Project Management Quiz 2

A project is:

• Temporary in nature, with a definite start and end date, creates a unique product, service, or result. It is completed when the goals and objectives of the project have been met and signed off on by the stakeholders.

• Permanent in nature and creates a unique product, service or result. Since it is ongoing, its stakeholders are interested in its continuous growth and invest in its growth.

• Temporary in nature, with a definite start and end date, creates a unique product, service or result. It is completed once the project manager runs out of resources.

• Permanent in nature and creates a unique product, service or result. It is an ongoing process and the stakeholder is the project owner who reaps the benefits of the project.

Answer explanation

A project is always a temporary undertaking that needs to reach objectives that are set during the initiation phase of the project life cycle. Through effective planning, the project manager must use resources and budget wisely to meet the objectives and hand the benefit of the project over to the stakeholders once the project is complete.

The person responsible for applying the skills, knowledge, and project management tools and techniques to the project activities to successfully complete the project objectives is:

• Project sponsor

• Project manager

• Stakeholder

• Project Owner

Answer explanation

The project manager is the person responsible for applying the skills of project management to a particular project. Although a project manager may also be a stakeholder or project owner, the application of skills, tools and techniques is the responsibility of the project manager.

The initiation phase of the project management life cycle focuses on:

• Planning the scope, schedule and cost of the product

• Engagin with stakeholders

• Leading a team

• Identifying project objectives

Answer explanation

Initiation is the first phase of the life cycle, and it is during this phase that the project manager identifies the project objectives and considers options they may have to fulfil those objectives. At this stage they do not engage with any stakeholders or lead a team in any way. This is the phase where an overview of the deliverables is determined.

Defining the necessary activities in the initiation phase of the project life cycle is known as:

• Project initiation team

• Project initiation plan

• Management procedure plan

• Project workbook plan

Answer explanation

The project initiation plan, which is also known as the high-level plan or the project management charter, provides an overview of all of the activities that will need to be completed throughout the project life cycle to ensure that project objectives are met.

Which of the following is an activity undertaken during the initiation phase of the project management life cycle?

• Identifying project problem

• Assessing risk

• Developing project plans

• Preparing a budget

Answer explanation

During the initiation phase of the business, the project manager needs to determine what the project problem is in order to set objectives to complete the ‘right’ project. Assessing risks, developing project plans and preparing a budget take place later in the project life cycle.

During the initiation of the project, the project manager will need to determine their team, identify stakeholders and meet the customer.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

At this stage, it is important for the project manager to determine who they will be working with over the course of the project management life cycle. It is also relevant to identify who the stakeholders are at this stage even though engaging with stakeholders usually occurs during the execution and closure phases of the life cycle. In projects, where the finale deliverable is for a particular customer, it is important that that the project manager meets the customer during initiation to determine their vision of the project and align that vision with the objectives of the project as a whole.