Ch2: Project mgmt and info technology context

Which of the following is true of the agile approach to software development? a. In the agile method, requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration. b. An agile approach sets scope goals, but leaves time and cost goals flexible. c. Agile is a predictive model of software development. d. In the agile approach, requirements must be clearly expressed early in the life cycle.

a. In the agile method, requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration.

Which of the following is true of the project life cycle? a. In the early phases of a project life cycle, resource needs are usually lowest. b. In the later phases of the project life cycle, the level of uncertainty is usually the highest. c. t is much more expensive to make major changes to a project during the earlier phases than the latter phases. d. More resources are usually needed during the initial phases of a project than during the middle or final phases.

a. In the early phases of a project life cycle, resource needs are usually lowest.

A(n) _____ refers to a product or service, such as a technical report, a training session, a piece of hardware, or a segment of software code, produced or provided as part of a project. a. deliverable b. input c. system d. resource

a. deliverable

Project managers have the least amount of authority in a pure _____ organizational structure. a. functional b. project c. matrix d. circular

a. functional

_____ refers to the degree to employees identify with the organization as a whole, rather than with their types of job or profession. a. member identity b. people focus c. group emphasis d. unit integration

a. member identity

The _____ perspective on organizations assumes that organizations are coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups. a. political frame b. symbolic frame c. structural frame d. human resources frame

a. political frame

In a _____organizational structure, program managers, rather than functional managers or vice presidents, report to the CEO. Their staffs have a variety of skills needed to complete all required tasks within their programs. a. project b. symbolic c. matrix d. functional

a. project

The first two traditional project phases (concept and development) focus on planning, and are often referred to as _____. a. project feasibility b. project acquisition c. project implementation d. project close-out

a. project feasibility

The _____ perspective of an organization focuses on different groups' roles and responsibilities in order to meet the goals and policies set by top management. a. structural frame b. human resources frame c. political frame d. symbolic frame

a. structural frame

In the development phase of the project life cycle: a. the project team creates more detailed project plans, a more accurate cost estimate, and a more thorough WBS. b. the project team delivers the required work, and provides performance reports to stakeholders. c. managers develop a business case, which describes the need for the project and basic underlying concepts. d. managers prepare a preliminary or rough cost estimate for the required work.

a. the project team creates more detailed project plans, a more accurate cost estimate, and a more thorough WBS.

Which of the following best describes a kill point in the project life cycle? a. The period of time given to managers during the feasibility phases to decide on the cost, quality, and time constraints for the project b. A review of the status of a project at each phase of development to determine if it should be continued, redirected, or terminated c. The point of time in the project lifecycle after which it is impossible to terminate a running project d. The final submission of the project deliverables after which the project is terminated

b. A review of the status of a project at each phase of development to determine if it should be continued, redirected, or terminated

Which of the following best describes outsourcing? a. An organization selling its products in a market outside its domestic market b. An organization's acquisition of goods and services from an outside source c. An organization setting up manufacturing and retailing facilities in a new country d. An organization's use of virtual teams with employees located in different countries

b. An organization's acquisition of goods and services from an outside source

Which of the following is a disadvantage of virtual teams as compared to traditional teams? a. Increased costs for office space and support b. Reduced opportunities for informal transfer of information c. Limited flexibility in team working hours d. Reduced dependence on technology and processes for accomplishing work

b. Reduced opportunities for informal transfer of information

The _____ frame of an organization focuses on providing harmony between the needs of the organization and the needs of people. a. structural frame b. human resources frame c. political frame d. symbolic frame

b. 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 b. implementation c. concept d. close-out

b. implementation

_____ refers to the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment. a. means-end orientation b. open-systems focus c. conflict tolerance d. risk tolerance

b. open-systems focus

Project managers have the most authority in a pure _____ organizational structure. a. functional b. project c. matrix d. circular

b. project

In the _____ model, developers use a model to generate functional requirements and physical design specifications simultaneously. a. RAD life cycle b. prototyping life cycle c. spiral life cycle d. incremental build life

b. prototyping life cycle

Grey's Infotech sells customized hardware and software solutions for businesses. The salespeople for Grey's have a strict dress code when meeting clients. They are required to wear dark business suits, in order to convey the company's dedication to quality. The meaning conveyed to the clients' through the salespeople's clothing is part of the _____ frame of the organization. a. political b. symbolic c. structural d. human resources

b. symbolic

Projects must operate in a broad organizational environment, and project managers need to consider projects within the greater organizational context. _____ describes this holistic view of carrying out projects within the context of the organization. a. linear analysis b. systems thinking c. reductionism d. the silo approach

b. systems thinking

In organizational culture, control refers to _____. a. the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment b. the degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee employee behavior c. the degree to which management focuses on outcomes rather than on techniques and processes used to achieve results d. the degree to which employees are encouraged to be aggressive, innovative, and risk seeking

b. the degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee employee behavior

