Deck 2: The Project Management and Information Technology Context

Question 1

Standards and guidelines to follow when performing project management must be devised by top management.

Answer 1

True
Explanation: The content of a project management plan and instructions for providing status information might seem like common sense to senior managers, but many new IT project managers have never created plans or created a nontechnical status report. Top management must support the development of these standards and guidelines, and encourage or even enforce their use.

Question 2

An organization that uses a project organizational structure earns their revenue primarily from performing projects for other groups under contract.

Answer 2

True
Explanation: A project organizational structure is hierarchical, but instead of functional managers or vice presidents reporting to the CEO, program managers report to the CEO. Their staffs have a variety of skills needed to complete the projects within their programs. An organization that uses this structure earns its revenue primarily from performing projects for other groups under contract.

Question 3

The project organizational structure is the most efficient choice for most IT projects.

Answer 3

False
Explanation: The project organizational structure is often inefficient for the company as a whole.  Assigning full-time staff to a project often creates under-utilization and misallocation of staff resources.

Question 4

Project managers must take adequate time to identify, understand, and manage relationships with all project stakeholders.

Question 5

Internal stakeholders include groups affected by the project such as government officials or concerned citizens.

Question 6

Project managers should lead projects in isolation in order to truly serve the needs of the organization.

Question 7

Project managers in matrix organizations have staff from various functional areas working on their projects.

Question 8

​An organizational culture with strong unit integration makes the project manager's job more difficult

Question 9

Project work is most successful in an organizational culture where activities are organized around individuals.

Question 10

Most people believe that the underlying causes of many companies' problems can be traced to its organizational structure.

Question 11

When you separate business and organizational issues from project management planning, you do a better job of ensuring project success.

Question 12

It is much more expensive to make major changes to a project during the earlier phases.

Question 13

Project managers and their teams must keep in mind the effects of any project on the interests and needs of the entire system or organization instead of focusing on the immediate concerns of the project.

Question 14

According to the symbolic frame, the most important aspect of any event in an organization is not what actually happened, but what it means.

Question 15

Project managers must have cooperation from people in other parts of the organization.

Question 16

Most colleges and universities have very strong functional organizations.

Question 17

The same organization can have different subcultures.

Question 18

The best way to sustain a project is to withhold the required money, human resources, and visibility for the project.

Question 19

Using a systems approach is critical to successful project management.

Question 20

Systems analysis addresses the business, technological, and organizational issues associated with creating, maintaining, and modifying a system.

Question 21

The _____ perspective on organizations assumes that organizations are coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups.

A)political frame
B)symbolic frame  
C)structural frame
D)human resources frame

Question 22

In Rizzati Corp, vice presidents in departments such as engineering, manufacturing, IT, and human resources report directly to the chief executive officer and undertake their tasks independently of each other. The staffs of these departments have specialized skills in their respective disciplines.Rizatti Corp can be said to have a _____ organizational structure.

A)project
B)symbolic  
C)matrix
D)functional

Question 23

In a _____ organizational structure, personnel often report to both a functional manager and one or more project managers.

A)project
B)symbolic  
C)matrix
D)functional

Question 24

Which of the following is true of a matrix organizational structure?

A)In a matrix organizational structure, employees are organized into departments according to their skills, and there is little interaction between employees from different departments. 
B)Project managers in matrix organizations have staff from only a single functional area working?on their projects. 
C)In a strong matrix organizational structure, the project manager controls the project budget and has moderate to high authority. 
D)A matrix organizational structure is hierarchical, but instead of functional?managers reporting to the CEO, program managers report to the CEO.

Question 25

The Adaptive Software Development (ASD) life cycle model assumes that software development follows an adaptive approach because the requirements cannot be clearly expressed early in the life cycle.

Question 26

The last phase of the traditional project life cycle is the implementation phase.

Question 27

Project managers have the least amount of authority in a pure _____ organizational structure.

A)functional
B)project  
C)matrix
D)circular

Question 28

An organization usually commits more money as a project continues, therefore a management review should occur after each phase to evaluate progress, potential success, and continued compatibility with organizational goals.

Question 29

The team members of a virtual team are all of the same nationality.

Question 30

The _____ perspective of an organization focuses on different groups' roles and responsibilities in order to meet the goals and policies set by top management.

A)structural frame
B)human resources frame  
C)political frame
D)symbolic frame

Question 31

Leadership style has no impact on the success of virtual teams.

Question 32

In a _____organizational structure, program managers, rather than functional managers or vice presidents, report to the CEO. Their staffs have a variety of skills needed to complete all required tasks within their programs.

