Chapter 1 Introduction: Why Project Management?

1) Which of the following types of activities is more closely associated with projects rather than
processes?
A) an activity that is ongoing
B) an activity that is day-to-day
C) an activity that uses existing systems
D) an activity that establishes its own work rules

2) Which of the following is accomplished through project management?

A) A cellular phone company activates a new customer's service.
B) An automotive manufacturer produces a day's quota of vehicles.
C) A software developer creates a new crash-proof operating system.
D) A retailer restocks the shelves after a day of brisk sales.

3) A project typically has:

A) a defined start and end date.
B) a defined start date but no defined end date.
C) no defined start but a defined end date.
D) no defined start or end date.

4) The Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide definition of a project indicates that a project is:
A) multifunctional.
B) temporary.
C) designed to consume human resources.
D) limited by a budget.

5) Project members may be from:

A) different departments.
B) other organizational units.
C) one functional area.
D) all of the above.

6) There is no such thing as a project team:

A) with a deliverable.
B) with an ongoing, non-specific purpose.
C) with a goal.
D) with a project manager.

7) A project that results in "doing the wrong things well" has ignored the:
A) budgetary goal.
B) technical goal.
C) customer satisfaction goal.
D) scheduling goal.
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8) Which of these is NOT characteristic of a project?
A) Projects are responsible for the newest and most improved products, services, and organizational
processes.
B) Projects are ad hoc endeavors with a clear life cycle.
C) Projects provide a philosophy and strategy for the management of change.
D) Traditional process management functions of planning, organizing, and controlling do not apply to
project management.

9) Which of the following is NOT a project constraint?

A) the budget
B) the customer requirements
C) the schedule
D) the technical specifications

10) Projects differ from classic organizational processes because projects are:
A) discrete activities.
B) part of line organization.
C) well established systems in place to integrate efforts.
D) multi-objective.

11) Process management features ________ with respect to project management.

A) greater team member heterogeneity
B) greater certainty of performance
C) fewer numbers of goals and objectives
D) lower adherence to established practices

12) Studies of IT projects reveal that:

A) initial cost estimates are overrun by an average of 15%.
B) over 66% of IT projects were delivered to customers but not used.
C) about 25% of all IT projects become runaways by overshooting budgets and timetables.
D) up to 75% of software projects are cancelled.

13) A business reality that makes effective project management critical is the fact that:
A) products are becoming increasingly simple.
B) inflation is rampant.
C) product life cycles are compressing.
D) product launch windows are widening.

14) A product is introduced into a market, gains the acceptance of a fickle public, and finally is
supplanted by a new and improved offering. This phenomenon is known as the:
A) product life cycle.
B) rule of 80.
C) Mendoza line.
D) beta.

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15) Low inflation is a trigger for improved project management skills because:
A) rampant cost increases must be passed along to the consumer.
B) internal process improvement is accomplished via project management.
C) lower inflation means narrower product launch windows.
D) global markets are a prerequisite for low inflation.

16) The technical side of project management emphasizes:

A) team building.
B) conflict management.
C) negotiation.
D) budgeting.

17) The behavioral side of project management emphasizes:

A) scheduling.
B) leadership.
C) planning.
D) project selection.

18) Geoffco's project manager names three individuals and requests a project budget of $3,000,000 for the
new 8-Pod, a backpack-sized personal music player for 8-track tapes capable of holding up to 100 songs
from the '60s and '70s. This important step takes place during ________ of the project life cycle.
A) planning
B) conceptualization
C) execution
D) termination

19) The man-hours requirement is typically at a peak during the ________ phase of the project life cycle.
A) planning
B) conceptualization
C) execution
D) termination

20) Individual activities and their durations are developed during the ________ phase of the project life
cycle.
A) planning
B) conceptualization
C) execution
D) termination

21) Keith Monroe nails hundreds of pieces of culled lumber in the blazing July sun to form a parquet deck
for his barn roof. He and his assistant are clearly in:
A) the termination stage of the project life cycle.
B) the planning stage of the project life cycle.
C) the execution stage of the project life cycle.

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D) way over their heads.

22) The MBA redesign committee presents the results of their five-year project to their bemused Dean.
They hope it is not just wishful thinking that they are in the:
A) planning phase.
B) conceptualization phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

23) Client interest is typically at its lowest during the:

A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

24) The degree of innovation and creativity is typically at its highest during the:
A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

25) Which of these factors are essentially complete opposites from an intensity perspective across the
project life cycle?
A) Client Interest and Creativity
B) Creativity and Resources
C) Resources and Project Stake
D) Project Stake and Client Interest

26) Which of these factors are essentially complete opposites from an intensity perspective across the
project life cycle?
A) Client Interest and Uncertainty
B) Creativity and Resources
C) Uncertainty and Project Stake
D) Project Stake and Client Interest

27) Which of these factors are highly similar from an intensity perspective across the project life cycle?
A) Client Interest and Creativity
B) Creativity and Resources
C) Resources and Project Stake
D) Project Stake and Uncertainty

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28) The amount of corporate investment is typically at its lowest in the:
A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

29) The amount of corporate investment is typically at its highest in the:

A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

30) The degree of risk associated with the project is typically at its highest during the:
A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

31) The technical challenges that the project has to face are typically at their lowest during the:
A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

32) The commitment of financial, human, and technical resources is highest during the:
A) conceptualization phase.
B) planning phase.
C) execution phase.
D) termination phase.

33) The most recent addition to the four criteria of project success is:
A) time.
B) cost.
C) performance.
D) client acceptance.

34) The project success criteria that functions as a quality check is:
A) time.
B) cost.
C) performance.
D) client acceptance.

35) Which of the following statements about project success criteria is best?
A) Project cost is an external performance measure.
B) Completion time is an internal performance measure.
C) Client acceptance is an internal performance measure.
D) Client acceptance is often referred to as conducting a "quality" check.

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36) A design project is completed on time, under budget, to the customer's satisfaction, and in adherence
to the technical specifications agreed. The new product takes the market by storm and everyone
associated with the project receives a coveted gold star. Under the four dimensions of project success
model, the project still needs to show:
A) future potential.
B) business success.
C) impact on the customer.
D) efficiency.

37) The dimension of project success that is realized first (chronologically) is:
A) future potential.
B) business success.
C) impact on the customer.
D) efficiency.

38) The dimension of project success that is realized last (chronologically) is:
A) future potential.
B) business success.
C) impact on the customer.
D) efficiency.

39) The dimension of project success that is measured by both an internal and external criterion is:
A) future potential.
B) business success.
C) impact on the customer.
D) efficiency.

40) All groups that are affected by a project are known by this name:
A) Ombudsmen
B) Team members
C) Minions
D) Stakeholders

41) ABC company compares the way they manage projects with the way rival NBC company manages
projects. ABC company is engaged in:
A) corporate espionage
B) ring level 0.
C) competitive benchmarking.
D) cutting edge practices.

42) Project management maturity models are NOT used to:

A) compare practices against an industry standard.
B) define a systematic route for improving project management practices.
C) evaluate current project management practices.
D) ascertain all stakeholders relevant to a project in the conceptualization phase.

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