Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
1
Chapter 1: The Nature of Information Technology Projects
True/False
1. Information Technology Projects are organizational investments.
a. True
b. False
2. A project can be defined as a temporary endeavor undertaken to accomplish a
unique purpose.
a. True
b. False
3. A project sponsor is responsible for ensuring that all of the project management
and technical development processes are in place and being carried out within a
set of specific requirements, defined processes, and quality standards.
a. True
b. False
4. Assumptions are what we use to estimate scope, schedule and budget and to
assess the risks of the project.
a. True
b. False
5. Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques
to project activities in order to meet project requirements.
a. True
b. False
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
6. Projects are planned organizational change. Therefore, the project manager and
team do not need to worry about the political climate within the organization
because top management has a firm understanding of the organization’s culture,
environment, politics, etc.
a. True
b. False
7. The Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge provides a basis for
identifying and describing the generally accepted principles of project
management.
a. True
b. False
8. The Data Processing Era that began in the 1960’s focused on automating many of
the organizational transactions such as general accounting, inventory
management, and production scheduling with the aid of a centralized mainframe
or mini computers.
a. True
b. False
9. The Micro Era that started in the 1980’s provided a smooth transition from large
centralized computers to the personal computer that was widely welcomed by
data processing managers who believed the replication of data throughout the
organization would provide added backup and security.
a. True
b. False
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
10. The rise of islands of independent that replicated data throughout the organization
during the Micro Era in the 1980’s often challenged the centralized control of
many data processing managers.
a. True
b. False
11. During the Network Era, IT projects have focused primarily on the challenge of
creating a scalable IT infrastructure to support many partners, strategic alliances,
vendors, and customers.
a. True
b. False
12. According to the CHAOS studies most IT projects are completed on time and on
budget.
a. True
b. False
13. According to the CHAOS studies, more IT projects are becoming increasing
successful, but there is still a need to improve the likelihood of success.
a. True
b. False
14. According to the CHAOS studies, user involvement and executive support tend to
be important factors for successful projects.
a. True
b. False
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
4
15. According to the Standish Group, it appears that most project today fail not
because of technology, but from a lack of user involvement and incomplete
resources.
a. True
b. False
16. The Socio-Technical Approach has been adopted by many organizations because
successful projects require a pure technical approach that focuses on the tools,
techniques, and methodologies of IT development.
a. True
b. False
17. IT projects must provide value an organization.
a. True
b. False
18. Only the most successful projects are likely to lead to best practices.
a. True
b. False
Multiple Choice
1. A project
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
5
a) is a temporary endeavor undertaken to accomplish a unique product, service,
or result.
b) is an ongoing activity that provides value to the organization.
c) must be completed on time and on budget to be successful.
d) does not usually have a deadline.
e) has a high likelihood of success.
2. The project manager is
a) responsible for ensuring that all management and technical processes are in
place and carried out.
b) the client, customer, or organizational manager who acts as the project
champion and provides organizational resources and direction.
c) the user or client who has specific knowledge, expertise, or insight in a
specific functional area needed to support the project.
d) provides the technical solution to the organizational problem and may include
systems analysts, network specialists, or programmers.
e) the person responsible for final acceptance of the application.
3. The project sponsor is
a) responsible for ensuring that all management and technical processes are in
place and carried out.
b) the client, customer, or organizational manager who acts as the project
champion and provides organizational resources and direction.
c) the user or client who has specific knowledge, expertise, or insight in a
specific functional area needed to support the project.
d) provides the technical solution to the organizational problem and may include
systems analysts, network specialists, or programmers.
e) the person responsible for final acceptance of the application.
4. The subject matter expert is
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
6
a) responsible for ensuring that all management and technical processes are in
place and carried out.
b) the client, customer, or organizational manager who acts as the project
champion and provides organizational resources and direction.
c) the user or client who has specific knowledge, expertise, or insight in a
specific functional area needed to support the project.
d) provides the technical solution to the organizational problem and may include
systems analysts, network specialists, or programmers.
e) the person responsible for final acceptance of the application.
5. The technical expert is
a) responsible for ensuring that all management and technical processes are in
place and carried out.
b) the client, customer, or organizational manager who acts as the project
champion and provides organizational resources and direction.
c) the user or client who has specific knowledge, expertise, or insight in a
specific functional area needed to support the project.
d) provides the technical solution to the organizational problem and may include
systems analysts, network specialists, or programmers.
e) the person responsible for final acceptance of the application.
6. ____ can arise from the estimation process or the stability of the project team.
a) Internal risks
b) External risks
c) Assumptions
d) Cost overruns
e) None of these
7. Which of the following organizational variables can influence the selection of IT
projects?
a) culture
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
7
b) environment
c) politics
d) strategy
e) all of these
8. The EDP era
a) Began in the early 1980s with the personal computer
b) Began in the 1960s when large organizations first purchased a centralized
mainframe or minicomputer.
c) Began in the 1990s when many organizations sought to regain control of the
IT deparment and hired a Chief Data Processing Officer
d) Is credited to the U.S. Navy when it used a project management approach to
manage the Polaris missile project.
e) Began in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a defense project called
ARPANET that eventually led to the Internet.
