Managing Organizational Projects Chapter 19 Full Test Bank

Business Driven Technology, 8e (Baltzan)

Chapter 19 Managing Organizational Projects

1) Project milestones are any measurable, tangible, verifiable outcome, result, or item that is produced to complete a project or part of a project.

2) Project deliverables represent key dates when a certain group of activities must be performed.

3) A communication plan defines the how, what, when, and who regarding the flow of project information to stakeholders and is key for managing expectations.

4) The executive sponsor is the person or group who provides the financial resources for the project.

5) Project constraints are factors considered to be true, real, or certain without proof or demonstration.

6) Project assumptions are specific factors that can limit options including budget, delivery dates, available skilled resources, and organizational policies.

7) A project objective is any measurable, tangible, verifiable outcome, result, or item that is produced to complete a project or part of a project.

8) The Project Management Office (PMO) is an internal department that oversees all organizational projects.

9) Project assumptions represent key dates when a certain group of activities must be performed.

10) Project objectives are quantifiable criteria that must be met for the project to be considered a success.

11) The project requirements document defines the specifications for product/output of the project and is key to managing expectations, controlling scope, and completing other planning efforts.

12) Project scope statement links the project to the organization's overall business goals. It describes the business need (the problem the project will solve) and the justification, requirements, and current boundaries for the project.

13) A responsibility matrix defines all project roles and indicates what responsibilities are associated with each role.

14) Status reports are periodic reviews of actual performance versus expected performance.

15) A kill switch is a trigger that enables a project manager to close the project before completion.

16) A Gantt chart is a graphical network model that depicts a project's tasks and the relationships between them.

17) A dependency is a logical relationship that exists between the project tasks, or between a project task and a milestone.

18) A dependency is a trigger that enables a project manager to close the project before completion.

19) A kill switch is a logical relationship that exists between the project tasks, or between a project task and a milestone.

20) Gantt charts define dependency between project tasks before those tasks are scheduled.

21) The critical path is the sequence of activities that determine the earliest date by which the project can be completed.

22) A PERT chart is a simple bar chart that lists project tasks vertically against the project's time frame, listed horizontally.

23) In the past, outsourcing was often used tactically, as a quick-fix, short-term solution to a particular need or problem which did not form part of an overall business strategy.

24) Outsourcing is a common approach using the professional expertise within an organization to develop and maintain the organization's information technology systems.

25) In-sourcing is an arrangement by which one organization provides a service or services for another organization that chooses not to perform them in-house.

26) Offshore outsourcing is using organizations from developing countries to write code and develop systems.

27) In-sourcing (in-house development) uses the professional expertise within an organization to develop and maintain its information technology systems. In-sourcing has been instrumental in creating a viable supply of IT professionals and in creating a better quality workforce combining both technical and business skills.

28) In-sourcing has been instrumental in creating a viable supply of IT professionals and in creating a better quality workforce combining both technical and business skills.

29) Outsourcing is an arrangement by which one organization provides a service or services for another organization that chooses not to perform them in-house.

30) Onshore outsourcing occurs when engaging another company within the same country for services.

31) Nearshore outsourcing occurs when contracting an outsourcing arrangement with a company in a nearby country. Often this country will share a border with the native country.

32) Offshore outsourcing occurs when using organizations from developing countries to write code and develop systems. In offshore outsourcing the country is geographically far away.

33) Offshore outsourcing occurs when engaging another company within the same country for services.

34) Onshore outsourcing occurs when contracting an outsourcing arrangement with a company in a nearby country. Often this country will share a border with the native country.

35) Nearshore outsourcing occurs when using organizations from developing countries to write code and develop systems. In offshore outsourcing the country is geographically far away.

36) Human resources is the most common outsourced function.

37) What are the three primary variables (or triple constraints) in any project?

A) Time, resources, expense

B) Time, expense, requirements

C) Time, resources, scope

D) Time, resources, quality

38) Which of the following is a characteristic of a successful project?

A) Delivered on time

B) Delivered within budget

C) Meets the business's requirements

D) All of the choices are correct

39) What is a project?

