Chapter 3 - Project Management Skills

Question 1

Methods used to convey data and information graphically/visually.

Answer 1

DATA REPRESENTATION TECHNIQUES

Question 2

An information-gathering process used as a way to reach consensus of experts on a subject. Experts on the subject participate in this process anonymously. A facilitator uses a questionnaire to solicit ideas about the important project points related to the subject. The responses are summarized and are then recirculated to the experts for further comment. Consensus may be reached in a few rounds of this process. This process helps reduce bias in the data and keeps any one person from having undue influence on the outcome.

Answer 2

DELPHI TECHNIQUE

Question 3

A technique for determining the cause and degree of difference between the baseline and actual performance.

Answer 3

VARIANCE ANALYSIS

Question 4

A technique that provides a direct way of viewing individuals in their environment performing their jobs or tasks and carrying out processes.

Answer 4

OBSERVATIONS

Question 5

An elicitation technique that brings together prequalified stakeholders and subject matter experts to learn about their expectations and attitudes about a proposed product, service, or result.

Answer 5

FOCUS GROUPS

Question 6

Ability to establish project objectives, policies, standards and process-improvement practices through a team decision-making process that aligns with the strategy of an organization.

Answer 6

GOVERNANCE SKILLS

Question 7

A technique that allows large numbers of ideas to be classified into groups for review and analysis.

Answer 7

AFFINITY DIAGRAM

Question 8

Determination provided based upon specialization in an application area, knowledge area, discipline, industry, etc., as appropriate for the activity being performed. Such knowledge may be provided by any group or person with specialized education, understanding, skill, experience, or training.

Answer 8

EXPERT JUDGMENT

Question 9

Assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of an organization, project, or option.

Answer 9

SWOT ANALYSIS

Question 10

Written sets of questions designed to quickly accumulate information from a large number of respondents.

Answer 10

QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS

Question 11

Ability to lead a group discussion to attain a meeting goal.

Answer 11

FACILITATION SKILLS

Question 12

Technique used to consolidate ideas created through individual brainstorming sessions into a single diagram to reflect commonality and differences in understanding and to generate new ideas.

Answer 12

IDEA/MIND MAPPING

Question 13

Quantifiable measurements that reflect a project’s critical success factors.

Answer 13

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS KPI(S)

Question 14

A general data gathering and creativity technique that can be used to identify risks, ideas, or solutions to issues by using a group of team members or subject matter experts.

Answer 14

BRAINSTORMING

Question 15

The process of evaluating possible events and outcomes in order to predict their effect on project objectives.

Answer 15

WHAT-IF SCENARIO ANALYSIS

Question 16

Various approaches used to evaluate or forecast potential outcomes based on possible variations of project or environmental variables and their relationships with other variables.

Answer 16

ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

Question 17

Strategies and activities used to select a course of action from different alternatives.

Answer 17

DECISION MAKING TECHNIQUES

Question 18

A formal or informal approach to elicit information from stakeholders by talking to them directly.

Answer 18

INTERVIEWS

Question 19

Measurement parameters that are used to indicate the level of performance as measured against a target, a benchmark, or a scale of acceptable results.

Answer 19

METRICS

Question 20

The comparison of actual or planned practices, such as processes and operations, to those of comparable organizations to identify best practices, generate ideas for improvement, and provide a basis for measuring performance.

Answer 20

BENCHMARKING

Question 21

A quantifiable deviation, departure, or divergence away from a known baseline or expected value.

Answer 21

VARIANCE

Question 22

An approach that enhances brainstorming with a voting process used to rank the most useful ideas for further brainstorming or prioritization.

Answer 22

NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE

Question 23

An estimate or prediction of conditions and events in the project’s future based on information and knowledge available at the time of the forecast.

Answer 23

FORECAST

Question 24

A diagram of the pressures for and against a change.

Answer 24

FORCE-FIELD ANALYSIS

Question 25

The process and activities to resolving disputes through consultations between involved parties.

Answer 25

NEGOTIATION

Question 26

Methods used to collect information, details and statistivs from a variety of sources.

Answer 26

DATA GATHERING TECHNIQUES

Question 27

This technique utilizes a decision matrix to provide a systematic approach for establishing criteria, such as risk levels, uncertainty, and valuation, to evaluate and rank many ideas.

Answer 27

MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS (MCDA)

Question 28

Ability to establish and maintain relationships with other people.

Answer 28

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Question 29

An elicitation technique using focused sessions that bring key cross-functional stakeholders together to define product requirements.

Answer 29

FACILITATED WORKSHOPS

Question 30

Techniques used to organize, assess, and evaluate data and information.

Answer 30

DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

Question 31

Methods used to collect, organize, and present data and information.

Answer 31

DATA GATHERING AND REPRESENTATION TECHNIQUES

Question 32

The capability to identify, assess, and manage the personal feelings of oneself and other people, as well as the collective feelings of groups of people.

Answer 32

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Question 33

A technique that uses mathematical models to forecast future outcomes based on historical results.

Answer 33

TREND ANALYSIS

Question 34

A financial tool used to determine the advantages or gains provided by a project against its expense.

Answer 34

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS