question

_____ refers to the difference between planned and actual performance.

answer

Variance

question

The scope baseline in a WBS consists of the requirements documentation and enterprise environmental factors.

answer

False The scope baseline includes the approved project scope statement and its associated WBS and WBS dictionary.

question

_____ involves reviewing the project charter, requirements documents, and organizational process assets to create a scope statement, adding more information as requirements are developed and change requests are approved.

answer

Defining scope

question

Scope refers to all the work involved in creating the products of the project and the processes used to create them.

answer

True One of the most important and most difficult aspects of project management is defining the scope of a project. Scope refers to all the work involved in creating the products of the project and the processes used to create them.

question

The scope management plan can be informal and broad or formal and detailed, based on the needs of the project.

answer

True

question

The main technique used in creating a WBS is _____, which involves subdividing project deliverables into smaller pieces.

answer

decomposition

question

Scope refers to:

answer

the work involved in creating the products and the processes used to create them.

question

The scope of a project is clear and specific from the start.

answer

False

question

_____ uses highly organized and intensive workshops to bring together project stakeholders—the sponsor, users, business analysts, programmers, and so on—to jointly define and design information systems.

answer

JAD

question

A(n) _____ is a table that lists requirements, their various attributes, and the status of the requirements to ensure that all are addressed.

answer

requirements traceability matrix A requirements traceability matrix (RTM) is a table that lists requirements, their various attributes, and the status of the requirements to ensure that all are addressed.

question

The _____ technique for creating a WBS uses branches radiating from a core idea to structure thoughts and ideas instead of writing down tasks in a list or immediately trying to create a structure for tasks.

answer

mind mapping Mind mapping is a technique that uses branches radiating from a core idea to structure thoughts and ideas.Instead of writing down tasks in a list or immediately trying to create a structure for tasks, mind mapping allows people to write and even draw pictures of ideas in a nonlinear format.

question

The _____ approach for constructing a WBS involves refining the work into greater and greater levels of detail.

answer

top-down

question

Many organizations provide different guidelines and templates for developing WBSs.

answer

True

question

Scope creep refers to:

answer

the tendency for project scope to keep getting bigger and bigger.

question

Project scope statements must include the project boundaries, constraints, and assumptions.

answer

False Project scope statements should include at least a product scope description, product user acceptance criteria, and detailed information on all project deliverables. It is also helpful to document other scope-related information, such as the project boundaries, constraints, and assumptions.

question

The project scope statement, stakeholder requirements documentation, and organizational process assets are the primary inputs for creating a WBS.

answer

True

question

The _____ approach for constructing a WBS starts with the largest items of the project and breaks them into subordinate items.

answer

top-down

question

In the _____ approach, team members first identify as many specific tasks related to the project as possible and then aggregate the specific tasks and organize them into summary activities, or higher levels in the WBS.

answer

bottom-up In the bottom-up approach, team members first identify as many specific tasks related to the project as possible. They then aggregate the specific tasks and organize them into summary activities, or higher levels in the WBS. Project managers often use the bottom-up approach for projects that represent entirely new systems or approaches to doing a job, or to help create buy-in and synergy with a project team.

question

_____ involves formal acceptance of the completed project scope by the stakeholders.

answer

Scope validation

question

A work package represents one component of the product that the project aims to deliver.

answer

False A work package is a task at the lowest level of the WBS. It represents the level of work that the project manager monitors and controls.

question

The tasks in a WBS must be developed as a sequential list of steps.

answer

False A concern when creating a WBS is how to organize it to provide the basis for the project schedule. You should focus on what work needs to be done and how it will be done, not when it will be done. In other words, the tasks do not have to be developed as a sequential list of steps.

question

The WBS is organized solely around project phases.

answer

False A project team often organizes the WBS around project products, project phases, or the project management process groups.

question

_____ refers to the process of developing a working replica of the system or some aspect of the system.

answer

Prototyping

question

The executing tasks of the WBS remain constant from project to project.

answer

False The executing tasks vary the most from project to project, but many of the tasks under the other project management process groups would be similar for all projects.

question

Deliverables are only product-related, such as a piece of hardware or software.