A) A temporary activity undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result

B) The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in order to meet or exceed stakeholder needs and expectations from a project

C) Any measurable, tangible, verifiable outcome, result, or item that is produced to complete a project or part of a project

D) Represent key dates when a certain group of activities must be performed

40) What are project deliverables?

A) A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service.

B) The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in order to meet or exceed stakeholder needs and expectations from a project.

C) Any measurable, tangible, verifiable outcome, result, or item that is produced to complete a project or part of a project.

D) Key dates by which a certain group of activities must be performed.

41) What is an internal department that oversees all organizational projects?

A) Project deliverables

B) Project scope

C) Project management office

D) Project milestones

42) Who are individuals and organizations actively involved in the project or whose interests might be affected as a result of project execution or project completion?

A) Project manager

B) Project stakeholders

C) Executive sponsor

D) All of the choices are correct

43) Who is the person or group who provides the financial resources for the project?

A) Project manager

B) Project stakeholders

C) Executive sponsor

D) Communication plan

44) What defines the how, what, when, and who regarding the flow of project information to stakeholders and is key for managing expectations?

A) Communication plan

B) Executive sponsor

C) Project assumptions

D) Project deliverable

45) What are factors considered to be true, real, or certain without proof or demonstration?

A) Project plan

B) Project constraints

C) Project assumptions

D) Project deliverable

46) What are specific factors that can limit options including budget, delivery dates, available skilled resources, and organizational policies?

A) Project objectives

B) Project constraints

C) Project assumptions

D) Project deliverable

47) What is any measurable, tangible, verifiable outcome, result, or item that is produced to complete a project or part of a project?

A) Project milestones

B) Project objectives

C) Project assumptions

D) Project deliverable

48) What represents key dates by which a certain group of activities must be performed?

A) Project milestones

B) Project objectives

C) Project assumptions

D) Project deliverable

49) What are quantifiable criteria that must be met for the project to be considered a success?

A) Project milestones

B) Project objectives

C) Project assumptions

D) Project deliverable

50) What defines the specifications for product/output of the project and is key for managing expectations, controlling scope, and completing other planning efforts?

A) Project milestones

B) Project objectives

C) Project requirements document

D) Project deliverable

51) What statement links the project to the organization's overall business goals?

A) Project milestones

B) Project objectives

C) Project scope statement

D) Project deliverable

52) Who are individuals and organizations actively involved in the project or whose interests might be affected as a result of project execution or project completion?

A) Project stakeholders

B) Project managers

C) Project planners

D) Project testers

53) What defines all project roles and indicates what responsibilities are associated with each role?

A) Communication plan

B) Responsibility matrix

C) Project assumptions

D) Project deliverable

54) What are characteristics of intangible benefits?

A) Difficult to quantify or measure.

B) Easy to quantify and typically measured to determine the success or failure of a project.

C) The measure of the tangible and intangible benefits of an information system.

D) Periodic reviews of actual performance versus expected performance.

55) What are characteristics of tangible benefits?

A) Difficult to quantify or measure.

B) Easy to quantify and typically measured to determine the success or failure of a project.

C) The measure of the tangible and intangible benefits of an information system.

D) Periodic reviews of actual performance versus expected performance.

56) What is feasibility?

A) Difficult to quantify or measure.

B) Easy to quantify and typically measured to determine the success or failure of a project.

C) The measure of the tangible and intangible benefits of an information system.

D) Periodic reviews of actual performance versus expected performance.

57) What is economic feasibility?

A) The cost-effectiveness of a project.

B) A solution that meets the identified system requirements to solve the problems and take advantage of opportunities.

C) The project time frame that ensures that it can be completed on time.

D) The practicality of a technical solution and the availability of technical resources and expertise.

58) What is operational feasibility?

A) Measures the cost-effectiveness of a project.

B) Measures how well a solution meets the identified system requirements to solve the problems and take advantage of opportunities.

C) Measures the project time frame to ensure that it can be completed on time.

D) Measures the practicality of a technical solution and the availability of technical resources and expertise.

