File: ch01, Chapter 1: The World of Projects RVJ Changes Jan 2006 Revised by Dwayne Whitten - July, 2008

Multiple Choice 1. The growing demand for a broad range of complex, sophisticated, customized goods and services would have which one of the following implications for the management of projects in modern organizations a) Project managers are responsible for making detailed technical decisions b) Project managers should rely on the use of teams to plan and execute projects c) Most projects will be performed using subcontractors d) The design of a project solution should always be frozen early in the planning process Ans: b Response: Refer to intro section Level: easy

2. Identify the example that would not usually be considered a project. a) Building a car b) Developing a computer software application program c) Designing a new product d) Installing new equipment in an existing production line Ans: a Response: While it is true that automobiles have an element of customization, process management techniques are used to mass-produce the vehicles. Refer to the section titled Non Projects and quasi projects. Level: intermediate

3. According to the authors, the prime objectives of project management are cost, time and a) Schedule b) Quality c) Customer satisfaction d) Performance Ans: d Response: Refer to Figure 1 - 1. Level: easy

4. The term program refers to an exceptionally large, long-range objective that is broken down into a set of ________.

a) Tasks b) Projects c) Subprojects d) Campaigns Ans: b Response: Refer to section 1.1. Level: easy

5. Five attributes that characterize a project include: a) Purpose, repetition, interdependencies, consistency, uncertainty b) Lifecycle, schedule, cost, uncertainty, independence c) Performance, lifecycle, uniqueness, conflict, interdependencies d) Purpose, lifecycle, conflict, certainty, independence Ans: c Response: Refer to section 1.1. Level: easy 6. The mission of the _________ is to foster the growth of project management and build professionalism in the field. a) Project Management Institute b) Manhattan Project c) Project Management Book of Knowledge d) ARPAnet Ans: a Response: section entitled The Project Manager Level: easy 7. Which of the following statements is false in regards to projects? a) Projects have limited budgets. b) Projects have life cycles. c) On most projects, conflict does not exist. d) Every project has some elements that are unique. Ans: c Response: section 1.1 conflict Level: intermediate 8. ______________, a term used to cover both risk quantification and risk response planning, is devoted to estimating the impacts that uncertainties have on project outcomes. a) risk planning b) risk analysis c)risk mitigation d) risk mining

Ans: b Response: section 1.4 Level: intermediate Short Answer 9. Rising client expectations during execution of a project may lead to a condition known as ________. Ans: scope creep. Response: Refer to the section titled Three Project Objectives. Level: easy 10. A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a ________ product or service. Ans: unique. Response: Refer to section 1.1. This is the PMI definition of a project. Level: easy

11. Having only partial or no information about a situation or outcome, often due to ambiguity or complexity is known as ________. Ans: uncertainty. Response: Refer to the glossary. Level: easy

12. With respect to project goals throughout the projects lifecycle, early in the lifecycle, the project teams focus should be on how to achieve the required ________. Ans: performance. Response: Refer to section 1.3. Level: advanced 13. An important implication of the project lifecycle concept is that a project will resist ________ of its existence. Ans: termination. Response: Refer to section 1.1 (life cycle with a finite due date). Level: intermediate True/False 14. Because the customer is not a member of the performing organization, the customer is not a stakeholder of the project. Ans: False

Response: Refer to the section titled Conflict. Level: easy

15. The pattern of progress observed in every project lifecycle can be explained by the S-curve that exhibits a cumulative pattern of slow-rapid-slow progress. Ans: False Response: refer to section 1.3. Although this is common it does not occur in every project. Level: intermediate

16. The conventional project lifecycle can be described as a pattern of cumulative progress that is slowrapid-slow progress. Ans: True Response: Refer to Figure 1-3. Level: easy

17. Earned value is based on the concept that the percentage of project completion is closely correlated with cost or with the use of resources. Ans: True Response: refer to section 1.3. Level: advanced

18. In a conventional project lifecycle, as work progresses uncertainty about the expected outcome should increase. Ans: False Response: Refer to section Risk during the life cycles and Figure 1.7. Dispersion about the expected outcome will decrease as the results of the project become known. Level: easy 19. Project management provides an organization with powerful tools that improve its ability to plan, implement, and control its activites. Ans: True Response: Refer to intro section Level: easy 20. In general, projects today are getting smaller and smaller.

Ans: False Response: Refer to section Forces Fostering Project Management Level: moderate