Resources
Who manages the resources in a matrix organization?
A. Senior management.
B. Functional managers.
C. Project manager.
D. Human resources.
B. Functional managers.
The functional manager has resource responsibilities in a matrix organization. In this type of organizational structure, the project manager must work with the functional managers to secure resources for a project. If you were tempted to choose “C”, keep in mind that the project manager primarily manages the project. The benefit of a matrix organization is that the project manager does not need to divert as much attention to managing the resources as he or she would in a projectized organization.
Which of the following communication techniques is the most effective for resolving conflict?
A. Instant messaging.
B. Conference calls.
C. Formal written communication.
D. Face-to-face communication.
D. Face-to-face communication.
Face-to-face communication is the most effective means of resolving conflict. This fits an overall theme that direct, clear and personal communication is favored for project managers. “B” and “C” might seem like appropriate choices in some situations, but face-to-face is still more effective.
You are evaluating the risk by trying to produce a risk score for each risk. This is an example of which tool?
A. Monte Carlo analysis.
B. Probability impact matrix.
C. RACI chart.
D. Cause-and-effect diagrams.
B. Probability impact matrix.
The probability impact matrix (PIM) derives a risk score by multiplying the probability of the risk by its impact (both of these numbers are estimated). This resulting risk score may be used to help prioritize the risk register.
The contract type that represents the highest risk to the seller is:
A. Fixed price plus incentive.
B. Cost reimbursable.
C. Fixed price.
D. Cost reimbursable plus incentive.
C. Fixed price.
Fixed price is the highest risk to the seller since the seller must bear the risk of any cost overruns. Choice “B” would provide the highest risk to the buyer.
What are the dimensions measured on a stakeholder grid?
A. Access and Availability.
B. Expertise and Influence.
C. Interest and Power.
D. Motive and Opportunity.
C. Interest and Power.
When plotting stakeholder interest on a matrix, interest and influence (and sometimes involvement) are measured.
What is considered the LEAST desirable form of power for a project manager to exercise?
A. Formal.
B. Referent.
C. Punishment.
D. Forcing.
C. Punishment.
“D” is a problem solving technique – not a form of power.
The MOST important skill for a project manager to have is:
A. Good administrative skills.
B. Good planning skills.
C. Good client-facing skills.
D. Good communications skills.
D. Good communications skills.
Good communication skills are the most important skills a project manager can have! Project managers spend more time communicating than anything else.
Senior management in an organization is concerned about risk on a project. The concern has escalated to the sponsor who has asked the project manager to evaluate a particular risk. The project manager responded by saying this risk had numerous interdependencies and was related to many other potential risks, but the sponsor asked that its potential impact be evaluated while holding all of the other risks at their current state. What would be the best tool for the project manager to use in this case?
A. Root cause analysis.
B. Tornado diagram.
C. Decision tree analysis.
D. Assumptions analysis.
B. Tornado diagram.
The sponsor is asking to evaluate the impact of one risk while holding the others at a baseline, and a tornado diagram is the tool to accomplish that. “A”, “C” and “D” are all tools used in risk assessment, but the tornado diagramming technique is custom-made for this assignment.
Who generally bears the risk in a time and materials contract?
A. The buyer.
B. The seller.
C. The buyer early in the project and the seller later on.
D. It depends on the materials used.
A. The buyer.
In a time and materials contract, the buyer has to pay the seller for all time and materials, and often it involves an incomplete scope definition. Therefore, the buyer is the one most at risk.
The primary purpose of the stakeholder register is:
A. To keep a list of all project stakeholders.
B. To record stakeholder issues on the project.
C. To map functional requirements back to the originating stakeholder.
D. To serve as a project directory.
A. To keep a list of all project stakeholders.
The stakeholder register is a list of the stakeholders with their assessment and classification as it relates to the project.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory states that:
A. The strongest motivation for work is to provide for physiological needs.
B. Hygiene factors are those that provide physical safety and emotional security.
C. Psychological needs for growth and fulfillment can be met only when lower level physical or security needs have been fulfilled.
D. The greater the financial reward, the more motivated the workers will be.
C. Psychological needs for growth and fulfillment can be met only when lower level physical or security needs have been fulfilled.
“A” is not necessarily true, because Maslow stated that any level of his “pyramid” provides the greatest level of motivation when the needs of the levels below have already been met. Thus physiological needs such as food and shelter will be the greatest motivator for workers to do a good job when those needs are unmet. But once the lower level needs are met, the needs of the next level become the greatest motivators.
The majority of a person’s communication is:
A. Verbal.
B. Nonverbal.
C. Documented.
D. Unnecessary.
B. Nonverbal.
Most of a person’s communication takes place non verbally. It is body language that carries much of the message. “A” is the opposite of the correct answer. “C” is incorrect since most of the communication is non verbal, but not written (documented). “D” may well be true for some people, but it is not the right answer.
Which of the following would NOT be a strategy for dealing with negative risk?
A. Avoid.
B. Transfer.
C. Share.
D. Mitigate.
C. Share.
There are four identified strategies for dealing with negative risks. They are: Mitigate, Transfer, Avoid, and Accept. The reason that “C” was incorrect is that share is a strategy for managing a positive risk or opportunity.
