All-in-one CAPM/PMP: Chapter 3 - Working as a Project Manager

You know that leadership and project management are not the same thing, but they are connected. Leaders and managers rely on communications within a project to help motivate, manage, and ensure that the project is moving forward toward its objectives. In communicating, the receiver restates what the sender has said to clarify the message and to enable the sender to offer more clarity if needed.

What is this communication component called?

• 1. Active listening

• 1. Sender-receiver model

• 1. Communications planning

• 1. Leader listening

Answer explanation

Active listening is the participatory component of a conversation that confirms what was said and enables the sender to offer clarity, if needed. B is incorrect.

The sender-receiver model shows how communication moves between two people.

C is incorrect because communications planning is a project management process plan for who needs what information, when the information is needed, and in what modality. D, leader listening, is not a valid project management term so this choice is incorrect

You are the project manager for your organization and you're working with a new client to start a project at the client's site. You and the client are negotiating the price, schedule, and other concerns for a contract for the new project.

In the negotiating, you and the client should be negotiating for what result?

• 1. Best price for the contracted work

• 1. Fair agreement for both the client and the vendor

• 1. Most profit for the contracted work

• 1. Risk distribution between the two parties

Answer explanation

The purpose of negotiations is to reach a fair agreement for all parties involved.

A and C are incorrect because these two choices are mutually exclusive and not concerned with the other party in the contract. D, risk distribution, is not a valid choice because the fair agreement among the parties would address the risk distribution

You are the project manager of the Systems Upgrade Project for your organization.

As a project manager, you want to influence the organization and the project team for the better.

What two key aspects are most helpful in influencing your organization as a project manager?

• 1. Management and leadership

• 1. Communication skills and a positive attitude

• 1. Experience and knowledge

• 1. Experience and willingness to learn

Answer explanation

The two key aspects that are most helpful in influencing an organization are communication skills and a positive attitude. A is incorrect because management and leadership are values for a project manager, but they aren't the most helpful aspects of influence. C is incorrect because experience and knowledge are self-contained skills and don't do much to influence, inspire, and motivate others. D is incorrect, because experience and a willingness to learn are good attributes and are intrinsic for a good project manager, but they will not influence the organization

Beth is a new project manager for her company and she's working with her project team to develop the project management plan. Beth knows that she must rely on several different skills to make her first project successful.

Of the following management skills, which will a project manager use most?

• 1. Leading

• 1. Communicating

• 1. Influencing the organization

• 1. Negotiating

Answer explanation

Communication is the key general management skill a project manager will use the most. A, C, and D are necessary, but communication accounts for the majority of a project manager's time

Teresa is the project manager for her department. She has been working with her manager to examine her skills and her career. Her manager believes that Teresa should take more training in a project management information system to make her a better project manager in her organization. Teresa agrees, though she feels that she doesn't know much about the project management information system her department uses.

In the five steps of competence, where is Teresa with this realization?

• Unconsciously competent

• Consciously competent

• Consciously incompetent

• Unconsciously incompetent

Answer explanation

Teresa is consciously incompetent because she is aware that she needs more training to be competent in a new skill. A is incorrect because unconsciously competent happens when Teresa can do the skill without even thinking about it.

B is incorrect as being consciously competent happens when Teresa learns and practices the skill to gain competence. D describes the state when Teresa can do the skill without even thinking about it.

As a PMP candidate you should be familiar with the PMI Talent Triangle. You'll be earning professional development units to maintain your PMP certification status once you've cleared the exam.

Of the following choices, which answer is not part of the PMI Talent Triangle?

• 1. Leadership

• 1. Technical project management

• 1. Continuing education

• 1. Strategic and business management

Answer explanation

Continuing education is not part of the PMI Talent Triangle. A, B, and D are incorrect because leadership, technical project management, and strategic and business management are the three components of the PMI Talent Triangle

While management is about getting things done, leadership is said to be about motivating people. You know that leadership is a desirable trait for a project manager and is heavily referenced throughout the PMBOK Guide.

Which one of the following characteristics is not an attribute of leadership?

• 1. Fiscal responsibility

• 1. Respect for others

• 1. Problem-solving ability

• 1. Desire to learn and improve

Answer explanation

Fiscal responsibility is an example of a management skill. Fiscal responsibility is also a desirable trait for project managers, but it's a management skill rather than a leadership skill. B, C, and D are incorrect choices because leadership skills include respect for others, problem-solving abilities, and a desire to learn and improve

You are the project manager for your organization. Your current project has more than 1000 stakeholders. Some of the stakeholders have competing objectives and are trying to leverage your project to meet their personal objectives.

Influencing your organization requires which of the following?

• 1. An understanding of the organizational budget

• 1. Research and documentation of proven business cases

• 1. An understanding of formal and informal organizational systems

• 1. Positional power

Answer explanation

To influence an organization (to get things done), a project manager must understand the explicit and implied organizational system within an organization. A is incorrect, because the project manager may not even have access to an organizational budget. B is incorrect because a proven business case may not map to every scenario when influencing an organization. D is incorrect because positional power may relate only to a small portion of an organization, not to multiple facets of influence

Mark is a new project manager in his company. Before joining this company, Mark worked as a project manager for more than 20 years at an IT service provider. Mark has a deep understanding of electronics, software development, and data warehouse technology and is considered an expert in his field.

His current project team, however, is pushing back on recommendations from Mark and challenging his knowledge on the project. Since Mark is new, the project team reasons, he likely doesn't understand how things work in the organization.

What type of power does Mark have in this scenario?

• 1. Expert

• 1. Positional

• 1. Situational

• 1. Informational

Answer explanation

Mark has positional power in this scenario because he's new to the organization and the team doesn't recognize his expertise in the technology. Positional power is also known as formal, authoritative, and legitimate power.

A is incorrect because expert power means the team would recognize his expertise in the technology and respect his decisions.

C is incorrect; situational power emerges because the project manager has power as a result of certain situations in the Organization.

D is incorrect because informational power means the individual has control of the data gathering and distribution of information

What type of power does a project manager have when the team admires the project manager because they've worked with her before the current project or they know of her reputation as a project manager?

• 1. Situational

• 1. Referent

• 1. Personal

• 1. Expert

Answer explanation

Of all the choices presented, B is the best answer. The project manager is respected or admired because of knowledge of past experiences with her. This is about the project manager's credibility in the organization. A is incorrect because situational power means the project manager has power because of certain situations in the organization. C is incorrect because with personal power, the project manager is liked because of her personality rather than her experiences with the project team in the past. D is incorrect because expert power means the project manager has deep skills and experience in a discipline