Chapter Quiz

1.	What is project management? The ability to complete a task within a given amount of time The ability to complete a task with a given budget The ability to manage a temporary endeavor to create a unique product or service ”on time and within budget The ability to administer a series of chronological tasks within a given amount of time and under budget
2.	Which of the following determine the start of a project? Knowing the project sponsor Knowing the project budget Knowing the project completion date Knowing the project results
3.	Which of the following is the most important element of a project genesis? Sponsor Team members Vision Project manager
4.	Why must you interview the project decision makers before starting the project? To detail the budget of the project To determine the project results To gain their support and trust To determine the project completion date
5.	What is the purpose of the project charter? To launch the project team To identify the project manager To assign a budget to the project To authorize a project
6.	Why must a project manager question every facet of a new project? Choose two: To determine the project results To determine the validity of the project To determine the project budget To determine the project resources
7.	Why are new technologies implemented within a company? To increase the speed of internal processes To be more competitive To be more profitable To be more technically savvy
8.	When considering the type of technology to implement in any given situation, what are things a decision maker must consider? Choose all that apply: The steps required to implement the technology The users the change will affect The vendor s ability to provide support The business cycles the change may interrupt
9.	What is a focus group ? An interview process for elective team members An interview process by the team members to determine the success of a project manager A sampling of users affected by the proposed technology A sampling of management affected by the proposed technology
10.	Why can a focus group be counterproductive? The participants may not understand the technology. The management involved may not like the technology being implemented. The participants may focus on the problems of the old technology rather than the goals of the project. Team members may have political agendas against the project manager.
11.	A project manager would like to use an anonymous tool to gain a consensus on the needs of the project. Which tool is the project manager likely to use? A survey on an intranet site The Delphi Technique An e-mail message to all users within the organization A Monte Carlo simulation
12.	Fill in the blank: Increased _______________ results in increased profits. Technology Speed Productivity Bandwidth
13.	What is a project goal? The end result of the project A statement of the project and its end date A statement of the project, its results, and its end date The mission statement
14.	What does a firm completion date accomplish? Choose two: Creates a sense of urgency Signifies a commitment to the project from the sponsor(s) Signals a financial commitment to the project Confirms the project will end
15.	Why is a flexible completion date bad? Allows the project to be delayed Signals the project will end eventually Increases time and cost, decreases morale Allows other projects to overlap this project

Answers

1.	C. Project management is the ability to manage a temporary endeavor to create a unique product or service on time, within budget. Answer D is incorrect because completing a project under budget is nice, but reflects inaccurate planning of what the budget should have been at the project outset. In addition, the project goal must be met.
2.	D. When you begin a project, you must know what s expected at the end of the project. You wouldn t begin building a house without a plan; the same is true for project management. While knowing the project sponsor and the project budget is necessary, it still doesn t determine what the goal of the project is.
3.	C. Before any effort is applied to the implementation of a project, the project manager and the team must have a vision of what the project will produce, how it will come about, and when it will be finished. Vision supercedes all other elements.
4.	B. Again, you must have a clear understanding of what the decision makers vision of the project results are before any other factor of the project implementation. After you have a clear understanding of the project vision, address issues such as budget and the completion date. Answer C is incorrect because you will gain the support and trust of the decision makers once you have obtained their vision of the project, not through an interview.
5.	D. The purpose of the project charter is to authorize the project. Answer A is incorrect because the project team may not be selected until later in the project. Answer B, identifying the project manager, is also incorrect. The project manager is named and identified in the project charter, but the purpose of the charter is to authorize the project. Answer C is also incorrect; the project charter s purpose is not to assign a budget to the project.
6.	A, C. A project manager must first determine the project results before beginning a new project. You must know the end results of a project before beginning a project; to do otherwise is asinine. Technology costs money because it makes money. You must know what is required to obtain the desired results. From this information you can form a required budget. Answer B, the validity of the project, is incorrect because answer A will determine that. Answer D is also incorrect because answer A will lead to D.
7.	C. As information technology specialists, it is easy to lose sight of the link between technology and why it exists. The goal of a technological implementation is, generally , to lead to more productivity, which in turn leads to higher profits. If technology does not earn its keep, it should be considered an unwelcome houseguest.
8.	B, C, D. Answer A is not a correct choice because that s why the decision maker has put you in charge of the project. The decision maker has made the decision and then delegated the implementation to you.
9.	C. A focus group is a collection of users your project will affect. It should consist of a sampling from management and staff, not just management.
10.	C. The participants may focus on the problems of the old technology rather than the goals of the project. An improperly organized focus group can result in a gripe session about the old technology and its flaws rather than the benefits and goals of the new project. A focus group requires a strong leader to help the participants focus on the future implementation rather than their complaints with the current technology.
11.	B. The Delphi Technique allows for anonymous input from participants and provides rounds of discussion for consensus building. Answer A is incorrect because a survey on an intranet site may or may not provide anonymous input. Answer C, e-mail, is incorrect because it does not provide anonymous input from users. Answer D is incorrect. Monte Carlo simulation is a simulation tool testing variables , not a consensus building approach.
12.	C. Technology can be counterproductive. Technology should increase productivity, allow for a quick learning cycle, and ultimately result in higher profits.
13.	C. A goal is a clear, concise statement of the project. It should include the project end results and be positive in nature.
14.	B, D. A firm completion date shows a commitment to the project from sponsors and it confirms that the project will end. A completion date does not, however, signal a financial commitment to the project. A completion date should create a sense of responsibility, but not a sense of urgency or panic.
15.	C. A flexible completion date can result in the delay of the project. The delay of the project will result in higher costs and lower morale.