answer

False Deliverables can be product-related, such as a piece of hardware or software, or process-related, such as a planning document or meeting minutes.

question

A similarity between the crashing technique and the fast tracking technique is that:

answer

both can shorten the time needed to finish a project.

question

_____ is the amount of time an activity can be delayed from its early start without delaying the planned project finish date.

answer

Total slack

question

In an AOA network diagram, _____ occur when two or more activities follow a single node.

answer

bursts

question

_____ dependencies are sometimes referred to as soft logic and should be used with care because they may limit later scheduling options.

answer

Discretionary

question

A disadvantage of using Gantt charts is that they do not provide a standard format for displaying planned project schedule information.

answer

False The main advantage of using Gantt charts is that they provide a standard format for displaying planned and actual project schedule information.

question

Start-to-finish relationships are the most frequently used dependencies between activities.

answer

False One of the four types of dependencies or relationships between activities is the start-to-finish dependency. This is a relationship in which the "from " activity must start before the "to" activity can be finished. This type of relationship is rarely used, but it is appropriate in some cases.

question

Which of the following dependencies involve relationships between project and non-project activities?

answer

External

question

Which of the following is one of the main outputs of estimating activity resources process?

answer

Project documents update

question

The main disadvantage of crashing is that it lengthens the time needed to finish a project.

answer

False The main advantage of crashing is that it shortens the time needed to finish a project. The main disadvantage is that it often increases total project costs.

question

The technique of fast tracking can result in lengthening the project schedule.

answer

True The main disadvantage of fast tracking is that it can lengthen the project schedule because starting some tasks too soon often increases project risk and results in rework.

question

AOA network diagrams use only _____ dependencies.

answer

finish-to-start

question

Knowing the amount of float allows project managers to know whether a project schedule is flexible.

answer

True Knowing the amount of float or slack allows project managers to know whether the schedule is flexible and how flexible it might be. A fast and easy way to determine early and late start and finish dates and free and total slack amounts for activities is by using project management software.

question

Critical chain scheduling protects tasks on the critical chain from being delayed by using _____, which consist of additional time added before tasks on the critical chain that are preceded by non-critical-path tasks.

answer

feeding buffers

question

The final process in project time management is developing the schedule.

answer

False The final process in project time management is controlling the schedule Like scope control, schedule control is a portion of the integrated change control process under project integration management.

question

In a critical path analysis, the shortest path is what drives the completion date for the project.

answer

False In a critical path analysis, several tasks are done in parallel on projects, and most projects have multiple paths through a network diagram. The longest path or the path that contains the critical tasks is what drives the completion date for the project.

question

Which of the following is an output of schedule control?

answer

Lessons-learned reports

question

In project time management, which of the following processes primarily involve identifying and documenting the relationships between project activities?

answer

Sequencing activities

question

In project time management, a(n) _____ is an output of controlling the schedule

answer

project management plan update

question

A dependency pertains to the sequencing of project activities or tasks.

answer

True A dependency or relationship pertains to the sequencing of project activities or tasks. Determining these relationships or dependencies among activities has a significant impact on developing and managing a project schedule.

question

The first process involved in project time management is _____ .

answer

planning schedule management

question

A drawback of the precedence diagramming method is that it cannot be used unless dummy activities are employed.

answer

False The precedence diagramming method offers a number of advantages over the AOA technique. One advantage is that using this method avoids the need to use dummy activities.

question

A backward pass through the network diagram determines the early start and early finish dates for each activity.

answer

False A backward pass through the network diagram determines the late start and late finish dates for each activity. In contrast, a forward pass determines the early start and early finish dates for each activity.

question

In project time management, the main goal of _____ is to ensure that the project team has complete understanding of all the work they must do as part of the project scope so they can start scheduling the work.

answer

defining activities

question

Network diagrams are the preferred technique for showing activity sequencing.

answer

True Network diagrams are the preferred technique for showing activity sequencing. A network diagram is a schematic display of the logical relationships among project activities and their sequencing.

question

Project schedules grow out of basic documents such as the project charter.

answer

True Project schedules grow out of the basic documents that initiate a project. The project charter often mentions planned project start and end dates, which serve as the starting points for a more detailed schedule.

