Questions and Answers of Project Management

Suppose that we add some duration estimates to each of the activities from Exercise 9.28. A portion of the revised table is shown here. Recreate the network diagram for this project and note how MS
A building contractor is working on a vacation home and is looking over his schedule. He notices that the schedule calls for the foundation footers to be poured and then the rough floor decking to
Your project team is working on a brand-new project with leading-edge technology. As a result, it is very difficult for your team to give reasonable accurate estimates for how long their activities
Activity slack (also known as float) can be calculated through which of the following means?a. Early finish (EF) – late finish (LF)b. Early finish (EF) – early start (ES)c. Late finish (LF) –
Your project team is working from a network diagram. This type of tool will show the team:a. Activity precedenceb. Duration estimates for the activities and overall schedulec. The dates activities
What do we mean by an activity’s late finish date?a. The latest an activity can finish without delaying the subsequent activityb. The latest an activity can finish without delaying the projectc.
Which of the following would result from activity sequencing?a. Activity-on-Node diagramb. External dependenciesc. Resource levelingd. The project critical path
Hammock activities are simply:a. Another name for dependenciesb. An activity sequencing ladderc. A means for disaggregating the project network into logical summariesd. The shortest activity path
The fact that a product must first be prototyped before it can be tested is an example of:a. A mandatory dependencyb. An external dependencyc. A discretionary dependencyd. A milestone gate
What is the difference between a Gantt chart and a milestone chart?a. There is no difference; they are the same thingb. A milestone chart shows only major events, while a Gantt chart shows more
Explain what the term “lag” means by explaining the differences between the four logical relationships presented:a. Finish to startb. Finish to finishc. Start to startd. Start to finish
Joe has worked for Blanque Cheque Construction (BCC)for five years, mainly in administrative positions. Three months ago, he was informed that he was being transferred to the firm’s project
Consider the common problems with project cost estimation and recall a project with which you have been involved.Which of these common problems did you encounter most often? Why?
This chapter suggests that “estimating project costs is a challenging process that can resemble an art form as much as science.” Describe the different methods used to estimate costs on a
Explain the concept of activity-based costing. What are the steps involved in this process?
Go to http://management.about.com/lr/project_time_ management/174690/1/ and click on “Project Management” on the left side of the screen. When you consider several of the articles on time
Go to www.infogoal.com/pmc/pmcart.htm and examine some of the archived articles and white papers on project planning and scheduling. Select one article and synthesize the main points. What are the
Key in “project scheduling” for a search of the Web. Hundreds of thousands of hits are generated from such a search.Examine a cross section of the hits. What are some of the common themes found
Key in a search with the prompt “projects in ” in which you select a country of interest (e.g., “projects in Finland”). Many of the projects generated by such a search are
Consider the following information that you have compiled regarding the steps needed to complete a project. You have identified all relevant steps and have made some determinations regarding
Suppose we have a complete activity predecessor table (shown here) and we wish to create a network diagram highlighting the activity sequence for this project. Using MS Project, enter the activities
Suppose a project plan had three distinct paths through the network. The first path consisted of activities A (3 days), B (4 days), and C (2 days). The second path consisted of activities D (4 days),
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the profile model for project screening? Be specific about the problems that may arise in identifying the efficient frontier.
Suppose that you work in the pharmaceutical industry and have been asked to undertake a checklist exercise to assess which new drug development project to accept. The organization has decided on the
How can the project portfolio matrix help an organization to support overall strategic integration?
You have been tasked with advising senior management on whether to invest in a project that will involve purchasing a new piece of high-spec software for greater efficiency in supply and demand
Net Present Value. Your organization must decide on whether to accept a project that has been requested by the research and development department. The initial investment is $350,000. The team has
Access the Web site https://teamblue.unicomsi.com/products/focal-point/?cm_mc_uid=8153203956171487 3469682&cm_mc_sid_50200000=1487346968. What is IBM’s philosophy regarding project portfolio
Pureswing Golf, Inc., manufactures and sells a full line of golf equipment including clubs, golf balls, leisurewear, and ancillary equipment (bags, rain gear, towels, etc.). The company competes in a
Recently Kathy Smith, a project manager for a large industrial construction organization, was assigned to oversee a multimillion-dollar chemical plant construction project in Southeast Asia. Kathy
”Volkswagen obfuscated, they denied, and they ultimately lied.” These were the words of U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, as she set out how the German carmaker would be punished for
John James has worked at one of the world’s largest aerospace firms for more than 15 years. He was hired into the division during the Clinton years when many people were being brought onto the
Table 4.2 ranks the characteristics of project managers who lead in order of importance. Evaluate the order of ranking and explain your answer.Table 4.2 TABLE 4.2 Characteristics of Project Managers
Why is the growing nature of professionalism in project management an important consideration for organizations today? Can you identify any other organization that formally recognizes project
Consider the Odebrecht case and its habit of using bribes and kickbacks to secure project contracts. In what ways is this unethical behavior the fault of the firm, and how is it the fault of the
Identify an individual you would call a business leader. Search the Web for information on this individual. What pieces of information cause you to consider this individual a leader?