The _____ model of a systems development life cycle assumes that requirements will remain stable after they are defined. a. spiral life cycle b. waterfall life cycle c. incremental build life d. RAD life cycle

b. waterfall life cycle

_____ are an example of external stakeholders for an organization. a. top managers b. functional managers c. employees d. competitors

d. competitors

The symbolic perspective of an organization: a. focuses on different groups' roles and responsibilities to meet the goals and policies set by top management. b. views the organization as coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups. c. focuses on providing harmony between the needs of the organization and the needs of people. d. focuses on the meanings of the culture, language, traditions, and image of the organization.

d. focuses on the meanings of the culture, language, traditions, and image of the organization.

In Rizzati Corp, vice presidents in departments such as engineering, manufacturing, IT, and human resources report directly to the chief executive officer and undertake their tasks independently of each other. The staffs of these departments have specialized skills in their respective disciplines. Rizatti Corp can be said to have a _____ organizational structure. a. project b. symbolic c. matrix d. functional

d. functional

The _____ model of a systems development life cycle provides for progressive development of operational software, with each release providing added capabilities. a. spiral life cycle b. RAD life cycle c. waterfall life cycle d. incremental build life

d. incremental build life

_____ refers to a problem-solving approach that requires defining the scope of a system, dividing it into its components, and then identifying and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints, and needs. a. linear programming b. independent component anlysis c. principal component analysis d. systems analysis

d. systems analysis

_____refers to the degree to which departments within an organization are encouraged to coordinate with each other. a. member identity b. people focus c. group emphasis d. unit integration

d. unit integration

In organizational culture, means-end orientation refers to _____. a. the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment b. the degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee and control employee behavior c. the degree to which management focuses on outcomes rather than on techniques and processes used to achieve results d. the degree to which employees are encouraged to be aggressive, innovative, and risk seeking

c. the degree to which management focuses on outcomes rather than on techniques and processes used to achieve results

Which of the following is true of a matrix organizational structure? a. In a matrix organizational structure, employees are organized into departments according to their skills, and there is little interaction between employees from different departments. b.Project managers in matrix organizations have staff from only a single functional area working on their projects. c. In a strong matrix organizational structure, the project manager controls the project budget and has moderate to high authority. d. A matrix organizational structure is hierarchical, but instead of functional managers reporting to the CEO, program managers report to the CEO.

c. In a strong matrix organizational structure, the project manager controls the project budget and has moderate to high authority.

Which of the following is true of virtual teams? a. It is easier for a virtual team to build relationships and trust. b. Negative incentives do not impact virtual team members. c. It is important to select team members carefully. d. As they never meet, virtual teams do not have conflicts.

c. It is important to select team members carefully.

The _____ model uses an approach in which developers work with an evolving prototype, using tools such as computer-aided software engineering, joint requirements planning, and joint application design to facilitate rapid prototyping and code generation. a. incremental build life b. waterfall life cycle c. RAD life cycle d. spiral life cycle

c. RAD life cycle

A preliminary or rough cost estimate is developed in the _____ phase of the project life cycle, and an overview of the work involved is created. a. implementation b. acquisition c. concept d. close-out

c. concept

In a _____ organizational structure, personnel often report to both a functional manager and one or more project managers a. project b. symbolic c. matrix d. functional

c. matrix

_____ refers to a set of shared assumptions, values, and behaviors that characterize the functioning of an organization. a. Chain of command b. Line of control c. organizational culture d. organizational structure

c. organizational culture

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 b. group emphasis c. people focus d. unit integration

c. people focus

In organizational culture, people focus refers to _____. a. the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment b. the degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee and control employee behavior c. the degree to which management 's decisions take into account the effect of outcomes on employees within the organization d. the degree to which employees are encouraged to be aggressive, innovative, and risk seeking

c. the degree to which management 's decisions take into account the effect of outcomes on employees within the organization