question

In a bottom-up estimate, the size of the individual work items is one of the factors that drives the accuracy of the estimates.

answer

True The size of the individual work items and the experience of the estimators drive the accuracy of the estimates. Using smaller work items increases the accuracy of the cost estimate because the people assigned to do the work develop the cost estimate instead of someone unfamiliar with the work.

question

Good Earth, a company manufacturing packaged food products, sets up its stores in Baltonia. However, a year later, the company closes the store down due to high operating costs. In such a scenario, the money spent in paying for the rent of the store in Baltonia would be an example of _____ costs.

answer

sunk

question

Newtech Inc. hires John for the position of a software programmer to work on their new project. Salary paid to John by Newtech Inc. would be an example of _____ costs.

answer

direct

question

Spreadsheets are a common tool for cost estimating, cost budgeting, and cost control.

answer

True Most organizations use software to assist in various activities related to project cost management. Spreadsheets are a common tool for cost estimating, cost budgeting, and cost control.

question

If cost variance is a positive number, it means that performing the work costs more than planned.

answer

False Cost variance (CV) is the earned value minus the actual cost. If cost variance is a negative number, it means that performing the work costs more than planned. If cost variance is a positive number, performing the work costs less than planned.

question

Intangible costs can be easily measured in monetary terms.

answer

False Intangible costs or benefits are difficult to measure in monetary terms. Conversely, tangible costs or benefits can easily be measured in dollars.

question

The formulas for variances and indexes start with EV, the earned value.

answer

True The formulas for variances and indexes start with EV, the earned value. Variances are calculated by subtracting the actual cost or planned value from EV, and indexes are calculated by dividing EV by the actual cost or planned value.

question

Overrun is the additional percentage amount by which estimates exceed actual costs.

answer

False Overrun is the additional percentage or dollar amount by which actual costs exceed estimates.

question

The main goal of the _____ process is to produce a cost baseline for measuring project performance and project funding requirements.

answer

cost budgeting

question

When deciding what projects to invest in or continue, one should include sunk costs.

answer

False

question

Profits may be defined as:

answer

revenues minus expenditures.

question

Variances are calculated by subtracting the actual cost from _____.

answer

earned value

question

The process of controlling costs primarily involves:

answer

managing changes to the project budget.

question

IT project managers must be able to present and discuss project information both in financial and technical terms.

answer

True Most members of a company's executive board have a better understanding of financial terms than IT terms, and are more interested in finance. Therefore, IT project managers need to be able to present and discuss project information both in financial terms and technical terms.

question

One of the reasons why project cost estimates are inaccurate is because human beings are biased toward underestimation.

answer

True One of the reasons why project cost estimates are very inaccurate is because human beings are biased toward underestimation. It is thus important for project managers and top management to review estimates and ask important questions to make sure the estimates are not biased.

question

A _____ estimate is used for making many purchasing decisions for which accurate estimates are required and for estimating final project costs.

answer

definitive

question

Project managers must conduct cash flow analysis to determine net present value.

answer

True Cash flow analysis is a method of determining the estimated annual costs and benefits for a project and the resulting annual cash flow. Project managers must conduct cash flow analysis to determine net present value.

question

_____ are those costs that are difficult to measure in monetary terms.

answer

Intangible costs

question

Analogous estimates are called activity-based costing.

answer

False Analogous estimates are also called top-down estimates. Such estimates use the actual cost of a previous, similar project as the basis for estimating the cost of the current project.

question

_____ helps develop an accurate projection of a project's financial expenses and benefits.

answer

Life cycle costing

question

The budget is one of the three values of earned value management and is also known as _____.

answer

planned value

question

It is important for project managers to focus on indirect costs because they can be easily controlled.

answer

False Direct costs can be directly related to creating the products and services of the project. Project managers should focus on direct costs because they can be controlled.

question

The Level of Accuracy section of the cost management plan specifies rounding guidelines for the cost estimate (e.g. to the nearest $1,000).

answer

True

question

The Control Thresholds section of the cost management plan specifies the amount of cost variance that is allowed before action must be taken.