Go to the Web site www.debian.org/devel/leader and evaluate the role of the project leader in the Debian Project.What is it about the duties and background of the project leader that lets us view him
Knut Yrvin functions as the team leader for an initiative to replace proprietary operating systems with Linux-based technology in schools in Norway (the project is named“Skolelinux”). Read his
Project champions can dramatically improve the chances of project success, but they can also have some negative effects. For example, projects championed by a well-known organizational member are
Search the Web using the key words “construction project corruption.” The link: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/02/why-is-the-construction-industry-socorrupt-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/
The project manager spends a great deal of her time communicating with project stakeholders. Which of the following represent an example of a stakeholder group for her project?a. Top managementb.
Effective leadership involves all the following, except:a. Managing oneself through personal time management, stress management, and other activitiesb. Managing team members through motivation,
A project manager is meeting with his team for the first time and wants to create an environment in which relationships develop positively. Which of the following guidelines should he consider
Joan is very motivated to create a positive project experience for all her team members and is reflecting on some of the approaches she can take to employ leadership, as opposed to simply managing
Frank has been learning about the effect of emotional intelligence on his ability to lead his project effectively. Which of the following is not an example of the kind of emotional intelligence that
What is the PRIMARY objective of the project manager?a. To follow PMI’s processes and get certifiedb. To amaze the customerc. To deliver maximum value to the organizationd. To deliver the agreed
The best way you can help your project as its leader is to:a. Manage an open and active communication network among all key stakeholdersb. Present your team with a clear vision of the critical nature
What is the most important function the project manager serves?a. Communicatingb. Staffingc. Motivatingd. Rewarding
An emotional intelligence trait that is critical to effective leadership is:a. Gate-keepingb. Empathyc. Conflict avoidanced. Team member awareness
Sarah is a senior manager who, although not part of the project team, has worked actively with members of a critical project, helping them acquire additional resources, coordinating their activities
With the announcement that California would be committing $4.3 billion to the construction of a 29-mile rail link between the cities of Fresno and Madera in the state’s Central Valley,
The ELV (extra low voltage) project, which was meant to install, test, and commission IT, communications infrastructure, and services for the Five Star Hotel in Bahrain,concluded in 2011. The project
In 2011, one of the most complex and difficult congressional budget decisions in years finally determined the fate of the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV). Given the numerous
What are the reasons for developing a business case as part of scoping requirements? How would an organization use this document?
Sustainable project development has many features and can mean many things when beginning a project. If you were to identify three critical messages that explain what sustainable project management
Prepare a group project for the classroom. Use as your model one of the following:a. Construction projectb. Software development projectc. Events management project (e.g., an awards banquet)d. New
Using the project you identified in Problem 1, create a Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) for it, identifying at least six fictitious project team members.Problem 1What are the principal
Research a real project through library resources or the Internet and develop a brief scope statement for the project, a general WBS, and any other information pertaining to the scope management for
Go to http://4pm.com/category/project-plan/wbs/ and view a short tutorial on developing an effective Work Breakdown Structure. Why does this site specifically warn against creating a laundry list of
Go to http://www.gwdc.org/docs/msesp/Technical%20 Proposal.pdf to see a process for describing and creating a Statement of Need for the Minnesota State Energy Sector Partnership. In your opinion,
Access https://www.mtholyoke.edu/sites/default/files/datawarehouse/docs/dwprojectprocessanddocumentation.pdf. Analyzing the comprehensive Scope Statement for the data warehousing project, what
What is the lowest level of decomposition in the Work Breakdown Structure called?a. Work packageb. Deliverablec. Subdeliverabled. Project
All of the following define a work package EXCEPT:a. A work package has a deliverable resultb. It may be considered by its owner as a project in itselfc. A work package may include several
George has been assigned to be the new project manager for our project. He is eager to get off to a good start and wants to identify what activities he should first engage in. How would you advise
The project manager wants to make sure that he is proceeding in the right order as he moves to develop a clear scope for his project. During scope definition, what should he be doing?a. Involving
A hospital expansion is being planned for a community. As part of the scope of this project, it will be necessary to close down the access routes into the emergency room for major remodeling.
A Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) does NOT include:a. Who does what activity on the projectb. Job roles and responsibilities for groupsc. Job roles for team membersd. Project reporting
The work authorization system ensures that:a. All the work and only the work gets performedb. Work gets performed in the right order and at the right timec. Work is done completely and according to
The project plan should be all the following EXCEPT:a. Approved by all stakeholdersb. A formal documentc. Distributed to stakeholders according to the project’s communications pland. Used to manage
The process for reviewing and accepting project deliverables is called:a. Scope verificationb. Scope definitionc. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)d. Scope authorization
A project charter should always include:a. The scope management planb. Stakeholder sign-offsc. The business need behind the projectd. The Work Authorization documentation
Problems have been building at Columbus Instruments, Inc. (CIC) (not its real name) for several years now with the new product development process. The last six high-visibility projects were either
The morning project team meeting promised to be an interesting one. Tensions between the representatives from marketing, Susan Scott, and finance, Neil Schein, have been building for several weeks
Kate Thomas, a project manager with Johnson & Rogers Software Engineering, was looking forward to her first project team “meeting.” She applied quotes to the term “meeting” because she would
What are some of the barriers associated with managing virtual project teams? How would you overcome some of these barriers?
You are a project manager and two of your team members are refusing to collaborate on a critical work package. What method of conflict resolution would you use? Why?
List some reasons why a project manager may need to negotiate on a project.
Click on the Web page for project teams at www.projectsmart.co.uk/five-steps-to-a-winning-project-team.php. Which of these five steps seem to be easier for a project manager to perform and which seem
Go to the Web site of a professional sports team and explore the site. What clues do you get regarding the importance of “teams” and “teamwork” from this site? Give two or three specific
Go to the Web site for a pharmaceutical company. Explore the site, particularly information on new research. What kinds of project teams are used within pharmaceutical companies? Can you identify at
Go to www.ebxml.org/project_teams/project_teams.htm and explore the projects and project teams listed. Notice the size and diversity of some of these project teams. What challenges would you find in
Go to http://tele-immersion.citris-uc.org/ and explore the nature of the project working to develop tele-immersion technology. Click the link marked “Projects” and observe the different fields
The project manager is experiencing serious, deep-rooted conflict between two key project team members. It is apparent that these differences are based on different interpretations of the project’s
Which of the following is not an example of a team development strategy?a. Creating a WBS for the projectb. Performance reviewsc. Project team outing to a sporting eventd. Team lunches.
Two programmers are involved in a conflict that is threatening to disrupt the development of the project. The project manager calls the two programmers into her office and reminds them that they are
Carrie is from the marketing department and she has become increasingly upset with the attitude of the production member of the project team, Andrew. He seems to either ignore her opinions or make
Among the useful means to develop a sense of teamwork in personnel from different functional departments are all of the following EXCEPT:a. Collocation (physical proximity)b. Common goalsc.
Which of the following is NOT a constructive team role?a. Compromiserb. Gate keeperc. Withdrawerd. Smoother
Which stage of group development is most closely associated with “floundering” and initial engagement?a. Formingb. Stormingc. Normingd. Performing
A project manager is experiencing problems when dealing with an engineering department head. The functional manager from engineering refuses to release resources to the project despite repeated
Smoothing, forcing, and withdrawing are all forms of?a. Organizingb. Powerc. Stakeholder relationship managementd. Conflict resolution
Joanie is in charge of a project with an extensive virtual team. She routinely deals with team members from different countries, cultures, and educational backgrounds. All of the following would be
The de Havilland Aircraft Company of Great Britain had long been respected in the aircraft manufacturing industry for its innovative and high-performance designs. Coming off its excellent work during
Driving a car in London just got a lot more dangerous.A soon-to-be-completed skyscraper in the downtown area is having an impact that no one could have imagined:it is starting fires and melting cars.
On April 20, 2004, six lanes of the Nicoll Highway in Singapore disappeared into a 100-foot hole when a tunnel being constructed underneath the highway collapsed.Incredibly, no one was driving on the
Discuss the advantages of using the risk breakdown structure as a tool to organize risks on a project.
Discuss and provide some examples of how a project manager can transfer risk on a project. Are there any drawbacks to this response?
Why is it important for the risk management report form to include who is directly responsible for the risk?
Quantitative Risk Assessment. Assume the following information:Calculate the overall risk factor for this project. Would you assess this level of risk as low, moderate, or high? Why? Probability of
Developing Risk Mitigation Strategies. Develop a preliminary risk mitigation strategy for each of the risk factors identified in Problem 2. If you were to prioritize your efforts, which risk factors

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