CH 3 - Role of the Project Manager

Question 1

Which of the following describes a key difference between management and leadership?

A) Focus on relationships vs. focus on long-range vision
B) Maintain vs. administrate administer
C) Directing vs. influencing
D) Focus on bottom line vs. focus on status quo

Answer 1

C) Directing vs. influencing

Question 2

Which of the following is the LARGEST part among the four of the project manager's role?
A)  Adhering to the schedule
B)  Developing skills & abilities
C)  Dealing with people
D)  Operating within budget

Answer 2

C) Dealing with people

Question 3

Which of the following is LEAST likely to be a project manager role?
A) Ensuring that organizations are operationally aligned with financial objectives
B) Consulting with business leaders on advancing strategic objectives
C) Evaluation and analysis of project-related activities prior to project initiation
D) Assisting in business analysis, business case development, and aspects of portfolio management for a project

Answer 3

A) Ensuring that organizations are operationally aligned with financial objectives

Question 4

Complexity exhibits all of the following characteristics EXCEPT:
A) Exhibiting dynamic interactions between the parts
B) Containing high-risk parts
C) Containing multiple parts
D) Exhibiting emergent behavior, which cannot be easily explained as the simple sum of parts

Answer 4

B) Containing high-risk parts

Question 5

Each of the following describes the role of the project manager, EXCEPT:
A) They are responsible for the final result of the team
B) They need to integrate multiple disciplines
C) They communicate with the team
D) They need to be an expert or knowledgeable of all aspects of their endeavor

Answer 5

D) They need to be an expert or knowledgeable of all aspects of their endeavor

Question 6

True or False: A project manager is usually involved in a project from its initiation through its closing

Answer 6

TRUE

Question 7

What is a methodology?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What is “tailoring” in project management?

Answer 8

a selection of appropriate project management processes, inputs, tools, techniques, outputs and life cycle phases to manage a specific project

Question 9

What are two things you need to understand in order to tailor a project?

Answer 9

It is your duty to understand:

1) the environment in which the project is carried out and 2) the needs of the project itself

Question 10

What is Project Integration Management?

Answer 10

the activities used to combine, unify, and coordinate the various processes and project management activities during the project life cycle

Question 11

What is a critical skill for project managers?

Answer 11

Integration

Question 12

Fill in the blank:

The project manager plays a critical role in the ______ of a project team in order to achieve the project’s objectives

Answer 12

leadership

Question 13

Involved in a project from its initiation through closing: PRIOR TO PROJECT INITIATION

Answer 13

Involved in evaluation and analysis activities: consulting with leaders on ideas for advancing strategic objectives, improving organizational performance, meeting customer needs

Question 14

Involved in a project from its initiation through closing: DURING PROJECT

Answer 14

Manage/assist in business analysis, business case development, and aspects of portfolio management

Question 15

Involved in a project from its initiation through closing: CLOSING PROJECT

Answer 15

Follow-on activities related to realizing business benefits from the project

Question 16

What are the three areas of duty that the project manager is responsible for?

Answer 16

1. Membership & Roles
2. Responsibility for the Team
3. Knowledge & Skills

Question 17

Fill in the blank:

Project managers _______ and _______ their team toward the successful completion of their objectives

Answer 17

Communicate & Motivate

Question 18

True or False: The project manager is NOT responsible for what the team produces

Answer 18

FALSE

Question 19

Fill in the blank:

A project manager must take a _____ view of their team’s products in order to plan, coordinate, and complete them

Answer 19

holistic

Question 20

What skills does a project manager provide to the project team?

Answer 20

• leadership
• planning
• coordination through communication

Question 21

What type of knowledge does a project manager need in order to be successful?

Answer 21

• project management knowledge
• technical knowledge
• understanding
• experience

Question 22

What five areas are in the project manager’s sphere of influence?

Answer 22

1. project
2. organization
3. industry
4. professional discipline
5. across disciplines

Question 23

Fill in the blank:

The project manager seeks ways to develop ______ that assist the team in achieving goals & objectives of the project

Answer 23

relationships

Question 24

Who does the project manager influence within the project?

Answer 24

1. Project Sponsor
2. Stakeholders
3. Team members

Question 25

What two communication roles does the project manager fulfill?

Answer 25

1. Provides direction & present the vision of success for the project 2. Uses soft skills to balance the conflicting and competing goals of the project stakeholders in order to achieve consensus

Question 26

Fill in the blank: Research reveals that the top 2% of Project Managers distinguish themselves by demonstrating superior relationship & communication skills while displaying a _______

Answer 26

positive attitude

Question 27

List 8 communication skills/techniques

Answer 27

1. Communication methods - verbal, written, nonverbal 2. Creating, maintaining, & adhering to communication plans and schedules 3. Predictable & Consistent communication 4. Concise, clear, complete, relevant, simple, and tailored communications 5. Including positive & negative news 6. Incorporating feedback 7. Seeking to understand the STAKEHOLDER'S communication needs 8. Developing & maintaining relationships (extensive network of people)

Question 28

What types of people are considered a part of an informal network?

Answer 28

subject matter experts, influential leaders, contacts in different functions

Question 29

Why are informal networks the most important?

Answer 29

Project managers need to engage multiple people in solving problems and navigating the bureaucracies encountered in a project

Question 30

Who does the project manager influence within the project?

Answer 30

- other project managers - project sponsor - other managers within the organization - the organization as a whole

Question 31

What are the different types of reporting lines for project managers?

Answer 31

1. Functional manager 2. Project Management Office (PMO) 3. Portfolio / Program Manager (ultimately responsible for 1+ organization-wide projects) 4. External consultant (temporary PM role)

Question 32

How does a project manager advocate for the project management profession?

Answer 32

○ Demonstrate value of project management ○ Increase acceptance of project management in the organization ○ Advance the efficacy of the PMO when one exists in the organization

Question 33

Fill in the blank: | Project manager should maintain a strong ______ role within the organization

Answer 33

advocacy

Question 34

What are the 5 ways that project managers play an advocacy role?

Answer 34

1. Proactively interact with other managers in the organization 2. Works with project sponsor to address internal political & strategic issues that may impact the project 3. Works toward increasing the PM competency & capability within the organization 4. Involved with tacit & explicit knowledge transfer or integration initiatives 5. Advocate for the PM role

Question 35

What is the importance of interacting with other project managers?

Answer 35

* Helps to create a positive influence for fulfilling various needs of the project * Projects/program may be co-dependent and are impacted by shared resources, priorities of funding, distribution of deliverables, alignment of project goals & objectives

Question 36

How does a project manager use the industry to influence projects?

Answer 36

The project manager stays informed about current industry trends to see how those trends may impact or apply to current projects

Question 37

True or False: | Continuing knowledge transfer & integration is very important for the project manager

Answer 37

True

Question 38

True or False: | Professional development in the PM field is ongoing

Answer 38

True - also true for other areas where the PM maintains expertise

Question 39

How does the project manager serve as an informal ambassador?

Answer 39

Orients & educates other professionals regarding the value of a project management approach and the advantages of project management (timeliness, quality, innovation, resource management)