answer

True

question

The Rules of Performance Measurement section of the cost management plan may specify how often actual costs will be tracked and to what level of detail.

answer

True

question

The _____ stage of information technology planning outlines business processes that are central to achieving strategic goals and helps determine which ones could most benefit from information technology.

answer

business area analysis

question

The _____ is the minimum acceptable rate of return on an investment.

answer

required rate of return

question

In a Gantt chart, thick black bars represent milestones achieved in a project.

answer

False

question

A _____ is a document that recognizes the existence of a project and provides direction on the project's objectives and management.

answer

project charter

question

Which of the following is a network diagramming technique used primarily to predict total project duration?

answer

Critical path analysis

question

Generating ideas by comparing specific project practices or product characteristics to those of other projects or products inside or outside the performing organization is known as _____.

answer

benchmarking

question

_____ states that work expands to fill the time allowed.

answer

Parkinson's Law

question

One of PERT's main disadvantages is that it does not address the risk associated with duration estimates.

answer

False

question

The _____ section of the project management plan describes specific methodologies a project might use and explains how to document information.

answer

technical processes

question

The first step in determining the NPV is to _____.

answer

determine the estimated costs and benefits for the life of the project and the products it produces

question

Projects that address broad organizational needs are likely to fail.

answer

False

question

The critical path is the _____ path through a network diagram, and it represents the _____ amount of slack or float.

answer

longest; shortest

question

Opportunities and directives are essentially the same thing.

answer

False

question

A merge occurs when one node precedes multiple nodes.

answer

False

question

In project time management, the process of_____ primarily involves checking and managing changes to the project schedule.

answer

controlling the schedule

question

Which of the following is a proactive process undertaken to reduce the probability of negative consequences associated with project risks?

answer

Preventive actions

question

A Tracking Gantt chart is based on the percentage of work completed for project tasks or the actual start and finish dates.

answer

True

question

The number of interfaces in a single project is limited, and does not depend on the number of people involved in the project.

answer

Variance

question

In a weighted scoring model, the sum of the weights of all the criteria must total _____ percent.

answer

100

question

Project scope management includes the processes involved in defining and controlling what is or is not included in a project.

answer

True

question

_____ involves formalizing acceptance of the project deliverables and during this phase the key project stakeholders, such as the customer and sponsor for the project, inspect and then formally accept the deliverables.

answer

Validating scope

question

In project time management, the ultimate goal of _____ is to provide a basis for monitoring project progress for the time dimension of the project.

answer

developing a schedule

question

_____ involves defining and documenting the features and functions of the products produced during the project as well as the processes used for creating them.

answer

Collecting requirements

question

Change requests are always made in writing.

answer

False

question

As projects progress, the organization must reevaluate the need, funding, and will for each project to determine if the project should be continued, redefined, or terminated.

answer

True

question

A(n) ____ is a task at the lowest level of the WBS.

answer

work package

question

In project time management, the next step after defining project activities is:

answer

determining their dependecies

question

The first step in the planning process is _____.

answer

to tie the information technology strategic plan to the organization's overall strategic plan

question

Which of the following is true of return on investment or ROI?

answer

It is always a percentage.

question

A schedule management plan includes information which describes the format and frequency of schedule reports required for the project.

answer

True

question

Mind mapping allows people to write and even draw pictures of ideas in a nonlinear format.

answer

True

question

The majority of time on a project is usually spent on _____, as is most of the project's budget.

answer

execution

question

Critical chain scheduling assumes that resources multitask and maximizes multitasking.

answer

False

question

Payback period is the amount of time it will take to recoup, in the form of net cash inflows, the total dollars invested in a project.

answer

True

question

A project's internal rate of return can be determined by finding what discount rate results in an NPV of _____ for the project.

answer

zero

question

In project time management, one should control the scheule before estimating the duration for each activity.

answer

False

question

Which of the following types of dependencies are inherent in the nature of work being performed on a project?

answer

Mandatory

question

Corrective actions reduce the probability of negative consequences associated with project risks, while preventive actions should result in improvements in project performance.

answer

False

question

The ROI is always positive.

answer

False

CPIN269 — S05-07 – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards