Chapter 10

In project management, an assignment is:

• a unit of work that must be accomplished.
• a person, department or device needed to accomplish a unit of work.
• the appointment of a person, department or device to a unit of work.
• a sequence of work units that must be accomplished within a defined time frame.

How does scope creep undermine the success of a project?

• Scope creep usually indicates that the project costs are spiraling out of control, and usually results in project termination.
• Changes in project scope tend to occur in small increments, and these small increases in scope can add up and compromise the success of the project.
• Changes in project scope are generally abrupt and significant, and usually cause projects to be terminated.
• Scope creep usually indicates a change in project management expertise, which usually compromises the success of the project.

What are project stakeholders?

• Milestones that are used to measure the progress of a project
• People or groups that can exert influence over the project and affect results
• Reporting tools used by project managers to record the progress of a project
• Critical paths that describe tasks that must be completed on time so that the final project deadline will not be adversely affected

As a project manager, you complete a Statement Of Work (SOW) at the end of the initiating phase of a project. What does a SOW outline?

• The planned dates for performing tasks and meeting goals defined in a project plan
• The requirements for each project task to ensure that the project objectives are met
• The processes, tools and techniques you will need to implement changes to achieve a desired outcome
• The project tasks and durations in bar-chart format

A critical first step in the initiating phase of a project is to conduct a needs analysis, which:

• identifies the goals and tasks of a project, and the work required to complete them.
• identifies the requirements for each project task to ensure that the project objectives are met.
• identifies the problems or desires that the project must resolve or address.
• identifies the planned dates for performing tasks and meeting goals defined in a project plan.

What is a project constraint?

• A factor that is considered to be real or certain for planning purposes
• A factor, such as budget or time, that limits a project manager's options
• A document that contains the project goals and specifies how those goals will be met
• A document that displays the planned dates for performing tasks and meeting deadlines

Which document lists the planned dates for performing tasks and meeting goals identified in the project plan?

• Needs analysis
• Statement of work
• Issues log
• Project schedule

In many cases, project teams are created and developed with people who have different perspectives and priorities. Why is it important for a project manager to have the ability to develop and manage teams?

• To help team members clearly define the project objectives
• To help team members complete the project schedule within the project constraints
• To help team members determine the tasks, time and cost required to complete a project
• To help team members evaluate the condition of a project and communicate project data effectively

Milestones can add significant value to project scheduling because:

• they can become the points at which the project team or project stakeholders evaluate the project's progress and make decisions that may affect the status of the project going forward.
• they enable you to determine how your project team's strong and weak points can affect the outcome of a project.
• they can help you manage the changes to the project's scope in a systematic fashion so that the project's objectives are not compromised.
• they can graphically display the project tasks and task durations.

What is the project triangle?

• The relationships among project scope, time and money.
• The relationships among the planning, executing and controlling phases of project management.
• The relationships among project tasks, resources and assignments.
• The relationships among the planning skills, organizational skills and communication skills needed by good project managers.