9. The Micro era
a) Began in the early 1980s with the personal computer
b) Began in the 1960s when large organizations first purchased a centralized
mainframe or minicomputer.
c) Began in the 1990s when many organizations sought to regain control of the
IT deparment and hired a Chief Data Processing Officer
d) Is credited to the U.S. Navy when it used a project management approach to
manage the Polaris missile project.
e) Began in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a defense project called
ARPANET that eventually led to the Internet.
10. The Network era
a) Began in the early 1980s with the personal computer
b) Began in the 1960s when large organizations first purchased a centralized
mainframe or minicomputer.
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
c) Began in the 1990s when many organizations sought to regain control of the
IT deparment and hired a Chief Data Processing Officer
d) Is credited to the U.S. Navy when it used a project management approach to
manage the Polaris missile project.
e) Began in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a defense project called
ARPANET that eventually led to the Internet.
11. The desire to fund a project should be based upon
a) time savings
b) resource constraints
c) cost savings
d) the value the completed project will provide to an organization.
e) None of these
12. According to the CHAOS studies, IT projects
a) Are always over-budget and over schedule
b) Are always succesful even though they can be chaotic
c) Project success is improving because of better project management tools and
processes, smaller projects, and improved communication
d) Project failure is increasing because because of a lack of available resources
and due to a shortage of highly trained technical people
e) None of these
13. The top factors to project success as reported by the CHAOS studies focus on:
a) innovative and cutting edge technology
b) clear ownership of the project
c) competent staff and new technologies
d) user involvement and executive support
e) proper planning and changing requirements
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
9
14. According to the CHAOS studies, which of the following factors tend to be most
prevelant for challenged or failed projects?
a) Lack of user input and incomplete requirements
b) New technologies
c) Lack of interest by the customer
d) Shortage of highly trained technical experts
e) Lack of subject matter experts (SME)
15. The Value-Driven Approach focuses on
a) completing the project on time.
b) a bug-free application.
c) providing value to the organization.
d) completing the project under budget.
e) selecting the right team members, skill sets, and resources for the project.
16. The Socio-Technical Approach focuses on
a) the technology used to implement the project.
b) using technology to meet the needs of the business.
c) the tools, techniques, and methodologies to develop the application.
d) cost considerations.
e) selecting the right team members, skill sets, and resources for the project.
17. The benefits, described in the text, of using a project management approach to
developing information systems include all of the following except:
a) providing a common set of tools and controls which provides a common
language to compare projects throughout the organization
b) the ability to better estimate and control costs and schedules which leads to a
more effective conservation of company resources
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
c) improved communication and status reports leads giving the developers the
ability to manage expectations of stakeholders
d) competitive advantage for internal developers whose work might have to be
outsourced if the quality and cost of their work can be bettered by outside
competition
e) the coupling of project success to the selection of team members and the skill
sets and resources that they bring to the project.
18. The following statements about knowledge management (KM) are true except:
a) KM is a well defined body of knowledge with an established theoretical base.
b) KM is a systematic process for acquiring, creating, synthesizing, sharing, and
using information.
c) Many organizations have KM initiatives underway and spending on these
systems is expected to increase.
d) Many organizations believe KM is just a fad or a buzzword
e) KM is one of the three approaches the text points to for improving the
likelihood of IT project success.
19. A value-driven approach to project management means
a) Applying project management tools and processes that are part of a
methodology
b) Taking a purely technical approach to projects that focuses mainly on the
technology
c) Deriving excellence in project management by documenting lessons learned
and developing best practices
d) Applying knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet
project requirements
e) Measuring project success in terms of the value the project brings to the
organization and not only in terms of meeting the project schedule and budget
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
Short Answer Questions
1. What are the attributes of a project?
2. Describe the different roles and skill sets needed for a project.
3. Describe the EDP Era in your own words.
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
4. Describe the Micro Era in your own words.
5. Describe the Network Era in your own words.
6. How can a value-driven approach improve the likelihood of IT project success?
7. What is the socio-technical approach to systems development?
8. What are the benefits to using a project management approach to developing
information systems?
Information Technology Project Management 5e – Marchewka
15
Essay Questions
1. Define both a project and project management. Describe the attributes of a
project.
2. Discuss the benefits to using a project management approach for developing
information systems.
3. Projects operate in an environment larger than the project itself. Discuss this
statement and explain the environment in which projects operate.
4. The text discussed four common roles that IT projects may require, each one
with different skill sets. Name and describe three of these roles and their
associated skill sets.
5. Describe the phenomenon known as the software crisis as documented in the
CHAOS study.
6. What are the primary objectives of each of the three approaches for improving
the likelihood of project success—Socio-Technical, Project-Management, &
Knowledge Management.