Project Management Final Exam Practice

Using the formula for calculating the number of communication channels, how many channels would two people require? 3 4 1 2

1

Which is a guideline that project managers should follow when communicating with teams through e-mail? Minimize the total number of e-mails by including as many subjects as possible in a single e-mail. Continue replying to e-mail messages without changing the subject line to maintain continuity. If the entire message can fit in the subject line, put it there. Always reply to all the people to whom the initial message was sent.

If the entire message can fit in the subject line, put it there.

The _____ analysis includes information such as the contact person for the information, when the information is due, and the preferred format for the information.

stakeholder communications

_____ measures how much variation exists in a distribution of data.

standard deviation

Which document describes where the project stands at a specific point in time? lessons-learned reports status reports progress reports forecasts

status reports

In the Tuckman model, what occurs as team members have different opinions as to how the team should operate? norming forming storming performing

storming

Which test is done to test each individual component (often a program) to ensure that it is as defect-free as possible? system integration unit user acceptance

unit

Which testing involves an independent test performed by end users prior to accepting the delivered system? unit integration system user acceptance

user acceptance

A(n) _____ is a website that enables anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify its content. intranet forum blog wiki

wiki

It is important for project managers to focus on indirect costs because they can be easily controlled. False True

False

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

False

Status reports should be written in a consistent format, regardless of the stakeholders' needs. True False

False

The design of experiments technique cannot be applied to project management issues such as cost and schedule trade-offs. False True

False

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

Flase

While trying to assess commitment of project stakeholders, a(n) _____ meeting or a Web conference might be the most appropriate medium to use.

face to face

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

false

The time frame for a(n) _____ estimate is often three or more years prior to project completion.

rough order of magnitude

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

False

A budgetary estimate is the most accurate of the three types of estimates. False True

False

A negative schedule variance means that it took less time than planned to perform the work. True False

False

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. True False

False

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

False

Analogous estimates are called activity-based costing. False True

False

Analogous estimates are the most accurate technique to estimate costs. False True

False

Communication becomes simpler when you increase the number of team members. True False

False

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

False

Frameworks for helping organizations improve their processes and systems are called Six Sigma charts. True False

False

Intangible costs can be easily measured in monetary terms. False True

False

Integration testing involves testing of each individual component to ensure that it is as defect-free as possible. False True

False

Which statement is one of Juran's ten steps to quality improvement? An organization should build awareness of the need and opportunity for improvement. An organization should entrust improvement to individual employees rather than appointing teams or facilitators. An organization should minimize top management involvement in the achievement of individual employee goals. An organization should avoid "keeping score" in order to achieve an overall atmosphere of quality improvement.

An organization should build awareness of the need and opportunity for improvement.

Which process helps integrate traditionally separate organizational functions, set process improvement goals and priorities, provide guidance for quality processes, and provide a point of reference for appraising current processes? OPM3 CMMI MTBI SQFD

CMMI

Soles is a footwear company which has recently set up its store in Ambrosia. To manufacture its products, Soles incurs a range of different costs. Which would be an example of an indirect cost? Cost of leather used to manufacture shoes Cost of machines to produce shoes Electricity used to run its factories Salary paid to factory workers

Electricity used to run its factories

Which statement is one of Deming's 14 Points for Management? Minimize total cost by working with multiple suppliers rather than a single supplier. Eliminate the annual rating or merit system. Award business based on price tag alone rather than on other considerations. An organization should increase dependence on inspection to achieve quality.

Eliminate the annual rating or merit system.

Which is true of push communication? Information is sent to recipients without their request. Information is sent only to recipients who request the information. This method ensures that the information is received by the recipients. This method ensures that the information is understood by recipients.

Information is sent to recipients without their request.

Which is true of earned value? It is based solely on the total cost estimate to be spent on an activity. It is an estimate of the value of the physical work actually completed. It is also known as the planned value. It is the actual cost plus the planned cost.

It is an estimate of the value of the physical work actually completed.

Which chart helps users identify the vital few contributors that account for most quality problems in a system? control tracking Gantt Gantt Pareto

Pareto

_____ are revenues minus expenditures.

Profits

The _____ is a tool to measure the individual needs of different people using McClelland's categories.

TAT

Managers who follow which theory assume that the average worker wants to be directed and prefers to avoid responsibility? Theory X Theory K Theory Y Theory Z

Theory X

Managers who believe in McGregor's _____ assume that individuals do not inherently dislike work, but consider it as natural as play or rest.

Theory Y

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

Theory Z

Which statement is true of contingency reserves? They are not included in a cost baseline. They allow for future situations that can be partially planned for. They allow for dollar amounts to be used to cover existing, fixed costs. They are also known as unknown unknowns.

They allow for future situations that can be partially planned for.

