Project Environments (Section 7)

Question 1

What has more project manager power in these scenarios?
1. A Functional or a Projectized organization?
2. A Functional or Weak Matrix organization?
3. A Projectized or Balanced Matrix organization?

Answer 1

1. Projectized has more Project Manager power than Functional Manager power
3. Weak matrix = functional. Projectized > balanced matrix

Question 2

What’s the difference between functional and projectized organization?

Answer 2

In a Projectized organization, the Project Manager is a full time role. In a Functional organization, the Project Manager is a role within the standard/transitional functions

Question 3

Which has more PM power, functional or weak matrix?

Answer 3

Weak matrix, but only slightly

Question 4

Who owns the budget in the balanced matrix?

Answer 4

Both the functional manager and project manager

Question 5

Organizational knowledge repository is a part of the larger __________

Answer 5

Organizational Process Assets

Question 6

What are the three categories of Organizational Process Assets?

Answer 6

Policies, processes & procedures

Question 7

What are a couple examples of Organizational Process Assets?

Answer 7

Stakeholder register, risk register

Question 8

What are two conditions of Enterprise Environmental Factors?

Answer 8

You have to work within them

They are outside of the control of your project team

Question 9

What are examples of Enterprise Environmental Factors?

Answer 9

Corporate structure
Skillset of employees
Political climate
Industry standards
Government policies (E.g. reduction of carbon emission in a Construction project)

Question 10

What is transactional leadership?

Answer 10

Emphasizes the goals/outcomes and rewards for the project team

Question 11

What is interactional leadership?

Answer 11

This is the gold standard of leadership. Transactional (goals/outcomes) + Transformational (motivating) + Charismatic (empowering)

Question 12

What is expert power?

Answer 12

The project manager credentialing themselves through past experience

Question 13

What is punitive power?

Answer 13

The project manager leads through threat of punishing the team

Question 14

What is referent power?

Answer 14

The project manager has credibility from execution in another project in the organization

Question 15

What is a potential risk of a balanced matrix structure?

Answer 15

Power struggle between the functional and the PMs

Question 16

What does Project Manager power look like in an ORGANIC/SIMPLE Organization?
1. PM role
2. Presence/absence of PM staff
3. What the Functional Manager does

Answer 16

1. Limited - PM might be more of a Project Coordinator
2. Limited/none
3. N/A - Business owner will have more of the power

Question 17

What does Project Manager power look like in a FUNCTIONAL Organization?
1. PM role
2. Presence/absence of PM staff
3. What the Functional Manager does

Answer 17

1. Little authority or autonomy - stays within that function. Usually a part time role with their other duties
2. Limited/none
3. Manages the project budget

Question 18

What does Project Manager power look like in a MULTIDIVISIONAL Organization?
1. PM role
2. Presence/absence of PM staff
3. What the Functional Manager does

Answer 18

1. Little or no authority
2. Part time resources
3. Manages the project budget

Question 19

How are a multidivisional and functional organization structures different?

Answer 19

Divisional structures often have resources and departments for each division, like separate HR, payroll, production, sales and accounting, communications or marketing departments.

Functional departments are more centralized

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/divisional-structure-vs-functional-structure

Question 20

What is more operationally expensive, a multidivisonal or a functional structure? Why?

Answer 20

Multidivisional structures have duplicated positions so are typically more expensive

Question 21

Where do resources come from in a Weak Matrix? What does this mean for Project Manager authority?

Answer 21

Resources come from all over the company and people have shared functional and project duties. Project Manager authority is typically weak (may operate more as a coordinator)

Question 22

Who is responsible for managing the budget in a Balanced Matrix?

Answer 22

Shared between the Functional Manager and PM

Question 23

What is a primary con of a Project-Oriented organization?

Answer 23

Project teams compete for/stockpile resources. They may lose focus at the end of a project as their future is uncertain.

Question 24

What are two cons of a Balanced Matrix?

Answer 24

Project Manager and Functional Manager may be competing for power; Project team may feel like they’re reporting to multiple bosses

Question 25

What is a con of a Virtual Organization Structure?

Answer 25

Possible communication challenges based on the availability of the single point of contact

Question 26

Which organization structures may have competition for resources? Which may have duplication of resources?

Answer 26

Competition for resources - Functional, project-oriented, strong

Duplication of resources - Multidimensional

Question 27

Your project has a global distribution of resources. What is this an example of?

Answer 27

An enterprise environmental factor

Question 28

Are change control procedures an OPA or governance?

Answer 28

OPA

Question 29

Which organizational structure is most likely to have full-time project team members?

Answer 29

Project-oriented (Strong matrix has some full-time project team members but also could have part-time project team members and therefore isn’t the best answer)

Question 30

If an employee is receiving non project assignments from a functional manager, what organizational structure type are they most likely NOT in?

Answer 30

Strong matrix, Project-oriented, PMO

Question 31

When is the likelihood of failing to achieve the objectives the highest within your project?

Answer 31

At the start of the project

Question 32

What are the PMO types from lowest control to highest control?

Answer 32

Supportive –> Controlling –> Directive