Project Management Terms2 Flashcards
A project is defined as a ______ endeavor that produces a ______ product, service, or result.
Answer: Temporary; unique
Reasoning: Projects are time-bound initiatives with a clear start and end that create distinct outcomes, differentiating them from ongoing operations.
A program is a group of ______ managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits not available if managed individually.
Answer: Related projects
Reasoning: Coordinating related projects allows shared resources and objectives, maximizing efficiency and outcomes.
True or False: A deliverable in a project must always be tangible to be accepted.
Answer: False.
Reasoning: Deliverables can also be intangible, such as knowledge or a software solution. Acceptance depends on meeting stakeholder requirements, not tangibility.
True or False: Emotional intelligence (EQ) is unrelated to project management success.
Answer: False.
Reasoning: EQ is vital in fostering effective communication, conflict resolution, and stakeholder relationships, which are central to project management.
What is “the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to satisfy project requirements”?
Answer: Project management
Reasoning: This definition emphasizes using structured practices to meet project goals efficiently and effectively.
What is “a significant event or achievement in a project that marks the completion of a major deliverable”?
Answer: Milestone
Reasoning: Milestones represent key points in a project timeline, helping to track progress and maintain alignment with objectives.
Is a program always part of a portfolio?
Answer: Yes.
Reasoning: A portfolio includes all projects and programs aligned with an organization’s strategic objectives, so programs are inherently part of portfolios.
Can a project be part of a portfolio but not part of a program?
Answer: Yes.
Reasoning: While programs contain interrelated projects, a standalone project can directly align with portfolio-level strategies without belonging to a program.
______ is required when a project is used to take a company from its current state to a desired state.
Answer: Change management
Reasoning: Projects often drive organizational transformation, and change management ensures smooth transitions and stakeholder buy-in.
In project management, ______ ensures that all stakeholders receive accurate information at the right time.
Answer: Communication
Reasoning: Effective communication minimizes misunderstandings, aligns expectations, and fosters collaboration.
Imagine you are managing a project within a weak matrix organizational structure. What challenges might you face in terms of authority and resource control?
Answer: The project manager has little authority, and resource control is dominated by functional managers.
Reasoning: In weak matrix organizations, decision-making power is centralized under functional managers, limiting the project manager’s ability to influence outcomes.
A project is delayed because of resource unavailability. How would the issue differ in a functional versus a projectized organization?
Answer: Functional organizations prioritize departmental work over projects, causing delays, whereas projectized organizations dedicate resources full-time, reducing such risks.
Reasoning: Resource allocation is directly influenced by the organizational structure, affecting project timelines and priorities.
A project manager notices delays in deliverables due to unclear requirements. Which phase of project management might need improvement?
Answer: The planning phase, particularly scope definition and stakeholder requirements gathering.
Reasoning: Clear requirements set during planning guide execution. Unclear requirements often result in rework and delays.
What are the three pillars of project governance?
Answer: Structure, people, and information
Reasoning: Governance frameworks rely on these elements to enable decision-making, resource allocation, and effective project oversight.
Define “adaptive project management approach.”
Answer: A flexible approach emphasizing iterative development, customer collaboration, and adaptability to change.
Reasoning: Adaptive methods respond to evolving requirements, ensuring alignment with stakeholder needs and project goals.
Project constraints include scope, schedule, cost, ______, quality, and resources.
Answer: Risk
Reasoning: Risk management ensures that potential issues are identified and mitigated to avoid impacting project success.
Compare predictive and adaptive project management approaches.
Answer: Predictive follows a linear, detailed plan with limited flexibility, while adaptive is iterative, flexible, and embraces change.
Reasoning: Predictive methods prioritize control and documentation, whereas adaptive methods respond dynamically to stakeholder input.
How do program management and portfolio management differ?
Answer: Program management focuses on related projects for added value, while portfolio management aligns projects and programs with strategic objectives.
Reasoning: The scope of management differs, with programs addressing specific goals and portfolios driving overarching strategies.
If a stakeholder is dissatisfied with project progress, what immediate steps should the project manager take?
Answer: Understand the concerns, review progress reports, and adjust the plan as needed.
Reasoning: Addressing stakeholder concerns quickly maintains trust and ensures project alignment with their expectations.
If a project manager has full authority, which organizational structure is most likely in place?
Answer: Projectized organization
Reasoning: Projectized structures grant project managers complete control over resources and decision-making to prioritize project success.
A project team underestimated resources, leading to budget overruns. What planning tool might have been insufficiently applied?
Answer: Resource estimation and budgeting
Reasoning: Accurate estimates during planning are critical to avoid overruns and ensure project feasibility.
A deliverable was rejected due to unmet requirements. What process could prevent this?
Answer: Stakeholder engagement and requirements verification
Reasoning: Engaging stakeholders and verifying requirements ensure deliverables align with expectations before implementation.
A project is delayed, over budget, and has unsatisfied stakeholders. Decompose this problem into scope, schedule, cost, and stakeholder management issues.
Answer: Scope creep, unrealistic scheduling, poor cost control, and inadequate stakeholder communication.
Reasoning: Breaking the problem into categories identifies root causes and facilitates targeted solutions.
What if a sponsor withdraws funding midway through a project?
Answer: The project manager must reassess the scope, negotiate for alternate funding, or terminate the project.
Reasoning: Funding directly impacts feasibility, so adjustments or alternative solutions are critical to proceed.
How does emotional intelligence contribute to stakeholder engagement?
Answer: It fosters empathy, clear communication, and trust, improving stakeholder collaboration and satisfaction.
Reasoning: EQ builds strong relationships, essential for effective engagement and project success.
______ management focuses on the ongoing production of goods or services.
Answer: Operations
Reasoning: Operations management addresses resource use for continuous delivery, differing from project-based work.
The framework within which project decisions are made is called ______.
Answer: Project governance
Reasoning: Governance ensures structured decision-making to align projects with organizational objectives.
True or False: A stakeholder is any individual, group, or organization that perceives themselves as unaffected by the project.
Answer: False.
Reasoning: Stakeholders are defined as entities that affect, are affected, or perceive an impact from the project.
True or False: In projectized organizations, the project manager has no authority over budget control.
Answer: False.
Reasoning: In projectized structures, the project manager has total authority over budgets and resource management.
What is “a collection of logically related project activities culminating in deliverables”?
Answer: A phase
Reasoning: Phases are structured segments of a project that conclude with deliverable completion.
What is “a limitation or restriction affecting project planning or execution”?
Answer: A constraint
Reasoning: Constraints guide decision-making and resource allocation by defining project boundaries.
Can a milestone have a duration?
Answer: No.
Reasoning: A milestone is a point in time marking significant progress; it does not encompass a time period.
Are all projects temporary?
Answer: Yes.
Reasoning: A fundamental project characteristic is its temporariness, with a clear beginning and end.
In adaptive project management, ______ is prioritized over following a fixed plan.
Answer: Customer collaboration
Reasoning: Adaptive methodologies like Agile emphasize iterative development driven by stakeholder feedback.
The ______ pillar of project governance involves assigning roles and responsibilities.
Answer: People
Reasoning: Governance relies on structured roles for effective project oversight and accountability.
