efficiency of the parts of the system the management and resources of the system the objectives and environment of the system all of the above b and c only

b and c only

About project schedules, which one is true? "events" represent a moment in time, such as the start or finish of something "activities" or "tasks" represent the actual doing of work and the passage of time both a and b neither a nor b

both a and b

The function of project managers is to: mediate between the higher (institutional) levels and lower (technical) levels in the project integrate and coordinate the tasks of the technical level in the project conceive the long-term goals of the organization provide detailed guidance and control over all work at the technical level both a and b

both a and b

In defining user needs, which of the following are true: the user always knows what his needs are the contractor defines the need first, then checks it with the customer there might be more than one user the contractor should redefine the need in terms of the area in which he (the contractor) knows the most or has the greatest expertise some of the needs might change and have to be redefined later c and e only

c and e only

Which of the following is not a purpose of contract negotiation? clarify technical terms of the contract reach agreement on time, cost, and performance requirements convince the user that the project has been completed reach a contract agreement to the best advantage of the parties involved

convince the user that the project has been completed

Preparation of prototypes and testing models is usually done during which stage of systems engineering: production concept operation design and development definition

design and development

User requirements: emphasize what is needed emphasize how the work should be done are defined by the contractor or developer are usually obvious and do not require much attention

emphasize what is needed

A complete RFP should include all but which of the following? a statement of the problem or work to be performed information about the state of the economy information about the expected proposal format and content

information about the state of the economy

Which of the following are potential ways to reduce cost escalation? using a variable price contract making estimates by people who tend to be optimistic making final cost estimates at the earliest possible date in the planning process monitoring and controlling project costs and activities

monitoring and controlling project costs and activities

Project management represents which view(s) of management (choose the best answer): classical mostly classical, but some behavioral and systems too mostly systems, but some classical and behavioral too behavioral

mostly systems, but some classical and behavioral too

The functions of management generally include: planning, assembly, installation, and testing planning, organizing, control, and leadership leadership, supervision, analysis, and design none of the above

planning, organizing, control, and leadership

The statement of work (SOW) appears in: the RFP the proposal the project plan possibly all of the above

possibly all of the above

The critical path method (CPM) is a systematic approach for allocating resources among activities to _________ project duration for the _______ cost. reduce, least maintain, least increase, least reduce, most

reduce, least

The project planning and estimating process should do all but which of the following? use a top-down approach to disseminate information about project goals to lower levels use a bottom up approach to prepare and check labor and cost estimates employ pricing units to decide on areas of work needed and to prepare labor hour estimates rely upon work package supervisors to authorize when work packages should begin

rely upon work package supervisors to authorize when work packages should begin

The key elements of a project plan include all but which of the following: schedules budgets detailed work breakdown structures resumes showing the qualifications of key workers personnel and resource plans plans for controlling changes

resumes showing the qualifications of key workers

A role of feedback is to: keep the subsystems within the system alter the environment to conform to system objectives signal the system that it is deviating from its objectives set the objectives of the system

signal the system that it is deviating from its objectives

The form of relationships or linkages among the elements of a system is referred to as: structure constraints boundaries subsystems

structure

Which of the following would be considered common or "non-functional" requirements: testability and reliability weight less than 50,000 lbs. top speed greater than 300 mph volume of greater than 10,000 cubic liters

testability and reliability

Which of the following statements is not true about cost estimating? the expert opinion method is the same as the cost engineering method the analogy method requires that a similar project or work task was done previously the parametric method is an estimate based on a mathematical formula the analogy method can take into account differences between projects it might involve several methods simultaneously, such as expert opinion, analogy, and cost engineering

the expert opinion method is the same as the cost engineering method

Which of the following characteristics tend to define traditional work versus project situations? Select the characteristic that best defines a project situation. work units are specialized and work independently the mix of tasks being done is in constant change the work environment is stable and unchanging most communications are vertical (superior-subordinate)

the mix of tasks being done is in constant change

A prototype is defined be all but which of the following? a running model to test the performance of a system or component the ready-to-install end item system an operational model to give designers and customers a "feel" for the real component of system

the ready-to-install end item system

When planning a project, it is important to account for all but which of the following? any special training the user requirements of other projects in the firm any anticipated difficulties the method of implementation the availability of human and technical resources

the user requirements of other projects in the firm

Project management is generally appropriate (choose the best answer): for most any situation that requires hard work when the work effort is complex, unique, and uncertain when the work effort is highly standardized when a high-quality product is desired

when the work effort is complex, unique, and uncertain