Chapter 1 – Introduction to Project Management
TRUE/FALSE
1. A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result.
2. A project is a lasting endeavor undertaken to maintain a reliable product or service.
3. Most projects are conducted with constraints on the amount of time and funding available to the
project manager.
4. Project plans and goals usually become more specific as early work is completed.
5. Operations consist of the ongoing work needed to ensure the organization continues to function
effectively.
6. Customers may need to sacrifice expectations related to cost or schedule in order to realize their
expectations for scope or quality.
7. An important factor used to determine the phases in a project life cycle are the control needs of the
organization(s) involved in the project.
8. Generally, project life cycle stages are designed so that the amount of money spent in each of the
stages is nearly equivalent.
9. Project customers can be either internal or external to the organization.
10. Different project life cycle models are used for different types of projects.
11. All projects go through a common project life cycle that includes four stages: concept, development,
production and close-out.
12. The name and number of phases in a project life cycle are determined by the organization(s) involved
in the project.
13. Integration management represents the processes and activities to identify, define, combine, unify and
coordinate the various processes and project management activities.
14. Scope management includes the processes to manage timely completion of the project.
15. Communications management generally entails the processes that organize, manage, and lead the
project team.
16. Stakeholder management is comprised of the processes to identify the people, groups, or organizations
that could impact or be impacted by the project, analyze their expectations and impact, and developing
strategies for engaging them and managing conflicting interests.
17. Cost management processes are involved in planning, estimating, budgeting,m financing, funding,
managing and controlling costs so that the project can be completed within the approved budget.
18. The most critical measures of project success are completing the project on schedule and on budget.
19. Some projects are considered successful if they reap business benefits like increased profitability, even
if completed late or over budget.
20. In reality, many projects are fully successful in some ways, but less successful in others.
21. In agile projects, the customer representative role is passive, and their involvement is typically limited
to the early stages of the project.
22. The project manager is normally directly accountable for the project results, schedule and budget.
23. The project management office (PMO) is typically the person or group that provides the financial
resources and support for the project, and is accountable for enabling success.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following examples is NOT a typical or appropriate situation to employ project
management?
a.
improving an existing work process
b.
installing a new computer system
c.
conducting a routine, standard customer service operation
d.
developing a new product
2. Which of the following examples is NOT a typical or appropriate situation to employ project
management?
a.
improving a soldering process in an assembly line
b.
processing deposits and withdrawals in a bank
c.
installing a new accounting application on to a server
d.
developing a new medical device for use by clinics
3. All of the following factors have influenced the increased reliance upon project management in recent
years EXCEPT:
a.
rapid growth and changes in the information technology and telecommunications
industries
b.
realization that methods for large projects can be modified and used for small projects
c.
increased international competition and its influence on consumer demands
d.
the decreased demands of ongoing operational work
4. Projects often require tradeoffs among all of the following EXCEPT:
a.
scope
b.
cost
c.
schedule
d.
programs
5. Once projects are completed, they will typically yield all of the following results EXCEPT:
a.
a unique product, service or result
b.
make or buy decisions
c.
stakeholders whose interests are affected by the outcome
d.
a primary deliverable along with supporting deliverables
6. In an adaptive or change – driven project life cycle:
a.
the product or deliverable is well understood.
b.
planning precedes all executing.
c.
early results lead into planning later work.
d.
the waterfall approach is commonly used.
7. Which of the following statements correctly describes project management?
a.
Project management applies knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities.
b.
Project management should not involve tradeoffs between scope, schedule and cost.
c.
Project management only relies upon checklists to plan and execute the work.
d.
Project management’s goal is to maintain efficiency of ongoing operations.
8. Which of the following statements regarding project life cycles is most accurate?
a.
All research and development organizations rely upon a four-stage project life cycle that
includes initiating, planning, executing and closing.
b.
The project life cycle is the same regardless of the type of projects managed by an
organization.
c.
Many different project life cycle models are used, for different types of projects.
d.
All project life cycles are the same across every industry
9. In the PMBOK, the five logical groupings of the project management inputs, tools and techniques, and
outputs are called the:
a.
project management knowledge areas
b.
project management process groups
c.
life cycle stages
d.
phases and gates
10. When applied to project management, the human resource management knowledge area typically
involves which of the following activities?
a.
determining the work necessary for project completion
b.
estimating, budgeting and controlling project costs
c.
identifying, analyzing and controlling project risks
d.
organizing, managing and leading the project team
11. Which of the ten knowledge areas defined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge includes
the processes required to ensure that the project includes all the work required, and only the work
required, to complete the project successfully?
a.
Project scope management
b.
Project quality management
c.
Project communications management
d.
Project stakeholder management
12. Which of the ten knowledge areas defined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge includes
the activities of purchasing or acquiring products, services or results from outside the project team?
a.
Scope management
b.
Quality management
c.
Communications management
d.
Procurement management
13. Achieving project success is determined by all of the following EXCEPT:
a.
creating deliverables that include all required features
b.
involving only important key stakeholders
c.
completing the project on schedule and on budget
d.
providing outputs that please the project’s customers
14. Projects are considered successful for all of the reasons below EXCEPT:..
a.
members of the team learn new skills working on the project.
b.
the organization captures lessons learned for future projects.
c.
the team has demonstrated heroics to meet project objectives
d.
the organization reaps business level benefits.
15. Which of the following actions will likely cause a project to fail?
a.
dedicating valuable team member time to identify risk events
b.
spending project funding to procure needed tools and spare parts
c.
unclear or conflicting stakeholder expectations
d.
conducting a project audit to evaluate performance
16. Project failure can result from all of the following causes EXCEPT:
a.
support of senior management
b.
changes in scope are not agreed upon by all parties involved.
c.
too little time is allowed for project completion.
d.
planning is not adequate.
17. A project manager in agile projects who serves and leads in a collaborative, facilitation manner is
called a:
a.
program manager
b.
scrum master
c.
sponsor
d.
functional manager
18. Typically, a steering team or leadership team is responsible for all of the following project related roles
EXCEPT:
a.
selecting, prioritizing and resourcing projects
b.
providing rigid policies, procedures, standards and guidelines
c.
ensuring accurate progress is reported and adjustments made
d.
aligning projects with the organization’s strategic plans
19. Which of the following roles is typically associated with the project manager?
a.
the person assigned by the performing organization to lead the team that is responsible for
achieving the project objectives
b.
the person with management authority over a unit within a functional organization
c.
the person responsible for project methods, standards and training
d.
the person responsible for providing the financial resources and support for the project and
is accountable for enabling success.
20. Typically, the senior customer representative is responsible for which of the following project roles?
a.
develops the project schedule and budget
b.
determines how the project work will be accomplished
c.
ensures the needs of the customer’s organization are identified and prioritized
d.
helps the project manager with running meetings and providing status reports
21. From an agile project management perspective, which of these constraints are considered to be fixed?
a.
Quality and value
c.
Scope and time
b.
Resources and schedule
d.
Customer satisfaction
1. Contrast project management with operations management. How do these differences impact the
approach required to manage a project successfully?
2. Project managers frequently face competing constraints. Identify these common constraints and
describe approaches that project managers can use to make the trade-offs required to succeed.
3. The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) published by the Project
Management Institute identifies five process groups. Briefly identify and describe each of these five
process groups.
4. Compare and contrast predictive, or plan-driven project life cycles with agile, or change-driven life
cycles. When might each type of life cycle be appropriate?
5. The leadership of top management is often cited as a factor that is critical to project success. Describe
the key project related activities of the steering team, chief projects officer and sponsor.