You are ready to close out a procurement. Where is the best place to look for guidance in how to perform this activity?
A. Contract.
B. Correspondence.
C. Records management system.
D. Seller performance evaluations.
A. Contract.
The contract specifies how the procurement will be closed. Any of the other choices might provide supporting information, but the best place to look for guidance would be the contract.
Which of the following is not a classification of stakeholder engagement?
A. Unaware.
B. Resistant.
C. Leading.
D. Participating.
D. Participating.
The five states of stakeholder engagement are Unaware, Resistant, Neutral, Supportive, and leading. “Participating” might seem to make sense, but it is not a classification since the project manager does not typically need to measure the engagement of team members participating on the project.
A project manager in Detroit is having difficulty getting the engineers in his company’s Cleveland office to complete design documents for his project. He has sent numerous requests to the VP of Engineering (also in Cleveland) for assistance in getting the design documents, but so far his efforts have been unsuccessful. What kind of organization does this project manager work in?
A. Functional.
B. Hierarchical.
C. Strong matrix.
D. Projectized.
A. Functional.
The clue in the question that indicates a functional organization is the project manager’s low authority; he must appeal to the head of the engineering department rather than making his request directly to the team members.
The definition of noise is:
A. Any unsupportable information that finds its way onto written or verbal project communications.
B. Anything that interferes with transmission and understanding of a message.
C. Any communication that takes place through unofficial project channels.
D. A communications acronym for Normal Operational Informing of Select project Entities.
B. Anything that interferes with transmission and understanding of a message.
The BEST definition of risk management is:
A. The process of identifying, analyzing and responding to risk.
B. The process of reducing risk to the minimum level possible for the project.
C. The process of proactively ensuring that all project risk is documented and controlled.
D. Creation of the risk response plan.
A. The process of identifying, analyzing and responding to risk.
Make-or-buy analysis is a tool used in which process?
A. Plan Procurement Management.
B. Conduct Procurements.
C. Control Procurements.
D. Analyze Procurements.
A. Plan Procurement Management.
Make-or-buy analysis is a tool used during Plan Procurement Management process where you are deciding which deliverables should be procured and which should be created internally. “D” is not a real process, and “B” and “C” are incorrect because by the time you conduct or Control Procurements, you need to already know what you are going to make and what you are going to buy.
Identified stakeholder needs should all be:
A. Addressed by the project’s product.
B. Qualified.
C. Ranked from greatest to least.
D. Documented in the stakeholder management plan.
C. Ranked from greatest to least.
Stakeholder needs are to be ranked from greatest to least. This is key for determining project priorities. “A” would be wonderful, but it is not realistic to think that every need a stakeholder raises will be addressed by the project. “B” is not a bad answer, but by the time they are identified, they are essentially qualified stakeholders. “D” may sound like a good answer, but the stakeholder management plan is created before the stakeholders have been identified.
Team building is primarily the responsibility of:
A. The project team.
B. The project manager.
C. Senior management.
D. The project sponsor.
B. The project manager.
Team building must be carried out under the direction of a strong leader. The project manager has the only project role that allows for regular, direct interaction with the team.
Information sent to specific recipients who need to receive it but that is not confirmed to be received or understood by the receiver is known as:
A. The communication model.
B. Push communication.
C. Pull communication.
D. Noise.
B. Push communication.
Communication that is pushed out (think bulk e-mail) but the drawback is that there is no confirmation by the receiver that it was received or understood.
You are managing the construction of a data center, but the location is in an area prone to earthquakes. In order to deal with this risk, you have chosen a type of building and foundation that is particularly earthquake-resistant. This is an example of:
A. Risk transfer.
B. Risk avoidance.
C. Risk mitigation.
D. Risk acceptance.
C. Risk mitigation.
The best answer is risk mitigation since you are taking steps to lessen the risk. “A” is incorrect because you are not transferring the risk to anyone else. “B” is incorrect because you would need to relocate in order to completely avoid the risk of earthquake. “D” is incorrect because you are not merely accepting the risk – you are taking steps to make it less severe.
Martina is managing a global project that will attempt to get significant portions through sourcing. When the first bids are received, they seem surprisingly high and there is very little variance among them. Which procurement management tool or technique would be the most appropriate in this case?
A. Negotiation.
B. Proposal Evaluation Techniques.
C. Bidder Conferences.
D. Independent Estimates.
D. Independent Estimates.
Independent estimates would be most appropriate. Martina needs to check and see if the bids are valid or if there may be some sort of collusion going on. “A” might be a good step after getting some independent estimates. “B” is a way of scoring and ranking vendors, but that might be premature at this point. “C” is a way to inform bidders, but that should have taken place before the bids were received and would not be the best choice.
Which of the following is true concerning work performance data and work performance information?
A. Work performance data is used at the organizational level, while work performance information is used at the project level.
B. Work performance information is more useful than work performance data.
C. Work performance data is collected from monitoring and controlling processes.
D. Work performance information represents raw observations and measurements.
B. Work performance information is more useful than work performance data.
WPI and WPD show up in Control Stakeholder Engagement. Remember that work performance data is raw while work performance information has been analyzed and made more useful. “A” has no grounding in reality at all, and “C” and “D” are opposite of the truth.