Deck 18: Meta-Management of Projects and Program Management

Question 1

Which of the following topics usually do not fall under the PM methodology (check all that apply)

A) change control
B) project initiation and startup
C) motivating project team members
D) project closeout and post-mortem

Answer 1

motivating project team members

Question 2

The kind of knowledge involved in project management is (check one)

A) tacit
B) explicit
C) both

Answer 2

both

Question 3

The kind of knowledge that is easily documented is (check one)

A) tacit
B) explicit
C) both

Answer 3

explicit

Question 4

Overall, the main purpose of the PMO is to

A) enforce technical standards
B) improve the management of projects and provide resources and support to project managers
C) approve projects with high potential for success and kill projects that are performing poorly

Question 5

The PMO imposes requirements on project managers

A) that tend to overburden project managers with documentation
B) but also provides support and assistance to enable project managers to meet those requirements
C) that the managers tend to resist but must eventually accept to retain their jobs

Question 6

The director and professional staff of the PMO are usually

A) technical specialists
B) managers experienced in human resource management or training and development
C) experienced project managers

Question 7

The PMO

A) selects and approves funding for projects on its own
B) provides information to the project review board, which selects and approves funding for projects
C) plays no role in the conception or selection of projects

Question 8

The functions of the PMO

A) must be fulfilled by a single department or unit, usually called a PMO
B) could be fulfilled in other ways-and not necessarily by a single unit such as the PMO
C) although desirable in a multi-project organization, are not really necessary

Question 9

A good PM methodology (check all that apply)

A) incorporates best practices and lessons learned
B) specifies detailed work tasks for each project
C) imposes a measure of consistency in the management of all projects in an organization
D) recommends but never imposes requirements on a project manager

Question 10

The PM methodology in an organization (check all that apply)

A) should continually evolve to reflect lessons learned
B) is partially developed using somewhat standardized frameworks and practices from industry and the profession
C) is partially developed using the wisdom and experience of project managers in the organization
D) requires the involvement and buy-in of experienced project managers in the organization to be effective

Question 11

Which of the following rest more on the abilities of the project manager and less on the PM methodology (check all that apply)

A) specifying the required project documentation
B) leadership of the project team to achieve project objectives
C) candid, accurate feedback about project status and performance
D) specify how to define, schedule, and budget the project

Question 12

Project management maturity (check all that apply)

A) reflects the competency of an organization in project management
B) reflects the competency of an individual project manager
C) is measured by "maturity models"
D) is highly correlated with project success
E) reflects the knowledge, leadership ability, and skills of an organizations' project managers

Question 13

Knowledge management in an organization involves (check all that apply)

A) individuals and teams learning from their own experiences
B) sharing with or transferring organizational knowledge to those who need it
C) storing knowledge for later, potential usage
D) the assumption that hiring competent people is the best way to acquire organizational knowledge

Question 14

The role of the PMO in project methodology is to (check all that apply)

A) develop and update the methodology
B) encourage or enforce usage of the methodology
C) train managers how to use the methodology
D) do nothing (i.e., the PMO has no role regarding methodology)

Question 15

Functions of the PMO include (check all that apply)

A) establish skill requirements for hiring and training project managers
B) hire the people who will be working on projects and will report to project managers
C) support project managers in the application of the project methodology
D) teach and promote the project management methodology
E) set standards for managing projects and provide templates, checklists, and forms

Question 16

The PMO (check all that apply)

A) performs functions that are beyond the responsibility of the project manager but are necessary in a multi-project organization
B) potentially adds a layer of management to the organization and, if poorly run, also adds to "red tape"
C) dictates the way a project manager should lead a project and, thus, somewhat strips the manager of ability to take advantage of personal managerial or leadership strengths

Question 17

The function, size, and structure of the PMO (check all that apply)

A) tend to be identical across most organizations
B) depend on the size and variety of projects in the organization
C) depend on the project management maturity of the organization
D) should be determined by senior managers
E) tend to develop in an evolutionary fashion as the PMO accumulates experience

Question 18

Which of the following are aspects of program governance (check all that apply)

A) developing a vision and program objectives based on business strategies and stakeholders' needs
B) creating and enforcing mechanisms to track program progress and keep it aligned with objectives and strategies
C) phase-gate reviews to decide whether the program should be continued or closed out
D) creating plans and budgets for each of the projects in the program
E) a committee of senior managers called the governance board

Question 19

Statement: The Project Management Methodology for an organization should allow project managers discretion to manage every aspect of the project as they see fit.

Question 20

Statement: An organization should adopt one methodology, the details of which apply to every possible kind of project.

Question 21

Statement: The phases and details of most PM methodologies conform to a universal, standard model.

Question 22

Statement: The aim of the methodology is to ensure that recognized "good" and "best" practices are applied across all projects

Question 23

Statement: One purpose of the PMO is to handle management-related issues in multi-project organizations that individual project managers cannot handle.

Question 24

Statement: The PMO assists in determining the relative allocation of resources among multiple projects.

Question 25

Statement: The learning and applying of "project best practices" and "lessons learned" to all projects is one function of the PMO.

Question 26

Statement: An important aspect of program management is specific attention to the benefits to be provided to the organization.

Question 27

Statement: An important aspect of program management is managing the projects within the program.

Question 28

Statement: In a particular program, the program manager and the project manager can be the same person.

Question 29

Statement: The program managers approves project plans for conformance to program plans and strategies.

Question 30

List three methods of explicit knowledge management for projects

Question 31

List three methods of tacit knowledge management for projects

Question 32

For each phrase below specify (A or B) whether it pertains to a program (A) or a project (B):
-______ Provides specific deliverables for a specific cost, at a specific date.

Question 33

For each phrase below specify (A or B) whether it pertains to a program (A) or a project (B):
-______ Provides benefits that align with business strategies such as greater revenue, profits or decreased costs or environmental damage.

Question 34

For each phrase below specify (A or B) whether it pertains to a program (A) or a project (B):
-_______ Has set start and end dates;

Question 35

For each phrase below specify (A or B) whether it pertains to a program (A) or a project (B):
-_______ Provides deliverables to particular customers and clients.

Question 36

For each phrase below specify (A or B) whether it pertains to a program (A) or a project (B):
-_______ Provides benefits to a broad range of stakeholders throughout the organization, community, or society.

Question 37

For each phrase below specify (A or B) whether it pertains to a program (A) or a project (B):
-_______ Might evolve over time in response to competitive or technological changes.

Question 38

For each phrase below specify (A or B) whether it pertains to a program (A) or a project (B):
-_______Might be of indefinite duration.