Chapter 2: Project Management Concepts

Question 1

What is another name for a functional organization? How is it organized?

Answer 1

Traditional organization

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

Question 2

Why is the composite organizational structure considered somewhat of a hybrid?

Answer 2

In this type of structure, one project may be organized in a functional manner; another project could be organized using matrix or projected type of structure. In addition, the composite structure could have a separate silo solely for project management working alongside resources from other silos who are also managing projects.

Question 3

What are the organizational characteristics of a projectized structure?

Answer 3

PM authority: High to almost total
Resources availability: High to almost total
Budget controlled by: Project Manager
Role of project manager: Full time
Project management admin staff: Full time

Question 4

What are the organizational characteristics of a functional structure?

Answer 4

PM authority: Little or none
Resources availability: Little or none
Budget controlled by: Functional Manager
Role of project manager: Part-time
Project management admin staff: Part-time

Question 5

What are the overall characteristics of a matrix structures?

Answer 5

Overal focus: Operations and projects
Authority: Two bosses: functional manager and project manager
Manager focus: Project manager: control of projects
Employee focus: Split between projects and operations

Question 6

What are the differences in the characteristics of the 3 forms of matrix organizational style?

Answer 6

Weak: Low, Low, Functional manager, Part-time, Part-time
Balanced: Low to moderate, Low to moderate, Mixed, Full-time, Part-time
Strong: Moderate to high, Moderate to high, Project manager, Full-time, Full-time

Question 7

What is a chief advantage of a composite structure?

Answer 7

The flexibility for management to adapt the approach to managing projects in the organization according the characteristics of the project.

Question 8

What are three distinct forms of matrix structures identified by the PMI?

Answer 8

Weak matrix
Balanced matrix
Strong matrix

Question 9

According to A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) - Fifth Edition, What is a program?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is a stakeholder?

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

What are some examples of project stakeholders?

Answer 11

Customer or end user
Sponsor
PMO (project management office)
Project manager
Project team
Functional managers
Operation management
Senior management
Influencers
Performing organization

Question 12

In a projectized organizational structure, who does the project team report to?

Answer 12

The project manager

Question 13

What is a constrain?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

According to A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) - Fifth Edition, What is a portfolio?

Answer 14

Project, Programs, subportfolio, and operations managed as a group to achieve strategic objectives.

Question 15

What are the 4 type of organizational structures?

Answer 15

Functional (also called traditional)
Matrix (weak, balanced, strong)
Projectized
Composite

Question 16

What is a project management system?

Answer 16

The aggregation of the processes, tools and techniques, methodologies, ressources, and procedures to manage a project.

Question 17

According to A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) - Fifth Edition, What is a project management?

Answer 17

The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements. It is accomplished through the use of the five Process Groups (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing).

Question 18

According to A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) - Fifth Edition, What is a PMO (project management office)?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

When does the life cycle of a product or service begin?

Answer 19

At its conception; it ends with its closure. This cycle can begin with an assessment of the product or service from business perspective (business need and benefit), continue with the hand off to operations and end with the discontinuation or completion of the product or service.

Question 20

What are the common characteristics of project life cycles?

Answer 20

The phases are sequential in nature.
They embrace the transfer of technical information from one phase to another as necessary
Cost and Staffing levels usually:
Are low at the beginning
Peak somewhere in the middle phases
Drop off rapidly toward the end

Question 21

What are the stages of a product life cycle?

Answer 21

Concept
Delivery
Growth
Maturity
Retirement

Question 22

What is the benefit of portfolio management?

Answer 22

Better alignement of projects and programs with organizational objectives, with the goal being to maximize the value of the entire portfolio.