Change requests and verified deliverables are the outputs of the controlling quality process. False True

True

Definitive estimates are made one year or less prior to project completion. False True

True

Managing quality includes all of the quality assurance activities plus product design and process improvements. False True

True

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

True

Most WBSs include a section for project communications to ensure that reporting key information is a project deliverable. False True

True

One of the reasons why project cost estimates are inaccurate is because human beings are biased toward underestimation. False True

True

People have different personality traits that often affect their communication preferences. True False

True

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

True

Project managers are ultimately responsible for quality management on their projects. False True

True

Project managers must assess the needs of the organization, the project, and individuals in determining which communication medium to use, and when. False True

True

Project managers must conduct cash flow analysis to determine net present value. True False

True

Spreadsheets are a common tool for cost estimating, cost budgeting, and cost control. True False

True

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? power affiliation security achievement

achievement

The cost incurred for the work performed on an activity during a specific time period is known as the _____.

actual cost

What is a rough order of magnitude estimate also referred to as? budgetary final ballpark definitive

ballpark

_____ are journals on the Web that allow users to write entries, respond to another poster's comments, create links, upload pictures, and post comments to journal entries.

blogs

Many experts agree that the greatest threat to the success of any project, especially information technology projects, is a failure to _____.

communicate

What is e-mail communication is most suited for? building consensus among disputing parties communicating simple information assessing commitment to a project mediating a conflict between multiple parties

communicating simple information

A(n) _____ is a document that guides project communications.

communications management plan

A(n) _____ must include suggested methods or technologies for conveying information.

communications management plan

In the DMAIC process, the letter "C" stands for _____.

control

The main outputs of the _____ process are a cost performance baseline, project funding requirements, and project document updates.

cost budgeting

In practice, many people find that using a combination or hybrid approach involving analogous, bottom up, and/or parametric modeling provides the best _____.

cost estimates

The main outputs of the _____ process are activity cost estimates, basis of estimates, and project document updates.

cost estimating

The _____ ultimately decides if quality is acceptable.

customer

Which phase of the DMAIC process includes tools such as a project charter, a description of customer requirements, process maps, and Voice of the Customer (VOC) data? improve measure analyze define

define

_____ fill in for project managers in their absence and assist them as needed.

deputy project manager

Which technique helps identify variables that have the most influence on the overall outcome of a process? design of experiments crashing backward pass activity-on-arrow

design of experiments

Which process involves allocating the overall cost estimate to individual work items to establish a baseline for measuring performance? estimating costs controlling costs finalizing policies for project costs determining the budget

determining the budget

Which statement best defines schedule variance? earned value minus the actual cost earned value minus the planned value planned value plus the earned value planned value plus the rate of performance

earned value minus the planned value

Which term is used for a cost that relates to all errors not detected and not corrected before delivery to the customer? prevention cost appraisal cost external failure cost internal failure cost

external failure cost

_____ diagrams trace complaints about quality problems back to the responsible production operations.

fishbone

Which term is used for the ability of a product to be used as it was intended? free slack critical chain scheduling fitness for use conformance to requirements

fitness for use

Which document predicts future project status and progress based on past information and trends? progress reports status reports forecasts project updates

forecasts

________ are a means of measuring software size based on what the software does for end users.

function points

What need is at the highest level in Maslow's structure? deficiency physiological growth safety

growth

_____ can create communication problems; words may have different meanings in different languages.

language barriers

The items discussed in a(n) _____ include reflections on whether project goals were met, whether the project was successful or not, causes of variances on the project, reasoning behind corrective actions chosen, use of different project management tools and techniques, and personal words of wisdom based on team members' experiences. lessons-learned report final project report audit report design document

lessons-learned report

Which process helps develop an accurate projection of a project's financial expenses and benefits? fast tracking life cycle costing critical path analysis crashing

life cycle costing

Which addresses the ease of performing maintenance on a product? functionality maintainability reliability performance

maintainability

Performing quality assurance is a subprocess of which project quality management stage? managing benchmarking initiating closing

managing

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? developing the project team developing the human resource plan managing the project team acquiring the project team

managing the project team

Which communication method is most appropriate for assessing the commitment of project stakeholders? meeting website wiki e-mail

meeting

Project managers must conduct cash flow analysis to determine _____.

net present value

The output of the _____ process is a communications management plan. managing communications controlling communications reporting performance planning communications

planning communications

The main outputs of which process are a quality management plan, quality metrics, project management plan updates, and project documents updates? planning quality management quality certification performing quality assurance controlling quality

planning quality management

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? affiliation power achievement advancement

power

In the Tuckman model, what occurs when the emphasis is on reaching the team goals, rather than working on team process? norming performing storming forming

preforming

Which document describes what the project team has accomplished during a certain period? progress reports lessons-learned reports status reports forecasts

progress reports

What documents include a complete set of organized project records that provide an accurate history of the project? project archives forecasts project plans project notes

project archives

The main goal of controlling communications is to ensure the optimal flow of information throughout the entire _____.

project life cycle

According to Thamhain and Wilemon, what is the ability to improve a worker's position? assignment expertise promotion penalty

promotion

_____ issues that affect how people work and how well they work include motivation, influence and power, and effectiveness.

psychosocial

_____ are groups of nonsupervisors and work leaders in a single company department who volunteer to conduct group studies on how to improve the effectiveness of work in their department.

quality circles

_____ is a relation of harmony, conformity, accord, or affinity and is important for communication.

rapport

According to Herzberg, which is a motivational factor? recognition health benefits salary training

recognition

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

resource histogram

Genichi Taguchi's _____ methods focus on eliminating defects by substituting scientific inquiry for trial-and-error methods.

robust design