Chapter Quiz

1.	You are the project manager for a project that will develop an in-house software used to monitor computer parts inventory. Your project sponsor asks that you begin working on the WBS. What is a WBS? A breakdown of the project work activities A decomposition of the project deliverables Weekly deadlines for the project A topology of the project team s responsibilities
2.	In regard to a WBS, what is a work package? A unit of work that must be completed before the next unit can begin The smallest unit of work that can be performed by the team as a whole The smallest decomposed object in the WBS One of the three parts of any project: the introduction, the implementation, and the project wrap-up
3.	What is the 8/80 Rule? How long a phase should last. A heuristic that says a project should last more than 8 months or less than 80 days. A heuristic that says a task should not last more than 80 hours or less than 8 hours. A description of a collection of tasks within one phase
4.	Why must a project manager and the project team create a WBS? The WBS allows the project manager to work backward from the targeted date to assign tasks. The WBS allows the project manager to assign resources to tasks. The creation of the WBS ensures that all of the project deliverables are fully identified and decomposed so that the necessary resources may be obtained and assigned to the work. The WBS allows the project manager to assign multiple team members to multiple tasks to speed up the implementation.
5.	You are implementing a small network and would like to create a WBS. Todd, your assistant, does not want to create a WBS for such a small project. Why should you create a WBS for every project? To ensure maximum billable hours To ensure the project is complete and whole at finish To ensure Todd performs all of his responsibilities To work toward a definite deliverable
6.	You have finished creating the WBS, and the project sponsor asks to see the schedule in a Gantt chart format. What is a Gantt chart? A Gantt chart represents the total time involved for each team member. A Gantt chart represents the total time involved for the entire team. A Gantt chart illustrates the project activities visually in a timeline format. A Gantt chart illustrates the WBS in relation to the finances committed to the project.
7.	Of the following, which two statements are accomplished by creating a WBS? A WBS defines all of the deliverables the project will create. A WBS identifies the sequence of activities within the project. A WBS can help control the project. A WBS illustrates the time involvement of each team member.
8.	When you create a WBS, there are two main methods you can use. What are they? Choose two: Top-down Bottom-down Double-down Bottom-up
9.	Of the different methods available to create a WBS, which requires the most logic and structure? Top-down Bottom-down Double-down Bottom-up
10.	Of the following, which would not help a project manager determine the phases of a project? Project deliverables Obvious milestones within the project Business cycles Number of team members available
11.	Of the following, which is a benefit of using Microsoft Project to create the WBS? Microsoft Project is easier to use than a whiteboard. Microsoft Project is required to prove the sequence of events within each phase. Microsoft Project streamlines the creation of the WBS. Microsoft Project reduces the overall cost of the project.
12.	Which one of the following is not needed when creating a WBS? Project team members A preferred sequence of project activities A project scope Identified project deliverables
13.	You are the IT project manager for a project to install a new mail server. Which of the following best describes the best approach to creating the WBS? Create a sample WBS and give it the project team to complete. Work with the project team to create a sample WBS and give it to management. Work with the project team and the key stakeholders to create the WBS. A project of this size does not need a WBS.
14.	Why should the project scope be guarded against even simple additions? It adds additional team members to the project. It distracts the team members from the project. Additions, even simple ones, can greatly impact the success of a project. Additions, even simple ones, must be approved through the project sponsor.
15.	What should signify the end of each phase? A milestone that has been reached A party for the project team A date that has been established within the WBS A definite deliverable result

Answers

1.	B. A WBS is a decomposition of the work required to complete the project. It serves as input to five key processes within a project: cost estimating, cost budgeting, resource planning, risk management planning, and activity definition.
2.	C. A work package is the smallest decomposed object within the WBS.
3.	C. The 8/80 Rule is a guide that says a project activity should not be decomposed less than 8 hours or last more than 80 hours.
4.	C. A WBS is a deliverables-orientated decomposition of the project work. It is a process to ensure that all of the required deliverables are identified and broken down into manageable components so resources and labor may be assigned to complete the project work.
5.	B. A WBS, even on small projects, ensures that all tasks are complete and whole. It does not necessarily ensure maximum billable hours, nor does it promise work toward a definite deliverable ”these would be accomplished through the project plan. The project manager is responsible for ensuring that Todd performs all of his duties , not the WBS.
6.	C. A Gantt chart represents the WBS in a visual format. It depicts the start and end of phases and tasks. It does not represent the time involved for each team member. Although a Gantt chart could depict the total time involved for an entire team, that is not its true purpose. Finally, a Gantt chart does not reflect finances committed to the project.
7.	A, C. A WBS does identify all of the deliverables the project will create. It can help control the project by referencing the WBS for resource planning, cost estimating, risk management planning, and activity definition.
8.	A, D. The process of creating a WBS uses either top-down or bottom-up methods. Recall that the top-down method uses deductive reasoning and the bottom-up method uses inductive reasoning.
9.	A. A WBS using the top-down method involves deductive reasoning, which requires logic and structure.
10.	D. A WBS does not necessarily need to revolve around the number of team members available. Project deliverables, project milestones, and business cycles will have impact on the WBS.
11.	C. Microsoft Project is an excellent software tool to finalize your WBS. A whiteboard is still ideal to use during the project planning phases. Microsoft Project can be used to prove the sequence of events, but a whiteboard can accomplish the same task in less time. Microsoft Project does not necessarily reduce the overall cost of the project, though it can help organize and streamline the effort to map out the project schedule.
12.	B. The WBS is not concerned with the order of activities. Activity sequencing and scheduling, however, will be concerned with the order and relationship of activities.
13.	C. Creating a WBS is not a solo activity. The project manager should work with the project team and any key stakeholders to create a WBS.
14.	C. Additions to the project scope can have huge impacts on the deliverables of a project. Often additions are tossed into the plans without adequate foresight or care so their consequences can throw a perfect plan off balance. Do not change the scope of an existing project unless it is absolutely required.
15.	D. Just as each project produces a definite deliverable, so should each phase. A milestone does not necessarily signify a phase has ended, as there can be multiple milestones within each phase. A party for the project team (while always an excellent idea) does not prove that a phase has officially ended. Dates, while targets for completion, do not signify the end of a phase ”the deliverable proves the end of a project phase.