2.0 Foundational Terms and Concepts

Question 1

A limiting factor that affects the execution of a project, program, portfolio, or process.

Answer 1

Constraint

Question 2

The approved version of the time-phased project budget, excluding any management reserves, which can be changed only through formal change control procedures and is used as a basis for comparison
to actual results.

Answer 2

Cost Baseline

Question 3

Any unique and verifiable product, result, or capability to perform a service that is required to be produced to complete a process, phase, or project.

Answer 3

Deliverable

Question 4

Someone with management authority over an organizational unit within a functional organization. The manager of any group that actually makes a product or performs a service. Sometimes called a line manager.

Answer 4

Functional Manager

Question 5

A hierarchical organization where each employee
has one clear superior, and staff are grouped by areas of specialization and managed by a person with expertise in that area.

Answer 5

Functional Organization

Question 6

Documents and data on prior projects including

project files, records, correspondence, closed contracts, and closed projects.

Answer 6

Historical Information

Question 7

A store of historical information and lessons learned about both the outcomes of previous project selection decisions and previous project performance. It is knowledge repository system which helps enterprise users capture, store and manage experiential knowledge from projects, events or operations.

Answer 7

Lessons Learned Knowledge Base

Question 8

Any organizational structure in which the project manager shares responsibility with the functional managers for assigning priorities and for directing the work of persons assigned to the project.

Answer 8

Matrix Organization

Question 9

A system of practices, techniques, procedures, and rules used by those who work in a discipline.

Answer 9

Methodology

Question 10

Plans, processes, policies, procedures, and knowledge bases that are specific to and used by the performing organization.

Answer 10

Organizational Process Assets

Question 11

Projects, programs, sub-portfolios, and operations managed as a group to achieve strategic objectives.

Answer 11

Portfolio

Question 12

A systematic series of activities directed towards causing an end result such that one or more inputs will be acted upon to create one or more outputs.

Answer 12

Process

Question 13

A group of related projects, subprograms, and program activities managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits not available from managing them individually.

Answer 13

Program

Question 14

The iterative process of increasing the level of

detail in a project management plan as greater amounts of information and more accurate estimates become available.

Answer 14

Progressive Elaboration

Question 15

A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result.

Answer 15

Project

Question 16

The series of phases that a project passes through from its initiation to its closure.

Answer 16

Project Life Cycle

Question 17

The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements.

Answer 17

Project Management

Question 18

An information system consisting of the tools and techniques used to gather, integrate, and disseminate the outputs of project management processes. It is used to support all aspects of the project from initiating through closing, and can include both manual and automated systems.

Answer 18

Project Management Information System

Examples: Microsoft Project, Basecamp, Smartsheet, Monday.com, Google Drive

Question 19

An organizational structure that standardizes the project-related governance processes and facilitates the sharing of resources, methodologies, tools, and techniques.

Answer 19

Project Management Office (PMO)

Question 20

The person assigned by the performing organization

to lead the team that is responsible for achieving the project objectives.

Answer 20

Project Manager (PM)

Question 21

A collection of logically related project activities that culminates in the completion of one or more deliverables

Answer 21

Project Phase

Question 22

Any organizational structure in which the
project manager has full authority to assign priorities, apply resources, and direct the work of persons assigned to the project.

Answer 22

Projectized Organization

Question 23

The approved version of a schedule model that can be

changed only through formal change control procedures and is used as a basis for comparison to actual results.

Answer 23

Schedule Baseline

Question 24

The approved version of a scope statement, work breakdown structure (WBS), and its associated WBS dictionary, that can be changed only through formal change control procedures and is used as a basis for comparison

Answer 24

Scope Baseline

Question 25

An individual, group, or organization who may affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision, activity, or outcome of a project.

Answer 25

Stakeholder

Question 26

A document that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines, or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context.

Answer 26

Standard

Question 27

Requirements imposed by a governmental body. These requirements can establish product, process, or service characteristics, including applicable administrative provisions that have government mandated compliance.

Answer 27

Regulation

Question 28

Any organizational structure in which the project manager has full authority to assign priorities, apply resources, and direct the work of persons assigned to the project.

Answer 28

Projectized Organization

Question 29

At the end of the phase, someone will review the project to determine whether the project should go forward – to validate that the project is worthwhile or important for the organization to complete. This decision point is known as what?

Answer 29

A kill point.

Question 30

If the project passes the kill point and will continue, then the question is this: “Have the desired results from this phase been completed?” If the deliverables for this phase are complete, the project passes through what?

Answer 30

The exit gate

Question 31

What are the characteristics of a project?

Answer 31

• Temporary
• Unique
• Interrelated activities
• Undertaken for a purpose

Question 32

The original plan plus any approved changes.

Answer 32

Baseline

Question 33

Stores the Lessons Learned for a project.

Answer 33

The Lessons Learned Register

Question 34

Historical Information and lessons learned are included as a part of the broader term of what?

Answer 34

Organizational Process Assets

Question 35

Weaker than a project manager. This person may not be allowed to make budget decisions or overall project decisions, but they may have some authority to reassign resources.

Answer 35

Project Coordinator

Question 36

Project coordinators are usually found in what type of organization?

Answer 36

Weak matrix or functional organizations.

Question 37

The weakest of the three project management roles and is a staff assistant who has little or no formal authority. This person reports to the executive who ultimately has responsibility for the project.

Answer 37

Project Expeditor

Question 38

Their primary responsibility lies in making sure things arrive on time and that tasks are completed on time.

Answer 38

Project Expeditor

Question 39

An expeditor is usually found in what type of organization?

Answer 39

A functional organization.

Question 40

Anyone more senior than the project manager.

Answer 40

Senior Management

Question 41

Their role on the project is to help prioritize projects and make sure the project manager has the proper authority and access to resources.

Answer 41

Senior Management

Question 42

What are 3 major types of organizations described by PMI?

Answer 42

• Functional
• Projectize
• Matrix (a blend of those two called) .

Question 43

Which organizations can be characterized as weak, strong, or balanced.

Answer 43

Matrix organizations

Question 44

The project manager should have experience in what (6) key areas?

Answer 44

• Leading
• Delegating
• Communicating
• Problem Solving
• Negotiating
• Influencing

Question 45

Project management is based on the realization that while changes do occur during a project, they don’t happen in a vacuum, or isolated from the rest of the project. The fundamental concept in project management is commonly referred to as what?

Answer 45

The “iron triangle” or “the triple constraint”.

Question 46

What are the 3 elements of the triple constraint?

Answer 46

• Scope
• Schedule
• Cost