59) What is schedule feasibility?

A) Measures the cost-effectiveness of a project.

B) Measures how well a solution meets the identified system requirements to solve the problems and take advantage of opportunities.

C) Measures the project time frame to ensure that it can be completed on time.

D) Measures the practicality of a technical solution and the availability of technical resources and expertise.

60) What is technical feasibility?

A) Measures the cost-effectiveness of a project.

B) Measures how well a solution meets the identified system requirements to solve the problems and take advantage of opportunities.

C) Measures the project time frame to ensure that it can be completed on time.

D) Measures the practicality of a technical solution and the availability of technical resources and expertise.

61) What is political feasibility?

A) Measures how well the solution will be accepted in a given organization.

B) Measures how well a solution meets the identified system requirements to solve the problems and take advantage of opportunities.

C) Measures the project time frame to ensure that it can be completed on time.

D) Measures the practicality of a technical solution and the availability of technical resources and expertise.

62) What is legal feasibility?

A) Measures how well the solution will be accepted in a given opportunity.

B) Measures how well a solution can be implemented within existing legal and contractual obligations.

C) Measures the project time frame to ensure that it can be completed on time.

D) Measures the practicality of a technical solution and the availability of technical resources and expertise.

63) What measures the cost-effectiveness of a project?

A) Economic feasibility

B) Operational feasibility

C) Schedule feasibility

D) Technical feasibility

64) What measures how well a solution meets the identified system requirements to solve the problems and take advantage of opportunities?

A) Economic feasibility

B) Operational feasibility

C) Schedule feasibility

D) Technical feasibility

65) What measures the project time frame to ensure that it can be completed on time?

A) Economic feasibility

B) Operational feasibility

C) Schedule feasibility

D) Technical feasibility

66) What measures the practicality of a technical solution and the availability of technical resources and expertise?

A) Economic feasibility

B) Operational feasibility

C) Schedule feasibility

D) Technical feasibility

67) What measures how well the solution will be accepted in a given organization?

A) Political feasibility

B) Operational feasibility

C) Schedule feasibility

D) Legal feasibility

68) What measures how well a solution can be implemented within existing legal and contractual obligations?

A) Political feasibility

B) Operational feasibility

C) Schedule feasibility

D) Legal feasibility

69) What is a status report?

A) Difficult to quantify or measure.

B) Easy to quantify and typically measured to determine the success or failure of a project.

C) The measure of the tangible and intangible benefits of an information system.

D) A periodic review of actual performance versus expected performance.

70) Which of the following is a tangible benefit?

A) Improved decision making

B) Improved community service

C) Improved goodwill

D) Increased quantity or sales

71) Which of the following is an intangible benefit?

A) Improved decision making

B) Decreased expenses

C) Decreased response time

D) Increased quantity or sales

72) What are project constraints?

A) Specific factors that can limit options.

B) Factors that are considered to be true, real, or certain without proof or demonstration.

C) Quantifiable criteria that must be met for the project to be considered a success.

D) A document issued by the project initiator or sponsor that formally authorizes the existence of a project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources to project activities.

73) What are project assumptions?

A) Specific factors that can limit options.

B) Factors that are considered to be true, real, or certain without proof or demonstration.

C) Quantifiable criteria that must be met for the project to be considered a success.

D) A document issued by the project initiator or sponsor that formally authorizes the existence of a project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources to project activities.

74) Which of the following is not a technique for choosing strategic projects?

A) Categorize projects

B) Perform a financial analysis

C) Focus on organizational goals

D) Develop a project plan

75) What is project scope?

A) Quantifiable criteria that must be met for the project to be considered a success

B) Products, services, or processes that are not specifically a part of the project

C) Any measurable, tangible, verifiable outcome, result or item that is produced to complete a project or part of a project

D) Defines the work that must be completed to deliver a product with the specified features and functions

76) What are project objectives?

A) Quantifiable criteria that must be met for the project to be considered a success.

B) Products, services, or processes that are not specifically a part of the project.