A)project
B)symbolic  
C)matrix
D)functional

Question 33

The nature of hardware development projects is more diverse than software-oriented projects.

Question 34

Projects must operate in a broad organizational environment, and project managers need to consider projects within the greater organizational context. _____ describes this holistic view of carrying out projects within the context of the organization.

A)Linear analysis
B)Systems thinking  
C)Reductionism
D)The silo approach

Question 35

_____ refers to a problem-solving approach that requires defining the scope of a system, dividing it into its components, and then identifying and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints, and needs.

A)Linear programming
B)Independent component analysis  
C)Principal component analysis
D)Systems analysis

Question 36

Project managers have the most authority in a pure _____ organizational structure.

A)functional
B)project  
C)matrix
D)circular

Question 37

The _____ frame of an organization focuses on providing harmony between the needs of the organization and the needs of people.

A)structural
B)human resources  
C)political
D)symbolic

Question 38

_____ refers to a set of shared assumptions, values, and behaviors that characterize the functioning of an organization.

A)Chain of command
B)Line of control  
C)Organizational culture
D)Organizational structure

Question 39

The symbolic perspective of an organization:

A)focuses on different groups' roles and?responsibilities to meet the goals and policies set by top management. 
B)views the organization as coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups. 
C)focuses on providing harmony between the needs of the organization and the needs of people. 
D)focuses on the meanings of the culture, language, traditions, and image of the organization.

Question 40

Grey's Infotech sells customized hardware and software solutions for businesses. The salespeople for Grey's have a strict dress code when meeting clients. They are required to wear dark business suits, in order to convey the company's dedication to quality. The meaning conveyed to the clients' through the salespeople's clothing is part of the _____ frame of the organization.

A)political
B)symbolic  
C)structural
D)human resources

Question 41

The _____ characteristic of organizational culture describes the degree to which management's decisions take into account the effect of outcomes on people within the organization.

A)member identity
B)group emphasis  
C)people focus
D)unit integration

Question 42

In organizational culture, means-end orientation refers to _____.

A)the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment  
B)the degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee and control employee behavior  
C)the degree to which management focuses on outcomes rather than on techniques and processes used to achieve results  
D)the degree to which employees are encouraged to be aggressive, innovative, and risk seeking

Question 43

Which of the following best describes outsourcing?

A)An organization selling its products in a market outside its domestic market  
B)An organization's acquisition of goods and services from an outside source  
C)An organization setting up manufacturing and retailing facilities in a new country  
D)An organization's use of virtual teams with employees located in different countries

Question 44

A preliminary or rough cost estimate is developed in the _____ phase of the project life cycle, and an overview of the work involved is created.

A)implementation
B)acquisition  
C)concept
D)close-out

Question 45

The _____ model of a systems development life cycle provides for progressive development of operational software, with each release providing added capabilities.

A)spiral life cycle
B)RAD life cycle  
C)waterfall life cycle
D)incremental build life cycle

Question 46

The first two traditional project phases (concept and development) focus on planning, and are often referred to as _____.

A)project feasibility
B)project acquisition  
C)project implementation
D)project close-out

Question 47

Which of the following is true of the project life cycle?

A)In the early phases of a project life cycle, resource needs are usually lowest. 
B)In the later phases of the project life cycle, the level of uncertainty is usually the highest. 
C)It is much more expensive to make major changes to a project during the earlier phases than the latter phases. 
D)More resources are usually needed during the initial phases of a project?than during the middle or final phases.

Question 48

The _____ model of a systems development life cycle assumes that requirements will remain stable after they are defined.

A)spiral life cycle
B)waterfall life cycle  
C)incremental build life cycle
D)RAD life cycle

Question 49

_____ refers to the degree to employees identify with the organization as a whole, rather than with their types of job or profession.

A)Member identity
B)People focus  
C)Group emphasis
D)Unit integration

Question 50

In organizational culture, people focus refers to _____.

A)the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment  
B)the degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee and control employee behavior  
C)the degree to which management's decisions take into account the effect of outcomes on employees within the organization  
D)the degree to which employees are encouraged to be aggressive, innovative, and risk seeking

Question 51

_____refers to the degree to which departments within an organization are encouraged to coordinate with each other.

A)Member identity
B)People focus  
C)Group emphasis
D)Unit integration

Question 52

In the _____ phase, the project team creates a definitive or very accurate cost estimate, delivers the required work, and provides performance reports to stakeholders.

A)development
B)implementation  
C)concept
D)close-out

Question 53

A(n) _____ refers to a product or service, such as a technical report, a training session, a piece of hardware, or a segment of software code, produced or provided as part of a project.

A)deliverable
B)input  
C)system
D)resource

Question 54

In the development phase of the project life cycle:

A)the project team creates more detailed project plans, a more accurate cost estimate, and a more thorough WBS. 
B)the project team delivers the required?work, and provides performance reports to stakeholders. 
C)managers develop a business case, which describes the need for the project and basic underlying concepts. 
D)managers prepare a preliminary or rough cost estimate for the required work.

Question 55

The _____ model uses an approach in which developers work with an evolving prototype, using tools such as computer-aided software engineering, joint requirements planning, and joint application design to facilitate rapid prototyping and code generation.

A)incremental build life cycle
B)waterfall life cycle  
C)RAD life cycle
D)spiral life cycle

Question 56

Which of the following best describes a kill point in the project life cycle?

A)The period of time given to managers during the feasibility phases to decide on the cost, quality, and time constraints for the project  
B)A review of the status of a project at each phase of development to determine if it should be continued, redirected, or terminated  
C)The point of time in the project lifecycle after which it is impossible to terminate a running project  
D)The final submission of the project deliverables after which the project is terminated

Question 57

_____ refers to the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment.

A)Means-ends orientation
B)Open-systems focus  
C)Conflict tolerance
D)Risk tolerance

Question 58

In the _____ model, developers use a model to generate functional requirements and physical design specifications simultaneously.

A)RAD life cycle
B)prototyping life cycle  
C)spiral life cycle
D)incremental build life cycle

Question 59

In organizational culture, control refers to _____.

A)the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment  
B)the degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee employee behavior  
C)the degree to which management focuses on outcomes rather than on techniques and processes used to achieve results  
D)the degree to which employees are encouraged to be aggressive, innovative, and risk seeking

Question 60

_____ are an example of external stakeholders for an organization.

A)Top managers
B)Functional managers  
C)Employees
D)Competitors

Question 61

Which of the following is true of virtual teams?

A)It is easier for a virtual team to build relationships and trust. 
B)Negative incentives do not impact virtual team members. 
C)It is important to select team members carefully. 
D)As they never meet, virtual teams do not have conflicts.

Question 62

In a(n) _____ organizational structure, project managers have little or no authority.

Question 63

In the _____ phase of the project life cycle, the work is completed, and customers should accept the entire project.

Question 64

Which of the following is true of the agile approach to software development?

A)In the agile method, requirements and?solutions evolve through collaboration. 
B)An agile approach sets scope goals, but leaves time and cost goals flexible. 
C)Agile is a predictive model of software development. 
D)In the agile approach, requirements must be clearly expressed early in the life cycle.

Question 65

_____ addresses the business, technological, and organizational issues associated with creating, maintaining, and making a change to a system.

Question 66

A major element of good practice concerns _____ , which addresses the authority and control for key IT activities in organizations, including IT infrastructure, IT use, and project management.

Question 67

The _____ frame of an organization relates to the company's culture.

Question 68

The _____ frame of the organization is the one that is usually depicted in an organizational chart.

Question 69

Three general classifications of organizational structures are _____, project, and matrix.

Question 70

_____ are sets of interacting components working within an environment to fulfill some purpose.

Question 71

The three spheres of systems management are business, organization, and _____.

Question 72

The _____ life cycle model is suitable for projects in which changes can be incorporated with reasonable cost increases or acceptable time delays.

Question 73

Some projects have a senior manager called a(n)_____ who acts as a key proponent for a project.

Question 74

_____ refers to the degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee employee behavior.

Question 75

A(n) _____ is a framework for describing the phases involved in developing information systems.

Question 76

_____ life cycle models of systems development assume that the scope of the project can be articulated clearly and the schedule and cost can be predicted accurately.

Question 77

_____ refers to the degree to which work activities are organized around teams, rather than individuals.

Question 78

A(n) _____ is an overall model for thinking about things as sets of interacting components working within an environment to fulfill some purpose.

Question 79

Which of the following is a disadvantage of virtual teams as compared to traditional teams?

A)Increased costs for office space and support  
B)Reduced opportunities for informal transfer of information  
C)Limited flexibility in team working hours  
D)Reduced dependence on technology and processes for accomplishing work

Question 80

A(n) _____ refers to a product or service, such as a report, a training session, a piece of hardware, or a segment of software code, produced or provided as part of a project.