C) Any measurable, tangible, verifiable outcome, result or item that is produced to complete a project or part of a project.

D) Defines the work that must be completed to deliver a product with the specified features and functions.

77) What do SMART criteria for successful objective creation include?

A) Specific, metrics, agreed upon, real, time valued

B) Specific, measurable, agreed upon, realistic, time framed

C) Specific, measurable, accurate, real, time valued

D) Specific, metrics, agreed upon, realistic, time framed

78) Which of the following is not a characteristic of a well-defined project plan?

A) Prepared by the project manager.

B) Easy to read.

C) Appropriate to the project's size.

D) Communicated to all key participants.

79) What is the most important part of the project plan?

A) Gantt chart

B) Specification

C) Communication

D) None of the choices are correct

80) What is a graphical network model that depicts a project's tasks and the relationships between those tasks?

A) Gantt chart

B) PERT chart

C) Dependency

D) All of the choices are correct

81) What is the logical relationship that exists between the project tasks, or between a project task and a milestone?

A) Resource

B) Task

C) Dependency

D) Activity

82) What is a simple bar chart that depicts project tasks against a calendar?

A) Gantt chart

B) PERT chart

C) Dependency

D) All of the choices are correct

83) What type of chart typically displays the critical path?

A) Gantt chart

B) PERT chart

C) All of the choices are correct

D) None of the choices are correct

84) What is the critical path?

A) The path from resource to task that passes through all critical components of a project plan.

B) The path between tasks to the projects finish that passes through all critical components of a project plan.

C) The sequence of activities that determine the earliest date by which the project can be completed.

D) The path from start to finish that passes through all the tasks that are critical to completing the project in the longest amount of time.

85) In a Gantt chart, tasks are listed ________ and the project's time frame is listed ________.

A) vertically, horizontally

B) horizontally, vertically

C) vertically, vertically

D) horizontally, horizontally

86) Which of the following includes a common reason why change occurs?

A) A misunderstanding of the initial scope

B) Shifts in planned technology that force unexpected and significant changes to the business

C) An omission in defining initial scope

D) All of the choices are correct

87) Which of the following is not a guideline for effectively dealing with change management?

A) Institute change management policies

B) Seek change

C) Anticipate change

D) Stop change

88) What is the outsourcing option that includes the most remote location and indirect customer control?

A) Onshore outsourcing

B) Nearshore outsourcing

C) Offshore outsourcing

D) None of the choices are correct

89) What is the outsourcing option that includes the closest location and direct customer control?

A) Onshore outsourcing

B) Nearshore outsourcing

C) Offshore outsourcing

D) None of the choices are correct

90) All of the following are challenges of outsourcing, except

A) Contract period of several years.

B) Competitive edge.

C) Confidentiality.

D) Reduced frustration and expense related to hiring and retaining employees in an exceptionally tight job market.

91) Which of the following is an outsourcing challenge caused by contract period of several years?

A) Difficulties in getting out of a contract.

B) Problems in foreseeing business needs.

C) Problems in re-creating an internal MIS department.

D) All of the choices are correct.

92) What is a common approach using the professional expertise within an organization to develop and maintain the organization's information technology systems?

A) In-sourcing

B) Outsourcing

C) Business process outsourcing

D) Offshore outsourcing

93) What is an arrangement by which one organization provides a service or services for another organization that chooses not to perform them in-house?

A) In-sourcing

B) Outsourcing

C) Business process outsourcing

D) Offshore outsourcing

94) What is it called when a company uses organizations from developing countries to write code and develop systems?

A) In-sourcing

B) Outsourcing

C) Business process outsourcing

D) Offshore outsourcing

95) Which of the following is a benefit an organization can receive from outsourcing?

A) Financial savings

B) Rapid growth

C) The Internet and globalization

D) All of the choices are correct

96) Explain the role that the triple constraints play when managing a project.

97) Describe the two primary diagrams most frequently used in project planning.

98) Explain the three different types of outsourcing along with their benefits and challenges.

99) Explain the business benefits of outsourcing.

100) Describe the challenges of outsourcing.